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Have you used Service Magic and had success?

I'm just wondering if stagers/designers on AR have used Service Magic and if so, have you felt you received a good return on your investment?

I get asked about this all the time and we've not chosen to use this service as we feel there are far more effective marketing strategies to implement before this one, but I was wondering if anyone else had tried it.

Looking forward to hearing feedback!

Posted by Ashley Whittenberger on 10/28/2009 02:11 PM

Comments (8)

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8 Comments on Have you used Service Magic and had success?

OCT

Hi Ashly!

As a user of SM, I can say all of the "leads" I've been given are "direct", which means they cost more! However, I call/email the lead RIGHT AWAY and not once have they called me back. So, I'm charged for the "lead", but nothing comes from it. It makes me wonder about the validity of the "lead".

I contacted SM over a week ago about my dissatisfaction and possible explanations about the seemingly false leads, with NO REPLY from them as of today.

All of this said, I think Melody Salazar wrote a positive post about them a while back.

Thanks for the quick reply Debra! Good info. for me and all else who read this!

I know that there are a few Stagers in my area who use SM, but when I entered my info (not knowing what it was or how it worked) 3 of the 4 referred Staging companies contacted me almost immediately. When I explained what happened, and that I too am a Stager, of course they were a little miffed because as Debra said; they get charged by the LEAD. (I was a "lead") I did write letters so that each could be refunded their fee from SM.

After researching it a bit more though, I asked SM how many referrals in my area had been routed in the last 3 months, they said "7". When I asked how many Stagers in the area were signed up they said 5, and the referrals are rotated amongst the Stagers. So in 3 months I might have gotten 1-2 referrals if that, and I would always be competing with at least 2-3 other Stagers for the same job... no thanks.

They contacted me leaving a message that they have had requests for my services in my area. When I called them back and asked how many requests....none! I guess it may depend on what market you are in. But for me...I'll pass!

OCT

This is pretty much what I've heard and it seems it's not just in California that this is happening. Realtors get not only SM but many others with the same "deal" for us. I'll pass too.

Connie, Donna & Terrylyn,

Thanks for taking the time to share your feeback. It's most helpful to be able to chat with my staging friends near and far! Thank goodness for Active Rain!

NOV

Ashley,

STAY AWAY FROM SERVICE MAGIC! I have had many leads in the year I've been with them. I have turned them off and on from time to time during that period, but for the most part have stayed 'active'. Active meaning I get the leads, NOT meaning I get the projects. NOthing is further from the truth. If anyone out there is having success with this company, I surely would like to hear from them and find out why!

I did do a long blog with updates, but suffice it to say this company is bogus at best. 98% of the time the 'lead' was just 'goofing around' on the internet. I then am charged for calling that person. OR you contact the lead and tell them your prices (mine are extremely competitive) and they say, no that's too high and hang up. I'm then charged for that lead!

And then every time you want to dispute a lead, it takes weeks. Then you'll receive an email that says No - since you spoke with the person, the lead was good.

I wrote them just today, coincidentally and told them if they didn't reverse the last two bogus leads I received, to take me off their systen.

Do not waste time, energy (I put together an entire website on their site) or the extreme costs.

Mel

Thanks for the feedback Melody. That sounds extremely frustrating! I'm definitely going to share this info. with fellow stagers!

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