About JoeB131

JoeB131 · ‎May 11, 2020

So I got a "opportunity lead" ( I don't use Targeting because I don't feel like paying for non-serious tire-kickers) and the price was 16.82 for a quote for a job I probably wouldn't charge more than $70.00 for. This is largely why I don't use Thumbtack as much as I used to, the pricing is pretty much outrageous. Even before Covid-19 hit, I cut back on my usage because it would have cost me more to use Thumbtack than I might make on Thumbtack leads. *Post was moved to more relevant board by moderator on 05/11/2020*

JoeB131 · ‎March 16, 2020

@Kameron - I did it on the desktop. My Phone is an android, so it won't let me fix it through the App, either. Clearly, the difference here is that the customer has to confirm that the Pro did the job. I'm really not sure why that is necessary, as a lot of customers really don't come back to Thumbtack after the job is done or they ignore the email as spam. I'm not seeing how this is a help to the Pro, really.

JoeB131 · ‎March 16, 2020

I just noticed that I can no longer mark leads as "hired" when I've finished a job. I can (and did) request a review, but I can't mark the job as hired and it isn't adding to my statistics.

JoeB131 · ‎March 16, 2020

I am seeing a decline in business, absolutely.

JoeB131 · ‎March 03, 2020

@Meckell Judging by the post that DJ Stevie posted, that customer contacted 10 Pros. That meant that 9 pros paid for a lead that wasn't going to go anywhere. I'm not sure how that is a good deal for the pros, making them pay for a bunch of tire kickers.

JoeB131 · ‎January 30, 2020

So if I am understanding this correctly, if two reviews come from the same IP, or even in the same proximity, they are flagged. Well, that's kind of wrong. I know that I get a lot of my business from the same household. I do a resume for someone, and they recommend me to a spouse, sibling or child. One of the few benefits of using Thumbtack (which I use less now because the pricing is outrageous) is getting referals to other customers in the same family.

JoeB131 · ‎January 24, 2020

Number of reviews and top pro status don't matter if you aren't willing to turn on "Targeting". It's worse if you are in a category like Resume Writer or Web Development, you are pretty much competing with the whole country. Most of them have less reviews, most of them aren't top pros. The one person who is local only has four reviews.

JoeB131 · ‎January 13, 2020

@Implumbus @ReeseTee - I am in the same boat. I've been a Top Pro for years. But under this new system, I not only find myself not getting listed when I don't turn on "Targeting/Price Assurance/Whatever we are calling it this week" I find the people who are being listed don't even operate in my area. They are all in other states. The purpose of Thumbtack was supposed to be the virtual version of the local bulliten board where local businesses could advertise (Hence "Thumbtack"), but instead, local providers are being crowded out by national companies. Also, the pricing has gotten so outrageous that a lead costs 25% of what I would make on the job.

JoeB131 · ‎January 02, 2020

Not in your category, but Resume writing leads are up to $14.00 now, which is about 25% of the cost I would charge. Given I have to go through three tire-kickers to get to one real lead, it effectively means that it costs more to use Thumbtack than not use it. Again, if you are going to charge these kinds of prices for leads, they should be good leads.. and not just people kicking the tires.

JoeB131 · ‎December 31, 2019

I turn on "targetting" only intermitantly... I would say my track record is about three tire kickers for one solid lead, and with leads in my category now costing up to $14.00, I'm pretty much breaking even. In my own case, (resume writing), I am competing with providers from all over the country, not just in my local market. As near as I can tell, most of my local competition gave up a long time ago on Thumbtack. Ways Thumbtack could fix this. 1) Restrict bids to ONLY local providers 2) Reduce cost of bids to something reasonable, like $5.00 a lead. 3) Only charge the lead if the Pro is hired.

Posts	65	Kudos Given	111
Solutions	1	Kudos Received	246

Opportunity pricing?

Re: Can't mark leads as "hired"

Can't mark leads as "hired"

Re: COVID-19

Re: Targeting turned on by March 23

Re: Review Deleted and account on hold

Re: Why is my profile not found in search? Anyone else missing?

Re: Thumbtack

Re: Lead Cost increase in DJ category?

Re: The lack of leads continues; anyone else having this issue too and how have you resolved it?