This was an unsolicited call to me from Yext (Computer Services division). The voice-mail left on my phone, at just after 6:30 in the morning no less, was from a man named Hugh. He said (I'll quote verbatim):
"Hi this is Hugh from Yext Computer Repair. I was calling about a couple repair jobs we have that we might need to refer over to you. Can you give me a call back at 917-677-7923 and I can give you the details."
Upon doing some research, and then calling him back (which confirmed exactly what I had found), his company did not actually have any repair jobs that needed to be referred to me. This part I figured anyway, since they are on the East Coast and we are on the West Coast. He wanted me to sign up for a service where they charge you for "qualified" lead calls that come in through their number. They have a computer system that transcribes each call, and when the system determines that a call resulted in an actual job, you are charged the $30 (or going rate) for that call.
So, if the call ends up where the client canceled, you are charged anyway. If the client only spent a minimal amount of money, you are charged. If the call was from a telemarketer or salesperson, and you decided to set up an appointment to hear their spiel, you are charged. If my hourly rate is $75 per hour, and it was only a one hour job, Yext is taking 40% of that. Also, since the customer is calling THEIR number, NOT YOURS, that client will most likely call that same number if they need future services, meaning that Yext will get that 40% from the first hour of service EVERY TIME that client calls in using that number.
Oh boy, that sure sounds like a good deal to ME!!! (not!!!)
The biggest part that HAS to strike a bad feeling in your gut, is that if they are willing to be (a bit) unethical in that VERY FIRST call they make, to get you to call them back, you then have to question their level of integrity of EVERY INTERACTION you have with them after that.
If this guy had said from the very beginning in his message that he was calling from a company that has a unique model of generating new customers, then THAT would have been truthful and ethical. I still wouldn't have used them, because I always do research and due diligence before spending precious advertising dollars on anything new; in just 15 minutes, I found many Google results that linked to websites where people had shared their less than positive reviews, including a site where the biz dev of Yext had pestered this site to review them, and even THEY had to point out some obvious downsides.
You can read it for yourself here:
http://www.localseoguide.com/yext-are-half-your-phone-leads-junk/
Always, always do research before you sign up for something these days. If a company is being less than ethical in their business practices, do you think they're really going to tell you about it??
I agree with the previous comments about this number -- the call I got was identical except that ours called saying they had qualified leads for people seeking electrical work (we're an electrical contractor). SCAM FAIL!
Hugh left a mssg at our dermatology office saying he was the Director at Derms Next Door & to call him at 917-677-7923. Wow! Derms, Computers, AND Electrical? What doesn't this guy do?!?!
I'm glad I googled his name and this number before wasting my time talking to him.
Thanks all!