What's a good site for rating businesses,etc. ?

For example if you wanted to hire a contractor to install carpet or something ?

Also for more general stuff like reviews of dentists, auto repair,etc.

I don't trust BBB, they have no good info. Ripoff report pulls up too much stuff.

Preferably something you can filter to the state level or smaller.

Try Angie's List

Tkeller said:

Try Angie's List

Click to expand...

I don't really want to pay for their service.

<table style="width: 410px; font-size: 11px; text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" border="0" cellspacing="5"><tbody><tr><td colspan="10"> Save money by signing up for multiple years!</td></tr><tr style="line-height: 20px;"><td class="chart" style="width: 65px;">
</td><td class="chart" style="font-weight: bold;" align="center">Dues</td><td class="chart" style="width: 10px;">
</td><td class="chart" style="font-weight: bold; width: 135px;" align="center">Signup Fee *</td><td class="chart" style="width: 10px;">
</td><td class="chart" style="font-weight: bold;" align="center">Total</td><td class="chart" style="font-weight: bold; color: red;" align="center">Save</td><td class="chart" style="font-weight: bold; color: red;" align="center">Discount</td></tr><tr class="payrows"><td class="chart" style="width: 40px; text-align: left;"> Monthly</td><td class="chart" align="center">$8.75</td><td class="chart" align="center">+</td><td class="chart" align="center">$15.00</td><td class="chart" align="center">=</td><td class="chart" align="center">$23.75</td><td class="chart" style="color: red;" align="center">--</td><td class="chart" style="color: red; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px;" align="center">--</td></tr><tr><td colspan="10">Continuous service, billed to your credit card each month on your anniversary date. Cancel or switch to an Annual payment plan at any time. Sorry, no refunds.</td></tr><tr class="payrows"><td class="chart" style="width: 40px; text-align: left;"> 1 year</td><td class="chart" align="center">$67.00</td><td class="chart" align="center">+</td><td class="chart" align="center">$15.00</td><td class="chart" align="center">=</td><td class="chart" align="center">$82.00</td><td class="chart" style="color: red;" align="center">$38.00</td><td class="chart" style="color: red; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px;" align="center">36%</td></tr><tr class="payrows"><td class="chart" style="width: 40px; text-align: left;"> 2 year</td><td class="chart" align="center">$120.00</td><td class="chart" align="center">+</td><td class="chart" align="center">$15.00</td><td class="chart" align="center">=</td><td class="chart" align="center">$135.00</td><td class="chart" style="color: red;" align="center">$90.00</td><td class="chart" style="color: red; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px;" align="center">43%</td></tr><tr class="payrows"><td class="chart" style="width: 40px; text-align: left;"> 3 year</td><td class="chart" align="center">$170.00</td><td class="chart" align="center">+</td><td class="chart" align="center">$15.00</td><td class="chart" align="center">=</td><td class="chart" align="center">$185.00</td><td class="chart" style="color: red;" align="center">$145.00</td><td class="chart" style="color: red; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px;" align="center">46%</td></tr><tr class="payrows"><td class="chart" style="width: 40px; text-align: left;"> 4 year</td><td class="chart" align="center">$215.00</td><td class="chart" align="center">+</td><td class="chart" align="center">$15.00</td><td class="chart" align="center">=</td><td class="chart" align="center">$230.00</td><td class="chart" style="color: red;" align="center">$205.00</td><td class="chart" style="color: red; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px;" align="center">49%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="10" align="left">Annual dues are billed to your credit card each year. We will send a reminder before your subscription is automatically renewed. Annual membership dues are backed by our 110% money back, satisfaction guarantee.</td></tr><tr><td colspan="10" align="left">* The Signup Fee will only be charged once provided that you keep your membership current.</td></tr></tbody></table>

maxdemo said:

www.citysearch.com

Click to expand...

I'm looking to buy carpet and have it installed. Citysearch is good for locating stores, but I can't figure out what their star ratings mean or how to read reviews.

I don't know wether to go with a big place like Lowe's, or choose a smaller independant shop.

Any tips on buying carpet ?

Doug said:

I'm looking to buy carpet and have it installed. Citysearch is good for locating stores, but I can't figure out what their star ratings mean or how to read reviews.

I don't know wether to go with a big place like Lowe's, or choose a smaller independant shop.

Any tips on buying carpet ?

Click to expand...

Are you gouing to install the carpet??

If not then you can buy the carpet anywhere and have a contractor locally install the carpet

If you want to read the reviews for a company all you have to do is click on the company and it will take you to their info page. From that page there should be a link to read the reviews...I know because my company is listed there and we get some customers that find us that way.

maxdemo said:

Are you gouing to install the carpet??

If not then you can buy the carpet anywhere and have a contractor locally install the carpet

Click to expand...

I'm going to do indoor/outdoor in the basement myself, but have a pro do the rest of the house with real carpet. I have only limited experience with carpet, I used to occassionally help a friend that was an installer, but that was mainly carrying carpet, moving furniture,ripping up old, putting down pad and tackstrip. I don't have the tools or much experience doing things like seams and stairs.

I am considering purchasing the carpet myself, then hiring an installer.

maxdemo said:

If you want to read the reviews for a company all you have to do is click on the company and it will take you to their info page. From that page there should be a link to read the reviews...I know because my company is listed there and we get some customers that find us that way.

Click to expand...

that's what I thought, but I don't see a read link, just a write link, for example :


http://national.citysearch.com/profile/2053055/old_saybrook_ct/johnson_floor_covering.html

Doug said:

that's what I thought, but I don't see a read link, just a write link, for example :


http://national.citysearch.com/profile/2053055/old_saybrook_ct/johnson_floor_covering.html

Click to expand...

I clicked on your link and on the City Search page for Johnson floor covering is a link to the right of Business Info is a review link. But they have not been reviewed by anyone in your city.

Business Info
<LI class=tab _element_extended_="true">Reviews
Johnson Floor Covering

1654 Boston Post Rd Ste 4
Old Saybrook, CT 06475
Phone: (860) 399-9131


Write a Review

• Map
• Print
• Email to a Friend
• SMS/Text
• Save

<DL id=profile-update><DT>Own this business? <DD>Edit your listing <!-- The hard-coded market id is only for the test period --><DT>Have Updated Info? <DD>Suggest a correction</DD></DL>
From what it looks like your near New London, CT...if so go to this page

http://newlondon.citysearch.com/sea...=generic&searchOpt=cs&query=carpets&y=12&x=38

but its looks like there are not many reviews for the companys listed.


if you go to my city...Houston, TX there are allot of reviews

http://houston.citysearch.com/searc...xt=generic&searchOpt=cs&query=carpets&y=0&x=0

I see, it tells you under the stars if there are any reviews ( found out by trying pizza), not a single carpet place has a review here. It's like looking at the yellow pages with no reviews available.

Be aware that buying carpet someplace and then hiring a contractor elsewhere to install it will be difficult. You are better off going to Lowe's or Home Depot and have them come to your house to give you an estimate. An installer will want to take the measurements himself and not want to trust your's (for good reason).

I used to own 2 floor covering stores before I moved down to South Florida. Good installers are hard to come by, and the best will usually be working for a big box store. I did not make much on labor, but the markup on carpet and tile and laminates is incredible. If you go to a mom and pop store you will get crappy installers who will not stand by their work. Lowe's and Home Depot will guarantee the installation, usually for 1 year. Also good places to shop for carpet are Shaw and Mohawk stores.

Expect to pay 3.50-4.50 per square yard of carpet for installation and about $3 per yard for decent padding. All together decent quality carpet including installation will cost you $20 per yard and up.

I guess I'll go with Lowe's, they have much better CS in store than HD. The small stores scare me a bit, after reading these articles :

http://www.howtobuycarpet.com/

Tkeller said:

Try Angie's List

Click to expand...

Stock on fire today :


Angie's List, Inc. (ANGI) -NasdaqGM
17.81 4.19(30.76%) 9:51AM EST - Nasdaq Real Time Price


Add to Portfolio


Up 30%%%

yelp for general stuff but angie's list is def the best for home improvement stuff

think my wife has a subscrip if there is someone in particular you want info on