EssayShark.com

EssayShark.com is a writing service with a bit non-traditional model, although many newer companies are now adopting this model as well. Specifically, EssayShark acts as a clearinghouse for customers and writers to “hook up.” The customer completes an order form, and it is then distributed to registered writers who in turn place bids for the project directly with the customer. Once the customer has accepted a bid, he places the payment on account with the company. The money is released to the writer once the customer approves the final draft. The company has been in business for five years.

To complete this review, we reviewed all of the company information on the website, reviewed some of the posted writer profiles, and read the on-site testimonials. We also looked at customer feedback on other review sites and that was submitted to our website by users. What we found is summarized below.

Product and Service Quality

Essay Shark provides a variety of academic writing services for students. These include all of the possible writing assignments students might encounter throughout their school careers, from basic high school essays through graduate-level projects. It appears that the company also offers business and professional writing, in the “other” category. 

In evaluating product quality, we looked at samples on the website and took into account what customer have had to say about their products and overall experience. Here is what we learned:

1. The samples on the website are meant to show the caliber of writing. Unfortunately, most of them are at the high school level, and we wish that they would post more at higher levels. There was also one sample of a business plan, and that was adequate.

2. On-site testimonials were all very positive, as expected

3. Customer feedback was somewhat mixed. Many were pleased with their products; some stated that they were happy with their first orders but less pleased with a subsequent one. Some also stated that they had to ask for several revisions before being satisfied. The fact that they got those revisions does indicate that the service is reliable in that regard.

Regarding customer service, there is only one way to contact the company. Customers can send a message through their personal accounts and wait for a reply. New customers without accounts can email their questions. Without a phone number, customers may find the company less trusted, and we would recommend that EssayShark set up a phone contact method too.

Expertise of Writers and Customer Support Reps

It is difficult to evaluate the expertise of all of the registered writers that work for Essay Shark. Their expertise really must be determined by the customer and his “interviews” with the bidders. It will be important for anyone using this service to develop a list of questions to ask the bidders so that the best decision can be made.

Customer support exists primarily to answer questions of new customers and to resolve issues about orders when they occur. The fact that messaging and email is the only way to do this is not the best method, especially when a customer is anxious about a deadline or a writer having difficulty with customer satisfaction.

Pricing and Discount Offers

It’s difficult to judge Essay Shark prices. Most companies charge a price per page and then add on premiums if extra items are wanted. Because customers receive bids, it’s nearly impossible to make a comparison. We can say this, however - the prices were on the low side. This is probably due to the stiff competition of writers for open orders. We can also caution customers not to simply take the lowest bid. Again, interview the writers to find the best for you and your need.

Obviously, there are not EssayShark.com discounts as are usually found on traditional writing service websites – no coupon or promo codes. The customer is certainly free to negotiate lower pricing with the bidders if they have the skills to do so.

Payments for orders are made via all major credit cards and are processed by a third-party with SSL certification. Customers can feel safe providing their information through a secure means.

Miscellaneous Benefits

One positive note that we can make is that EssayShark.com has a very well-designed website that is very easy to navigate. Their web content very clearly explains how their service works, and we found it very easy to find information on their policies and other data we were searching for. They also maintain a blog that is kept up to date, is well-written, informative, and occasionally quite funny. If we were giving EssayShark ratings only on web content and extras, the results of this review would be highly enthusiastic. But writing services cannot be evaluated on the basis of their site design and content. The key to a company’s worth is in the quality of products and services. 

The final thing that we did was to check for any Essay Shark BBB complaints. We found none.

Summary and Recommendation

EssayShark.com is a legal and reputable company that promotes a bit newer business model. The idea of matching customers and writers is common on freelancer sites, but there is little quality control, other than customer ability to provide public feedback on those sites. EssayShark has a bit more control through its customer support department, but we would urge the company to provide phone contact information.

The responsibility for hiring the best writer is totally up to the customer, and that can be problematic if that customer is not skilled in asking the right questions.

If you believe you have the skills to make a good selection, then this service may be a good choice.