are you working with my client?

I think this is very common.  I think you are right when you say they think they can get several agents to do a little bit and not use up too much of anyone's time.  Many consumers do not understand that we are independent contractors and we don't get paid unless we sell.  I am very cautious with my internet leads and I question them the same as you do.  I also make sure I don't spend too much time or money on them until they decided to have me represent them. 

I always ask if they are preapproved and working with a realtor when they call and first thing out of their mouth is "I want to see your listing at ..."   But, when they say they aren't working with a realtor, I still wonder if that is the case sometimes.  I hate to think that I am working for someone else to get paid in the end. 

I may show them my listing and a couple of others, but unless I have a loan officer's name and a buyer's rep agreement, I'm not doing much more than that. 

Time is money and gas is very expensive... so I am going to spend both with those that are serious buyers and willing to sign the buyer's rep agreement.

I think it is time to educate the public on how this works.  How we Realtors get paid.  I have placed an article in our office explaining how we are paid.  It is out in the waiting area with other resources. I work with an agent who is not shy in asking customers if they get paid at their job for the work they do.  When the response is "yes"  she just says don't you think I deserve to get paid for my work?  It is a riot every time I hear her say it to folks!!

Your "tag" line was perfect!  Potential clients need to realize that their interests are best served with finding a good agent to work with and stick with their choice.  It is like a seller who goes from agent to agent because they think its the agents fault that their overpriced home has not sold!!!  Another good reason for not taking overpriced listings!!

As far as a buyer, it is our responsibility to let them know you consider doing the work for them means you represent them, buyers rep agreement, hard to get them to sign but we should all be using them.

I agree with the above comments; part of it is our need to education the public on how this works. There is the mindset that they can work with mutiple Realtors, and get "better" results, when,in fact, they are getting the same listings over and over from different Realtors.

Yes, this can truly be a problem.  For some reason this is particularly the case with respect to internet leads. Uptime leads tend to have that issue as well. Then there are those who use rebate agents and try to make full service agents do the leg work with no intention of giving that agent the deal. This hasn't happened to me, but I've heard a story from someone who had been working with someone for quite a while. She had taken this lady all over the place for several months. Something forced the customer's hand - possibly an EBA....anyway, with the price of gasoline, not to mention time, it is important  to protect yourself. 

Lori, this is something I've been asking since I started, however just recently I changed it to "Who is the real estate agent that you are currently working with?"  I get to the heart of the people who are working with someone, but possibly not wanting to call him/her so would rather call a stranger for information or a quick showing.

Lori, great post! I am not sure how well a buyer's agency agreement works, except *maybe* to at least get a referral from another agent when your buyer's bolt. Buyers can easily get out of the agency agreement by calling their agents manager/broker and squawk loudly. We do lose some buyers, but it can even out because we also gain some along the way that stiffed another agent somewhere.