CRAIGSLIST HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTORS AND HANDYMAN:
MANY ADS ARE FAKE!
As I have been working to build a home improvement service which is honest and true- one thing I have noticed (we work in Baltimore Maryland and Washington D.C.) is that many of the ads are fake.
After some research we actually found these "fake and misleading" ads are run by national handyman and home improvement websites. Not only are they misleading, they are actually illegal!!! To top it off- when I post a local business ad they are so aggressive, I have to make sure they don't "flag" my ads to stifle my chance of competing (kind of like ripping down your opponents posters in a high school SGA race).
Although my research has shown who each of these groups are tied to, I do not want to publish them here because I don't want to risk legal action- these guys have big pockets- you've probably seen their national commercials.
The truth is that many of those national advertisements discuss a list of thousands (millions) of happy customers when in reality, those customers thought they were only contacting a local, neighborhood plumber, electrician, roofer, or general handyman.
They are NOT customers of that site- they just happened to be tricked by the false advertising and called a number- which was then used to collect information and sell to the local contractors.
Above: A screen shot (one add on the left is imposed but that was taken from another screen. These are not "local handyman". This company occupies all the top spaces when you search for "handyman" in craigslist. This is accomplished through a practice called "Black Hat Hacking"- to trick the Craigslist system and devalue competitors.
(410-231-7155)- BOB
(443-376-8335)- Home Contractor Services
(443-429-5231) Terry's Handyman Service
ALL FAKE- MISLEADING ADS- NOT HANDYMEN OR CONTRACTORS
Above: Not the "referring" listed in the add. This company basically collected your information and sells it to 4 contractors. They are called "Home Contractor Services" and even though it is advertised they are licensed- they are not- this is illegal! Same artwork and phone number as above.
HEY!!! My Baltimore Handyman goes to Florida and Lake Tahoe!!! He must have a nice business and works in all his favorite vacation towns (sarcasm).
It's not that I am trying to cry about competition. What bothers me is there constant misleading ads and the ripping down of my advertisement.
I had my MHIC license for 8 years. I was the little man who had to fight the big guys. I want to give that little guy a chance but these guys simply do what they can to shoe horn themselves into the middle.
FYI- When they sell your information it is based on price. For general repairs it can be $15- when I was in Solar- it was $500- as a homeowner, you be the judge.
BAD LIST:
(410-231-7155)- BOB
(443-376-8335)- Home Contractor Services
(443-429-5231) Terry's Handyman Service
ALL FAKE- MISLEADING ADS- NOT HANDYMEN OR CONTRACTORS
