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The Kitchen Table

anyone tried angies list??

16 years ago

We moved to a new city and I need recommendations for good docs and dentists and I was going to check angies list but see that there is a fee to join. Its not expensive but I just thought I would check here with all of you helpful friends to see if anyone had any experience with it.

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Comments (9)

jannie
16 years ago
Actually I joined Angies List for one year and found it worth my while. i used it to find a carpet shampooer and a handyman and a manicure salon. . At 20 or 30 bucks a year twoor three referrals /recommendations seems worth it. But you'll have to consider the cost vs. how much use you'll get. Medical professionals seem worth it. However, I did not use Angies for finding my doctor and dentist. those I've had for many years and have used frequently. We have relatioinships based on trust and good health outcomes. Not sure I'd trust AL for that purpose. Hope others will respond.
houstonmom_gw
16 years ago
I've looked at angie's list, too but figured word-of-mouth and using my own research resources (google!) would be just as effective.

I know you can read reviews and recommendations via google. Our family pohysician is rated, and I added a glowing review after he took care of my son Easter weekend.

Perhaps ask co-workers or any neighbor you have met already and see if they can be of some assistance. Even chatting with someone in the grocery line could give you some good information.
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If your town or city has anything like a home and garden show, the folks from Angie's List usually are there, and the price to join is much lower at the show than if you just Google'd it and joined that way (the membership renewal prices are lower at the shows, too). Yes, it costs to go to the shows, but usually there are newspaper and Groupon-type coupons available. I've ordered from Footsmart before; they're OK. I also order from Zappos -- just compare prices. Some items I've seen on Zappos were more expensive than other places even once you factor in shipping (I believe that Zappos' prices are slightly higher here and there because of that).
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I've subscribed to AL for about 8 years now and I re-up happily. I figure the yearly subscription fee is much less than I'd pay to fix a crummy job done by some contractor hired on a third-hand recommendation or a random stab in a phone book/Web search. In that length of time, I've hired only one "dud" off the List, and that was a handyman. He was one of their less-frequently-rated listees, but I went with him because he met other job requirements. He didn't do a bad job, either -- it just wasn't the smooth experience I had with other selections from AL. Negative feedback is not a problem unless it's obvious you're way off the mark ("Joe did good work but seems to hate people in this part of town.") I routinely see contractors downgraded for lack of punctuality or bad phone manners or sloppy cleanup. Be aware that all feedback (good and bad) goes to the contractor and they have the opportunity to rebut your side of the story, though AL seems to take the trouble to keep people to the facts. Certainly if you have a beef with a contractor, the more facts you can provide to support your side, the better off you are. AL staff can intervene if you've had a truly terrible experience with a contractor, but there usually are better avenues to pursue (like Small Claims court or your state's Attorney General).
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Though as I posted above, I find AL very useful, doesn't mean I am thrilled with everything. I have been with them since they first came to our city. One example of problems that happen is that I had a wonderful experience with a tree-trimming company and I was the one responsible for adding them to the AL database. They probably didn't even know what it was when I did that. I gave them a glowing report. A couple of years later, I was going to hire them again for another job and find they are about three times more expensive at least according to their bid. Success often spoils company. That is why I never use the ones that have the most reviews even if good reviews. Sort of like the stock market, you want to buy when they are low (and new). If you wait too late, then you are not getting that great of a deal. As they grow, they often have to totally reorganize their business, hire new people and buy new equipment. This means it is basically another company than that which you originally hired. Because business sense is not that easy to come by, most of the time, the new company they have become is not as good as the old one (and I don't judge just by price). And like some of those new tech companies in Silicon Valley, the original company you gave a glowing review for got tons of business, made some nice money and has sold the company to someone else - no longer the same company at all though has the same name. Success can definitely spoil a company. So let the buyer beware. AL is good but in some ways has caused a new problem that people need to watch out for. But I don't plan to terminate my membership anytime soon. I just know that there is no substitute for doing homework, getting references, getting multiple bids (this last one I hate the most).
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leel
16 years ago
I've used Angie's list and found it very helpful--well worth the fee.
marilyn_c
16 years ago
The guy that ran off with my $8,000 for my roof....I am going to join and post about him. The only reason I am holding back is my best friend who reccommended him gave me the money back and is getting him to sign a note to pay her back, and he hasn't done it yet. He is her husband's best friend and she reccommended him to the highest degree and he was absolutely sorry with everything he touched.

I did get my roof and it is an excellent job and I will be happy to reccommend the guy who did it.
User
16 years ago
I tried it a few years back when they gave me a free one year subscription. I had just moved to this state and was trying to look up an air conditioner guy. After that, they started calling and emailing me to try to get comments. It totally turned me off. Angie's list was apparently fairly new at that time. The info that had been provided wasn't enough. I didn't appreciate the hassle.
susan_on
16 years ago
I would try ratemd's.com.
Kathsgrdn
16 years ago
It's annoying when people don't follow through. I don't think I'd pay for a site like that because I live in a small town. It may be worth it in a big city and you plan to have a lot of work done.

I'm still waiting for the paint guy to come paint my house. A friend from work recommended her husband last year. He kept putting me off and finally it got too cold for me to open the windows and air the house out so I told him it would have to wait till Spring. Well, I'm still waiting. She told me three weeks ago he would come in a couple of days and start. Then last week I worked and she told me he would start tomorrow after he called and came over with the price of the paint and for my house key. Well, I still haven't heard from them.

I started painting last week and am going to get another gallon of paint to finish that room, at least the walls. Still have to buy paint for the trim and closet.
3katz4me
16 years ago
I've used it and I found it to be well worth the money. I haven't used it to find healthcare professionals however. I like to get insider recommendations for that kind of thing - from people who work in the field - and fortunately I know quite a few people who do. I'm not so sure how a lay person knows if their dentist does quality dentistry for example.
sheilajoyce_gw
16 years ago
I always have asked my previous doctor to recommend someone for where I am moving. They can check out who practices there, their education and sometimes they know them personally.

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