@Shannonleen. I too have been with Thumbtack for over 4 years and had great success with the reasonable prices and workable format until Promote was introduced. My statistics clearly show the drop in bookings and significant price hike. I’m not sure about this TackMaster Program - what does it have to do with our repeated concerns like triple prices - I have been constantly “hiding my business” when I can not respond to a lead within a minute or two and keeping filters accurate. As well as keeping my calendar updated. I do my best to get each hire to give me a review and everything I can to stay within a reasonable ranking for the chance to get hired. However, yesterday a “partial match” match came in and was $48 to respond. Absolutely no way will I ever respond to a lead that cost that much. Regardless of the customers budget. Too risky of an investment. I’m a small business- just me. Price Assurance has helped me in many ways however - now if they don’t “read” my response within a hour - I pray they don’t at all. When we give them all our details before they reach out to us- then it shouldn’t matter if they just read our response to them. It should matter if they never respond after reaching out to us and reading our message. Nothing frustrates me more when a customer reaches out and it says “wants your availability”. I respond - they read it - and then never respond back. Of course I’m available! My calendar would not show you my profile if I blocked the day. So yes I agree with you. We should only pay if the customer engages with us in actual conversation back and forth. Maybe a small flat rate of $3 if they just “read” it. But certainly not $48. I signed up with a Success coach and find that better than TaskMaster. But both have something to offer and both are doing their best to make Thumbtack better for both customers and Pros - because last year’s switch over to Promote was a disaster for me. It’s getting a little better and I have hope for the future. Good luck - and choose wisely. I’ll say again - choose wisely how you make your money work for you. On this site and in life. ... View more

Exactly! Glad you understand @DJStevie Showing customers 30 Pros BEFORE any filters defeats the whole “promote”. Example, if customer enters “wedding and event photographer” the are shown 30 photographer Pros. But I am NOT a wedding photographer. Only events. But there I am. Customer should filter first before any pro is shown. Is that not the premise of “promoting” and triple increase in cost of leads? This will help with price Assurance issues, connecting the right pros and customers and reducing confusion for customers. Price Assurance is helping and makes me feel a little more assured moving forward with TT. ... View more

Here is the problem @Meckell Nothing is “Perfect” - except maybe my lasagna. Perfect Match should be changed simply to “Match”. Price Assurance has helped with maintaining my budget And ROI for sure - however booking clients is what is most important to us Pros. Customers need to be guided better to select the pro that fits best so they don’t end up clicking on 10+. I had a lead with 28 pros selected recently. Sure it only cost like $3 - not the point. Don’t show any Pro until filters are selected. TT shows a list of Pros before any filters are applied. I let all my customers that hire me know that there was a fee using TT. Just so they know for future. They are all surprised and all wish they knew that. The customer who reached out to 28 did hire me and when I told her she felt bad. She simply didn’t understand the system and needed someone and she said she just started clicking to see who who get back to her. 12 pros responded to her. I ask my customers because I need to know what worked for them and how they personally felt about the TT process. I don’t think TT reached out to any of my clients and asked them directly any questions. Anyway - Happy Holidays everyone! ... View more

What?  A three way tie and they don't all get $100?  That's too bad.  I would have given them each $100 for their great contribution, recognition amoung their fellow pros, loyalty to the company and taking the time to participate.  Congrats all three of you anyway! ... View more

Drew - This is good news!   But we would like all catagories to get equal opportunites to be seen in the marketplace.  Last night I went to the LA meet up and the speaker Nate said that the highest requested catagories in LA was housekeeping and massage therapy and . . .  crap - I forgot the others.  Sorry. But It was not my catagory even though my catagory probably has the most Pros.  Photography.  So being on Nextdoor is great, but the person sitting next to me at the event last night said to me "well what is Thumbtack doing for the rest of us that are struggling".   True!  A few years back TT had tv spots.  It got the Thumbtack name out there even though I was disappointed that it portrayed Thumbtack as a "home improvement" services.  They guy red-doing his house.  If those are the highest requested catagories then we would like to see Thumbtack start pushing the word that you are more than a "house cleaning" service provider.  There are soooo many catagories that Thumbtack has.  Are we going to see more advertising for the entire Thumbtack name . . . .   somehow portraying that Thumbtack covers photographers, lawyers, lawn care, pet care, computer repair, etc?  With the triple cost in leads, the triple effort on TT's end would be great ... View more

Thank you! I understand this is the hot topic of the week so sorry to stray a bit. But my comment kind of addresses the Price Assurance because, though we appreciate these efforts to address the costs we Pros are absorbing due directly to the change over to Promote, I believe the overall concern that I’ve read on the message boards has been the actual triple increase in the leads. We still are paying for leads we have “no guarantee of” as you mention. So that hasn’t changed. Sure a customers reached out to us before Promote - but We paid to reach out to their requests because We read their request, budget and date needed and We chose to respond to a lead that We felt met our preference. It’s just reversed now. So why a triple rate. And if a customer responds now in Promote - you said it has shown overall to hold more value. Well I have not experienced that “more value”. The ROI in my case shows that. So I am very grateful for this Price Assurance - it helps. It’s a great start! I had several leads completely refunded in the last two weeks. Money credited back so I can stay engaged in the site. Which is what I want! However, here it is Thursday and I have zero leads this week. I am looking forward to the LA event this evening to have face to face conversations with other top pros in this highly competitive market and hear their thoughts. ... View more

Can you just simply explain or justify why all leads tripled in cost after Promote went into effect? A simple statement that addresses that fact. It is a fact. So I can clearly understand why a lead that used to be $8 is now $26 for the same exact details. I need to be reminded again. Forget the discounts and price savings and all that for a moment. Just a simple statement from TT that I can absorb that explains why we are paying triple costs for leads. If you can answer this question it can possibly reset my thinking on all theses matters. Can you answer the following for me: The cost tripled because ... Thank You :) ... View more

@ChefOfAllSeason That’s why you’re THE Chef of All Seasons!!!!! So True. ... View more

- just read your post. What is so disheartening about what I read was the cost of a lead for you. $42. sad. I really appreciate that - after 15+ months since changing the format - and many of us Pros losing a lot of money - and the triple cost increase being beyond comprehension - that a step towards adjustments has finally been made. However, the main problem and complaint is not being dealt with. Triple cost in leads. I’ll say again - Triple Cost In Leads. I bet before Promote you never saw a lead that cost $42 right? I couldn’t even look at My last 4 week insight report. Seriously. Made me sick. My concern is not just for me - but all these Pros out there with small businesses who are trying to get ahead in the world and provide for their families or simply survive. $42 a lead? I can relate. I am attending the Los Angeles Thumbtack event tonight and this will be the top of my list to speak up about. I truly suggest that TT pull statistics and look and track actual pros statistics over the last few years. Before Promote and after. I’ve done it. The numbers don’t lie. The triple price has had a major impact on this platform for us Pros. Price Assurance helps - but lead costing $42 will not sustain for long term loyalty or success for individuals Pros on this site. What has been so noticeable is the amount of new pros in my category. And the drop off of pros with with a lot of hires or reviews. Better for me right? No. I believe I’m now getting under bid. So far this week - I have yet to get a lead. Zero. Finally - when I google TT in my area for videographer, google shows Thumbtack “cheap videographers in your area”. So - what message does that send to the public? Cheap? Amazing choice of words. Adjust the triple price. Not one Pro should be paying $42 a lead. ... View more

@ChefOfAllSeason  well I shall let you know when I call today!  It's never been so in the past.  I had a customer last week who's budget was $400 but had to click the $400-$700 option.  My shown estimate was $500.  No refund allowed because it was within the $400-$700 budget they clicked.  I have mentioned to TT that they are too black and white on refunds and do not take a case by case evaluation.  And it is always considered that "courtsey refund".   It's not.  It's a case evaluation and determination that a refund would be "the right thing to do".   Ok - no more responding on TT this week.  I see all these messages and it is upsetting and I want to have a positive week!  Good luck everyone!   Have a fantastic week no matter what!  ... View more