Angie's List is one of many companies which aggregate consumer reviews of local service companies and which have been described by the New York Times as a way to "capture word-of-mouth wisdom." Angie's List is unique, however, in that it charges consumers to see reviews, reflecting their belief that charging consumers "adds credibility to the information." Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, the company was founded by Bill Oesterle while Angie Hicks ...
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Angie's List is one of many companies which aggregate consumer reviews of local service companies and which have been described by the New York Times as a way to "capture word-of-mouth wisdom." Angie's List is unique, however, in that it charges consumers to see reviews, reflecting their belief that charging consumers "adds credibility to the information." Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, the company was founded by Bill Oesterle while Angie Hicks worked as an intern in 1995. The company modeled the list after Indianapolis' Unified Neighbors. Angie Hicks, who earned an MBA in 2000, went door-to-door in Columbus, Ohio signing up members and collecting ratings on local contractors. In 1996, Angie's List purchased Unified Neighbors and relocated the company from Columbus to Indianapolis. As of January 2007, the company serves 124 U.S cities and provides reviews of companies in more than 250 categories. 2008 brought the addition of the medical industry to the List, including doctors,...
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