TOPIC: HONESTY?

So something has really been bugging me for a while. DISHONEST ADVERTISING and EDUCATION. A competitor who I am very familiar with in my area (and know his history) has been advertising his service in a less than honorable way. In the beginning he was misrepresenting his experience and length of time doing inspection to some degree, but over the last few years he has gone way overboard. He has been doing inspections and running his company for about 5-6 years at most and claims on his site to have 15+ years experience, 15 or more years on another advertising site and as much as 30 years on some. He claimed on one advertising site he was owner (now changed that) of another company that has been around for 30 years dealing with construction and rehab and I found this to be untrue along with too many things to mention. Obviously he is dishonest! However, if this is getting him work and jobs over other inspectors and deceiving his clients, is this good for the industry? I am just venting because everyday the list of misinformation grows ( soon he may claim to be President of all home inspectors..HAHA). He is trying to put his experience above guys that have the actual experience and time in the industry. Just venting!! Oh, he is also upset because my site is ranked up with his now on the top of GOOGLE.... and my HIP website is way newer!!! HAHA Thanks Dom......... ;D Just smile and wave boys, smile and wave! (Penguins of Madagascar).

Rob

This is not good for the industry.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

If he is a member of an association you could report him.

Honesty is the best policy.

I understand your venting.

Glad you are ranked high with google. Good work.

David, That is what I am chocking it up too, Desperation!! and a little bit of ego maniac... Thanks for listening!

Robert, I couldn't find a site like you described. I used "Minneapolis Home Inspection" as keywords.Drew

Hey Drew, When I type in Minneapolis Home Inspection, I come up 5th from the top 4th under Minneapolis Home Inspector and at the top under Saint Paul home inspector in GOOGLE (do you get the same or close?). The misrepresentation covers numerous advertising sites with different things mentioned in contrast to statements, as well as, misrepresentation on his own site. I do not want to say who it is obviously, but they are on there. He is using different education experience and time on popular advertising sites, as well, than what he claims on the front page of the website. I did notice just today he removed the phrase "owner" of the non-existent company in one of the adds. None of this "experience was listed in the beginning, but as time has gone on, suddenly 5 years turns into 15-16 and he has sorts of time with companies. Like I said, I am sure he is not the only one either, I am just aware of his true position and time as an inspector, as well as, what he did just prior to inspections, so I know what is being heavily exaggerated or deceitful. Not to mention, as a lot do, I had a friend call around to price check inspectors to stay competitive and see what they say as we inched closer to fall. I was sitting there when he told my buddy about 3-4 months ago he had been doing this (inspections) for about 15-16 years which is flat out lying (I was laughing). See there are a couple guys, I am not one of them, that actually do have 20+ years and some close to 30 that he is trying to compete with on some of the advertising sites. Like David said, Desperate times-Desperate measures!!

I got the search results that you are saying, #4 or #5. I was looking on all of the page one sites and couldn't find what you were saying. I am not doubting what you are saying...I am way more in tune to my competition than I would expect others to be. I can find things on their sites faster than a stranger could.