Angies List Deceptive Business Model Internet

Thanks for expressing your concerns; however, we at Angie's List would like to clarify our policies and a couple of misstatements made by the poster: Service providers do not have any influence at Angie's List on the grades they receive. The grades are completely member driven and current grades are based on reports dating back two years. All reports filed within the past two years remain accessible by members on the Angie's List web site (www.angieslist.com).

In addition, Angie's List does not remove any member reports that contain negative information simply at the behest of a service provider. A service provider who receives a negative review on Angie's List does, however, have the option of asking for a report reconfirmation. The reconfirmation process helps verify the accuracy of a report, if the service provider contends that there are inaccuracies or the provider does not have a record of the member as a client.

If the negative report is found to be valid – regardless the service provider's rating – that information remains accessible to all Angie's List members in that area. If the information cannot be verified, the report is pulled until/unless it can be verified.

Lastly, service providers cannot represent themselves as members of Angie's List, nor can they self-report. We have a real person read and review each report and have a checks and balances system in place to help ensure report accuracy.

I agree with the complaint Anita filed against Angie's List.  Angie's List is just like the Better Business Bureau where they and their "members" scratch each other backs.  The BBB will generally not list negative comments about their "members".  I see the same thing happening with Angie's List.
 
Just like companies that pay the Better Business Bureau to become a "member", the same is true with contractors who sign up with Angie's List.  The contractors are putting money into Angie's List's pockets so obviously Angie's List is going to do whatever means possible to keep these contractors (aka their customers) happy.

To be perfectly above board, Angie's List should not charge contractors a fee to be listed with them.  Angie's List needs to pattern themselves after Consumer Reports magazine. Consumer Reports does not accept any advertsing in their magazine, knowing that it would be a conflict of interest to do this and then report on the same companies that are paying them.

First of all, I have a company that was placed on Angies List 10 years ago.  At the time it was a wonderful thing.  To clarify something, companies can not pay to be on Angies List, and it seems we can not get off Angies List.  Angies List refuses to remove the company names.  
I have a huge problem with customers being able to post a report on work that has not been done.  We as owners have the right to refuse to work for a customer, Angies List or not.  1 out of 10 Angies List members use the Angies List member thing as a threat to us.  9 our of ten Angies List members, even given an Angies List discount, do not post a report, good or bad.  But you let something go wrong and a bad post and Angies List will not remove the bad report.  It is the customer of Angies List that is given the upper hand, and they call and "inform" you that it must be taken care of and you are to drop all your doing to take satisfy Angies List member.  Just really unfair to the company on Angies List that people are paying them to see our names.  There needs to be a little more help and faith  in the companies that Angies List is making money on, all we can do is try and protect our names after it has been trashed by an unreasonable person that thinks because they are Angies List they own us.

I agree that Angies List is highly unfair. I own a business and angies list is not very popular here where I live, although it is "there" for consumers to report on. I never used it to advertise, and yes a company can pay to be a member with advertising rights. I was emailed by angies list taht a report had been put on their site about me. I knew immediately who it was, a woman who wanted top notch service and expected to pay nada for it.

This was my only review. I rebutted and actually made this woman look silly, but that negative review is still there.

I have read the Angies list forums and other businesses have expressed the exact same thing. People use it as a tool to imtimidate and pretty much extort companies into doing what the consumer wants in order not to get a negative review. Thats extortion in my book. In my case the woman blatantly lied, but we had done work for her so that review stands. There is nothing I can do about it except to rebutt, as I did, however it was so distasteful for me to have to do that.

Angies list is supposed to be there to protect the consumer, NOT let them extort businesses, I dont care what Paul has to say about it.

My friend decided to try Angies list out.   The site is useless and I am planning to get my money back some way or another.  Angies list is like the yellow pages and that's it.

I was wondering why they were advertising on the big markets on tv. 

The question is this.  What are people actually getting for $5.00 and more when we already have advertisement mechanism to getting clients.


Why can't I update my listing and why is the company not opened until two days after Christmas?

As president of a masonry company, I suggest that the president & its employees go out & inspect & report on each & every job they recommend.  The hands-on inspections will be more reliable that 'he said/she said' from the comments that I have read so far especially if you have to pay for this service.