Thumbtack

Thumbtack, while a great idea, has problems that plague both consumer and vendor.

The vendor is told that Thumbtack is an "introduction" service. Thumbtack sells the "introduction" to 5 vendors per request. The price of the "introduction to each vendor can be as low as $3 to over $20 per "introduction". It's possible that Thumbtack is collecting from multiple vendors 25,30 or even 50 percent of what the consumer is looking to pay for whatever services they want. Thumbtack doesn't want to reimburse or credit back to the vendors for people that say that they hired someone outside of Thumbtack. Better than 90% of the people that use Thumbtack do not provide contact information. Vendors can use the Thumbtack interface, but no phone numbers, business name or anything else other than a personal name is generally provided. The requests are usually very very generic and do not provide adequate information to provide pricing for the service they say they want. As such, you cannot provide a quote or need additional information from someone that you do not have contact information for. Thumbtack is also appearing to appeal to the bottom feeders of both vendor and consumer as of late. Who, as a professional, can or would provide services at a rate that would require subsidy from some other source of income? The expectation of most of the consumers that utilize Thumbtack is to find bottom of the pricing scale vendors.

Consumers wouldn't want to utilize a part time doctor or attorney, but Thumbtack allows non-professionals to buy "introductions". While the free market is a great thing, the whole premise of Thumbtack as an introduction service for vendors and consumers is fraught with issues for both sides. Vendors spend money for "introductions" that are likely never going to amount to work and consumers have no way of knowing that the vendor is really a professional. It's very easy to have a great web presence and do crap work. What's to say that what you see online is actually work or testimonials that relate to the vendor?

Bottom line: Vendor and consumer beware!

Thumbtack refused to help me, and, they haven't proven a single thing... like even a stamped IP address to show at least it wasn't a Thumbtack employee making up fake contacts; tactics to make money I get it; Papa needs a new pairs of shoes; it doesn't mean stealing the shoes though. The double dipping, and potentially triple dipping on these "potential" customers. You consider a dropdown answer from a customer, a legitimate response?; I call it a lazy, and not serious customer! As an American citizen, I have the right to know exactly where my money is! You cannot show me behind the window?; even though it's my money behind the window? Get Outta here!

I asked one of the managers there to pretend for a second that I was auditing them, if I could have a rundown of my money. After a lengthy conversation, i was able to muster this out of them; but nothing that says at all where my money goes. Take a gander.

1. the service category,
2. Value or size of the job,
3. Length or duration it takes to complete the project,
4. Location,
5. Demand,
6. The competition in your market and
7. Customer's interest or response

Jean (Thumbtack Employee): You do have a good suggestion about the run down and this is definitely something we can look into adding in your dashboards so you can check how the cost is being charged.

Me: Netflix is $9.99 a month, nothing hidden, the most successful business in the world, they hide nothing, and it's straightforward $9.99 a month

Jean: Thanks for the honest feedback Jeff. This is noted and I'll be personally raising this to the management so we can work on your request regarding the run down. I just won't be able to provide a timetable on when this will be added to your dashboard, but I'll definitely work on it for you.

That is awesome, but where is my money lol, not to mention the 1000's of other Thumbtack Pros you threw one for. Oh wait, I did see a shiny new commercial on primetime television.

We have sent over 300 quotes, and we only obtained two DJ bookings for our troubles. It's a huge waste of money, as most people really aren't even interested in hiring.

We had perfect feedback from past customers we booked outside of Thumbtack on our profile. Someone I am quite confident is a former employee we terminated for dishonesty and unreliability has gone on a vendetta to discredit us. Thumbtack customer service does not care to protect pros from false reviews. This individual sent us a reply to our Instant Match quote.
See screenshot of the interaction here: https://imgur.com/4Izbzqt
I offered them a discount below the InstantMatch quoted amount, which didn't take into account they selected a low-demand date. They accused me of being a liar and using bait and switch pricing tactics. I attempted to explain to this individual many ways that banquet halls have the same discount protocol of offering a lower rate for off-peak dates, and there was no bait and switch by offering a discount BELOW the initial automatic quote Thumbtack sent. They proceeded to be rude and call me names. I explained I did not wish to do business with them due to their rude behavior. I never hired them. I never collected a deposit. I never even got a valid phone number or email address from this individual. They falsely marked me as hired so they could leave me a 1 star review for their event which is not until NEXT NOVEMBER.

According to the terms of use link Thumbtack support sent me, they are in violation of more than 1 criteria. Yet Thumbtack support insists they cannot remove the review, as it describes legitimate interaction by a customer. I again reiterate they were never a customer, and we go in circles. When I requested a manager, they informed me none was available and they would reach out to me. A manager never contacted me back. I continued going back and forth with their incompetent support team.

Thumbtack will take your money as a pro but not have your back when a lead attempts to take advantage of you.

I install a washer box for this customer the job was to install a washer box she wanted me to fix other things and I said why I have to order the part so I'll be back I was trying to break it down to her that I have to order from the company it's going to take a couple days it's a special part oh, well she contacted thumbtack and complained that I didn't get the job finished, I don't know why she would have done that because I explained the whole job to her some people you just can't explain enough to ID app actually absorbed into their mind, with all due respect my customers are number one. I tried to contact this customer but all she wanted to do is yell at me over the phone so then because it wasn't resolved I try to contact thumbtack but nobody wanted to reach out to me they only reached out to the customer didn't give a s*** about the contractor, so they shut me down for no reason at all what kind of blows my mind cuz I have a 5-star rating and you people are totally unprofessional when it comes to solving issues the goal is to get more business you people just destroy it

I contracted with Sweet Pools (Chad), *******023 to resurface (plaster) and replace all tile in a large pool in August 2018. Cost - $13,786.00. I was assured the job would be completed with full satisfaction. During the re-plastering, I learned that Mr. Sweet subcontracted the re-plaster job out to a separate company. The plaster and tile work was terrible. Plastering was uneven, had ripples and acid was applied far too much in many areas now causing surface spotting and shadowing. Tiles were upside and some tiles down side. In addition, the spa light re-installation looks like a blind man did it. If this wasn't enough, all work area was left uncleaned and his crew damaged and broke my wrought iron gate latch and I had to arrange the repair. As of this date Mr. Sweet has not paid for the damage.
The worst contractor work I've ever experienced.
The work was so bad that I requested Mr. Sweet to re-do. Mr. Sweet REFUSED. In October I threatened a legal remedy and he still REFUSED. Two separate pool companies have been called out to provided estimates and provided opinions regarding the poor sub-quality of the work. They have provided written statements of the poorest quality work they've seen, which I am providing to my attorneys. I am having my pool redone and filing suit against Sweet Pools and Chad Sweet personally for the full amount above in addition to DTPA.
In addition to the above, when it came time for payment, he insisted for another $500 over and above the written quote citing that he miscalculated his original bid. As a reasonable person, I agreed when I should not have.
I've asked for the name and contact information of the plastering company used by Mr. Sweet and so far he has REFUSED to cooperate.
I do not recommend Sweet Pools and Chad Sweet to anyone. Integrity of the owner and work performed is the worst, extremely unprofessional.
I'm available for further information and comment.