Does Thumbtack Do Appliance Repair

Concluding updated: July 24, 2022

Thumbtack can be a fast and easy way to go customers and abound your business. In fact, for some people, it has enabled them to start a business organisation in the kickoff identify.

But should you lot use this lead generation service?

I've talked to several pro handymen who consistently generate quality leads through Thumbtack, but when you lot read online reviews, it'southward similar Thumbtack is out there killing babies or something. People are pissed (as you can see from the lxx+ comments at the lesser of this folio).

So who should you lot trust, and virtually importantly, should you utilise it to generate leads for your business organization? That is the ultimate question I'll reply in this article.

I'll talk about the controversial issues around Thumbtack, the pros and cons of using it, how much you can expect to pay for a lead, and tips for maximizing your results if you decide to sign upwardly and examination it for yourself.

Mutual Complaints From Thumbtack Pros and Contractors

Complaint #1 – Big jumps in the price of leads

This happened starting time in 2022. Thumbtack announced a new feature chosen "Instant Match." As this new feature rolled out, the toll of leads increased significantly.

In ane review on ConsumerAffairs.com, a Thumbtack pro said, "I sent a bulletin to 2 different customers that would take normally been $8-$15 each only to discover (once my menu had been charged) that those ii bids now price me $65."

Another reviewer mentioned that leads that used to cost $3-$15 now cost $55. Assuming those reviews are accurate, that'due south over a 700% increase in the cost of leads.

But wait just a second.

When I dug deeper, I institute out that virtually leads don't cost anywhere about $50 or $60. In fact, many handyman jobs cost less than $10 per atomic number 82. Those higher-priced leads in the complaints are most likely for large contracting jobs like kitchen remodels and domicile additions, where honestly, $50 for a lead is reasonable.

Has Thumbtack raised the price of leads? Yes, they have. But leads are notwithstanding a bargain, especially when compared to Abode Advisor.

And now, Thumbtack'south pb pricing actually changes every calendar week depending on the market, the size of the chore, and how many pros are available. This is similar to how Uber adjusts their prices based on demand.

If you are worried about atomic number 82 prices, don't. Ane good thing about Thumbtack is that yous can run across the prices of leads before you ever pay for a unmarried one. In fact, every Friday, they will update their lead prices for the following calendar week, so there are no surprises.

Complaint #2 – Too much contest

Some other complaint is that likewise many pros are allowed to compete for each lead. According to some reviews online, there used to be a maximum of iii to v pros submitting bids on a job, and at present at that place could exist every bit many as xv bidders for a unmarried chore.

Thumbtack does limit competition, however, every bit part of their "Quality Delivery."

Currently, they limit the number of pros a client can contact to five in the first four hours of a customer searching for a pro. So, assuming you lot reply chop-chop to a lead, yous will be competing with a maximum of five others, and ofttimes less.

Notwithstanding, after that four hours, information technology opens up to more pros. According to Thumbtack, this is "to make sure customers can observe a pro," which makes sense.

Complaint #3 – Accounts beingness deleted

If you read the fine impress in Thumbtack's Terms of Use, you'll larn that Thumbtack can deactivate your profile without warning and at their ain discretion.

So let'south say you've been on the platform for two years, built upwards a solid profile with dozens of five-star reviews, and depend on Thumbtack to keep your schedule full. If Thumbtack doesn't like something about your profile or if yous fail to follow their terms, they can shut y'all down.

Unfortunately, this has happened to several people who rely on Thumbtack. Based on reviews on BBB and some comments below, it seems similar account deactivation usually happens equally a result of failing to pay for leads or issuing a chargeback with your credit card. Thumbtack has trivial patience for people who don't pay upward.

Unfortunately, in one case your account is deactivated, it can be difficult to get it back up and running, which could cause bug if you rely on them for business organisation.

Thumbtack probably won't delete your profile as long equally you follow good business practices. They don't accept a practiced reason to. Merely it's still risky to place the well-being of your company in the hands of some other business organization.

Complaint #4 – Poor-quality leads

Low-quality leads are a complaint that you lot meet with all pb generation services, and thumbtack is no different. It's a problem that isn't piece of cake to solve with digital marketplaces.

Local competitors, not-serious homeowners, and flaky people volition often request work on Thumbtack, costing hard-working businesses time and money. These "fake" leads get annoying and expensive.

Thumbtack volition issue refunds for certain types of bad leads in certain situations, simply non always. Many people have complained about not beingness reimbursed when they felt like they should have been. They've even gone as far as describing Thumbtack as a scam.

However, Thumbtack does state that they volition requite refunds at their sole discretion. So, it seems that paying for a few fake leads is only a toll of doing business concern these days.

But is Thumbtack effective?

Look, if Thumbtack didn't work for handymen, contractors, house cleaners, and dozens of other service providers, it would apace disappear. Only information technology hasn't. Instead, it'due south known every bit a unicorn (a privately held company worth over a billion dollars).

In 2022 Thumbtack was valued at a whopping $1.seven Billion. It'due south been consistently growing over the last decade with no signs of it slowing.

Anytime you read online reviews on sites like BBB, and all you see are bad reviews, empathize that happy customers aren't leaving reviews. Only aroused people who feel like they got screwed have plenty motivation to have fourth dimension out of their day and go out a review.

There could be a hundred delighted pros for every negative review y'all find online. Practice y'all really call back that pros who've struck lead generation aureate are going to tell everybody about it? No, they're going to quietly milk Thumbtack for as long as they tin can before everyone figures information technology out.

So the short answer is yes, Thumbtack tin can be an effective method for generating leads if used properly. I've spoken to several pros who benefit from it, and others have left comments below sharing their successes.

Should yous use Thumbtack to grow your business concern?

Honestly, it depends. I don't personally utilise information technology considering I can generate more than than enough leads through my website (and those leads are free).

However, I recommend Thumbtack to many of my readers and clients who are just getting started because it's a great temporary solution. Buying leads is good for the short-term while you lot work on longer-term marketing strategies similar edifice an online presence.

So if you lot're starting your business or you need some customers fast to make full your schedule, give it a endeavor. Test it. Learn how to apply it properly (which I'll hash out beneath), give it a fair shake, and stop using information technology if it doesn't work for you.

Simple.

Don't be like many people I've seen that are so scared of beingness scammed that they won't effort anything and end up leaving money on the table as a result.

However, I have a word of warning…

Here's what to AVOID

The simply problem with using services like Thumbtack is when they are your sole method of getting new customers. Relying on services like this leaves your business organisation exposed in a way that can shell profits if anything changes. And things inevitably change (like the increment in atomic number 82 prices, for example).

View Thumbtack as a tool for getting leads apace while working on other marketing methods that you take more than control over.

You'll want to practise things like edifice a website, soliciting reviews on websites like Yelp, and doing SEO to become your website to show up on Google and so you lot can generate free leads.

Just like when investing your money, you want to DIVERSIFY where your leads come from to reduce risk and continue your schedule filled all twelvemonth. That manner, if one source of new customers disappears, you have several others that can option upwardly the slack.

Never outsource your entire marketing efforts to one visitor that you lot don't control. They can change things in the blink of an eye and literally wipe you out. Or, this can force you lot to lower your prices to stay competitive as the competition grows.

The Details – How does Thumbtack work?

Thumbtack'southward goal is to make hiring a plumber, handyman, gardener, dog groomer, or any local service business every bit easy as ordering products from Amazon.

And I have to say, their platform is vivid. Here'due south how it works.

Customers visit their website or App and search for pros. Then, based on some filters, Thumbtack displays a list of pros to choose from. Customers browse through the concern profiles and choose who to achieve out to.

It's basically a search engine with a few cardinal twists.

Equally a pro, yous get listed on the search engine for gratuitous. However, once a customer contacts you, you go charged for the pb. You don't pay to be shown to customers. You simply pay when they contact you. That'southward a very overnice feature.

As a pro, you go to set your "target preferences." This allows you to ascertain exactly which jobs y'all desire to exist shown for and in what areas. That way, yous only pay for leads for the verbal services you offer in the exact areas that you offering them.

In that location are two ways y'all can state new clients on Thumbtack.

Pb type #one – Direct leads

This is when a client finds yous in the search results and reaches out to you.

You are automatically billed for direct leads, so information technology'south important to set up your target preferences carefully and then y'all only target your platonic jobs. Otherwise, you'll cease up paying for a agglomeration of leads you lot don't desire.

Many of the complaints about getting bad leads are technically the pro'south fault since they didn't optimize their preferences.

Atomic number 82 type #ii – Opportunities

There is a tab within the Thumbtack app called Opportunities. This is where you can meet customers who have reached out to other pros and are actively requesting quotes for services yous provide. If you run into any jobs that interest you, y'all tin reach out to the customer through the app. So, even if you don't become chosen past the customer in the search results, you still take an opportunity to land the task.

The benefit of opportunities is that yous can encounter the cost of the lead before reaching out, and you lot just pay if the client responds to you.

Thumbtack Pricing – How Much Does It Price for Pros?

Equally with all lead gen services, the reply is that it depends. Co-ordinate to Thumbtack's website, "The toll of each quote will vary, depending on the value of the job and the number of bachelor and interested pros in the surface area." There is no cost to sign up.

So, bigger jobs like kitchen remodels will price $50+, while smaller jobs similar replacing a toilet or a solar day of handyman services volition be in the $viii-$25 range.

Substantially, Thumbtack allows the market to decide how much a atomic number 82 costs. If there are many pros in ane area competing for the same jobs, the price of leads will go upward. If in that location are very few, then the cost of leads will become down.

For case, during the pandemic, the cost of leads increased since there were lots of pros looking for work and fewer jobs to go around (another skilful reason to avoid relying on Thumbtack).

You accept the ability to accommodate your weekly spend limit then y'all don't get hit with gigantic bills. You tin test the waters with minimal investment.

Are Background Checks Required?

Information technology's unclear if they do groundwork checks on everyone. However, their terms state that by using the app, you qualify Thumbtack to do background and credit checks and to inform customers if you have been checked.

And so no, it doesn't seem that groundwork checks are required beyond the board. But, it'due south a practiced idea to get ane since it will increase the chances of existence hired.

What I like about Thumbtack

You lot only pay for leads if a customer reaches out to you directly (direct lead) or if a client responds to your interest when reaching out for opportunities. This helps reduce a lot of bad leads.
The platform allows you to get jobs apace, which is squeamish if you lot're just getting started or demand to fill gaps in your schedule.
You can come across what your competition is charging and exercise market place research before starting your business.
Information technology's piece of cake to stand out if you put some effort into your profile or are responsive to leads.
You can see the price of leads before you determine to receive them and fine-melody which leads you receive.

What I don't like about Thumbtack

You lot don't control information technology, then you're at their mercy. If lead prices get up, your profits become down. If they decide to change how the whole organization works, you have no pick only to adopt the new system. This isn't much unlike than having a chore.
Information technology may forcefulness you to drop your prices to compete, specially when demand is lowest and lead prices are highest. That means y'all'd face increase lead costs while at the same time taking a hit on profits, squeezing you from both ends.
It can be fourth dimension-consuming going back and along with customers or being forced to stop what your doing to answer immediately.
Thumbtack encourages customers to contact several pros, even when a customer has chosen you from the search results. I tin run into why they practice this (they become paid for more leads), only I don't believe it necessarily helps customers while at the same fourth dimension costing pros more per atomic number 82.

Thumbtack From a Homeowners Perspective

This review wouldn't exist complete if I didn't talk about the homeowner's experience while using Thumbtack. And like whatever practiced detective, I spent some time investigating that.

Hither's what they do really well for homeowners:

Their website and app are pinnacle-notch – This is a huge trust builder for homeowners, and while you're browsing their site, you get the feeling that y'all are well taken care of.
There are many pros to choose from – Within seconds of entering a job, I had iii dissimilar options of handymen to choose from, and more came over the following days.
Pricing is transparent – I knew how much the handymen charged right abroad.
It'due south easy to communicate with pros – You can message pros straight through the website to answer your questions. From a client standpoint, this is a great mode to get a feel for how well the pro communicates and their style before getting on a phone call.
Reviews are mostly from verified customers – Simply like any online directory, they take reviews, most of which take to exist from verified customers, so fake reviews aren't a problem.
Pros are responsive – Thumbtack awards pros who reply chop-chop with higher rankings in search, encouraging them to respond quickly. Also, since pros are paying for leads, information technology means they are accepting new clients.

Thumbtack makes it really easy to find and connect with contained contractors. The whole process for the customer is streamlined, professional, and easy to utilize. In fact, I can run across myself using it in the hereafter for random services I may need.

And, as time passes, I'm sure the platform will keep to ameliorate, more service providers volition sign up (they already have over 250,000), and Thumbtack will get even better for homeowners. That's nice, merely the cost of that convenience is that they will take more than control over the industry.

Quick Tips for Maximizing ROI

If yous determine to try Thumbtack, here are some tips to help you lot close more leads and make more money.

#1 – Add a good headshot

Almost handymen just put their logo or a moving picture of a recent chore for their profile film. Don't do that. Customers desire to meet who they are hiring. By simply having a professional person headshot on your profile, you'll go 10x as many jobs – which means you'll pay less to get customers. This is such a simple thing to do. Information technology's amazing how few practise it well.

#2 – Respond to leads quickly

Think most information technology. Customers are using Thumbtack to save time searching for a pro. They desire results fast, and they'll likely hire the first pro that contacts them. Certain, on jobs like kitchen remodels, customers will want to talk to 3 or more different contractors and weigh their options. Only on smaller jobs, they just want to hire and motion on.

Also, Thumbtack volition award you with college rankings in search for responding quickly. It even states on Thumbtack'due south website that faster responses will significantly increment your odds of converting a lead into a customer.

#3 – Clip your service offer

Once you've bid on 25-50 jobs, go back and look at your history to run into which leads turned into customers and which ones didn't. Y'all'll probably notice a blueprint. Certain types of leads volition never turn into customers, so change your settings and stop wasting your fourth dimension behest on those jobs. Conversely, y'all'll detect that certain jobs have a very high closing rate. Double down on those.

#4 – Get Some Reviews

To show up in the search results, y'all must have at least one review. Higher reviews also boost your rankings in search and give you the opportunity to become a Meridian Pro, which gives you a nice badge next to your contour, letting customers know you lot are a great person to hire. Online reviews are essential on all digital marketplaces, then some effort put here will pay off.

Quick Thumbtack facts and stats

Thumbtack was founded in 2008 and is a privately held company.
Thumbtack claims over 10 million users, over 250,000 pros listed, and over $1 billion per twelvemonth in income.
Thumbtack has approximately 500 types of services in categories such as home services, wellness, events, and even lessons.
Thumbtack has a one.13/5 star rating based on reviews on BBB, yet BBB nevertheless gives them an A+ rating.

Sources: BBB, CNBC, Wikipedia

Conclusion

Thumbtack can be a cracking tool to help you lot fill your schedule, jumpstart your business, or gain access to customers you wouldn't otherwise exist able to reach. Merely don't rely on it as your sole source of leads because you don't control information technology.

Examination it, come across how well it works in your area, and if it works, great. If not, stop using information technology.

As e'er, with lead generation services, apply information technology equally much as necessary and every bit little as possible.

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