BBB - thinking of not renewing

We have an A+ rating, but I can think of only 1 customer that ever asked me if we are members. My main 2 issues are:

1. As soon as I renew, I start getting bombarded for months, nearly every day, with emails and phone calls wanting me to buy something else.

2. Some competitors, who I know to have a crappy reputation, also have A+ ratings...and miraculously zero complaints????? I know one person who was getting sued for his bad roof - the opposing attorney asked me to be an expert witness. He has an A+ rating with zero complaints.

I think it's a scam. I think you can pay to keep a good rating. I am thinking of putting a memo on our website stating, in part:

As I write this on 11/22/14, we have an A+ rating with the BBB and zero complaints. I will not be renewing because I think it is a waste of money - money that you, my customer pays for indirectly. I personally know of several roofing contractor who have a terrible reputation but who have an A+ rating on zero complaints. I think the BBB is an ineffective means of proving credibility.

What do you guys think?

I am currently doing battle with the BBB over a complaint that was filed against me after I had been out of business for two years, six months. The roof was finished in 2007. I retired in 2010. Complainer filed in 2012. How can I answer a complaint for a period of time after the obvious fact of not being in business. Yet the character assassination continues forward. The BBB is a classic criminal organization that should be put out of business using the RICO Statutes. Just my humble yet prejudiced opinion.

:laugh: Could I get some blood on this contract?

what about a more creative system to assure quality...

advertise an offer to hang yourself by the neck until dead if the roof ever leaks

I'm with you Chuck. With an emphasis on quality as opposed to being the new kid on the block, or just an inexperienced kid trying to get the sale no matter what, they don't quite fit my needs either

I was a member for over 10 years when I did full roof replacements. We had the usual A to A+ rating the entire time. The BBB was constantly advertising and going on the local news to warn people to check with the BBB before hiring any Contractors. A lot of home owners did exactly that. Many times they would tell me I saw you have a good rating with the BBB, so I remained a member.

When I started the new company specializing in repair work, I contacted them to sign up. They said you have to be in business for at least one year. I said mam I've been in the roofing business for nearly 30 years. To make a long story short, they wouldn't let me sign up for a year. By that time, I had learned that almost no one bothered with them concerning repair work and ultimately before that year was out, I decided not to become a member after all. They've been contacting me all the time for a couple years now but I remain adamant that I will not be signing up with them anymore. When I started this new business, one of my focal points was to eliminate as much waste as possible and they have ended up in the waste category.

I got a SUPER weird postcard in the mail a few years back that was regarding the BBB. It had this creepy eyeball on it and had many keywords printed all over it, mostly words similar to deceit.

Super weird, but since then I've learned a lot about them. I like to drag their salesman on and offer them ridiculously low numbers to be a member. It never works.

Have not signed up in over 3 years. Business keeps getting better

Never have belonged, doubt I ever will.

For those, "in the know", they may realize BBB's are in the same boat as trade associations, in that simply belonging/buying a membership doesn't increase one's worthiness or credibility.

However, public perception most-likely believes there is merit somehow.

It's a cost of doing business. Some of us don't need it. Years ago we were members of all kinds of BBB's, chambers, roofing associations, HBA's, etc.... For me: I just became tired of associating with, (I'll just be blunt), so many naive &/or shyster-types. I'll also note, that a couple of years ago I got the notion to join a local BBB. Didn't renew the following year. I too, was accosted with marketers.