From appliance dealers to auto repair, waterproofing to wedding planners, Angie’s List has them—and ranks them—all
By Lindsey Schwartz
Illustration by Jane Sanders
We all know the scenario: You hire a roofer to patch a leak. It takes three weeks longer than expected and costs three times as much as originally estimated. Or the contractor you hire to fence your back yard accidentally encompasses part of your neighbor’s yard. Many consumers accept these mishaps as part of life, without realizing that help is out there, and it’s as close as the nearest computer. Founded in 1995 by Angie Hicks, AngiesList.com now serves 28 cities across the country and boasts more than 200,000 members. The site uses the “ask your neighbor” strategy to assist members in finding the service provider in their area who best suits their needs.
For a fee of $4.95 a month, members gain access to information on more than 250 different service categories. After they have hired a company, members are asked to evaluate its performance, assigning a rating of A, B, C, D, or F in several categories. The ratings are then combined to achieve the company’s overall rating, and the original reports remain available for members to view. Angie attributes members’ consistent follow-up to a “social contract that folks fall back on.” Reporting back on the service increases the likelihood that fellow members will do the same, and this mentality contributes a great deal to the site’s success.
As often as this site helps consumers locate a reliable service provider, the occasional horror story still occurs. Should you find yourself in such a predicament, now you have someone to go to bat for you. If notified, Angie’s List will attempt to contact the offending company and resolve the issue, which usually proves successful. However, if the company fails to respond, the owners will find their company listed in the appropriately titled “Penalty Box,” thereby warning members to avoid hiring them. The site’s growing reputation among businesses has resulted in more prompt service for Angie’s List members. Not only do companies rely on members for a good rating, but they also realize that bad service could hurt their credibility and cost them business.
Whether you need your wedding planned, your stuffed moose head cleaned, your boat upholstered or your dog poop scooped, this website (www.angieslist.com) offers one-stop shopping for even the most specialized services. The availability of reviews submitted by your peers can significantly reduce the number of headaches over large-scale projects or something as small as an oil change. The site also offers basic information, such as phone numbers and hours of operation. When asked about the success of the website, Angie puts it simply, saying, “Consumers are really just looking for a way to give themselves more information. Using the list allows them to do that in just a couple of minutes. It gives them information they’re yearning for.”
You can sign up for Angie’s List by visiting the website or by calling 866-262-3950. It should also be noted that the top-rated companies occasionally offer discounts to Angie’s List members.
