Lead Mailers Misleading?
- Thread starter BWB
- Start date
- 17,078
You are missing the whole point of the BBB then.
The BBB gives your customers a place to do a formalized complaint without all the trouble of going to the attorney general, insurance commissioner, etc.
I've never had a complaint yet but if I ever do, I will prefer that it come through the BBB and allow me to know about it and hopefully resolve it before it would go further up the food chain.
The BBB logo also carries a lot of weight with your clients. Much more than the cost of membership. And let's face it, many of our clients think the BBB is a government office that could make you do things. It never hurts to be able to advertise that you are in good standings with them.
It couldn't hurt, but check out their fee schedule (min and max is number of employees) and let me know if you feel its a scam or reasonable.
Min Max 1yr Dues
0 2 $424
3 10 $524
11 20 $699
21 40 $799
41 100 $1,149
101 200 $1,749
201 300 $2,199
301 1000 $2,349
1001 1250 $4,999
1251 3000 $6,699
3001 4000 $8,499
4001 5000 $10,499
Additional Locations
$99
Additional Companies
$199
Communications & Marketing Enhancements
$35/$50
BBB Foundation Donation - Optional (includes Military Line)
$50
- 19,673
I agree that our market is too uninformed to know that the BBB is a sham. That doesn't make it any less of a sham but because they don't know that we have to deal with it.
Thanks Newby and JD,
Those were my sentiments when I referenced them in my post. I was not trying to single the BBB out as a "go-to" source for consumers, but having bad posts on their website, as well as others, is not good for business.
- 17,078
You guys are just looking at the BBB the wrong way. It is what it is.
It's a member business complaint resolution agency. It's voluntary if you want to participate and it's also voluntary if you want to be a supporting member. If you are a paying member you get to use their logo in your marketing which does carry a bit of weight with many seniors.
If the AARP announced today that they would allow you to pay them $300 a year to use their logo and advertise that you have an A+ rating, many of you would do it. And to have an A+ rating all you need to do is respond to any formal complaints coming through them within 10-days and resolve the complaint. There is no difference in the BBB doing it. It carries just about the same weight.
You don't even have to pay them anything for your A+ rating. All you have to pay for is the right to use their logo and rating in your marketing.
I have a local competitor that has never paid them a penny. I've seen at least one or two complaints for him come through on the BBB newsletter but he must have responded to the complaints because they still give him an A+ rating.
I've seen other businesses choose to ignore it and their ratings go down. It doesn't mean their a bad business. It just means they won't participate to complaints that come through the BBB. In those cases the consumer just has to take their complaint to the Attorney General's office. And that's more difficult for the consumer and worse for you as the agent. Because unlike the BBB, the Attorney General can inflict some pain on you.
I guess BBBs charge different amounts in different towns. Mine is around $300. It's worth it to me.
It's a member business complaint resolution agency. It's voluntary if you want to participate and it's also voluntary if you want to be a supporting member. If you are a paying member you get to use their logo in your marketing which does carry a bit of weight with many seniors.
If the AARP announced today that they would allow you to pay them $300 a year to use their logo and advertise that you have an A+ rating, many of you would do it. And to have an A+ rating all you need to do is respond to any formal complaints coming through them within 10-days and resolve the complaint. There is no difference in the BBB doing it. It carries just about the same weight.
You don't even have to pay them anything for your A+ rating. All you have to pay for is the right to use their logo and rating in your marketing.
I have a local competitor that has never paid them a penny. I've seen at least one or two complaints for him come through on the BBB newsletter but he must have responded to the complaints because they still give him an A+ rating.
I've seen other businesses choose to ignore it and their ratings go down. It doesn't mean their a bad business. It just means they won't participate to complaints that come through the BBB. In those cases the consumer just has to take their complaint to the Attorney General's office. And that's more difficult for the consumer and worse for you as the agent. Because unlike the BBB, the Attorney General can inflict some pain on you.
I guess BBBs charge different amounts in different towns. Mine is around $300. It's worth it to me.
- 17,078
They are like AARP. Consumers think the BBB is some type of watchdog with clout and authority. That is the way BBB markets itself. However what they are really about is selling memberships. All a business has to do with a BBB complaint is respond. That is it and the case will close. You don't have to resolve anything. It is much more troublesome to have a complaint on a Yahoo, Goggle, or Yelp review.
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/busin...1&b=31&xa=c3ri0MeQoPHeVCn6ulbODw--,1379962653
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