Say what you want about disruptors but the true ones do not come very often. Put together 12 startup founders and, of course, every one of them thinks they’re disrupting the living shit out off their niche. Put them together 5 years later and you’ll be surprised to find out that one of them had actually been on to something.
The best ones not only disrupt but ultimately improve the market they’ve entered. And this is the case of TrustYard / Nejřemeslníci, a Czech online business I’ve tested over the last week.
Their mission is simple: make it super-easy for home owners to find a reliable artisan who is good at what he does, charges reasonable rates, and communicates well. On the surface this does not sound like a challenge too big but as is the case with used cars salesmen, sex workers, or politicians, what you see mightn’t be what you get.
What they have is basically a review and rating system – people comment on how well the artisan had done his job so that customers coming later will have an easier time finding a reliable provider.
(now I hope you can read Czech but if you don't you can still probably guess what it's about)
My experience was pleasant. I entered details of the job I needed done, which was a couple of defects in the electrical installation in our apartment. Within four hours I received four bids. Upon close inspection it turned out all four vendors had above-average ratings. I selected one, we agreed on date, time, and price and he came as planned, did a perfect job, took my money and that was it. The system worked.
Which is the ideal use case and, while providing very boring reading indeed, it proved to me that these guys are doing a very useful service. One would almost say public service – and to customers it is as the service is free. I understand the artisans will eventually pay fees just like eBay sellers do.
Here is what I recommend TrustYard to improve: I had the job done and was thinking for a bit long how to properly close the case on their site and enter my review. And I was in my reviewer mode, meaning I intended to actually do it. I don’t think I would’ve bothered otherwise. Alas, stupid me did not take a screenshot then, so I’ll only say: when I am in the list of my active jobs, or on the job detail page, I’d like to see a big shiny button with text “It’s DONE – rate this provider” or something to that effect.
In summary, this online business has the ambition to improve an existing market and I’ll keep my fingers crossed they succeed.
