MFG.com

[SydwazShawn]

Not sure if this is the correct place to ask this ??? But has anyone used this service? If so was it beneficial to your business, or more of a headache? Always trying to find new quality work, you know what I mean!

 

Thx, Shawn

[John Morris]

Expensive! $400 a month (or is closer to $500 now). Basically just to have access to quote. We tried them a few years ago, not very good results for us. Only got a handfull of low margin stuff. We gave it up when we realized we could'nt clear enough profit to keep paying the monthly fee on what little bit of work we were low bidder on. I've suggested to them on several occasions to cut the monthly fee and charge only on bids you win (or the very least, only charge if you bid), I'm not holding my breath.

[specv]

we used it, never got a job from it. waste of money IMHO. We also tried First Index. it was a little better, but not much. Be ready to slash your prices just to get jobs from these services.

[GoetzInd]

A shop we work with tried using it and didn't get anything other than a few nothing jobs. It kinda sucks because now you are competing against every joe blow with a computer and a vertical in his garage. Not just legit businesses.

 

Mike

[Hardmill]

We got lucky and landed one big customer.

We were going to stop anyway, but just happened

to have this guy call us just cause were in

So Cal as he is.

 

As a result we got alot of work and I have

Tix and pit passes for Nascar next weekend.

 

 

PEACE

[Dave.L]

If the service really worked they would allow people to try it out. Instead they want to get you to commit for 6 months min (and wait until you hear all the lame reasons for that). They know if you sign up, you won't sign again.

 

I asked "what percentage of customers re-new after the first 6-month?" They refused to answer and that sold me on staying away. Ask that question and see what they tell you.

 

I have also heard horror stories of the work going to people below the cost of the material.

 

Be careful, when you are desperate for work you may be willing to try anything and they know and count on it!

[Joe788]

Epic waste of time and money. Go to PracticalMachinist.com and search for mfg.com, and mfgquote.

 

Or, for the really juicy stuff:

 

http://mfgforum.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3

[SydwazShawn]

Thanks guys for chiming in! I wasn't sure about it. I figured it was highly competitive to even win the quotes! We do quality work and there is just a certain price we will not go below. You get what you pay for, but a lot of buyers don’t care about quality up front. Well on to the next venture.

 

Shawn...

[Kevangel]

Those places are still around

[Thee Rickster ™]

Yes Kevin.

[Steve Hattori]

A friend of mine was there for a while, and he would send me some of his rfq's- we quit when we weren't getting jobs bid at $20/hr shop rates....plus, you spend all your time quoting and don't get much for it.

[Newbeeee™]

There was a big debate on practical machinist about these sites.

General concensus was they're a waste of time and money.

[FP1]

HUGE waste of time and effort. Was quoting stuff for 6 months and never got a job from it. Then one day I decided to quote a job and calculated at $25 per hour. We got that job and proved to the boss the service was worthless.