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Is ActiveRain just for Traditional brokerages?

Is there something in the ActiveRain Guidelines that I missed? Where is the part about ActiveRain is only for agents from traditional brokeages?

Whatever a "traditional" brokerage is.

NAR's Antitrust quiz says:

"For more than a century, federal antitrust laws have existed as a way to promote competition and prevent monopolies in business. Because real estate brokers and salespeople frequently cooperate with one another in the sale of properties, they have numerous opportunities to engage in conduct that might be construed as violations of antitrust laws."

The first comment a member in Iowa received on his first ActiveRain post started out:

"Firstly, I want to point out that the Active Rain blogs are not a place for you to directly advertise your business like this; but that is between you and the Active Rain moderators."

He's not able to advertise his business? I am? Are you? The commenter did. He's not posted to ActiveRain for a long time.

The next paragraph of the comment to Flat Fee MLS in Iowa and in the United States for only $499 sounds like he is accusing the new member of bait and switch and more...

Who was the ActiveRain post written to? Screen shot:

That's Localism. Talking to the general public. That's not let's debate my business model with my peers.

The third post by the ActiveRain member from Flat Fee MLS in Iowa.

Read the first comment? Same warning that ActiveRain is not the place for Scott (of Flat Fee MLS ) to promote his business

Who was the ActiveRain member talking to in the blog post?

The commenter goes on and wants to tell Scott about his fees... what commission he charges....

Now the commenter is in another market...but his striking up this commission conversation makes me think of a couple of the questions on that NAR Antitrust Quiz.

ActiveRain hostile territory for non traditional brokerages? Franchises? Business models?

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Posted by Maureen McCabe Central OH Homes on 09/27/2009 07:19 AM

Comments (63)

Membership in the ActiveRain Channel

activerain, realtor, nar, antitrust

Post is included in group: Realtors®
Post is included in group: Real Living
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Post is included in group: Active Rain Newbies

63 Comments on Is ActiveRain just for Traditional brokerages?

SEP

Maureen:

This agent was clearly new to Active Rain. I think this is definitely a forum where agents can and do advertise their business. What does he think AR is for - venting?

Wow - Maureen - That is a terrible way to make a new post feel welcome. OF COURSE we are all permitted to advertise our business - what would be the point of all of this if we didn't here and there along the way. Is the commenter new? I have to go and see......

I think AR blogs are a great place to advertise, promote, etc.

I think someone ELSE's blog is a lousy place to advertise, promote, etc, and that is what happened...

Great thing about AR is the lively debate! Keeps us all on our toes.

If we're not here to advertise our businesses, I've surely been in the wrong place a lot for quite a while.

Some of us like to talk about the real estate market and how to market our services. Agents who have listings aren't shy about posting them to AR.

The categories in AR appear to have changed so that the clearly "advertising" posts are now merged with general interest. I haven't taken the time to figure it out since it's not of over riding interest to me. Maybe later today. After all, the ActiveRain platform is now, in a word, humongous.

The original post wherein the member posted their fee is from May 2008. Is there a renewed interest in this matter??? What have I missed?

We all have the right to comment what we want but there is a delete button. Sometimes the debate about commissions gets real ugly. Everybody has the right to charge what they want.

I'm with Mike, AR is full of advertising for us, the posters.

But it's not the place to bash someone for advertising their business.

Maureen...

Not allowed to advertise our business? Not true....

But if the post is a direct advertisement it should be indicated as such ... there is a checkbox for advertisements that differentiates them from a "traditional" blog post!

Maureen, I think Matthew Share is on a personal mission to stomp out these discount services. I think it's rude for him to ramble on like that in a comment. He should make that comment into his own post if that's how he feels.

But some how I remember reading the guidelines that you at least didn't receive any points for a self promotion posting. Look at all of the posts that the Flat fee guy did that didn't get any points. They look like original writings so why didn't he get points?

I think the ActiveRain guidelines have changed in this regard somewhere in the past but I guess only the guys in charge would know for sure.

Personally, I don't think ActiveRain should be for flat out advertising of your services. Yes, we are all here to try to get more business but it would turn into a "yellow pages" if everyone would just advertise. I guess it's all in the presentation.

Maureen, I saw this same thing yesterday on a PAID ad!! Not that that should make any difference at all. I don't know why so many in our profession dislike alternative business models. I say more power to them. The public SHOULD have options to choose from.

Mathew's comments on Scott's post should be deleted.

Im just here for the beer. JK I use Ar as a place to promote and also to grow. I use it to advertise my listings and my services. Just as I use facebook for the same thing. Looks like the commentor isnt even in the rain anymore.

Maureen: I just looked at the post and Matthew's comments. "Firstly'-- which I do not think is a real word--I noticed that Matthew has a total of 12,000(?) or so points, So, he is not a super active poster himself (ironic), and probably doesn't even understand the Active Rain model--what Localism is, the Channels, etc. It would've been nice is the blog's author would've deleted the comments, but as a novice he may not have realized that he could do that. Secondly (again, don't know if that's a word, but continuing the tone), I do agree with your points and folks need to be careful about each and every word that they put out for the public to see.

Sometimes it is better to read a post and then move on to the next one without spreading venomous commentary. It seems that probably those who have time to be hateful need to focus more on listing and selling real estate and less time bashing others. Commenters can RESPECTFULLY disagree and if they cannot...they should keep their hands off the keyboard! :o))))

The flat fee Realty company has PAID money to AR so they can feature their value. .

If you don't like it. .just don't read it

buy WHY bash it and show everyone your deficiencies and insecurities in your real estate services

If I was afraid that this company threatens my own existence . I would not be a good Realtor

Just let people be and go on. .

I find it a great source of learning as you see what agents are doing to increase their business and better serve their clients. That is the beauty of it!

Maureen, I think that a lot of us traditional brokerage types are tweeking our business models a bit. And we all have a lot to learn from the non-traditional practices.

Wow, that first comment (kw agent) blew my mind -- that is a lawsuit just waiting to happen and I would love to be a fly on the wall when the State's division of real estate attorneys or the Federal Justice Department viewed his writing about "...average commissions in my area..."

As long as it takes 120 hours (Ohio) or less to become a licensed agent, we will forever be mired with agents who put themselves and their brokerages at risk and we will be viewed by the public with disdain due to our lack of professional knowledge and competencies due to the barrier to entry being ridiculously low. Note: This does not apply to all agents, just some.

Hi Maureen ~ I agree with you that AR is a place to promote your business - regardless of your business model. I think the problem with that post was the presentation. It was an in your face kind of post with zero points for subtlety. I know we all promote our businesses here, but I hope we do it with a little more finesse than that! I understand, even if I don't agree with the lengthy commentor who felt provoked.

BTW, it was last year, I wasn't a member then, don't you think AR might have changed/evolved some since then?

Denise

AR lets us dicusss issues. Are you threatened by low fee brokerage houses? If price was the only consideration for the seller--- the traditional "full" price price brokerage would have no listings. Seems like the sellers want more than low cost. How about service?

Let the AR coninue. Those who only self promote do not seem to last.

I would agree with Lenn, if there were NO advertising of the business no one would ever post a listing.

Thanks all for the comments.

Russ R. wrote Sometimes the debate about commissions gets real ugly

Really? Where is Caleb Mardini's classic post about antitrust when you need it...

I'm not debating commissions with anyone.

Tim M wrote But some how I remember reading the guidelines that you at least didn't receive any points for a self promotion posting. Look at all of the posts that the Flat fee guy did that didn't get any points. They look like original writings so why didn't he get points?

I think both of Scott's post I reference pointless. Did Scott have the points taken away? Or did he not take points?

I don't think Scott is a great blogger, I am not pointing out his first and third posts as great blogging. They are a message he chose to write to consumers in his market. We don't get editorial control of the blogs of others members.

AR did not make me take a writing test before I posted my first entry on AR did any of you take a writing test to qualify for membership?

I am not sure if Scott took the Kersplats on his own for reposting content he has a right to use or if he was given the kersplats on his posts because someone flagged the content.

Melissa wrote It would've been nice is the blog's author would've deleted the comments, but as a novice he may not have realized that he could do that.

I kind of wonder why Scott has left them up. Maybe it works to his advantage to have comments from other brokerages leave crazy, wild eyed, foaming at the mouth comments about his business model.

Chris Olson wrote "we will forever be mired with agents who put themselves and their brokerages at risk and we will be viewed by the public with disdain due to our lack of professional knowledge and competencies due to the barrier to entry being ridiculously low."

at risk....

From the NAR antitrust quiz.... can you substitute other things about a company into this true false queston?

Brokers who agree not to cooperate with another company, such as by not showing that company's listings, do not violate antitrust laws if they enter into that agreement because they consider the company's aggressive "_______________" to be unethical."

We are not all in the same market. We aren't necessarily able to show one anothers listings... or not show one anothers listigns but I think there is risk in blatantly using any other members post to pursue any personal agenda. Such as what Tim M referred to as a:

"personal mission to stomp out these discount services. "

The question on the quiz uses technology...

True or False

Again Thanks all for the comments.

I think I'm missing something here...the blogger in question hasn't posted but 4 times all year and now has paid for an advertising slot. The commenter has not been on AR for over a year. I'm betting this just went under the radar...until now.

Deleting the comment seems appropriate in light of the content of it and having the blogger pay to advertise here seems like a choice he alone can make.

I recall coming across something similar recently and noticing that the rant commenters went on only gave the blogger a great link to say "See, told you they are crazy." Why go there?

My vote would be to report the comment and have it reviewed for content and then let the blogger do his thing! (Which I guess is really your POINT, Maureen ;-)

Richard Weisser wrote:

"But if the post is a direct advertisement it should be indicated as such ... there is a checkbox for advertisements that differentiates them from a "traditional" blog post!"

For consumer posts? Where?

There is a box to check if it is a listing. Neither of Scott's posts I mention are listings.

If he posted the content to his peers there's a place for Advertising.

For Real Estate Professionals - Advertising

He was writing to people in Polk County Iowa... his peeps! Why wouldn't his peers move along without commenting and let him say what he wants to say to consumers?

There is plenty of room for ALL business models. Flat fee, consultants, "traditional" brokerages. Move on.

Anonymous said

"Which I guess is really your POINT, Maureen ;-) "

I don't think it is. I think you are confused.

Scott is a vendor, he posts content to his peers (he is selling franchises.) His Sponsored Featured Ad brings out the worst in some folks. Scott may or may not post content to consumers. He's a member just like me. You?

The commenter does not still post but the comments are there*. He is a member. Does he still have an agenda to stomp out discount brokrage?

Now I am NOT saying that it is definitely an antitrust violation but we RE agents are subject to the laws, we have to be careful about discussing commissions.

Is there a statute of limitations on antitrust*? Because the posts / comments were last April or March, it is OK?

This is NOT the only example of someone with an agenda about a particular business model on AR.

Hi Maureen.

That post is from last year. I have no problem with other business models nor do I have a problem with brokerages advertising their business model here. Many do.

Advertising their business here at AR? We all do that in some way. He just so happened to pay for his.

Do I like being bombarded by those types of ads? No... so I just scroll past them but the revenue that comes from them does help AR whether it be for profit or to maintain its servers.

~ Lana

Brokerage models thrive or fall off the map for a variety of reasons. There is room for them all on AR and who has time to spend bashing another brokers model anyway? If it isn't for you move on or write your own post to educate the consumer on why your model is the one they should choose.

It's cheap.

Maureen -- GOOD job calling this one out!

OK I am losing interest in hearing what a naughty blogger / real estate agent / Realtor Scott is... what he has on his profile, what comments he leaves (comment spam makes me cRaZy... though.)

Scott's company as a sponsor - I hate to see AR become a place where the $ponsor$ are heckled because of disgruntled customers.

Or the unpopular $ponsor$.

ActiveRain's got to make money.

A comment on his sponsored posts yesterday "This keeps coming back, can't AR limit the times the same posts go up or is it just the money??"

Yes it's probably that darn money thing again... ActiveRain is a business. I grit my teeth when I see one AR advertiser's 'Sponsored Featured Post.'

Scott's company as an Iowa brokerage - has the same rights to post to consumers as any other member, being a bad writer, does not take away that right.

Punitive justice, he deserve disparaging comments on his posts to consumers because he has comment spammed? Or because _____ just drags ActiveRain down, doesn't it?

Better to just move on by. I don't believe in "don't say anything if you can't say anything nice" but a mad mob with pitch forks and torches???

I did NOT report a concern on the posts. I did not think to. Scott is obviously OK with them. The person who left them is OK with them.

I don't think ActiveRain can become judge and jury for issues that are outside of their control... the vendor who caused Irene's ire (I don't remember which lead seller that was)...

I am only here to promote my business, meet other RE professionals, and allow people to get to know me through my blogs... Strange commentary...

one of my favorite quotes

It is better to remain silent and let others think you are an idiot

than to speak and remove all doubt. *shrug*

I agree AR is for all, who can judge somone else's business model. This is not the place.

I was under the impression that unless someone was blatantly plaigarizing other content, that what we choose to include in our blogging here was up to the discretion of the individual blogger. Has that changed? If not, then people should be left alone to do their thing...

Obviously getting featured may answer your question. Not so sure what a typical agent is anymore. The key is for us all to help and not slam other agents for the means they practice real estate. I wrote a post about this and got slammed; that was a shocker. There will be agents that will be referring to other agents who practice in similar formats as they practice, but that is not a reason to slam those agents or assume that all agents practice the same way. Sell on.........

Thanks for your post. I am a new rainmaker and my business model is a flat fee structure. I have been wondering where I stood with AR and my business model. Thanks for the clarity on this issue. I believe I will feel better about my decision to advertise my business model on my AR blogs to the real estate consumer.

Maureen: Scott bought and ad and allowed comments. Matthew commented and so did you. I've read all the comments and the other posts. Isn't that the point of this whole forum? Why is Matthew's response any more or less legitimate than your own? Coincidentally Scott and I work in the same market.

I think you've all made some very good points and I'm not going to say any one of you is right or wrong, good or bad or should be deleted or not. This is essentially a free speech forum (with guidelines) in a free speech country. I see no problems with any of it.

SEP

It seems to me most of us are here advertising our businesses, traditional or not.

It's unfortunate he doesn't know how to delete the comments in question.

Christine wrote "It is unfortunate that he does not know how to delete it,"

I don't know I would bet there is more to it than not knowing how to use the link clearly marked "Delete."

Yesterday after SarahGray's comment I did use the Report a Concern on the comment where the commenter wrote about commissions on a post about commissions. Wondering how many of you paid any attention to the testimony from NAR members during the relatively recent antitrust witch hunt? NAR members who owned non traditional brokerages wrote about people in their market discriminating against them.

At least one AR member who no longer posts here (BIG influential RE blogger) contends there is risk in participating on ActiveRain because of the civil rights and antitrust violations of other members. I don't 100% buy it. I think there is more to his decision to not participated.

Not sure what the web designer's comment means. Torn on whether to "Report a Concern " or not. Anyone know this individual and understand what the comment or link means?

Let me say first Thanks all for the comments. Especially those who came, read and commented without a bias.

now....

Matt Grohe wrote: "Scott bought and ad and allowed comments."

I am going to assume the "and ad" should read "an ad" OK that post judging by the "bought" would be Flat Fee MLS franchise for your state only $19 a day it is yellow when it is on the dashboard as a Featured Sponsored Post.

Matt Grohe went on "Matthew commented and so did you."

Reallly? You lost me Matt Grohe. I don't see a comment from the commenter (I never refer to him by name, I wrote in this post "The first comment a member in Iowa received on his first ActiveRain post started out:" )on the Featured Sponsored Post.

Is he commenting on the Sponsored Featured post under a different name than the one he uses on the third and first post that Scott Thompspon ever wrote?

The posts I wrote about in the post you are commenting on here are:

Flat Fee MLS in Iowa and in the United States for only $499

Flat Fee MLS in Iowa

Those are written to consumers. The first comment on each is from the same commenter, a real estate agent in another market who seems to have a problem with the business model being offered by Scott Thomas's company. The same consumers that you would be writing content to? Matt Grohe wrote: "Coincidentally Scott and I work in the same market."

hmmm do you think that is part of the problem that caused YOUR confusion here?

"This is essentially a free speech forum (with guidelines) in a free speech country. I see no problems with any of it."

I am going to have to respectfully disagree with you that there is a free speech issue here. I don't think when it comes to harassment ActiveRain gives us the right to free speech. I happen to think the commenter was harassing Scott Thomas. Scott could take it obviously.... no effort on his part to delete the comments.

Maybe having someone leaving the comments helps Scott's business. His blog, his decision how to deal with comments.

My content to consumers in my market..(content that shows up on my Outside blogs and Localism). there is no free speech for real estate agents in my market or outside my market. A comment disparaging me, my company, my companies business model would be gone in a heart beat from my ActiveRain blog. A second comment would be reported to ActiveRain. A pattern of harassment (and that is what it would feel like to me) would have me clammoring at the powers that be at ActiveRain to remove the individual permanently.

Unless of course leaving the disparaging comment up worked to my benefit.

I am going to admit that your comment made me very, very angry on so many levels. You will probably see a post about your comment in the future.

Biased?

Asking me to justify my comments on a post. Did you give antitrust a thought?

Not bothering to read the post and garbling the posts up.

I thought by morning I might not be as angry.

Guess again.

Don't be an idiot about antitrust. Don't root on the idiots on ActiveRain who break civil rights and antitrust laws for fun, even if they are in your market.

I would never leave up a comment on my blog discussing commission with another in the industry. I would document it.

It doesn't appear that the commentor is still actively on AR or at least he isn't actively blogging anymore. Isn't this from last year?

i'm a non traditional brokerage and feel no sense of oddball out. i've been an independent for 15 years now in san diego county and have made it a part of my plan to try alternative fee structures of many styles. i also discuss these fee structures with anyone who cares to do so. sharing my experiences and advertising my fees to someone does not rise to the level of collusion. quite the contrary...it gives any competitor the club they can use to beat me. in any event, the reality of the trade is that for the twenty years that i've been in it...COMMISSIONS HAVE GONE DOWN EVERY YEAR. this is prima facie evidence, to me at least, that if there are some folks out there conspiring to keep a floor under commissions THEY ARE FAILING MISERABLY.

the debate might get heated at times and some respondees might miss the point of a post (sometimes COMPLETELY) but the point is that a poster must expect responses to their posts...IT'S AXIOMATIC...this is a forum. if you are one who reads too much into a post or gets hurt easily, an online forum is definitely the wrong place to be.

if you are unwilling to endure critique of a something that might be novel or different then you should consider if the stress is worth it to you. maybe we can get obama to appoint a czar to oversee this issue.

Just curious, if Scott has no issue and not deleted the posts then why do you care so much. Seems like your fighting for someone who doesn't need anyone to fight for them. He might leave the posts up for a reason. That said I agree we are all here to advertise in one way or another. I often wonder though if this crowd by and large is the right market to try to recruit or sell this model to?

Darren? Daryl? Darrel? Integrity mortgage guy..

Others have used that excuse in earlier comments.

The fact that the comment is old is immaterial, if he is talking commissions,

He is an ActiveRain member. He last commented on a post on Friday September 25, 2009. That seems like he's still an active member to me.

Not harassing Scott Thomas anymore?

got tired?

someone told him he's a pawn participating in Scott's marketing?

Chad I care because of the antitrust issue. Did you follow the court cases in the United States against local boards and NAR?

Flat fee MLS is not a 2nd class citizen in the US.

Canada? I don't know and really don't care. Maybe being a Canadian rather than a US citizen allows you some freedom that we don't have in our business.

The comment should have come down long ago, the one where he quotes

"Less than X% of all real estate transactions involve a X% fee. Most agents in my area (GA) charge an average of Y%."

Scott left it all up because it is good for his business to have a Keller Williams agent making that statement. Is it good for his KW brokerage? His local association? His state association? NAR? No.

Is it good for ActiveRain?

Usually the biggest opponents to alternate real estate business models on ActiveRain are lenders who want to stir up trouble.

If you want to be the Canadian pawn to Scott Thomas, you can take up where the guy on "a personal mission to stomp out these discount services" left off.

Or it looks like Michael Ford in California is looking for a stooge on his posts? (Edit Michael does not yet have a blog) like the way the fella who Tim Maitski described as "a personal mission to stomp out these discount services."

The morons on "a personal mission to stomp out these discount services" are their advertising.

The morons on " a personal mission to stomp out these discount services" on public posts are putting on a good show for consumers who might be considering trying their business model.

The comments on Sponsored Featured Posts are for a totally different reason. Totally monetary but I don't want to confuse the issues. I've posted on that issue twice before. This post is about business model. Some people get confused if you try to cover too much ground.

Chad and Michael thanks for your comments now move along.

Maureen, Thankl you for the discussion, I agree, many agents have no idea how close they walk the line of antitrust violations. There is room for everyone, companies of every size, shape or fee structure at the real estate table. The whole point of this entire community is to help each other learn, grow and promote ourselves. I personally think you should never advertise fees, regardless of what you charge, just because of the potential for anti trust issues.

YES Jason thank.... thank you... thank you... thank you...

maureen, bitter much?

i don't need to look for a stooge, you're doing fine without my help.

in just three posts you called us morons, idiots, stooges.

nice.

regards, mike

Michael Welcome to ActiveRain, please enjoy yourself someplace else. Anyplace else where someone welcomes your comments.

They are not welcome on this post.

This is NOT a discussion of free speech. Or politics. Want to discuss that elsewhere? ActiveRain gave you a blog to use. Go start your AR blog.

Your comment did not make much sense to me. I did not bother to comment back to it. I don't understand the political reference at the end or appreciate your putting it into this discussion.

You've been asked to move along twice now.

I am not wild about discounters, but I do not see why they should be cut out, unless they do something illegal or dishonest.

Gene I am sure the majority of AR members know that all business models are equal on AR, we can all use our AR Blog / Localism / our Outside blogs to promote ourselves, just a few are on "a personal mission to stomp out these discount services." Or any other business model.

I have seen an agent with Exit told they could not promote their company.

I have seen a Keller Williams agent told they could not promote their company on AR, that it was not right.

One of Chris Svec w/ Real Living's early posts there was a comment that he could not use AR to promote the Real Living brand.

Chris sells franchises.

The AR Guidelines don't say don't try to recruit other agents, don't try to sell a franchise... there are not special rules for vendors selling to the real estate industry.

Thanks for the comment Gene with the new, different avatar...

maureen,

thank you for the warm welcome.

your style is very off-putting, and the consistency with which you peddle it indicates to me that it's not an anomaly.

as you go about defending any modified business plan you have please consider that the issues that others may have with your plan are not the fee schedules but perhaps the personnel promoting it. consider further that the willingness of the agents in your trade area to be willing to deal with your agency is negatively impacted by the style and tone of your interactions. before you get back on your anti-trust soapbox take a moment reflect on whether you may be clobbering your clients sales and marketing efforts with your "business style". we get to choose who we deal with. in your case i would be an anti-selector as they say in the insurance trade.

i suspect that i am merely saying what many others are thinking.

what treat you must be to transact with. bitter AND snarky...together at last!.

Hi Maureen...

I think I have gotten a comment once from someone "accusing" me of promoting our business...golly gee whiz...the point of blogging would be to......talk to each other...? I enjoy that too...but ....

Sally Thanks for the comment. Promoting your business?

Or promoting your brand? Early on, on ActiveRain I got a lot of cr*p from others for talking about Real Living HER (or maybe our name was HER Real Living back then....) including from someone with the company. If you are blogging and don't name drop keywords like your brokerages name it is a missed opportunity IMHO.

Some brands have a stronger incentive to recruit than others ... if I don't want to read it I can move along and read something else. There is plenty to read on AR.

Maureen I did not discuss commissions on this or any post, I did not discuss nationalism on this or any other post nor did I say that I had issue with the model. I even agreed with your basic point. I am not sure why you took my post as an attack since it was more of a question then a statement. Sorry if you took it personally. Now I will do as asked not share my "Canadian" questions or thoughts any further.

Finally found it... Here's the classic post from an ActiveRain employee (former) Caleb Mardini about talking commissions on ActiveRain

Talking Commissions = Serious Consequences

"On Your ActiveRain Blog Directed At Professionals:

* Do not discuss agree or imply anything regarding commissions, rates, fees charged or paid, formally or informally.
* Do not discuss imply or agree to anything regarding a boycott of a competitor.

Talk about rates with consumers, not your colleagues."

We are allowed to speak our business plans/models whatever they maybe, but we are not allowed to discuss commission rates which has been discussed ad nauseum. Your last 3 sentences above should be memorized by all here on AR.

SEP

Maureen, I agree with you that a general discussion of commissions, etc. should be tread on very lightly. NC has long had antitrust laws concerning the commission talk: a seller or buyer who phones the office to ask what we charge can be given a range("5% - 10% depending on location & type/condition of property") but to get a hard specific commission quote they have to have a "face-to-face" meeting (NCREC has a habit to call an office to catch someone talking specific commission rates). AR is a great place to discuss ideas on everything RE. I read most blogs but comment when I have something to contribute or clarify otherwise I move on.

You want to advertize what you charge then buy an AD to avoid possible court case; I get cards/letters/email all the time from promoters espousing their fees.

Lyn Those are Caleb's words. I don't think it is linked to the Guidelines or is really addressed in the Guidelines other than being a federal law.

I don't think a lot of people really understand it.

I know most lenders don't have a clue.

I know a lot of brokerages and brands would not want their agents online talking commission rates to colleagues.

George wow NC is tough. I don't think OH law is any stricter than federal antitrust laws.

I was at a board committee meeting maybe 5 years ago when a "virtual office" broker gave a presentation. I think he had hand outs about his company and it had info about his fees. So I believe they were collected back up from us.

The next year I was in charge of a sub-committee and we were doing VO (Virtual Office) and I mentioned something about his presentation and the magazine article that was published about it and someone told me more about what a big mess the year before had turned into.

Ran into that VO broker recently at a tech event... could not place him at first.

You said "you want to advertize what you charge then buy an AD"

Paper?

I think when I am on my AR blog talking to consumers it is the same as an ad to me. Interactive ad but if I am talking to consumers and some jerk from CA or IA (or any state) talks back and is an AR member they are out of line.

Commission would probably not be something I would ever choose to write about online. There is so much to blog about...

My blog I decide what comments stay, what comments get deleted.

I don't think we need to buy an over priced, obsolete "paper" ad to talk commission to consumers. I think Scott is within his rights to talk commissions with consumers on his blog.

When it comes to selling franchises and talking to peers, especially in a "Sponsored Featured Post" it is different but that's between him and AR. I don't know that, that is what he's talked about in the "Sponsored Featured Post."

Are some of the comments to him on the "Sponsored Featured Post" talking rates to a colleague? The commenter from GA is definitely talking rate to a colleague.

The people who stop by to comment

Bottom line he's a member same as anyone else.

SEP

The moment I can't promote my business here is the moment that I leave.

Me too...

OCT

We are all here to advertise. To each other and the public.

OCT

I don't understand members trying to intimidate other members... especially across state lines. I don't understand "a man on a mission" as Tim called him.

On my WordPress blog I posted some Zillow neighborhood info yesterday and got a comment within minutes from "zillowhater." ????

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