I started my business, Advanced Irrigation Systems, Inc. in late 2001, but became a member of the BBB in early 2005. I maintained an A+ rating while I paid my roughly $400/year annual dues.
While running a business and doing a large volume of work you are eventually bound to have a customer or two who isn't happy with you; even though I believe we make 99% of our customers very satisfied.
Well, we maintained our company’s A+ rating for several years, even after two complaints within about 5 years (which isn't bad considering the number of successful transactions and customers we provided service for).
However, in 2009 business times got tough and I decided to not renew my BBB membership when the dues came. I was trying to cut expenses to help stay in business and figured that it wouldn’t affect my current standing with the BBB. Boy did that come back to kick my in the butt! Shortly after I discovered from one of my customers that my business had an "F" rating!
Keep in mind, that we still maintained an A+ rating even after those two small customer complaints, but as soon as I didn't give them $400 to renew membership my company's rating instantly fell to an F! No new complaints...it directly fell one I didn't renew my membership! On their website they use the two customer's complaints as reasons for giving me this rating, but they were on my side while I was paying my dues every year!
That just isn't fair! I was extremely relived to discover an expose on the famous ABC TV show "20/20" on this very topic tonight! Other reputable business owners have experienced the same thing as me! The show even went so far as to show shady businesses maintaining A+ ratings as long as they paid their membership!
So, I will not be renewing my membership with the BBB despite of this harm to my business' reputation based on pure principal. I don't think it's fair that they can do that to businesses! This "pay to play" system should earn the BBB and F rating! This just makes me so upset, but I am now very relived to see a national show televising this problem and showing other business owners who have experienced the same thing that my company has.
Luckily, my business has received some good reviews on Google, as well as my 10+ years of reference letters from various customers such as property managers, building contractors, and business owners verifying myself and my company’s good work ethic.
So for any of you who use the Better Business Bureau solely to base your criteria on hiring a company, please think again. In ABC's 20/20 show you will see some top companies who experienced the same thing I did. The BBB is very bias. Basically, if you pay you are in good standing and they will stick up for you and keep your A+ rating despite of customer complaints and if you don't pay, you are doomed to an F!
Use other review sites that are unbiased such as Google reviews (on their local business results and maps) or other sites such as Angie's list. They don't require business owners to pay a fee to stay in "good standing".
My company, Advanced Irrigation Systems, Inc. is a very good company who takes care of our customers and has done that well for about 10 years! No we're not perfect, but we try. Hopefully my short article hear has shed some light on my "F" BBB rating, which still disgusts me, but I'm not gong to be "ransomed" to pay to get my "A" back no matter how much I'd really like to have it because it hurts my reputation to those who don't know my side of the story.
Below are some links to other articles about the BBB further proving my point:
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/business-bureau-best-ratings-money-buy/story?id=12123843
http://cincinnati.com/blogs/tv/2010/11/12/cincinnati-bbb-on-2020-tonight/
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=131276553
My name is Scott Young and I have been a lawn sprinkler service professional for almost 13 years. I have managed my own lawn sprinkler business for 9 years as a licensed irrigation contractor in Florida.
Advanced Irrigation Systems, Inc. is based in Niceville, Florida but we also service the immediate surrounding areas such as Valparaiso, Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Crestview, Defuniak, Navarre, and Santa Rosa Beach.
Advanced Irrigation can provide all irrigation and lawn sprinkler services such as new system installation, pipe repair, wire troubleshoting & repair, pump installation & repair. We'll take on the tough jobs that other comapnies won't such as pool re-routes breaks under concrete, and even more! Give us a call for your Free Estimate today. 850-729-7110. You can check out our company site by clicking the link below.
Lawn Sprinkler / Irrigation Company in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
You may also read many tips and related information on lawn sprinkler systems on my blog which can be found by clicking the "About Irrigation" tab up top or just Click Here. If you are looking for how to build an automatic lawn sprinkler system (a.ka. landscape irrigation system) then please click any of the "order now" buttons to order my e-book. If you have any questions, please contact me at the email address listed at the bottom of this page.
Scott Young
