http://www.avinstallers.org/

[Link: cocoontech.com]

Bahahahaah

thats a joke right? i got one credit and that was like pulling teeth.

see, maybe its my area, maybe its because in the immediate vicinity is a ton of foreclosed mc mansions (many of them i actually quoted through service magic). They wanted an estimate as their last whoo haaa before the bank ripped the last shred if dignity from the tire kickers.

Maybe they changed there policy's since i was in them (i guess 1.5 years ago now) and they are refunding because they had too many people like me dump their a$$es because of the tire kickers. I received ONE good customer from them, they were and still are great and have refereed me to quite a few of there friends but sadly all the money i made from them doesnt even come close to the amount that i wasted through SM.

William, i am a salesmen by nature. Idk it comes naturally to me and know how to play the game, as soon as i would get the email or phone call i would run out and call them (did that on a date once, u can bet how that turned out lol) i would set up an appointment and do the free consultation. I am a likable guy (so im told lol) and only give them enough information that they care to know. I have closed many deals on the first day of consultations but all those did not come from SM...I have a theory. Maybe its just my area but i feel like SM is the lazy mans way out of dealing with his wife nagging him to get that door hung or TV mounted. When he gets the prices he balks and decides to A) try it himself B) decides a divorce is easier C) Used SM and met with the guys to get her off his back so he can get laid and have no intention of going with SM companies

Angies list is another POS service, i have a couple good reviews from customers but its not worth the money. I learned with SM not to sign anything and if you do, to have the option to opt out with no penalties.

If learned what works and what doesnt, MAYBE ill try SM again. all i know is word of mouth and Google Places is the best thing for business....at least for us it is. Also, i have learned how to "interview" my customers to know if they are the type i want (systems 15k-75k) i am fortunate enough now to be in a position to be able to turn down jobs....this has truly been my way out of the tire kicking trunk slammers bidding war

 I've never, not one time been denied a credit request.  I always call in the credit requests, I don't fill out the information online..Maybe that's the difference?

But on the other hand,  I'm not looking for the same market as you are SV.  If I get a wholehouse Russound system through Service Magic that's big.   But I do get a few $5-8000 jobs from them.

Nope, I ALWAYS called. Always got a nice person though if that counts for anything :)

 I think we just have different target markets.  Also, I've noticed that because I'm affiliated with SM, I'm starting to get alot more people who say " I just found you on the internet".  Because of SM's SEO ability, I'm profiting from people who don't fill out the SM form on line, they just follow the links.  Kinda nice freebie.

Maybe,

i mean, if service magic came though i would be willing to hang and bang all day...sh!t, they're easy lol. IDK, maybe im just to expensive for people that use SM, maybe were too knowledgeable lol. All i know is it doesnt work for me, atleast it didnt when I used it.

AND, there little SEO website they give you blocks links to contact you directly. Especially the phone number and website and i dont see someone finding you on SM going and then searching you to find a way to contact you. (99.9% of SM customer do not even know that when they click to get contractors we get charged)

I always fill out the form and it goes through without fail. I've even done credit requests fornprojects i won and closed;)

I do not do anything but the full home theater service. I'll admit the people ( in general) are super cheap customers. It the same folks the shop online for everything but once they meet a CI with their Isht together they smarten up.

sig is absolutely correct about google places. Google local/places beats very other service out there. I closed $25k project first week I was upland runnig on google local.

Thanks everyone for the info on SM; I may have to take a look. I have only heard other contractors complain about it, but that was painting and other areas.

If you're a one man show (like me) OnForce isnt to bad. Or maybe you need to keep a guy or two more productive in your bus. For OF though, you need to have your finger on the trigger to accept work orders, it is a game of minutes or even seconds with them. For OF, you need to be insured and drug screened through them which is real easy. And you can have a helper and they really dont care. I'm also on Installs, they're ok, all techs in the home need to be insured for that deal, I dont do much with them, basic stuff.

If you're into small stuff, I've had good luck with Craiglist. Can't beat free advertising, and again the ads show up on a google search, so wording is key.

Thanks for the link, 39. For an iphone guy you are a stand up dude ;)

Sig, they have a special team for SM contractors in New York and New Jersey that handles lead credits. If your lips are moving you must be lying--ha ha. I would get a PO Box address in Falls Church--oops!--they lie there too. Guess you are SOL...

What drugs to you get to screen?

You wouldn't be willing to PM me ad copy that works for you on CL? I won't turn anything down...

I was able to quickly access those links with my iPhone. I would have probably lost them with an android phone.

Whoaa....News to me. I am Positive they didnt have this going when i was part of it. Maybe they have changed, ill call them tomorrow and get the scoop. If this is the case, and they are ACTUALLY refunding money then i suppose i have nothing to lose.

Good thing I don't have a 'Droid. I have a Crackberry.

You know I am playing with you--right?