CheckaTrade | MyBuilder | RatedPeople | TrustaTrader etc - Who's with what and why?

[Dan]

I've been through quite a few '3rd party' on line vetting agenices, and worked for a number of '3rd party' national maintenance companies were I am.

I've concluded them a waste of time, and so we have a 'no 3rd parties' clause now

~S~
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I guess that's a bit terse of a reply.

The trades were proliferated with all manner of internet 3rd parties here after the last housing crash

They knew we were hungry, would sign onto anything

The problem is, they not only started vetting us, they evolved to creating standards for us as well

It got a tad to 'big brother' for many of us you see

~S~

Oooo we haven't quite got that far yet here. They don't check anything at all but say on their marketing and adverts online that they do.

Leading to disco Dave's who can wire their DJ equipment up well thinking they can now install solar panels and house rewires. And they don't get taken off the rate my bodge it and dodge it type website they just won't send the link to leave a review to the ones they know will leave bad feedback on their listing.

Very flawed.

But wouldn't like it go the other way either.

 

[Sisyphus]

disco Dave's...lol...1/2 my biz is flowing that guy around Dan.

I swear the big box stores spawn them like salmon here

~S~

 

[PEG]

Never used,or wanted to use,any of these carry-ons. They all work on the principle of hope and dilution.

I respect that some others may have had some luck,but i would not recommend anyone,especially those at the start of their SE journey,to sign up,with a very hungry flea who steers the host,to some of the worst customers possible...

 

[Edtwozeronine]

People see me wandering into their neighbours houses with a bunch of gear and ask what I'm up to, I tell them what I'm up to and sooner or later I find my details have been passed on to their neighbour Jeff and do I mind. Nope that's fine!

 

[littlespark]

It’s word of mouth mainly with me. Existing friends have passed my details on.
I do have a Facebook page, and a website but don’t use any of the above3rd party services.
Too many scare stories on this forum about them.
I’ve joined nextdoor.co.uk just because one customer heard about me on there.

 

[smokester]

First post on these forums so first let me say hi.

Hi.

I'm technically a contractor so I always have work on the books - sometimes up to 18 months ahead so the last thing I should do is tout for more work (you start by trying to please everyone and end up pleasing no-one). However, a good friend who is gas safe guy uses trustatrader and checkatrade and he gets shedloads of work from both (nowadays mainly checkatrade as his rating is very high) so for individuals I can see how any of the options that give you more back than you give to them could be a good thing.

But there's a hitch: my friend is absolutely pants at what he does and only gets to look good by asking me and other quality tradesmen to do the work for him that is outside his expertise (that's about everything beyond soldering) so I personally think that there can't ever be a level playing field for subscribers. If you can get 5 stars for being shonky, I'm inclined to forget these companies even exist and prefer, like others have mentioned, to rely on recommendations and your own, personal advertising.

That's my tuppence and may I add that I'm very happy to be here with the civilised folk.

 

[Sisyphus]

Welcome Smokester

yeah, methinks you hit nail/head

I mean, if a tradesman can rate a star for having the right aftershave on...… ~S~

 

[Lister1987]

snip

Didn't know you were on here David, long time viewer, rare commenter, keep up the good vids, always give me a laugh

 

[Dan]

First post on these forums so first let me say hi.

Hi.

I'm technically a contractor so I always have work on the books - sometimes up to 18 months ahead so the last thing I should do is tout for more work (you start by trying to please everyone and end up pleasing no-one). However, a good friend who is gas safe guy uses trustatrader and checkatrade and he gets shedloads of work from both (nowadays mainly checkatrade as his rating is very high) so for individuals I can see how any of the options that give you more back than you give to them could be a good thing.

But there's a hitch: my friend is absolutely pants at what he does and only gets to look good by asking me and other quality tradesmen to do the work for him that is outside his expertise (that's about everything beyond soldering) so I personally think that there can't ever be a level playing field for subscribers. If you can get 5 stars for being shonky, I'm inclined to forget these companies even exist and prefer, like others have mentioned, to rely on recommendations and your own, personal advertising.

That's my tuppence and may I add that I'm very happy to be here with the civilised folk.

Welcome aboard and thanks for posting!