Lack of Reviews = Review enough?

[WhiteTiger]

I'm looking into smaller concrete contracting services to rebuild a set of steps in my backyard, and had a company that my wife picked over for a quote. Guy seemed pretty knowledgeable and explained a lot of it to me.

When I went to look them up, I found that they've been in business for 10 years (as per their claim). But I couldn't find a single review, positive or negative about them. Anywhere. BBB, the company FB page, Google, Yelp. Nothing.

I find this a bit odd, frankly, but several friends instantly started piping up "Oh! No reviews! That is a huge bad sign. Back away!" As I said, I found it a bit odd, but I'm not sure I'd hold that against them.

What do y'all think? In "this day and age" is a lack of reviews (of any sort) enough to put you off of using a business/service?

[millhouse11]

I'd ask for references. In 10 years, I'm sure he could give you a few names of former clients.

I did NOT do this, went with a company to do my bottom patio and a different company to do the upper deck. Both nice guys, both good quotes. Both effed up. I should have asked for references.

[EldrickOnIce]

I would be unconcerned. This is a concrete guy after all. The world's second oldest profession.
He must be able to provide an extensive list of references that one could directly contact. If not, then I would be concerned.
Obviously this list would tend to be more positive, but I have used contractors who I gave my permission to use as a reference - and the review over time would be less positive.
Good luck!

[Huntingwhale]

It would be a pretty big red flag to me. A company in business for 10+ years and not a single review? I'd be nopeing out of there. To me it means one of 2 things.

1. They paid off the review sites to remove whatever reviews they had on them. Probably all bad reviews. Very unlikely they did this, but possible

2. They haven't been in business for 10+ years like they claim and are rather new. In this day and age of smart phones and internet, people leave reviews. Everywhere. All the time.

The best way is to ask for a the contact info of previous clients and to contact them directly. Most companies will do that if they are certain their clients were satisfied. If they say no, then you know for sure something is sketchy.

[Dentoman]

I actually don't put too much stock in online reviews .... no way to ensure they are valid, positive or negative. I have positive reviews online that I question and negative ones that I question.
You could ask him for references from people he has done work for previously (beaten to it).

[Locke]

Reviews are hard to gauge, asking him for a reference makes sense.

As was stated, people review stuff all the time, but thats only of limited help because at the same time that just means that any old idiot can put up reviews so its difficult to judge the validity of that review.

Of course, hes only going to give you a positive reference so thats not all that helpful either.

[BlackArcher101]

I wouldn't put too much into it. How many concrete companies even get reviews online or have much of an online presence?

If this was a restaurant though, with no reviews after 10 years.... ya, steer clear.

[RyZ]

In certain industries it means more than others.

Restaraunt - problem

Concrete guys - no problem

[Locke]

Originally Posted by RyZ

In certain industries it means more than others.

Restaraunt - problem

Concrete guys - no problem

What if his concrete has cracks in it? Perhaps potential reviewers fell victim to Radon poisoning?

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

I wouldn't put too much into it. How many concrete companies even get reviews online or have much of an online presence?

I'd actually be wary of a concrete guy who has the spare time to establish anything more than a basic online presence. That means he's not working.

[burn_this_city]

Confirm he's Italian and if so you're good to go.

[linecook]

I'm currently getting concrete work done and don't have to pay until the work is done. If they want the money upfront, find someone else.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Confirm he's Italian and if so you're good to go.

The Dutch are pretty good too!

[pylon]

Yeah, reviews are tricky in certain businesses. Car dealerships are one. Anything over a 3 star google rating for a car dealer is considered stellar, because of the old "Squeaky wheel gets the grease." logic. Car dealers can service on average, 3-4000 people a year. Out of 100 satisfied customers maybe 1 gives you a good review. Out of 10 dissastified customers maybe 1 out of 10 will give the bad review. Upset people are much more likely to go out of their way to burn you.

We've had 1 star reviews for things as ridiculous as "I had my oil pan ripped off by a boulder in a field, and the dealer made me pay to fix it. STEALERSHIP!" Like completely bat crap crazy reviews, and you have zero control over someones perceived misjustice, when it was user error the whole way.

Yes we always get the legit ones. The toughest are when we are absolutely swamped and nobody can find a salesperson and feel ignored... I get that, it's a legit complaint, but it's just bad timing. But ones where some dufus doesn't change his oil for 90,000 kms, then complains when his engine seizes. They kill your score, but also you have no recourse to have it removed. It's frustrating.

[Jacks]

Their BBB page should have dates listed for when the business started and when BBB started a file on them. If they've been around for 10 years without any compaints then they are probably doing a decent job. Lack of reviews is probably a good thing since people are much more likely to take the time to leave bad feedback than good.