Why do I receive direct leads where customer's budget is less than half my published rates?

I've had that happen many times. User picks my business, I call him seconds later. He asks "how much?" And when I repeat my hourly rate that should be clearly published on Thumbtack, he hangs up on me.

For real? Why is Thumbtack not showing this information even though they ask me for it, tell me how important it is to display that information?

And of course, when I ask for a refund, it's denied about half the time.

I had a discussion today with an employee about a job we did in 2024. Also a Thumbtack lead. That had we not been in front of the customer when I repeated the cost was $250 and she said "I can't afford that." So I low-balled myself and offered $200.

She countered with $160.

Well, we did the job, because I made an employee drive to this customer just to PAY to work for this customer. I literally had more money before I started the job than when we finished. But I continued the job because I do not want to tell my employee to "go home.".

Also, something that only happens with Thumbtack "leads".

My advice is:

1. "hide my business" during any time you can't respond within seconds. Quitting time? "hide my business". Family get-together? "hide my business". Church? "Hide my business."
2. Set your services to the absolute minimum. Let's say you build furniture. You only offer to build 1 item. Because I've been burned by a customer who selected five pieces when she had one.
3. Keep your competition level at a minimum. Let some other sucker pay more for crap leads. He'll quit Thumbtack and now you can pick up what he left behind.
4. Most important, when an Inquiry comes in from a User. Immediately reply with "Thanks for contacting us. I'll call you momentarily to schedule." Then, call, and strong arm the User into an appointment. Keep him on the phone as long as possible so other "Pros" go to VM. Who will likely never receive a call back.
5. Collect all the data Thumbtack lets you see and use that to cull the losers.

Good luck!