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Hey EPERKS - Time To Get Real!

All around the blogosphere there is talk about EPerks and the Vlad Zablotskyy freedom of speech issues. Bloodhound has taken the issue very seriously and has set up a legal defense fund for Vlad. Mary McKnight over at RSSpieces is very generously offering free blogs to anybody taking up the cause and writing to support both Vlad and our right to free speech.

I received a phone call this morning from a sales representative at EPerks. They are looking for an agent in my area to refer to for a 19% referral fee. After explaining to them that I would never do business with them, they wanted to know why. I simply stated "VLAD". The woman on the phone immediately turned into a heinous bitch and screeched that they would not do business with me either and hung up on me. It sounds like the people over at EPerks are quite familiar with the name VLAD.

So, EPERKS I have a question for you. Why was it that you called me? DUH!

I guess that is how they have earned the nickname EJERKS!

Laurie Manny Long Beach Realtor (562) 212-5420
Main Street Realtors Belmont Heights 244 Redondo Avenue Long Beach California 90803
Long Beach Real Estate Blog Long Beach Real Estate Website

Posted by Long Beach Ca Real Estate, Laurie Manny on 06/19/2008 02:18 PM

Comments (44)

Post is included in group: ETHICS and the REALTOR
Post is included in group: Lead Generation
Post is included in group: The Lounge at Active Rain
Post is included in group: War Stories
Post is included in group: You've GOT to be kidding

44 Comments on Hey EPERKS - Time To Get Real!

JUN

2008

Laurie, the free blog offer on RSSpieces apparently expired yesterday.

It's good to see so many speaking out about this incident and the general issue of free speech.

Hi Laurie, Sorry to appear to be so clueless but I missed the initial dust up. Is there a link or neutral review available ?

Thanks !

Eric, Thanks, I wasn't aware that there was an expiration on the offer.

Bill, The links to the posts on Bloodhound and RSSpieces provide links to many of the other posts on the issues involved.

Bless you, Laurie. Thanks for taking this up!

Interesting. They must have called me today too. The caller introduced herself and said that they were looking for a referral agent in my market area who can handle several buyer referrals.

I politely (I'm always polite) said, "Can't help you. I don't take referrals." She was silent for a second and said "I don't understand." So, I repeated myself slowly, "I can't help you. . . . . I don't take referrals".

That's when she got stupid. "Oh, do you mean that you don't like good business?".

I said, "No, it just means that we have good business and don't need referrals."

That's when the Devil in her took over. "Well, you're not the type of agent we want anyway." Click.

All in a day's work. When will the FTC proceed to permit the Do Not Call apply to business numbers?

It is amazing to me people or companies like that can remain in business

Lenn, These calls are getting very tiresome. It gets more and more difficult to decline politely. It's really bad when their reputation preceeds them, lol...

Michael, so true...

Greg, It was irresistable...

Come on now Laurie...they called you because they figure of they can call 350 people a day they will find some idiots that don't know Vlad. They probably got all upset with you maybe because they are embarassed?

They called me on Monday...they never made it to Vlad...I hung their asses first.

Neal, lol...

Don't mess with Manny! End of story.

You sure told them! I second Jason's statement... Don't Mess With Manny!

Hey Sardi, too funny!

Monika, you too, lol...

OMG Laurie,

Guess they are getting agressive on finding new clients to refer to.

Colleen, All of the Vlad issues to the side, I have always said, if Realtors across the nation stop buying leads they will eliminate the ability of these companies to get between the consumer and the real estate professionals.

Ah they must be all over the Active Rain profiles and calling. I too have been called and though I didn't immediately make the connection to Vlad I didn't want their referrals. What is it with everyone who wants a piece of our business?

Laurie, I don;t think I have received a call from Eperks yet. Probably because I don't answer unknown calls or any numbers I don't recognize. And that's a good thing since I get about 20 a day!!!

I guess with this latest fiasco their value is plummetting quickly.

They left me a voice mail and then an email. Let's see what they do next!!!

I am getting several calls a week to the main office number and this week they caught me on my cell. I also get several emails a week and have politely requested for them to remove me from their list. I also used the Vlad conversation stopper this week -the caller played dumb and continued to try to sell me until I finally just hung up.

Laurie I actually wrote a post about this yesterday. Like I said,"Whatever happened to freedom of speech?" Eperks are definitely Ejerks-Big dummies. Great post.

Cindy, Yeah, it's looking like AR is a database for companies to tap into. Why? Because there is so much money when you consider the sheer volume of agents here with contact information available. It makes it irrisistable.

Bryant, Yes, I would imagine their value is plummeting, if not, certainly their reputation.

Mana, Ohhh they are coming after you hot and heavy. Are you ready for them? Remember, one word, VLAD! lol...

Michelle, Great minds...

Lanre, Thanks, will check out your post.

They called me some months ago - twiice. I politely said no - twice. Sounded like a business model I could easily do without. No regrets on that.

Jeff

How would we know with out those of you that share thanks. I have rejected the referral programs also.

JUN

2008

Laurie, it is amazing how quickly the tone changes when their pitch doesn't work. Funny and terrific that you posted a blurb about it here.

What a great public relations move on EPerks part huh? Sue a blogger for stating his opinion, then beg ask agents to join their wonderful network.

Laurie talk about a company with their heads in the sand. I guess their motto is lets bite off our nose despite our face

Laurie, I always hang up on calls offering buyers etc. before they get to say their company name. I know, it's rude. But, I'm glad you were able to have some fun with EPerks!

Jeff, No regrets is right!

Terry, Way to go!

Susie, Yeah, isn't that sumptin!

Kris, How about that!

Bill, Yeah, what great consumer relations. They really endear one to doing business with them. Maybe if they were nicer, potential consumers might think there is nothing to the alleged problems. But no, they make sure everybody knows there are problems for sure. Doesn't sound like they are destined to be around for long, huh?

Diane, I think you are right, just hanging up is probably the way to go. It would certainly be less stressful, although, they we couldn't have fun with it and compare notes here, lol...

JUN

2008

Free Speech is a cornerstone for America. Blogging is right out of that grassroot movement. We just have to have the right to saw...whatever. Look at Active Rain...its all about freedom of speech!!!

Great Story Laurie,

I thing I notice is that they always seem to be extremely rude and nasty if you don't fall for their scheme.

This is how I was treated by eperks.

Lynne, It IS all about free speech!

Dennis, Just read your blog and many of the comments. Like I said on your post "good greif"!!!

I missed what originally happeneed, can some one enlighten me?

How can one compnay employ so MANY jerks? From what I have read around the blogosphere- it seems that each employee when confronted with a negative response attacks the person they were trying to sell by calling them an "idiot" (Dennis Pease) or telling them "you're not the kind of agent we want anyway." (Lenn Harley). Condescension, the first tool int heir sales bag - very effective. Go listen to the voicemails Ben Bourozhi left on one former employee's voicemail - threateneing and disgraceful. This company is an example of what happens when one moron gets too much money and too much ambition and not enough medication. I say we start a fund to feed ths company some mood balancing meds.

I'm amazed the phone calls I get. I tell them I'm the broker, and they start down the road "don't you want your agents to be successful" and then end with "We'll find someone who wants a lot of business in your market area, too bad for you". This retaliatory language - do they think I'll buy after the insults?

JUN

2008

Laurie,

Thanks for posting this.. I've been so busy lately that I've been out of touch on this matter. I just hang up on all of lead generators.. most are so nasty if you tell them no that they have forfeited any courtesy on my part

Gosh, I think I'm living in another universe sometimes. Prior to this, I had never heard of Eperks. Is it indigenous to the west coast?

I'm not a big blod reader so this is the first I've heard of Vlad VS Eperks. Glad you posted this Laurie. My opinion of lead generation companies is now even lower...I didn't think that was possible.

JUN

2008

Laurie - Thanks for showing us what can happen with these internet companies who usually don't have anything to sell but hope. Unfortunately, a lot of people will buy anything if you promise them an easy way to find customers.

JUN

2008

Laurie - Did the phone call from E-Jerks have that 'this call may be recorded' message? Maybe they have a quota of 'how many bloggers/Realtors have you pissed off today'.

JUL

2008

Ya'll are funny ... I love the Freedom of Speech!

pippa

JUL

2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T77R1t1oScM

Laurie, Have you seen this sick commercial they are running? They not only have no respect for our profession they don't even value human life. In this commercial they show a REALTOR® getting run over by a truck. The tag line is Need a New Agent? Call E-Jerks

lol.........you all are quite funny!

Yeah Mitchell, I've seen that. Just goes to show you their real opinion of Realtors. So why should we support them. I say starve em and put em out of business. They don't deserve to work with us. It's a shame that Realtors across the nation can't organize, sorta like herding cats. If we could, we would be able to combat horrid people like these jerks easily.

DEC

Hi Laurie. They called me also... bragging about that commercial. With companies like that, who needs enemies! I've never paid for a referral from any company positioning themselves to middle between buyers or sellers!

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