Don't get ripped off by the plumber

rmparsons

Hi folks,
Has anyone come accross the FREE site https://www.thegoodbuilder.co.uk? I have just come accross it and its a fantastic but simple idea - you can leave and read feedback on tradespeople in a similar way to eBay and Amazon - i.e you register, they register, you read their feedback, you book them for work, they do the job, and you give them feedback. Good feedback gets them more work, bad feedback gives them what they deserve if they don't do the job well or rip you off.
The only drawback is that its a new site with not that many tradespeople registered.
What do you think folks? It could be a way of getting rid of those rip-off merchants and by finding tradespeople who are genuinely good. But we need to give the site a leg-up by getting the ball rolling - i.e. telling your good plumber etc to register, then register yourself and give the plumber feedback.

Let me know your thoughts....

sneekymum

What's to stop dodgy plumber getting all his friends and family to leave good feedback - just like folks do on eBay?

Tojo_Ralph

rmparsons wrote:

Hi folks,
Has anyone come accross the FREE site.....

Just come across (no jokes please fifer) or just launched? :rolleyes:

Eagle_1

Aye lol, thats all I can say

santana-mx3

Doesn't seem to be anything at www.thegoodbuilder.co.uk

Could it possibly be this one: www.goodbuilderguide.co.uk/

dccarm

Link doesn't work. Isn't there already a similar website (or more) up and running? It's a good idea, but I've never seen it done very effectively.

rmparsons

Hi there,
Thanks for your reply - its a good point, and yes any system can be abused, but think of how many people are ripped off by tradespeople who have a certificate! At least current feedback gives an idea of how good they are NOW, and in other things such as their attitude. (The way it works on eBay is that you can't leave feedback unless you have won the item and paid for it. So if this site can do something similar, then I don't think it would be a huge problem. )
After all, lets say a dodgy plumber got his friends and family to "book" him for lots of jobs, and give him good feedback, then he got a real job but did it badly, the one bad feedback would put others off. I have been selling my son's toys on eBay recently and have noticed how the feedback "carrot" has motivated me not only to be honest, but also to be considerate, communicate with the buyer, tell them when I have posted the item, etc. Politeness and consideration have gone further to promote positive comments than the actual items have!
Translating this to feedback on your (or my) builder, you could be really specific about what he did well, eg clearing up well, turning up on time and regularly, honesty, courtesy, etc. Genuine feedback is recogniseable by its detail. Proper feedback from family members of dodgy workmen would involve mental effort... if you know what I mean!
Cheers! R

Nikki

sneekymum wrote:

What's to stop dodgy plumber getting all his friends and family to leave good feedback - just like folks do on eBay?

A builders only got so many friends and family members, if they're any good their genuine feedback will out number any doddgy FB.

Graham. Nikki's OH.

rmparsons

Yes you are right - its
https://www.goodbuilderguide.co.uk !
Thanks

Tojo_Ralph

dccarm wrote:

Link doesn't work. Isn't there already a similar website (or more) up and running? It's a good idea, but I've never seen it done very effectively.

http://www.trustatrader.com/

rmparsons

Hi sorry I missed a bit out of the link - see santana mx3's post.
About there being other sites, I thought there were, but found only one which gave feedback and its for a specific area of london (SW13 I believe).
I found 2 advertising sites in my area without feedback options, and emailed them asking them if they would consider having a feedback section but I got a really defensive reply which set me thinking... If the advertising sites get defensive, there could be something about feedback which would harm their advertising, which made me think that feedback is an even better idea!
So I kept looking until I found https://www.goodbuilderguide.com. If there are other sites it would be worth knowing about.
Cheers
R