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SHAME ON YOU POINT2AGENT

Industry Observer

March 10, 2009 09:26 AM

SHAME ON POINT2AGENT.COM

Point2Agent's formerly Free web sites have all been disabled now. This is their right. But did they have to post a message to all the disabled free sites that make it look like the agent has failed to pay their bill?

WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?
In the beginning, Point2Agent.com Agent starter sites were free. This has been true for years. I used one for a few months, about 5 years ago until I upgraded to the most expensive one they offer. I was a fan for years, was even a "Distrubutor". I think my P2 web site represented some of the smartest money I ever spent in real estate. I eventually generated over 100 visitors a day and thousands of leads (maybe not big numbers in your major metro, but this was TOLEDO OHIO!!!).

HOWEVER, I am no longer a fan - because of what they pulled in the last 24 hours or so.

True enough, they publicized the end of free sites for a month or so, and sent lots of emails to the agents who had free sites... Also true: they have every right to change their model if they choose.

HOWEVER - it is SHAMEFUL that they posted a message on all the formerly free web sites that basically makes it look like the agent failed to pay.

This does not effect me as I was not using any of the free sites any longer... However, you can see what I mean at one of my former test sites

http://lonndugan4.point2agent.com/Util/Disabled.aspx

Do you think they could have said something like FREE TRIAL ENDED - FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT Support@Point2Agent.com instead of

Site Disabled

with additional words to the effect of:

...to turn it back on ...the agent that owns it can login and pay

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Lonn Dugan

Toledo, OH

Sabrina: I wonder if you saw posts about this elsewhere?

There are too many HIGHLY PAID and ONCE RESPECTED people at the top for this to have been an accident.

HOWEVER, they apparently did change the wording today. It now reads as shown below - which is a LITTLE better but still clear code in web hosting world for "THIS SITE IS DOWN BECAUSE THE SITE OWNER DID NOT PAY"

######

Site Disabled

This site has been disabled.

If you are the owner of this website, follow the link below to reactivate it.

Mar 11, 2009 02:45 PM

Lonn Dugan

Toledo, OH

Suzanne: I am glad you like P2. I used to.

This is one example of why I no longer do. They have lost their touch, IMHO. They once had their finger on the pulse of the IDEAL real estate web site. You know - P2 members used to have features in advance of even thinking about them... now they have to wait for them. See the difference?

BTW: If I had wanted to maintain the site, I would have. As it is, I had already moved my sites formerly hosted there to my own server. What they did - did not hurt me. that's not my complaint.

Yes, they gave lots of notice. I just think they did not have to "spank" those agents who did not choose to pay. It was not like those agents broke any contract. In fact, P2 changed the rules and then chose to make some agents look bad by wording their notice in a far ruder way than was necessary....

What would have been wrong with this.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR FREE WEB SITE TRIAL - WHICH HAS NOW ENDED.
SITE OWNER MAY STILL LOGIN TO RE-ACTIVE THE WEB SITE.

Mar 11, 2009 02:55 PM

Lonn Dugan

Toledo, OH

Bob and Carolin: Were you affected in any way?

Mar 11, 2009 02:56 PM

Lonn Dugan

Toledo, OH

Christine: I am sorry to hear you have not gotten a lead from your site. Do you offer free reports? IDX? Require registration for access to any pages? Any of these might help : )

Mar 11, 2009 02:57 PM

Lonn Dugan

Toledo, OH

Kacem: Thanks for comments.

UR A MAC - EH ? That's Ok...

It's a big world and somebody has to champion the underdog ; )

Mar 11, 2009 02:59 PM

Dave Culbertson

Real Living Home Team - Mount Vernon, OH

have only been w/point2 for awhile...seem to like it tho

Mar 12, 2009 04:40 AM

Rick Walta

Baystone Realty - Miami, FL

I was a standard member of Point 2. Today I got a free website from RAMB (realtor association in Miami). I redirected my website to the new host server and removed point2 from my go daddy account.

Here is the problem:

I am unable to go to my website (www.baystonerealty.net )on my home computer but I am able to open it on my laptop. When I enter www.baystonerealty.net on my home computer it redirects to www.baystonerealty.net/util/disabled.aspx.

I contacted go daddy and they stated that they can clearly see the website without any issues.

I can only surmise that point2 tagged my computer. I cleared the temp files and cookies and rebooted the computer to no avail.

Any assistance with this issue will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Mar 12, 2009 03:58 PM

Rick Walta

Baystone Realty - Miami, FL

I went to www.lavasoft.com and downloaded their free adware software. I also did a windows update scan. The adware found some malicious spyware. I quarantined them and then rebooted the computer and the website (www.baystonerealty.net) is now working fine.

Shame on them!

Thanks!

Mar 12, 2009 04:30 PM

Rick Walta

Baystone Realty - Miami, FL

Here is the direct link to the free adware:

http://download.cnet.com/Ad-Aware-Anniversary-Edition/3000-8022_4-10045910.html?part=dl-ad-aware&subj=dl&tag=top5&cdlPid=10998841

Best of luck!

Mar 12, 2009 04:34 PM

Rick Walta

Baystone Realty - Miami, FL

Ad-Aware.....oops

Mar 12, 2009 04:36 PM

Bill Somerset

Re/Max Realty Group - Dover, NH

ABR, e-PRO - Realtor - NH Real Estate Agent

Lonn, I agree, it is very shameful of them to do that.

Mar 13, 2009 02:54 AM

Rick Walta

Baystone Realty - Miami, FL

Well, I am sorry to say, but I am having the same problem again today. If point2 is hijacking my website, I would really appreciate it if they stop. It is not going to help them.

Mar 13, 2009 03:19 AM

Christine McDaniel

Christine McDaniel Realty, LLC - Avon, IN

Broker Associate

Lonn, Thanks for the hints. I thought I was pretty internet savy, but I find I have a great deal to learn.

Mar 13, 2009 05:53 PM

Lonn Dugan

Toledo, OH

Baystone Realty:

I don't think Point 2 is doing anything to your computer.

When you own your own domain and change which web site it actually points to (CHANGE DNS at your REGISTRAR) - there are some predictable things that happen. DNS means Domain Name Service. It is how your registrar tells the rest of the www where your domain is really hosted.

When you change the DNS at your Registrar, such as Go Daddy, this change has to be sent out to all the other name servers spread over the www in the next 12 - 24 hours. This is called DNS propagation. The change has to propagate, or spread over the www one name server at a time.

There are hundreds if not thousands of these name servers. Most ISP's run "mirrors" or cache's of the official DNS repository. This helps speed up the whole process of browsing the www.

For the first day or two, when some name servers have updated and some have not, it is possible that some web visitors will see the old site, while others will see the new site. This can go on for 24-48 hours or so. A classic example is when you see the new site, but an online friend in a different part of the country, or with a different ISP sees the old site..,

It is even possible for you to see the new site one minute, and the old another - from the same computer. This can happen when your browser request gets routed a different way on the WWW each time. One route includes only DNS mirrors that have updated, while another path uses a DNS server that has not updated.

It's like when you throw a rock in a pond. The ripples spread out slowly - moving in only one direction. So far so good. Once your ISP DNS cache updates, your web site appears to have moved. But back to our pond. Once the ripples hit the shore, they can bounce back and collide with each other. In "Star Wars" movie terms, there is a disturbance in the force. During this time, the ripples are moving in two directions, and you may see either the old site or the new one depending on the route your browser request takes on the www.

Once it all settles down, (24-48 hours) you will only see the new site : )

Mar 15, 2009 03:27 AM

Lisa Hill

Florida Property Experts - Daytona Beach, FL

Daytona Beach Real Estate

That's just mean. They're playing hardball, but the way they're going about it is hitting below the belt. That would be enough to make me cancel any accounts I had with them.

Mar 15, 2009 04:24 PM

Suzanne Stephens

Stephens Design - Battle Ground, WA

Real Estate Website Design

Lonn, since Saul Klein's arrival as Point2Agent's new CEO, Point2 has hired some 40 additional programmers. The company has undertaken some major upgrades to the system, upgrades that people have been asking for for years. One such upgrade was conversion to a Mac browser and Firefox/Windows compatible backoffice system. They are also working towards members being able to import their listings from their local MLS feeds instead of having to double enter them. These are major, labor intensive, expensive and time-consuming upgrades. I expect to see lots more improvement in the future.

Mar 16, 2009 12:25 PM

Lonn Dugan

Toledo, OH

Suzanne: I appreciate the value of the improvements you say they are working on. Long overdue, and by their lack, MAJOR flaws. Once they have these features, they may be caught up to the market, but not leading it. They have to do better - IMHO - much better.

So I repeat:

I am glad you like P2. I used to.

BTW: If I had wanted to maintain the site, I would have. As it is, I had already moved my sites formerly hosted there to my own server. What they did - did not hurt me. that's not my complaint.

What would have been wrong with this.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR FREE WEB SITE TRIAL - WHICH HAS NOW ENDED.
SITE OWNER MAY STILL LOGIN TO RE-ACTIVE THE WEB SITE.

Mar 18, 2009 02:42 PM

Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807

HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ

Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

Lonn, I don't see what they have done to those accounts who decided not to pay to keep their site open as that bad. What I don't like is that these sites have been free for years, because Point2 and other sites like them have been making money on their sponsors. Now they have become greedy, and will be making a ton of money from all the $9.95/mo. minimum from every account holder.

Mar 21, 2009 05:42 PM

Lonn Dugan

Toledo, OH

Troy: Thanks for sharing. Making sure I understand. You don't think the account closed notice is too bad, but you think P2 is greedy and should not be charging at all since they promised free sites. Right?

Mar 27, 2009 12:12 AM

Larry Brewer - Benchmark Realty llc

Benchmark Realty LLc - Nashville, TN

Lonn - I have a point2agent professional site, and it's generated enough closable leads that i would pay much more than i do to keep it active. I disagree with you on the business ethics that they followed, because I received many warnings about the date when it would no longer be free (or course it didn;t mean anything to me).

If i were running the company, I would keep the free version, becase people who have success with upgrade to the professional version and pay $50 per month. Now they have to spend a lot more money marketing.

May 03, 2009 10:57 AM