SBR, why do you still have Bookmaker as an "A" Rated book???

[Tsoprano]

Don't you read all the players posting about their obsessive calling disorder??

Wtf?

[AMBlai01]

Kickbacks, how much they pay to advertise here AND how often they kick in money for Contests.....plain and simple.

[Iwinyourmoney]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[SBR Lou]

Marketing is done differently by each book, but Bookmaker's rating has to do with their longstanding commitment to excellence in booking just about whatever you want to get down, professionals included, and having no problem paying big balances on time.

Marketing isn't something I personally consider when selecting books, plus they usually have a good deal if you haven't posted up in some time.

[RogueScholar]

Thanks for posting this thread, Tsoprano. I think it's been long overdue, and the rationale behind it has been explained more than adequately by the replies before me. I just think that it's time that it was made more public that some SBR A+ books are better than others. I'm really surprised that BM continues with these practices, and perhaps with more attention placed on them, it'll sway their decision to disturb people the way they do.

[The Seer]

that's why you give a bogus # when signing up or just get your # changed

[rm18]

Marketing is done differently by each book, but Bookmaker's rating has to do with their longstanding commitment to excellence in booking just about whatever you want to get down, professionals included, and having no problem paying big balances on time.

Marketing isn't something I personally consider when selecting books, plus they usually have a good deal if you haven't posted up in some time.

when asked why youwager is not an A book SBR would say because of aggressive marketing and calling

[Tsoprano]

Marketing is done differently by each book, but Bookmaker's rating has to do with their longstanding commitment to excellence in booking just about whatever you want to get down, professionals included, and having no problem paying big balances on time.

Marketing isn't something I personally consider when selecting books, plus they usually have a good deal if you haven't posted up in some time.

Doesn't customer serrvice count for anything?

Harassing customers that do not want to be called certainly isn't a good service nor matter how often they pay. Don't they read these forums and see people get annoyed by it?

A book is supposed to pay, and because they do....they can bother everyone else. Doesn't matter if they have a "good deal" if they don't present it the right way.

[SBR Lou]

Doesn't customer serrvice count for anything?

Harassing customers that do not want to be called certainly isn't a good service nor matter how often they pay. Don't they read these forums and see people get annoyed by it?

A book is supposed to pay, and because they do....they can bother everyone else. Doesn't matter if they have a "good deal" if they don't present it the right way.

Customer service is a tricky thing. Sometimes you are connected to, or dealing with someone having a bad day, someone making things more difficult than they need to be or reading from a script.

It's important to remember the people calling you or on live chat, most times, are just a low level clerk that's not paid very much. While there are certainly numerous hard working, good customer reps, it's inevitable to come away feeling slighted at any book after some personal interaction.

The way you balance and judge a book fairly is looking at, have they always given me my money, am I paid on time, can I deposit easily enough, and what kind of lines am I getting. Before all this comes security, so in those regards, the most important ones IMO- Bookmaker aces the test in flying colors.

[pavyracer]

The ratings at SBR are bought. They mean mothing. I can name you 10 D books that are better than A+ books.

[losturmarbles]

find one of those free voice mail numbers you can get on the internet. give them that number. i made the mistake and gave dsi my cell number when i signed up for btp.
i first seen a missed call number one day and i googled it and found out it was a florida number and it was dsi (or betcris). they called back later that day and i didnt answer, i didnt want my number in their system and anwsering it would confirm it in their system. they called everyday, twice a day, for 2 and half weeks until they finally left a message and they havent bothered since.

i remeber years back, betcris calling me out of the blue one day, and i was like wtf, dont call me i'll call you. then when they switched over to bookmaker i remember someone calling during the day when i wasnt home, i talked to someone in chat and they said they would take me off the calling list, but even if they do that, it seems like it only lasts for about a year maybe and they will try calling you again. i've since changed my number from back then so i cant say if they are still trying to call me on that old number.

but its total bullshit, that and the enormous fees for withdrawals or transfers.

[Tsoprano]

when asked why youwager is not an A book SBR would say because of aggressive marketing and calling

Correct.

Marketing is done differently by each book

Marketing isn't something I personally consider when selecting books

--And apparently they are doing it the wrong way.
--They have been an elite book with this going on even before you became a moderator.

It's important to remember the people calling you or on live chat, most times, are just a low level clerk that's not paid very much.

Crazylou, you can't bail bookmaker out as a whole, by saying some clerks are not paid very well or having a bad day. Yes, they are paid minimum wage, but the demands are from rich people who made killings off the players as a whole over the years, and still branch out to annoy everyone for extra deposits.

These call requests the workers get are obviously from higher management. I NEVER see this issue from any of the other "A Rated" books.

This is a problem we see from this book in particular, and yes... it is a problem.

[Stumpage]

Damn....I've been a Bookmaker affiliated client for 6+ years and nary a single phonecall to my humble abode....Must be Anti-Penguin.....

[flyingillini]

I know one B rated book that blows all the A+ ones out of the water.

[madmaxx]

they host sbr freerolls who cares what grade they get

[Arilou]

The idea that Bookmaker will book however much you want regardless of who you are is simply untrue. The house limits if you do not call in are not very high. The limits if you do call in are better, but if your goal is to place very large wagers as someone they respect you're looking at the wrong place. As for payouts, no one's saying they can't be trusted or are slow but at those fee rates I would certainly expect fast service! While I haven't been called by them, I don't think they have my phone number, and I have had bonus and other offers made to me repeatedly that they had no intention of actually giving me.

I have nothing against Bookmaker, I use them and am happy with them. They post lines early and often, tolerate winners and are an important out to have. I don't think their rating is out of line simply because they are indeed often the first to put up a line and they can be trusted. Together that makes them vital, but it doesn't excuse their other behaviors.

[durito]

Bookmaker is an A+ if you are a professional player in the USA.

[Mudcat]

"A" sounds like the right rating for Bookmaker to me.

Books are graded on a curve and Bookmaker is just about the best. It is easy to criticize a rating but if you have someone you think is better, start a thread saying how they are the best and watch yourself get torn to shreds by your fellow posters.

Everyone bitches about everything. Every book is full of flaws these days.

Bookmaker has been doing a great job for years. They take a decent sized bet, they payout, they have nice promotions, they (CRIS) bailed a bunch of players out in the BETonSPORTS mess, they have sponsored big contests here.

They are one of the good guys of the industry.

If they are phoning people too much then that is not particularly good but it is such minor factor to my way of thinking.

[MBENZ]

Damn....I've been a Bookmaker affiliated client for 6+ years and nary a single phonecall to my humble abode....Must be Anti-Penguin.....

NO,you are a lucky penguin

[sickler]

The idea that Bookmaker will book however much you want regardless of who you are is simply untrue. The house limits if you do not call in are not very high. The limits if you do call in are better, but if your goal is to place very large wagers as someone they respect you're looking at the wrong place. As for payouts, no one's saying they can't be trusted or are slow but at those fee rates I would certainly expect fast service! While I haven't been called by them, I don't think they have my phone number, and I have had bonus and other offers made to me repeatedly that they had no intention of actually giving me.

I have nothing against Bookmaker, I use them and am happy with them. They post lines early and often, tolerate winners and are an important out to have. I don't think their rating is out of line simply because they are indeed often the first to put up a line and they can be trusted. Together that makes them vital, but it doesn't excuse their other behaviors.

As someone who bets openers, I wholeheartedly agree with the point about the combination of being first to put up a line and trustworthiness. In spite of phone spam, Cris/BM is deserving of their lofty status.

[james4512]

the way the book is set up is an A, it costs too much to cashout from them, they call excessively, and there employees dont even know what there doing. The customer service is bad at best. Next book i use is going to be the Greek, my friends have great success with them but there all over 21 and im only 20

[Patrick McIrish]

Bookmaker is an A+ if you are a professional player in the USA.

Correct. This book has been a staple in the offshore business for years. They are one of the early pioneers, if not the earliest. If you don't know the story of the guy behind this place ask someone that's been around at the next SBR event. They hang numbers very quickly, you can pound the hell out of them, you can get down some decent sized action and you never have to worry about your money. That's a lot of what some players look for in an out. Now that said not every book is going to fit into what a certain player needs/wants. If all what I mentioned isn't important and you are upset about being called or not getting your ass kissed when you contact them you might be more comfortable somewhere else. Understandable. In the end though my guess is the day CRIS is not an A+ book is the day the offshore sportsbetting business will cease to exist. 'Nuff said.

[rjt721]

Cris sets the market in many areas, promptly pays and provides relatively high limits in most instances, all criteria that should be valued far more than the occasional phone call, especially when it takes 2 seconds to be removed from their marketing program.

It's funny that those who criticize Cris are often the same people who compliment books like 5Dimes and BetOnline, both of which are completely undeserving of their "A" rating.

[THEGREAT30]

Good business.