Comments on: Nobody is Dancing At ChaCha. One Third Of Employees Get Pink Slips, Salary Cuts For The Rest http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/17/nobody-is-dancing-at-chacha-one-third-of-employees-get-pink-slips/ Startup and Technology News Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:32:07 -0800 hourly 1 By: ChaCha layoffs 25 more, only 56 employees left | Job Postings - Profossor.com http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/17/nobody-is-dancing-at-chacha-one-third-of-employees-get-pink-slips/comment-page-1/#comment-2746332 ChaCha layoffs 25 more, only 56 employees left | Job Postings - Profossor.com Wed, 13 May 2009 14:25:57 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=50193#comment-2746332 [...] layoffs 25 more, only 56 employees left From Techcunch: Mobile Q&A answer service ChaCha is shedding one third of its employees. We’ve confirmed [...] [...] layoffs 25 more, only 56 employees left From Techcunch: Mobile Q&A answer service ChaCha is shedding one third of its employees. We’ve confirmed [...]

]]> By: ChaCha Co-Founder Brad Bostic Steps Down As President | Reviews Manual http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/17/nobody-is-dancing-at-chacha-one-third-of-employees-get-pink-slips/comment-page-1/#comment-2723825 ChaCha Co-Founder Brad Bostic Steps Down As President | Reviews Manual Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:44:21 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=50193#comment-2723825 [...] is struggling to embellish a juicy consort in the underway scheme climate, despite the fact it fired 1/3 of its workforce and brought on salary cuts for the rest of the employees early this [...] [...] is struggling to embellish a juicy consort in the underway scheme climate, despite the fact it fired 1/3 of its workforce and brought on salary cuts for the rest of the employees early this [...]

]]> By: ChaCha Co-Founder Brad Bostic Steps Down As President | CHARGED's Digital Lifestyle at Work or Play http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/17/nobody-is-dancing-at-chacha-one-third-of-employees-get-pink-slips/comment-page-1/#comment-2723743 ChaCha Co-Founder Brad Bostic Steps Down As President | CHARGED's Digital Lifestyle at Work or Play Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:15:14 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=50193#comment-2723743 [...] is struggling to become a profitable company in the current economic climate, despite the fact it fired 1/3 of its workforce and brought on salary cuts for the rest of the employees earlier this [...] [...] is struggling to become a profitable company in the current economic climate, despite the fact it fired 1/3 of its workforce and brought on salary cuts for the rest of the employees earlier this [...]

]]> By: ChaCha Co-Founder Brad Bostic Steps Down As President | The Good NET Guide http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/17/nobody-is-dancing-at-chacha-one-third-of-employees-get-pink-slips/comment-page-1/#comment-2723717 ChaCha Co-Founder Brad Bostic Steps Down As President | The Good NET Guide Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:45:47 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=50193#comment-2723717 [...] is struggling to become a profitable company in the current economic climate, despite the fact it fired 1/3 of its workforce and brought on salary cuts for the rest of the employees earlier this [...] [...] is struggling to become a profitable company in the current economic climate, despite the fact it fired 1/3 of its workforce and brought on salary cuts for the rest of the employees earlier this [...]

]]> By: ChaCha Co-Founder Brad Bostic Steps Down As President | Stoth http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/17/nobody-is-dancing-at-chacha-one-third-of-employees-get-pink-slips/comment-page-1/#comment-2723682 ChaCha Co-Founder Brad Bostic Steps Down As President | Stoth Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:17:35 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=50193#comment-2723682 [...] is struggling to become a profitable company in the current economic climate, despite the fact it fired 1/3 of its workforce and brought on salary cuts for the rest of the employees earlier this [...] [...] is struggling to become a profitable company in the current economic climate, despite the fact it fired 1/3 of its workforce and brought on salary cuts for the rest of the employees earlier this [...]

]]> By: Trade Jim News » ChaCha Co-Founder Brad Bostic Steps Down As President http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/17/nobody-is-dancing-at-chacha-one-third-of-employees-get-pink-slips/comment-page-1/#comment-2723672 Trade Jim News » ChaCha Co-Founder Brad Bostic Steps Down As President Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:01:40 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=50193#comment-2723672 [...] is struggling to become a profitable company in the current economic climate, despite the fact it fired 1/3 of its workforce and brought on salary cuts for the rest of the employees earlier this [...] [...] is struggling to become a profitable company in the current economic climate, despite the fact it fired 1/3 of its workforce and brought on salary cuts for the rest of the employees earlier this [...]

]]> By: ChaCha Co-Founder Brad Bostic Steps Down As President | http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/17/nobody-is-dancing-at-chacha-one-third-of-employees-get-pink-slips/comment-page-1/#comment-2723669 ChaCha Co-Founder Brad Bostic Steps Down As President | Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:59:38 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=50193#comment-2723669 [...] is struggling to become a profitable company in the current economic climate, despite the fact it fired 1/3 of its workforce and brought on salary cuts for the rest of the employees earlier this [...] [...] is struggling to become a profitable company in the current economic climate, despite the fact it fired 1/3 of its workforce and brought on salary cuts for the rest of the employees earlier this [...]

]]> By: Techeroid » ChaCha Co-Founder Brad Bostic Steps Down As President http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/17/nobody-is-dancing-at-chacha-one-third-of-employees-get-pink-slips/comment-page-1/#comment-2723665 Techeroid » ChaCha Co-Founder Brad Bostic Steps Down As President Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:50:24 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=50193#comment-2723665 [...] is struggling to become a profitable company in the current economic climate, despite the fact it fired 1/3 of its workforce and brought on salary cuts for the rest of the employees earlier this [...] [...] is struggling to become a profitable company in the current economic climate, despite the fact it fired 1/3 of its workforce and brought on salary cuts for the rest of the employees earlier this [...]

]]> By: ChaCha Co-Founder Brad Bostic Steps Down As President http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/17/nobody-is-dancing-at-chacha-one-third-of-employees-get-pink-slips/comment-page-1/#comment-2723652 ChaCha Co-Founder Brad Bostic Steps Down As President Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:28:24 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=50193#comment-2723652 [...] is struggling to become a profitable company in the current economic climate, despite the fact it fired 1/3 of its workforce and brought on salary cuts for the rest of the employees earlier this [...] [...] is struggling to become a profitable company in the current economic climate, despite the fact it fired 1/3 of its workforce and brought on salary cuts for the rest of the employees earlier this [...]

]]> By: JR http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/17/nobody-is-dancing-at-chacha-one-third-of-employees-get-pink-slips/comment-page-1/#comment-2716037 JR Sat, 25 Apr 2009 17:03:50 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=50193#comment-2716037 Do they still do invites on Cha Cha...I was testing and got a message halfway thru that I failed. I had not been testing for more than 4 minutes and was shocked! Do they still do invites on Cha Cha…I was testing and got a message halfway thru that I failed. I had not been testing for more than 4 minutes and was shocked!

]]> By: Advertising Maven http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/17/nobody-is-dancing-at-chacha-one-third-of-employees-get-pink-slips/comment-page-1/#comment-2685382 Advertising Maven Sun, 05 Apr 2009 13:44:42 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=50193#comment-2685382 In an attempt to further trim costs and maximize efficiency ChaCha has launched a pilot program aimed to allow it’s guides to develop and analyze the advertising copy it delivers to it’s customers. Let’s think about this for a minute ChaCha is relying on it’s guides for advertising copy? Sadly many of these guides have no recourse but to work for the sub-minimum wage compensation offered by ChaCha. As an advertising buyer I expect that my advertising dollars would warrant attention form at least a “paid” advertising analyst at the company. To add insult to injury a “source” tells me that many of these analysts were chosen by far less than professional criteria. If your going to choose your “analysts” by their personal appearance maybe you use their photos in your clients advertisements. Advertising Maven In an attempt to further trim costs and maximize efficiency ChaCha has launched a pilot program aimed to allow it’s guides to develop and analyze the advertising copy it delivers to it’s customers. Let’s think about this for a minute ChaCha is relying on it’s guides for advertising copy? Sadly many of these guides have no recourse but to work for the sub-minimum wage compensation offered by ChaCha. As an advertising buyer I expect that my advertising dollars would warrant attention form at least a “paid” advertising analyst at the company. To add insult to injury a “source” tells me that many of these analysts were chosen by far less than professional criteria. If your going to choose your “analysts” by their personal appearance maybe you use their photos in your clients advertisements.

Advertising Maven

]]> By: Advertising Maven http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/17/nobody-is-dancing-at-chacha-one-third-of-employees-get-pink-slips/comment-page-1/#comment-2685378 Advertising Maven Sun, 05 Apr 2009 13:37:25 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=50193#comment-2685378 In an attempt to further trim costs and maximize efficiency ChaCha has launched a pilot program aimed to allow it's guides to develop and analyze the advertising copy it delivers to it's customers. Let's think about this for a minute ChaCha is relying on it's guides for advertising copy? Sadly many of these guides have no recourse but to work for the sub-minimum wage compensation offered by ChaCha. As an advertising buyer I expect that my advertising dollars would warrant attention form at least a "paid" advertising analyst at the company. To add insult to injury a "source" tells me that many of these analysts were chosen by far less than professional criteria. If your going to choose your "analysts" by their personal appearance maybe you use their photos in your clients advertisements. Advertising Maven In an attempt to further trim costs and maximize efficiency ChaCha has launched a pilot program aimed to allow it’s guides to develop and analyze the advertising copy it delivers to it’s customers. Let’s think about this for a minute ChaCha is relying on it’s guides for advertising copy? Sadly many of these guides have no recourse but to work for the sub-minimum wage compensation offered by ChaCha. As an advertising buyer I expect that my advertising dollars would warrant attention form at least a “paid” advertising analyst at the company. To add insult to injury a “source” tells me that many of these analysts were chosen by far less than professional criteria. If your going to choose your “analysts” by their personal appearance maybe you use their photos in your clients advertisements.

Advertising Maven

]]> By: PPR http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/17/nobody-is-dancing-at-chacha-one-third-of-employees-get-pink-slips/comment-page-1/#comment-2677810 PPR Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:30:33 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=50193#comment-2677810 Sure, ChaCha has a typical Scott A. Jones business model, pump up a non-existent product with over marketing, sell it, and screw everyone else in the end. Yea! He also has the classic, swoop in and snactch up a company in their time of need and bend them over. How did things end for the stockholders of his failed attempt at the DARPA Grand Challenge? (indy robot racing, LLC) Sure, ChaCha has a typical Scott A. Jones business model, pump up a non-existent product with over marketing, sell it, and screw everyone else in the end. Yea! He also has the classic, swoop in and snactch up a company in their time of need and bend them over. How did things end for the stockholders of his failed attempt at the DARPA Grand Challenge? (indy robot racing, LLC)

]]> By: PPR http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/17/nobody-is-dancing-at-chacha-one-third-of-employees-get-pink-slips/comment-page-1/#comment-2677797 PPR Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:21:52 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=50193#comment-2677797 Scott A. Jones is as shady of a businessman as they come, everybody but him gets screwed in the end. His "robotics" company is going under as well. I was recently fired from Precise Path along with 1/3 of my coworkers. We spent all of our money on web sites, trade shows and free lunches. The company clearly had no plans in creating a working product, only hyping it up and selling their "customer list" as they could. The lawn mower has never even driven! Scott A. Jones is as shady of a businessman as they come, everybody but him gets screwed in the end. His “robotics” company is going under as well. I was recently fired from Precise Path along with 1/3 of my coworkers. We spent all of our money on web sites, trade shows and free lunches. The company clearly had no plans in creating a working product, only hyping it up and selling their “customer list” as they could. The lawn mower has never even driven!

]]> By: yaknow http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/17/nobody-is-dancing-at-chacha-one-third-of-employees-get-pink-slips/comment-page-1/#comment-2667140 yaknow Tue, 24 Mar 2009 09:30:37 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=50193#comment-2667140 Actually, that's not quite true. Many expenses were spared. This was not your typical office. When I left ChaCha we didn't even have a real phone system in place. The massages were a small fringe benefit to help compensate for lower salaries for much of the administration at the time. Actually, that’s not quite true. Many expenses were spared. This was not your typical office. When I left ChaCha we didn’t even have a real phone system in place. The massages were a small fringe benefit to help compensate for lower salaries for much of the administration at the time.

]]> By: yaknow http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/17/nobody-is-dancing-at-chacha-one-third-of-employees-get-pink-slips/comment-page-1/#comment-2667134 yaknow Tue, 24 Mar 2009 09:23:07 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=50193#comment-2667134 Keep in mind that Scott was a founding board member of this fund. Keep in mind that Scott was a founding board member of this fund.

]]> By: ChaCha layoffs 25 more, only 56 employees left -layoff information | Layoff Information http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/17/nobody-is-dancing-at-chacha-one-third-of-employees-get-pink-slips/comment-page-1/#comment-2663469 ChaCha layoffs 25 more, only 56 employees left -layoff information | Layoff Information Sat, 21 Mar 2009 15:36:36 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=50193#comment-2663469 [...] layoffs 25 more, only 56 employees left -layoff information make money online From Techcunch:Mobile Q&A answer service ChaCha is shedding one third of its employees. We’ve confirmed with [...] [...] layoffs 25 more, only 56 employees left -layoff information make money online From Techcunch:Mobile Q&A answer service ChaCha is shedding one third of its employees. We’ve confirmed with [...]

]]> By: Indy http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/17/nobody-is-dancing-at-chacha-one-third-of-employees-get-pink-slips/comment-page-1/#comment-2661921 Indy Fri, 20 Mar 2009 10:25:21 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=50193#comment-2661921 Hmmm, well here's a headscratcher, that space is owned by Simon Property Group (NYSE:SPG) and the Simon family are investors in Chacha. I don't know if Chacha pays market rent... But hey before the SPG shareholders get upset, lets give a shout-out to the Tax payers in Indiana who wisely allocated nearly $34 million to support their much hoped for tech industry through the 2007-09 Biennium Awards!! Shockingly, shortly after Scott Jones hosted a fundraiser at his home for the (then) governor elect, ChaCha received $2mm of that money! But HANG ON, out of the hundreds of grant applications - Scott Jones' other venture ( a robot that mows golf course greens) also received nearly $2mm! Thats right - Jones received nearly 12% of the total taxpayer monies allocated in Indiana to support all tech and biotech and keep them in state. Don't bother complaining to the media - Jones owns the local Inside Indiana Business media company. Oh, he also is the Chairman of the biggest VC in the state for tech. But hang on - they haven't funded anything in years. Thats to say nothing of the fact that Indiana.gov uses Chacha as its search engine - selected without a competitive bid. And lets not forget the SEC issue and the great "deal" Indiana Univeristy got by using Chacha. Chacha will exit shortly (I suspect) and Jones will be fine. I suspect no one else will be (given Jones history), but then maybe the guides and everyone else can go work for the robots.... And the taxpayers of Indiana - well - Jones never stops coming to Indiana for money and someone with the purse strings in Indiana keeps paying him! Its sad really.... Hmmm, well here’s a headscratcher, that space is owned by Simon Property Group (NYSE:SPG) and the Simon family are investors in Chacha. I don’t know if Chacha pays market rent… But hey before the SPG shareholders get upset, lets give a shout-out to the Tax payers in Indiana who wisely allocated nearly $34 million to support their much hoped for tech industry through the 2007-09 Biennium Awards!! Shockingly, shortly after Scott Jones hosted a fundraiser at his home for the (then) governor elect, ChaCha received $2mm of that money! But HANG ON, out of the hundreds of grant applications – Scott Jones’ other venture ( a robot that mows golf course greens) also received nearly $2mm! Thats right – Jones received nearly 12% of the total taxpayer monies allocated in Indiana to support all tech and biotech and keep them in state. Don’t bother complaining to the media – Jones owns the local Inside Indiana Business media company. Oh, he also is the Chairman of the biggest VC in the state for tech. But hang on – they haven’t funded anything in years. Thats to say nothing of the fact that Indiana.gov uses Chacha as its search engine – selected without a competitive bid. And lets not forget the SEC issue and the great “deal” Indiana Univeristy got by using Chacha. Chacha will exit shortly (I suspect) and Jones will be fine. I suspect no one else will be (given Jones history), but then maybe the guides and everyone else can go work for the robots…. And the taxpayers of Indiana – well – Jones never stops coming to Indiana for money and someone with the purse strings in Indiana keeps paying him! Its sad really….

]]> By: Laguna http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/17/nobody-is-dancing-at-chacha-one-third-of-employees-get-pink-slips/comment-page-1/#comment-2661714 Laguna Fri, 20 Mar 2009 05:27:20 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=50193#comment-2661714 @ChaChaster - You hit that one right on the nail. For those wondering, here is the link to what the place looks like on the outside http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=ChaCha+Carmel,+IN&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=48.50801,114.257812&ie=UTF8&ll=39.999022,-86.130007&spn=0,359.77684&z=13&iwloc=A&layer=c&cbll=39.999022,-86.130007&panoid=byyoE_HtACWq2XXYYPyGSA&cbp=12,276.9764282324617,,0,3.476923076923073 inside however, everything looks and IS high-tech. They have multiple 27"-32" HDTV's in the receptionist area alone with top of the line workstations. They spared no expense making the place the best it can be. Not only they enjoy top of the line equipment at a high-rent district, but I heard that employees also had many benefits such as free massages (I think that link can be found on Wikipedia I'm not sure) so for a while there they were enjoying the high life and now that high life is over. The sad thing is that while they enjoyed this high life, guides never saw an increase in pay, only a decrease, and hit after hit to the customers questions limits which also affected guides. It sucks that it took an economic downturn for ChaCha to finally crack down and cut costs but in my opinion, the cost cutting measures should have been there from the beginning. Maybe a lot of that money could have been better allocated to the businesses survival and possibly a pay increase for guides that are literally working for 3 bucks an hour. @ChaChaster – You hit that one right on the nail. For those wondering, here is the link to what the place looks like on the outside

http://maps.goo...476923076923073

inside however, everything looks and IS high-tech. They have multiple 27″-32″ HDTV’s in the receptionist area alone with top of the line workstations. They spared no expense making the place the best it can be.

Not only they enjoy top of the line equipment at a high-rent district, but I heard that employees also had many benefits such as free massages (I think that link can be found on Wikipedia I’m not sure) so for a while there they were enjoying the high life and now that high life is over.

The sad thing is that while they enjoyed this high life, guides never saw an increase in pay, only a decrease, and hit after hit to the customers questions limits which also affected guides.

It sucks that it took an economic downturn for ChaCha to finally crack down and cut costs but in my opinion, the cost cutting measures should have been there from the beginning. Maybe a lot of that money could have been better allocated to the businesses survival and possibly a pay increase for guides that are literally working for 3 bucks an hour.

]]> By: Mirz http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/17/nobody-is-dancing-at-chacha-one-third-of-employees-get-pink-slips/comment-page-1/#comment-2661349 Mirz Thu, 19 Mar 2009 23:15:33 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=50193#comment-2661349 ChaCha stole the idea from AskMeNow. ChaCha doesn't have a business model. With the high cost of SMS fees and the cost of paying 'guides' their best case scenario is probably 15 cents per message sent. They are monetizing with crappy little sms ads and there is no way they are getting $150 CPMs on em to break even. ChaCha stole the idea from AskMeNow.

ChaCha doesn’t have a business model. With the high cost of SMS fees and the cost of paying ‘guides’ their best case scenario is probably 15 cents per message sent. They are monetizing with crappy little sms ads and there is no way they are getting $150 CPMs on em to break even.

]]> By: Text a Librarian! http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/17/nobody-is-dancing-at-chacha-one-third-of-employees-get-pink-slips/comment-page-1/#comment-2659608 Text a Librarian! Wed, 18 Mar 2009 23:27:02 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=50193#comment-2659608 @Leigh Anne - I agree with you 100%. @Leigh Anne – I agree with you 100%.

]]> By: susan http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/17/nobody-is-dancing-at-chacha-one-third-of-employees-get-pink-slips/comment-page-1/#comment-2659596 susan Wed, 18 Mar 2009 23:18:21 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=50193#comment-2659596 I've been a guide since last September, and I get paid every month. Whoever told you that they weren't getting paid probably didn't know HOW to get paid. I’ve been a guide since last September, and I get paid every month. Whoever told you that they weren’t getting paid probably didn’t know HOW to get paid.

]]> By: Leigh Anne http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/17/nobody-is-dancing-at-chacha-one-third-of-employees-get-pink-slips/comment-page-1/#comment-2659493 Leigh Anne Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:40:15 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=50193#comment-2659493 Cha-Cha is hardly a "unique product." It's the reinvention of the virtual reference services countless public libraries nationwide already offer its patrons for free. Cha-Cha is hardly a “unique product.” It’s the reinvention of the virtual reference services countless public libraries nationwide already offer its patrons for free.

]]> By: ChaChaster http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/17/nobody-is-dancing-at-chacha-one-third-of-employees-get-pink-slips/comment-page-1/#comment-2659381 ChaChaster Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:30:46 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=50193#comment-2659381 It's not that this model cannot be profitable. But this company has been overspending in every categories. I don't know the details, but for one, their whole company works out of a luxury outdoor shopping mall, one of the most expensive ones in Indiana. The rent is not cheap! It’s not that this model cannot be profitable. But this company has been overspending in every categories. I don’t know the details, but for one, their whole company works out of a luxury outdoor shopping mall, one of the most expensive ones in Indiana. The rent is not cheap!

]]> By: Stones Fan http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/17/nobody-is-dancing-at-chacha-one-third-of-employees-get-pink-slips/comment-page-1/#comment-2659372 Stones Fan Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:21:22 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=50193#comment-2659372 How and why has this company raised so much money? If I understand what they do, they do more or less the same thing as UK-based Any Question Answered (http://cli.gs/00ssHt), and I believe they managed to turn profitable without raising even a tenth of the capital ChaCha has raised. What gives? How and why has this company raised so much money? If I understand what they do, they do more or less the same thing as UK-based Any Question Answered (http://cli.gs/00ssHt), and I believe they managed to turn profitable without raising even a tenth of the capital ChaCha has raised. What gives?

]]>