Recently a major search engine has changed its algorithm. If you now search for a Forest of Dean locksmith, electrician or plumber then all you’ll see is sponsored ads at the top of the page. If you use your phone to search then genuine local tradesmen may not even show up unless you scroll down.
How does this affect you, the customer? Very often these sponsored ads will say claim to be local, say they can be there within minutes. They may claim prices “starting” from £20 etc. Typically all you’re actually doing is ringing a call center in Manchester or somewhere. What they often do is get you to agree a price, then they’ll just call around genuine local tradesmen and subcontract the job to them. Normally you’ll pay 2.5-3 times more than the price if you’d rang the local tradesman direct.
Sometimes sponsored ads are for a national franchise. They have to pay for these sponsored ads, and it’s the customer in turn who pays a premium on any work to pay for these ads, the call center, the bosses etc.
Years ago I used to subcontract for some of the national companies. They’d pass work from a call center. I’d get paid slightly less than if the customer called me direct, and the unfortunate customer would pay significantly more. It often felt as if the customer was being ripped off just because they clicked a national company’s ad. You don’t need to be ripped off – just be careful if you’re clicking an advert.
Garage door lock replaced.