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Fake HVAC sites flood Google search results

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HeatingHelp.com
HeatingHelp.com Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 250
in THE MAIN WALL

Orlando contractors say AI-generated websites with fake reviews, phone numbers, and addresses are pushing legitimate HVAC companies out of search results and causing them to lose business. See the story here. Are you encountering this as well?

Forum Moderator

GGrossHomerJSmith

Comments

  • GGross
    GGross Member Posts: 1,958

    haven't seen it locally! but i did receive a quote request from a contractor that was entirely AI generated, they had AI take plans and make up a system, and then part it out. the list would be mostly complete, installer would have what they need, but would have upsold the job by about 3-4X what is needed for a beautiful install. funny enough I will do this for free for my customers, and include piping diagrams, flowrate requirements, pipe sizing the whole ball of wax. So please use the AI tools to generate your material lists because its less work for me and will make me more money 😁

    (JK please don't overcharge the customer)

    mattmia2
  • HeatingHelp.com
    HeatingHelp.com Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 250

    Thanks for sharing, @GGross!

    Forum Moderator

  • RayWohlfarth
    RayWohlfarth Member Posts: 2,033

    wow scary

    Ray Wohlfarth
    Boiler Lessons
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 20,461

    Too bad now it takes so much time to wade through all the information and waste time separating the fact from the fiction.

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 17,409

    google has been broken for a few years now. i'll search for the ting i know exists pretty closely decribing it and it can't come up with it anymore

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 27,571

    All this surprises someone?

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    mattmia2PC7060
  • HydronicMike
    HydronicMike Member Posts: 369

    A problem is people HAVE to go online to find everything, forgetting the simple ways of getting word of mouth reviews and recommendations from friends, family and neighbors.

    They’ll trust what they read online instead of talking to an actual person. Many (most?) 20 something’s won’t even answer their cell phone, preferring text or email.

    I’ve got in more than one ‘discussion' to put it mildly, with these people where I insist to them that we are going to have a phone call. I’m not spending 20-30 minutes with back and forth concussive texting, or 1/2 a day with back and forth emails, when a 5 minute phone call answers all the questions and/or solves the problem.
    I also see people constantly getting scammed online or facebook purchasing something they see that turns out to be crap, or straight up fraud. Facebook doesn’t give two, nor will they help you.
    Take an extra minute to go their 'About Us' or 'Contact' section. If they don’t have a legitimate US address, a US phone number, or sell on Amazon, simply don’t buy it. Why would you make a purchase where your only recourse if something goes wrong is hope they answer an email. Copy and paste their address into Google Maps, and look at them in Street View. Many times it’s a mailbox store, not a real office/business.

  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 4,203

    Kind of wonder if this is actually fake news. Kind of wondering if he used the News folks for free advertising. When It is all said and done, who is doing the actual repair work, AI ?

    Maybe legitimate contractors that provide better service are actually putting him out of business. Or his company repaired most everything in their area and now the work dried up, so now he is upset. The general state of the economy ?

    Assuming the contractor involved is reputable. Maybe they should not rely on Google / AI for their advertising. There is really not enough information in the News' story.

    Google can be geographic or regional, you may get different answers for the same query depending on where it thinks you are in the world.

    Google mostly works fine for me, however it is not perfect and I don't expect it to be perfect.

    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
  • maheating101
    maheating101 Member Posts: 4
    edited May 31
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1897238#Comment_1897238

    As a consumer in their 30s….i have no difficulties speaking with people on the phone (though I bet some people do as you suggest). I prefer all information related to a quote for business to be in writing so I can easily compare the different quotes because I’ll forget who said what, and there’s a paper trail of something we’re to go wrong.

    Further when I’m at work, I don’t have time to speak on the phone during normal business hours.

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