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Anyone want my Talking House Machines?

I am glad Talking House was brought up today on another blog.

I bought 5 of them for 1500 big bucks several years ago and only used them 3-4 times. Why, after such an investment? I followed all the directions, went as high as I could go in the home, spread out all the antennae wire, taped it in place, went to my car to test it and could not hear it in front of the home and could barely hear it in the driveway. Who wants people in their driveway? Went back in several times and moved it around, went back down to my car and nothing. I tried different frequency's, no good. I spent hours on these things, setting up, writing scripts, recording several times to get it right, moving my car around like an idiot after telling my clients about 24/7 information on their home. Think I got funny looks then? You would be right! I'm angry, I don't like being mad, it takes my positive energy, which we need to make sales and develop new clients, and it makes me drink beer!! But, boy, was I mad. Tried this in several homes, same crap, different day! Called them and got nothing but, please pay your monthly bill. I said I don't think so! I am shipping them back.

They: We will not take back used machines. I: They were not used because they did not work! They: Well they were unpacked. I: Well how do you think I was going to try them? They: But, sir, they are opened and that's our policy. I: Forget it, I do not have time for this.

I stopped paying and now they are just taking up space in my office. Anyone want to buy some cheap recorders? You can hear your own voice, although nobody else can within 20 feet!

I will pay shipping! No? Yes? No?

Sincerely,

DavidC

ARRGH!

Your Local Akron Ohio Realtor

David M. Childress

Akron Ohio Howard Hanna Real Estate Services Akron Ohio Homes for Sale The Ohio State University

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Serving Buyers and Sellers in the following Ohio Communities

Akron, Canton, North Canton, Barberton, Cuyahoga Falls, Stow, Munroe Falls, Silver Lake, Fairlawn, Green, Hudson, Macedonia, New Franklin, Northfield, Norton, Tallmadge, Twinsburg, Bath, Boston, Copley, Coventry, Northfield Center, Richfield, Sagamore Hills, Springfield, Hartville, Uniontown, Jackson, Kent, Ravenna, Portage Lakes, Wadsworth, Seville, Medina and more. Just visit Akron Ohio Homes for Sale or email me for information on any home in NE Ohio Homes.

Posted by Akron Ohio Homes for Sale David M. Childress on 07/10/2007 09:58 PM

Comments (47)

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47 Comments on Anyone want my Talking House Machines?

JUL

2007

Oh, what a bummer! Sorry you were ripped off.

It might be your car. I use Talking House and my sellers love it. I have a Toyota. They work best with foreign radios. They sound like they're under water with GM cars. If you haven't used them in several years, have you thought about pulling them back out and checking to see if they're working better now? I've had them for 3 years, and they actually have a better transmission now than when I first got them even though there are more and more people on the AM stations. By the way, you know you don't have to use the 1600 grouping right? You can change the numbers to whatever you want. If your area transmits better in the 1500 or 1700's you might want to try those...

Throw mine in as well! Expensive tape recorders that don't transmit worth a darned!!!

Thanks Donna, I am happy yours are working, but they won't replace mine for newer models. Besides, I drive a Lincoln now, should I buy a $35,000 foreign car to go with my $1500 recorders? HEHEHE! (Tounge in cheek!)

I tried all the frequencies available, BTW!

Regards, DavidC

I may as well be in Space!

I'm glad I didn't jump off of that cliff! I sure was tempted!

Well I don't know if you read my earlier blog on talking house, but I opened my box and read over some of the scripts and talked to my coach a couple of times. I wished to goodness I never order it. First of all I never have time to play with it to see if it would work!

I jumped before I thought, and now I am billed every month on my credit card. It did teach me a lesson, thanks for your blog and your insight.

Yea, David. Don't the ads look great! And they advertise everywhere including my NAR updates. That is just plain wrong, I think. Regards, DavidC

JUL

2007

Uh...no thanks...I really don't like added stress over a "talking house" whatamajigger.

I know you'd prefer a talking buyer or a talking seller, All I can offer is Jeffs talking head! It really is cool!! Nice of you to offer your talking houses to others! You're a good man David!! B-)

I tried pasting Jeffs Gizmo here but it didn't work. Go to his site and check it out if you want to hear a "Talking Head"! I love that stuff!

JUL

2007

Hi David, one of my clients(a realtor) just sent me a promo DVD he received from Talking House. He wanted my opinion but after reading the mixed reviews(some good, many bad)...

I don't have a very positive outlook on T.H. but when I read stories like yours and Darlene's about how they deal with dissatisfied customers, it totally turned me off, even if it does work well in some locations.

P.S. From your book list I see you're an Ayn Rand fan, same here.

Hi Marti, thank you for being an associate! Yea, TH was pretty rude to me and assumed it was my fault, I guess. I told them I love gadgets and busted my tail on several locations to use them for my clients, who thought I lied to them about how great this 24/7 ad would be.....that was the biggest hurt, disappointing my clients... I hate that....Yes, Ayn Rand's books meant a lot to me during college and my formative years. I love her main characters and what they stand for, as these days, we are so far from them as a society. People today, still want to chop down and take away a professional's resources if they are successful and especially independent, they cannot stand that!!!! Once again, thank you for your kind comment, Regards, David

God Bless America!

Here is my 2 cents... always thought it was a dorky thing to do, listen to a low tech radio devise in someones driveway or in front of a home that is for sale. Very close to those FSBO cheesy fliers in grocery stores with little tear off tabs. Besides that, it is a good way to cause a car accident because of inattentive driving LOL. Toss 'em

A thousand thank you's. I was thinking about this for my one and only listing. You've saved me money. Unfortunately we'll try almost anything to help a seller, won't we. Sorry for your misfortune. Did you contact the Better Business Bureau?

Hey, Mary, I like that word dorky. But, at the time, several years ago, I thought it may be cutting edge. Too bad they did not work for me or anyone else for that matter. I now, with Real Living, have an 800 number that gives drive by's all the info on the home and IT IS FREE!!!! Woo Hoo! Regards, DavidC

I am pretty sure my Talking House will not work up here!

JUL

2007

David, yes then it was cutting edge then, now it is not.

JUL

2007

David I found this thing on line the other day....it's like a homing device for sellers who are out while people see their homes and it lets them know when it's safe to come home...I had a feeling it might be like the Talking House thingy LOL. It's nice to find another Ohioan!

JUL

2007

Hi Carole, I got an email about that tool and saved it to favorites, It sounds like a cool tool for listing presentations and it goes to their cell phone. I may try one with my "next check" whenever that is!! Did you check out the voices like Clint, John Wayne, etc? Very funny. Of course, I thought TH's sounded good. I will be careful this time! Thank you for commenting! I have some very good HH friends in Akron. Regards, DavidC

Okay, and if you do get one, maybe you could post about it so we can see if we should buy one too! Thanks.

APR

2008

Well- I dont know about you guys, but the key is to get the listings- and that is what I have been getting by use talking house approach. Put it outside the office, using some of their techniques, and it is paying for itself. Cutting Edge- definitely? How many listings do you have? I have got a significant amount in a short time by trying this- it's not just about the recording device which is all that you guys are talking about. Virtual tours are expensive too- and they dont need us with the VT. I wouldnt drag their name around in mud until you have actually tried it- by the way- there is a wide range of stations you can use on the radio- just a little patience

APR

2008

Sounds like it was time to call the BBB and dispute your credit card bill. For me, they would never work. Most of my properties have no electricity.

MAY

2008

Jess- I am glad you had some luck. If you would have read all my comments, you would have read that I worked my tail off on them and they did NOT work. An agent in my office ditched his as well.

Rich- Thanks, but I did not have too. They never bothered me about the bill after several phone calls. They do not work WITH electricity either.

By the way, I do not have them anymore, I gave them away to get rid of them!

I havent had a lot of responses from mine yet, but I just started using them. At least you can hear them going down the street here in phx!

Take Care & Have a Great '08

MAY

2008

Actually No, I have always thought they were so dorky, just my opinion.

Dude, I tried to send mine back too, thier range is so terrible, the sound is soo staticacy... I was on the phone today with another of their pitchman...again, its my fault that I can't get them to work..I am not allowed to send it back...I should have sent it back and disputed it with Visa...I can buy all I want for 20 bucks apiece on E bay..where I may place mine as soon as there are less than ten people selling this crap....PS for those who love them, I will gladly sell mine for 20 bucks a month for the balance of my contract

I've never heard anything good about those. 1500.00 is alot of money.

MAY

2008

Sylvie- It must be the PHX air!

Mary- Dorky and don't work!

Mike- I feel your pain, I just did not pay and they went away, no bad credit report either!

Robert- $1500 is a ton of money these days. Thank you all.

MAY

2008

You don't need no stinkin' Talking House!

Next on the giveaway list: newsletters! What a waste of money, time and stamps!!

MAY

2008

Hola Dawn, maybe Pancho will take theeem across the border!!!

I always thaought that this was a stupid way to promote a house. first of all, getting a client is the first and foremost thing you need. So, when someone calls on a house, I want to be the one talking to them. If they don't like the house they just called on, maybe one of my other houses will work for them. If I don't talk with them personally, I will most likely never talk to them...a potential client GONE!!! It's the lazy man's way of trying to do business!

William- Thank you, I wish I had thought like you before I ordered them. Their ads were very convincing at the time. Contact IS key! Well said.

JUL

2008

They send me to a collection agency which is doing some shady things such as threatening me with the police and reporting it to my credit.

Can they really do this? I know not the police part but I don't want to destroy my credit over this piece of crap.

Tell the collection people that you sent them back and not to bother you again or you will notify the state's attorney generals office. Good luck Charlie.

JUL

2008

It is a shame TH didn't work for some of you but there are many of us who LOVE them and what they do for our Sellers. Remember Realtors, what is old hat to some of you will be cutting edge to our clients. I would think in your troubled market you would want to take advantage of anything that would make your listing stand out from the rest. However, I agree that if you are dissatisfied with a product, you should be able to return it

HI Susan, I never said it was not a good idea or cutting edge. I said they did not work as advertised. I am glad they work for you and that you are happy! Thanks for stopping by....

David - I'm so sorry if I offended you. It was a comment posted on your blog about if it was cutting edge or not and if TH was a good idea, but it wan't you that wrote it. I agreed that TH should have provided you with better service. I hope that you have found something that works for you and that you have a fantastic finish to 2008!

JUL

2008

If you shoot skeet....they are still useful....along with laserdiscs....

Susan- Thank you, no offense taken. I really am happy they worked for you. I thought it was a good idea when I ordered them too.

Rudy- Now that's funny!! Thanks for coming over.

SEP

2008

I got suckered in also, now I am moving and have this overweight huge box of junk that I dont know what to do with. I wished I had sent them back within the 1st 90 days, but as a new agent, I thought this was a great oppportunity, boy was I wrong. I would love to tell the CC company to cancel my $59 monthly payment, did you actually send the units back, IK cant imagine how much the shipping would be.

Kaathy- I feel your pain. I would UPS them back even if it has been 90 days and stop the payments.

SEP

2008

Hi David. Thanks for your information on Talking House. I'm sorry they didn't work for you. Talking House caught my interest a while back but I didn't move forward with them. The concept seems great but if they don't work from an appropriate distance, what good are they. I did show a house where they had Talking House and the presentation was a good one; however, I was in the driveway.

Hi David- I love your funny post about not so funny thing like aggressive B2B marketing. Aren't we the Realtors a very easy target for not the greatest companies?

I am guilty on spending a lot on all these new gadgets, technologies, etc. Was lucky not to get trapped with Talking House though.

God bless Active Rain! It's so free and so efficient!

SEP

2008

Im buying, how much per, sounds like a great idea, wow cool

David, give them to the high school so they can broadcast the fall concert band program throughout the nieghborhood and while people sit in their cars around the school and have box lunches served by the band boosters club. :-)

OCT

2008

Hi Jon, it was a good idea, they just did not work!!!!

Hi Svetlana, thanks for stopping by! AR is awesome.

Sorry Andrew, do not have them any longer.

Hi David, great idea, I gave them to the local grade school, but they did not like them, cannot win!

OCT

2008

Donate them to ACORN so they can tell people how to vote from their cars. No ID's required. Just drive up, register, vote, and get a coupon for a free Frosty or something, then get to the back of the line and do it again and again, while listening to MoveOn.org commercials and other propoganda while waiting in line...Yeah...that's the ticket!

Watch out for hanging chads!

Dave Culbertson

Broker/Owner

Real Living Home Team

Mount Vernon, OH

Text: 740-485-1641

Dave.Culbertson@RealLiving.com

www.DaveCulbertson.com

www.RealLivingHomeTeam.com

OCT

2008

Mike Norvell, thanks for the great idea. I got the DVD in the mail and it looked interesting but expensive. I had a good experience with them on the buyer's side. I actually asked for a showing based on what I heard. If not for the stench of mold when the agent opened up the door I might have even bought the house.

Anyway, I just put a $10 bid on one on EBay, so I'll be able to try it out and see if I can get it to work without the huge commitment.

NOV

2008

I bought some used units on eBay for about $50 each. There was a Realtor leaving the industry and selling all sorts of things.

It took awhile, but I get decent transmit range (200 ft) on the higher frequencies. It is one more way to diferentiate from other agents. I haven't picked up any listings by having them, but I have impressed a few sellers. Check out eBay.

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