A, B, C: It's easy as $1, $2, $3

Although it's a little early to head back to school, the Better Business Bureau isn't afraid to pass and flunk businesses. In an attempt to vamp up its report quality, the Better Business Bureau transitioned to a letter-grading system Thursday.

The grading system uses previously gathered information in the BBB database to assign points according to 16 different criteria. On top of that, BBB professionals evaluate the results to assign that business a letter grade.

"Basically, we want to improve our system into a more comprehensive version," Trish Powell, president of the Permian Basin Better Business Bureau, said.

In the current rating system, businesses were given "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory" ratings instead of getting letter grades.

"As long as (businesses) had responded to complaints, they receive a ‘satisfactory' rating," Powell said. "This makes it easier for consumers. Before, two different business could be satisfactory, but there are different pieces of information based on all different elements that now give the businesses the grade."

In addition to informing the consumer, the letter grades are also intended to help businesses.

"We hope businesses will continue to help their letter grades," Powell said. "That way, the relationship between buyers and sellers is improved."

Sarah Edgell, CEO of Computer Concerns in Odessa, said the new system is better.

"Now, you think of the businesses as a student - who would you want to hire," she said. "You can tell who the top students are."

Computer Concerns received an ‘A+' rating, which doesn't surprise Edgell, who happens to be the chair-elect of the Better Business Bureau of the Permian Basin.

"We take great pride in our customer service, because without customer service, you don't have a company. Word of mouth is horrid. There's a good expression: ‘If you tell five people about a bad experience, you tell 25.' "

This step for the BBB also improves its stature, Edgell said.

"This is a big deal for the BBB; it moves them forward into the marketplace and gives them more validity," she said. "Now there's more purpose for joining, because you want to advertise the torch. For a lot of people, ‘satisfactory' meant ‘so what'?"

"Now, businesses compete for scores and this levels the playing field," she said. "Before, how did you separate and decide between the better and worse? Now you can go to the BBB, who eliminates some of the guesswork and provides you with a sound company."