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Bark

2.2

On SmartCustomer, businesses may not offer incentives or pay to remove reviews. Learn more about our Review Guidelines.

From the business

Bark is an online marketplace that connects customers with local and online professionals.

We take the hassle out of finding the right professional for any job. Whether you’re looking for a cleaner in Nottingham, a web design in Boston or a personal trainer in Auckland - with over 2000 professional services in 8 countries, you’re bound to find the perfect professional for your project on Bark. Simply tell us what you need and will send you a list of professionals - for free!

Need new customers? We’ve helped thousands of businesses of all sizes keep find new clients. We’re passionate about helping businesses of all sizes find customers for life.

Life’s better with Bark.


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Bark Reviews Summary

Bark has a rating of 2.2 stars from 1,644 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers dissatisfied with Bark most frequently mention customer service, phone number and potential clients. Bark ranks 9th among Service Marketplace sites.

service
316
value
296
shipping
101
returns
151
quality
263
This company responds to reviews on average within 18 days

We monitor reviews for authenticity

GB
1 review
0 helpful votes
Follow Tim H.
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Garden landscaping
January 6, 2020

I had 3/4 responses for this request something I have never had before. So from that I take it that Bark doesn't always work, it did this time.

Date of experience: January 6, 2020
Bark T. Bark Rep
over a year old

Hi Tim,

We do aim to get each request 2 - 5 responses, however unfortunately there are not always this many professionals available at any one time.

We are glad to hear that we could help find you one professional who could carry out the work for you.

Kind regards,

The Bark Team

GB
1 review
8 helpful votes
Follow sofia k.
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I've signed up recently and was offered a discounted credits pack for £28.56. But the I've found out that I was charged 34.56! They told me that the first lead that they gave me was free, but I've actually paid for it. I don't expect to receive responses, not holding my breath. I've just wasted my money.
If, by any miraculous chance, I get any responses and get something useful out of Bark, I promise, I'll leave a different review.

Bark attempted to help this customer through the SmartCustomer Resolution Center, but the customer did not respond
Date of experience: December 30, 2019
Bark T. Bark Rep
over a year old

Hi Sofia,

We're sorry to hear that you were unaware that VAT would be added to your purchase.

All prices are shown excluding VAT and have " Exc. VAT " written next to the amount. We are a business to business company so this is common practice. You will find an invoice in your account where this would have been stipulated as well.

We wish you every success with engaging work on our site, but if anything else doesn't make sense please do email us at [email protected] and we will endeavour to help.

Kind regards,

The Bark Team

Botswana
1 review
1 helpful vote
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Professional p
December 25, 2019

Excellent. It was quick and easy and I like the photographer I was given. It simply to research and login
Thank you

Date of experience: December 23, 2019
Bark T. Bark Rep
over a year old

Hi there Naomi,

Thanks for your review,

We're so glad to hear that we could connect you with a great photographer!

Kind regards,

The Bark Team

California
1 review
7 helpful votes
Follow Eric A.
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MISLEADING
December 23, 2019

MISLEADING. The exact words on their website are "We're so confident you'll win business with your first credit pack, we'll return all your credits if you don't."

That is NOT the same as getting a refund. Once you've sent money, you're never getting it back. They will keep resupplying you with credits, assuming you want to keep investing time and effort on a process that didn't work.

Could be worth it, if you know going in that's how it works. But they don't RETURN your credits (as in, give back your money). Instead, they RESUPPLY your credits (as in, give you the credits again).

And while they do provide listings for a lot of services, they don't provide listings for ALL services. And it's not like you can add your specialty. You have to choose from their menu--and you don't know what that menu until you buy those credits.

In addition, I recorded their "discounted initial credits" offer on 2 Dec 2019 as $72.50, in the spreadsheet I use to track expenses. When money was deducted from checking account on 14 Dec, it was for $79.20. The person I spoke to on the phone insisted that was the amount specified on the website, but his response does not agree with my recollection.

Bark attempted to help this customer through the SmartCustomer Resolution Center, but the customer did not respond
Date of experience: December 23, 2019
Bark T. Bark Rep
over a year old

Hi Eric,

We're very sorry to hear that you have not had a positive experience on our site.

It sounds like there has been some confusion, so hopefully I can clarify for you here.

You are correct that we do not offer monetary refunds on used starter packs. The idea behind giving the credits back is to allow professionals to have another chance at a return on investment and to properly grasp how lead generation works. We appreciate that it an be difficult to understand to start off with and this is why we offer this credit return if no work is won the first time around.

We do provide a listing of over 2000 professions and you dod not have to purchase credits in order to update or see these listings. Just login to your account, go to Settings and then My services to see what is available and to update anything. We provide the most searched for services online, but we don't have some niche services as we have no online traffic as yet to support those being added.

We will be happy to offer any help with regards making the most of our platform and explaining anything that may not make sense. Just email us at [email protected] and we'll be happy to help.

Kind regards,

The Bark Team

California
1 review
0 helpful votes
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Easy and efficient.
December 22, 2019

Our D. J. Chris, is very professional yet personally vested in making sure the event goes exactly as planned.

Date of experience: December 20, 2019
Bark T. Bark Rep
over a year old

Hi there Mary,

Thanks for your review,

We're so glad to hear that we could connect you with a great DJ.

If you would also like to leave DJ Chris a review, just login to your Bark.com account and click on their Profile page.

Kind regards,

The Bark Team

Ireland
1 review
0 helpful votes
Follow Lenka G.
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Highly recommend it!
December 22, 2019

I loved there were a few options to choose from. All in a different price range so I could really pick the best suited. The response time was very quick and I'm considering using bark for my own service I offer.

Date of experience: December 20, 2019
Bark T. Bark Rep
over a year old

Hi there Lenka,

Thanks for your review,

We're so glad to hear that we could provide you with a great choice of professionals.

If you would also like to leave the professional you hired review, just login to your Bark.com account and click on their Profile page.

Kind regards,

The Bark Team

GB
1 review
0 helpful votes
Follow Chris C.
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Used Bark a few times and it has proven to be very useful. Found local cleaners plumbers and gas engineers very quickly

Date of experience: December 20, 2019
Bark T. Bark Rep
over a year old

Hi there Chris,

Thanks for your review,

It's great to hear that we have been able to help you find multiple service providers.

If you would also like to leave the professionals you hired review, just login to your Bark.com account and click on their Profile page.

Kind regards,

The Bark Team

GB
1 review
0 helpful votes
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Very happy with the work. Pat was very communicative throughout and will definitely use his services in the future.

Date of experience: December 20, 2019
Bark T. Bark Rep
over a year old

Hi there James,

Thanks for your review,

It's great to hear that we could connect you with a great professional.

If you would also like to leave Pam a review, just login to your Bark.com account and click on their Profile page.

Kind regards,

The Bark Team

GB
1 review
0 helpful votes
Follow Huw D.
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Great Experience
December 21, 2019

Quick, easy and professional to deal with. Overall great service - I love it when someone has a true Ronseal' approach.

Date of experience: December 19, 2019
Bark T. Bark Rep
over a year old

Hi Huw,

Thanks for your review,

It's great to hear that we could connect you with a professional so quickly!

Kind regards,

The Bark Team

GB
1 review
0 helpful votes
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Excellent
December 19, 2019

Looking for what I asked for and need for our wedding day and has been very helpful and useful for ideas for our wedding.

Date of experience: December 19, 2019
Bark T. Bark Rep
over a year old

Hi there Jaymarie,

Thanks for your review,

We're so glad to hear that we could help connect you with a professional who could help.

Kind regards,

The Bark Team

Washington
1 review
0 helpful votes
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Exellent service
December 19, 2019

Excellent response, job and cost. Whole process took just over an hour. Well satisfied with workman who prevented ladder marks in the lawn and cleaned up the white guttering.

Date of experience: December 19, 2019
Bark T. Bark Rep
over a year old

Hi there Kevin,

Thanks for your review,

We're so glad to hear that we could connect you with a thoughtful professional.

Kind regards,

The Bark Team

GB
1 review
0 helpful votes
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What at brilliant company after being conned out of £ 100 from guy and partner on facebook bark came along and matched me up with a lovely permanent wonderful gardener so thank you bark, and they do lots more than gardens all trades ect if you are vulnerable or not contact them they are magic

Date of experience: December 19, 2019
Bark T. Bark Rep
over a year old

Hi there Maryellen,

Thank you so much for your review,

We're so glad to hear that we could help connect you with a gardener who could help.

If we can help any further, let us know.

Kind regards,

The Bark Team

India
1 review
5 helpful votes
Follow Kaushal S.
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We tried bark hoping that they have good quality clients. We did not even get responses from the potential customers here. It seems like it is the race to the bottom, the cheapest offer will get the project. How is this different than freelancing websites? ratedpeople.com and such sites? Why would we pay for subscription when we don't even get a single response?

Most customers just post a job with vague requirements. They don't even know what they are looking for

Bark attempted to help this customer through the SmartCustomer Resolution Center, but the customer did not respond
Date of experience: December 19, 2019
Bark T. Bark Rep
over a year old

Hi Kaushal,

We're very sorry to hear that you have not had success on our site.

We screen every single lead using our automated system and have a credit return policy which allows us to return credits for any leads which are found to have incorrect details. Please email us at [email protected] if you would like a copy of this and if you would like to report any leads.

We are an open public platform and allow customers to place as much information as they wish to in the Additional Details section. We always advise our professionals not to respond to vague leads, as this then prompts us to get in touch and prompt them to add more details. You can utilise the Filter Questions section of your account in order to remove any vague answers from your leads and customise them fully. Do get in touch if you need any help with this.

We appreciate that is frustrating when customers don't reply, and whilst we do our best to prompt customers about responses from professionals, there is only so much was can do as a pay as you go introduction service. We did launch a Customer App a few months ago to help make the connectivity between Customers and Professionals better. We also have some exciting improvements planned for the new year to help improve our connect-ability even further.

If you would like us to send any extra hints and tips for making the most of the platform, please email us at [email protected] and we'll be happy to help.

Kind regards,

The Bark Team.

South Africa
1 review
0 helpful votes
Follow Roelene K.
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This is a very good vehicle to get in touch with suppliers you may not know off.
The service providers were helpful and we will definitely use them in future.

Date of experience: December 19, 2019
Bark T. Bark Rep
over a year old

Hi there Roelene,

Thanks for your review,

We're so glad to hear that we could connect you with suppliers.

Kind regards,

The Bark Team

GB
1 review
0 helpful votes
Follow Niamh B.
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Couldn't be more perfect!
December 19, 2019

I could not be more happy, I got replies within a couple of days and have booked the things I need, I had been looking around for a while but bark made it so much earlier and I honestly couldn't be more grateful

Date of experience: December 18, 2019
Bark T. Bark Rep
over a year old

Hi there Niamh,

Thanks for your review,

We're so glad to hear that we could connect you with professionals so quickly!

If we can help any further, let us know.

Kind regards,

The Bark Team

South Africa
1 review
0 helpful votes
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Effective and efficient
December 19, 2019

Contacted and quote done within 24 hours by Perfect Grass. Friendly staff and very accommodating. Efficient and very effective

Date of experience: December 18, 2019
Bark T. Bark Rep
over a year old

Hi there Romeo,

Thanks for your review,

We're so glad to hear that we could connect you with a great company.

If you would also like to leave Perfect Grass a review, just login to your Bark.com account and click on their profile page.

Kind regards,

The Bark Team

GB
1 review
6 helpful votes
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Rubbish
December 18, 2019

They con you with fake customers then get you to buy leads which don't lead to any business - complete waste of money

Bark attempted to help this customer through the SmartCustomer Resolution Center, but the customer did not respond
Date of experience: December 18, 2019
Bark T. Bark Rep
over a year old

Hi Joe,

We did reach out to you to try and help, however you did not respond to us.

Please email us at [email protected] and we would be happy to help you make the most of our platform.

Kind regards,

The Bark Team

Ireland
1 review
0 helpful votes
Follow Barbara K.
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A very prompt response received with follow up query on my own experience in using BARK. Received responses from Builders within 24 hours of posting reqest.

Date of experience: December 15, 2019
Bark T. Bark Rep
over a year old

Hi Barbara,

Thanks for your review!

We're so glad to hear that you received quick responses to your request.

Kind regards,

The Bark Team

Pennsylvania
1 review
0 helpful votes
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Outstanding
December 15, 2019

The response to my post was outstanding. Unfortunately, we were unable to go ahead with training as the puppy passed away suddenly before we could bring him home. We will definitely follow up when we are ready for another puppy.

Date of experience: December 13, 2019
Bark T. Bark Rep
over a year old

Hi Kathleen,

Thanks for your review.

We're so glad to hear that you received a quick response to your dog training request.

We are very sorry to hear that your puppy passed away before the service could be of use and send our condolences at this time.

Kind regards,

The Bark Team

GB
1 review
0 helpful votes
Follow Devika P.
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I used Bark to find a cleaner. They suggested Hertford Homeclean, who got in touch and did a great job.

I've since used Bark for other things too and have always been happy with the results.

Sometimes I wish there was a larger choice of professionals though.

Date of experience: December 13, 2019
Bark T. Bark Rep
over a year old

Hi Devika,

Thanks for your review.

We're so glad to hear that you have found our site useful for you.

If we can help any further, let us know.

Kind regards,

The Bark Team