A: ValueStar is the leading provider of credential-based and customer satisfaction ratings for local service businesses and professionals in hundreds of industries—from auto repair to home improvement, from healthcare providers and dentists to beauty services—and many others.
The ValueStar Program provides you with valuable information that can help you make better buying decisions. ValueStar's goal is to help quality-seeking consumers find credentialed and quality-driven service providers. The ValueStar online directory provides a compelling, free solution for consumers to quickly and conveniently identify and contact quality local businesses while also viewing valuable, up-to-date consumer ratings about the service provided by these companies.
A ValueStar Consumer who purchases from a ValueStar Customer-Rated service provider and submits feedback to us about their experience becomes eligible for our $1,000 Money-Back Satisfaction Guarantee and free dispute resolution services, and earns ValueStar Rewards points redeemable for travel, merchandise discounts, and charitable donations. Purchasing and rating a business in the ValueStar Verified program earns ValueStar Rewards points.
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How is the ValueStar Program different from other user
opinion services? |
A: ValueStar does not allow businesses to pay to influence their listings. Any business can apply and there is no limit on the number of businesses per category. Our service is free to consumers, unlike other, subscription-based ratings services. Only customers who have actually used a service provider can provide a rating on a ValueStar customer-Rated business or a business in the ValueStar Verified program. This assures local service businesses and consumers alike that "ValueStar Consumers" are speaking from first-hand experience and not simply offering a blind opinion or "gaming" the ratings. Consumer feedback is solicited using a standard questionnaire where all consumers are asked the same questions about their experience with providers.
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How are companies rated? |
A: Business can participate in either of two ValueStar programs: the ValueStar Customer-Rated program, or the ValueStar Verified program.
"ValueStar Customer-Rated" and "Customer-Rated Gold"
ValueStar Customer-Rated businesses have passed ValueStar's review of their license, insurance, credit standing, and legal status, have agreed to abide by the ValueStar Consumer Bill of Rights, and have demonstrated a high level of customer satisfaction in ValueStar's surveys of the business' customers, as indicated by a Customer Satisfaction Score of 75 or higher. Businesses scoring 90 or higher have consistently delivered excellent customer satisfaction and are labeled "Customer-Rated Gold". Consumers who submit feedback on Customer-Rated and Customer-Rated Gold businesses receive ValueStar's $1,000 Money-Back Satisfaction Guarantee and ValueStar Rewards points redeemable for cash cards with a number of popular retailers.
"ValueStar Verified" Ratings & Reviews
Service businesses that participate in the ValueStar Verified program have agreed to let ValueStar gather customer ratings and reviews on the business and display all reviews, whether positive or negative, submitted by verified customers. Customers submitting ratings and reviews receive ValueStar Rewards points for their feedback redeemable for cash cards with a number of popular retailers.
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What's the difference between businesses that are "ValueStar Customer-Rated" and those in the "ValueStar Verified" program? |
A: Overall, the feedback for companies in both programs is the same: it is always from customers verified to have actually used the business being reviewed, the businesses have agreed that all reviews from verified customers can be displayed, whether positive or negative, and submitting feedback earns ValueStar Rewards points. Business that are ValueStar Customer-Rated, however, have not only been rated highly by verified customers but have passed additional background checks conducted by ValueStar that merit ValueStar offering a guarantee of those business' services (in addition to ValueStar Rewards points) whenever a customer submits feedback. Customer-Rated businesses are also authorized to use the ValueStar Customer-Rated seal in their advertising.
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How do I benefit by using companies that are ValueStar Customer-Rated or display ValueStar Verified ratings and reviews? |
A: Armed with ValueStar's free, credential-based customer satisfaction ratings, you can choose a local service company with far greater confidence. In addition,
ValueStar gives you the convenience of 'one-stop shopping' with our TimeSaver Email service by enabling you to contact multiple companies with one email to obtain bids or answer your questions. ValueStar consumers also receive ValueStar Rewards points when they submit feedback on a ValueStar business, and if the business is ValueStar Customer-Rated, they also receive free dispute mediation services and a $1,000 money-back guarantee.
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Who uses ValueStar's business listings? |
A: ValueStar welcomes all consumers to our program, which is free and convenient 24/7. A consumer who enrolls for rewards or to rate their level of satisfaction with a ValueStar service business receives valuable additional benefits beyond the ratings information. ValueStar consumers receive ValueStar Rewards points when they submit feedback on a ValueStar business, and if the business is ValueStar Customer-Rated, they also receive free dispute mediation services and a $1,000 money-back guarantee.
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What types of businesses can be credentialed and rated by ValueStar? |
A: The ValueStar rating process is available to all service and professional businesses. ValueStar Consumers who have registered one or more of their credit cards with ValueStar are prompted automatically to rate their satisfaction with each service they have purchased from a ValueStar service provider. In addition, ValueStar conducts independent customer satisfaction research studies with random samplings of a company's past customers when a business applies to join the ValueStar Customer-Rated program.
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How do I rate a business? |
A: It's easy! Once you have enrolled in the ValueStar program, you can rate providers one of two ways, whichever is more convenient for you.
- Automatic Rating :
You can choose to have your transactions with ValueStar businesses automatically screened using your credit card number (it's very secure-we don't need your expiration date or security codes). This allows us to immediately send you a satisfaction survey by email or post card every time you make a purchase from a ValueStar business. This saves you from having to remember to submit your rating and makes it easier for you to activate your ValueStar $1,000 Money-Back Guarantee and receive your ValueStar Rewards points for eligible ValueStar transactions.
- Manual Rating :
You can manually identify and provide feedback on a transaction with a ValueStar business by visiting our website or calling us. Of course, this isn't as convenient for you as if you receive the survey automatically based on registering one or more of your credit cards with us. Either way, though, our service and benefits are always free of charge to the consumer.
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What if I submit a rating that is not initiated by a transaction tracked through my credit card? |
A: If a consumer submits feedback manually instead of opting for us to screen their ValueStar credit card purchases, ValueStar may share your identity and the details of the transaction with a service provider so that the transaction can be confirmed as authentic.
Once a transaction has been verified as authentic, however, ValueStar does not associate your feedback about a transaction with other details of that transaction nor does ValueStar publish the identity of consumers submitting any of the feedback on our site. Consumers should be aware that it is possible a service provider might identify a consumer based on the time feedback was submitted or based on details of the service that the consumer might share in their feedback.
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Do I have to tell the service provider that I am a ValueStar Consumer? |
A: No. Some people might feel that they will get even better service if they do, and others don't feel comfortable divulging that information. It is totally up to you!
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If I rate a business, is my identity kept confidential? |
A: Your name is never published by ValueStar, nor is it associated with the rating you've submitted on a business. If you submit a rating in response to an email survey prompted by your use of a registered credit card with a ValueStar business, your name is never shared with the business at all. If you submit feedback at the ValueStar website without having been prompted by an email survey, ValueStar will share your name (but not the rating or review you've submitted) with the business to verify that you are truly a customer of the business. Of course, it's always possible that the comments you provide or the timing of when your feedback is displayed might enable the business to determine your identity.
It's worth noting that ValueStar has performed more than one million customer satisfaction surveys without a single complaint about breach of confidentiality. ValueStar Consumers' information is never sold nor is it shared with companies not involved in delivering ValueStar benefits. ValueStar safeguards the privacy of all customer information provided online through our website. For more details, please read the ValueStar Consumer Privacy Policy.
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