I Hate Blood Sucking Vendors
What is it with the blood sucking rip-off artists vendors surrounding the real estate industry these days? I know the pickings have been slim, but when did a sense of decency and fair play go straight out of the window? This week I was approached with yet another hair brained scheme to pass costs along to the consumer needlessly. Yes I am on a rant here.
Salesman barges into my office, laptop fired up and in his arms, already talking - with no regard for the fact that I am on the phone. (I already don't want to do business with him!) This one wants to show me a wonderful new system; for JUST $50.00, which by the way - you can JUST pass along to your customer - your customer gets their entire file on a CD framed with the Realtors advertising. Also the broker will get a copy of the entire file.
Lets clarify what they are referring to:
1) They will copy the broker file. Which is a basic file with transaction related forms in it. It does not contain any of the correspondance, fax confirmations, rejected offers, etc... It is just the basic file - Big Whoop! Doesn't do me a lot of good if I need the rest of the file at a later date.
2) If the Realtor wants a copy it is an additional $8.00. You have got to be kidding! Didn't you just ask me to sell your product to my clients? Do I need to explain this to you?
3) Why is the customer paying for a copy of the CD for the Broker? How does the Broker benefit? Great Question! The brokers pay a lot of money for the storage space those files take up, they can attrition that out over the next 4 or so years they are required by law to keep the files. What a great way to pay nothing - just charge the customer! And benefit from reduced expenses by way of eliminating your storage costs. For crying out loud - pay the damn $8.00! How much commission did you just earn?
4) So Mr. Salesman lets see if I understand you correctly. You want me to sell your product to my client? You want me to pay an additional $8.00 if I want a copy for my records? You are giving the Broker a free copy of the disc? The Broker saves the exorbitant cost of file storage?
Are you aware that I am in the business of selling real estate? Why would I want to sell your product and stick it to my client? Why would you bring such a hair brained scheme to me, and not even offer me a copy of the CD as part of the package? Are you stoopid? Or do you think I am?
First of all IF I were interested in this product - and I am not - the cost would not be passed along to my client. I would absorb it, the same way I absorb costs for transaction co-ordination (which many agents charge their clients for) and other fees that I don't believe should be passed along to the client. These fees are part of our internal cost of doing business, nuff said?
Second, I certainly would not pay for copies for other parties, they can just pay for their own.
Most importantly, I want you Mr. Vendor to understand that you have deeply offended me. Your assumption that we Realtors would not see through your intent is an insult to our intelligence. You have assumed that we are not very bright, you are wrong. Contrary to the opinions of some, many Realtors are exceptionally bright. Smart enough to see right through you!
Would you like to try to read and explain some of our contracts? Or perhaps try negotiating a few of them?
I didn't think so!
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