Lead quality has dropped sharply in 2026 - was previously my top channel
I've been a Thumbtack Pro as a painting contractor in Chicago for several years and historically had strong, consistent results on this platform. It was one of my best lead sources for a long time. However, the last 60 days have shown a dramatic decline that's no longer sustainable. Real numbers from my account (April 29 - June 27, 2026): - 20 leads received - $3,753.83 total spend (gross) - 6 leads refunded by Thumbtack — meaning Thumbtack itself admitted 30% of leads were not legitimate - 3 refund requests denied despite poor quality - Net out of pocket: $2,736.21 - Only 1 actual job closed (from a $2,900 project) - 5% close rate (vs 30%+ industry benchmark) - Net P&L on this channel over 60 days: approximately -$1,200 When the platform itself refunds 30% of leads, that confirms a real, systemic quality problem — not bad luck on my end. Several "refund denied" leads were homeowners who never responded or had completely vague project descriptions that didn't match a real service request. The "share project with more pros" feature appears to charge multiple contractors for what should be a single qualified lead, diluting paying customers across competing pro accounts. Lead prices have also risen significantly. To Thumbtack: I'm not closing my account because I want to come back. But I'm scaling down significantly until lead quality is addressed. The product was great. The current state isn't. To other contractors: Track your numbers carefully. What worked 1-2 years ago may not work today. Diversify your lead sources (Meta Ads, Google Local Services, referral programs, networking) so you're not dependent on any single platform. Two stars because the platform's history deserves credit — but the current product doesn't justify the current spend.