View Full Version : Bbb
TotalChoice
08-24-03, 08:41 PM
Ive been jumping thru the hoops trying to get Better Business Bureau Membership. Aside from giving the $800 and filling out forms, applications and one on site meeting with them, our application is still in progress.
Just wondering if any other hosts have gone thru the trouble of getting the BBB Membership.
Just like me always to put the horse in front of the cart then ask questions.
Anyways, just curious to see if any one is a member and if so what have been your experience with it.
TIA
Bill
JeremyV
08-25-03, 04:37 AM
i've heard from a few people who run businesses, and they say it is all but a scam to get your money. The BBB isn't a completely objective non-profit organization. The BBB is a FOR profit and privately run organization. And the fact that businesses have to pay to become a member just doesn't sit right with me. It's almost like you are paying to put that little sticker on your door that says "A Member of the Better Business Bureau" to try and convince people you are good.
I personally don't think it is worth $800 to become a member, but that is just IMO.
Chicken
08-25-03, 01:33 PM
Originally posted by JeremyV:
I personally don't think it is worth $800 to become a member, but that is just IMO.
I'd have to second that. When I had a business in CT, they telemarketed (called) me and tried to get me to sign up with that. It's a money thing, and I don't think much else despite what they might say to convince you to sign up.
I third to that, to be completely honest when i see a BBB mark on a website it doesnt make me think "Ahh BBB member, must be good". Although it doesn't make me think anything bad. Just reading the cost price for membership andnoting the fact your application is still pending makes me feel its a bit of a rip off.
johnallen
10-09-03, 11:37 AM
I think it might be your local office that is giving you trouble. When I signed up it took about a week.
I have to agree. There was a time when I thought that if a company was a member of the BBB that it was a good thing.
Now that I know how the BBB works, I don't see any point in joining. As well, company that displays the BBB symbol isn't any better in my eyes now that I understand the BBB system.
Karen
Chicken want to start up a rival organisation? MBBB... Much better business bureau. :D We'll just charge $799 and we'll win everyone over. Not to mention make a site that makes everyone believe that the seal (a little jpeg or gif made in paint) is a symbol of trust and that the company is a "better business".
I dont know of anywhere that teaches their users (ISPs for example) that the BBB is something good to look for in a site. I see stuff like that for SSL Certs etc which are important but if BBB is supposed to be as important as it is hyped up to be then why doesn't it receive the same amount of recognisation?
Scam scam scam :)
Oh correction: A scan that spams....had 8 emails from them giving me the benefits "i would" receive if i sign up for "Only $800".
Just wondering if any other hosts have gone thru the trouble of getting the BBB Membership. We have. It's almost like you are paying to put that little sticker on your door that says "A Member of the Better Business Bureau" to try and convince people you are good. It is. Anyways, just curious to see if any one is a member and if so what have been your experience with it. I went to the BBB for a week and all I got was this lousy T-Sh^H^H^H^HSticker. :p:
On a good note... the sticker does instill some confidence for our potential clients. It helps them to see us as a "Real Company". Worth the cash? :shrug: Will we renew? :probably:
Thanks for that Deb. Do your customers particularly feel "safer" when they see the BBB sticker? I wouldnt have thought so but just looking for your feedback as a registered entity.
Well... it helps with obtaining new clients...especially refugees. It's not enough by itself to obtain that 'safe feeling' but does add points to the scale.
It's difficult to quantify what it does for the clients outside of knowing that it does not cause harm yet does provide more of a secure feeling for those who consider these types of things.
The other thing the BBB provides is yet another network for promotion/advertising. Remember it's a community of businesses and they do send out quite a few newsletters and membership lists etc that provide another place to get your name in print.
In your honest opinion; worth the $800 USD?
No....but I did get tired of telling that to clients who would ask if we were a member....so maybe yes ;)
Ok lol, a yes and a no! lol, what would be a good price for you? If you was running the BBB?
IMHO successful membership into the local chapter of the BBB should qualify you for the rights to post as such on your website. Charging hundreds of dollars extra to enable you to put the sticker on your website is what burns me.
Yeah i agree with you there Deb!
In my opinion even if they charged a little admin fee (for the employee time of reviewing your site and accepting/denying etc) would be fine. But somehow im sure maybe 1-6 hours of work is $800.00 worth. But if it is, then maybe i should go work for BBB heh :)
$800 is a lot. But if you've been in business for 1+ years, than certainly $800 dollars shouldn't be an issue.
I think the complaints raised here about the $800 isn't that the amount itself is an issue but i think its more to do with how someone can put a price on reliability. After all the sticker is there to show how reliable a site is, adding a price tag to such a thing isn't really something desirable or appreciated at least in my book.
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