@techlab just brought to mind that neither we nor the customer knows where we are located... because it's hidden. If the customer and the Pro knew where we were located it would surely eliminate confusion. ... View more

Now that I undersatnd what is wanted, managing my services is somewhat a mystery. I would like them to be more diverse in the categories. For instance, to have the Editing category be specified as to what type (Commercial, Home Video, etc.). Also my category has been combined into Photo Editing, Scanning and Restoration,  which is very confusing. Scanning is a separate and distinct category. (people want to protect their photos from fire or theft will use this). Restoration is also separate (while scanning is involved it is minor in the restoration process). Photo Editing is unclear period. Photo Manipulation might be a better title. I have suggested these changes on many occasions without result. I would also like to see my competition, as we could see in the past. I would like to see who the job went to as we could see in the past. I would like to communicate with the potential customer as we could do in the past. I would like to see job postings go to just five Pros. In general I would like to see greater transparency. I would like to see my telephone and/or email be available to the customer (with TT trusting the Pro not to violate the rules, nor treat us as dishonest. I would like the Check Availabilty Button to be revised to Contact The Pro (which would go a long way to eliminating ghosting. I would like to see the calculation of Review be revised to be more accurate (previously posted suggestion). I think TRANSPARENCY is most important. We are currently in the dark, groping for answers that don't seem to be forthcoming. Denny 925-336-7994 digitalwhims@comcast.net ... View more

Well, from the looks of it, most pros do not like the Promote system, and I have to add my name to the list. My comments about the "Check Availability" button and the inconsistent and inaccurate review percentage calculations are small potatoes compared to my peers complaints. If I had to encapsulate all of the complaints into one, it would be that we do not have a say in the business. Most of us are small business entrepreneurs trying to make a living...so when the business is taken out of our hands it pisses us off. Most objectionable is when we try to improve the system no one listens, or at the least does not follow up! Thumbtack needs to, in my opinion, go back to making it fun to do business with Thumbtack (like it was before the Promote system). I take a lot of pride in what I have done with Thumbtack, and I suspect that Thumbtack is starting to listen: to Pros leaving Thumbtack, Thumbtack sales decreasing, Pros grumbling, and stress internal and external. It's a shame, because I love Thumbtack and don't want to see it fail due to it's unwillingness to change. Denny ... View more

 I think it's all well and good to make suggestions for improvement. Unfortunately, when there is no follow-up, the "suggestor"  becomes discouraged, and generally decides not to suggest any improvements. Just saying that your suggestion is being submitted to the team is encouraging but not enough!  Our moderators, however well-intentioned, seem not to have enough power to follow up on our suggestions. It would be refreshing to me personally if they came back and said quote" your ideas full of baloney", we are implementing it, or anything! The idea is that follow-up means giving an answer, however the results come out.   I'm curious about others and their successful ideas, and if, they have received follow-up from the moderators? For me the only answer I received is that we will submit it to the team.   Is anybody listening? ... View more

That's right!  It's disheartening when you suggest something, that gets passed on "to the team" that neither gets implemented nor notified of its' progress. ... View more

OK Guys...I have to agree that you have accomplished some things (although some of them were put into effect without Forum influence), and, quite frankly, are minor in nature. What I was asking for was if there were  any momentous changes as a result of the Forum influence. I personally find it distressing to read Pro's complaints and concerns. I love Thumbtack as a company and have no complaints, and, reading all the Pro's complaints, however well justified, is a real downer. Denny ... View more

I also agree with you. One of the major things that causes these ghost customers is the fact that there's a block that says "check your availability". It should be eliminated. There's no need for the potential client to check your availability. He's either interested or is not. Why not have a block that says " contact provider"? At least it would eliminate the  ghost inquiries. Frankly, it's stupid to have the potential client check your availability. He's interested, or is not. ... View more

Digitalwhims@comcast.net ... View more