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Active Rain attracting telemarketers

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Tomlinson

I don't know about anyone else, but in the past few weeks I have been flooded by telemarketers.  In each incident the caller starts with "  I found you on Active Rain". 

Do telemarketers believe that since somone is signed up on this site that we are fair game for them to call?  They must think that we must not have anything better to do except blog all day so we must need their services!! 

Today I received a call from somone who was wondering if I wanted to "expand my income potential"..they always ask if we need to expand our income...

In a few days I am going to receive a package with a CD and all sorts of info...shoot, if they want to waste their money on postage,I'll sure let them.."sure, send it.." I didn't say I was going to open it...

They have to remember Im a sales person too...I know that they are not going to be "expanding my income" for the heck of it...

Last week I received a call from someone who wanted to sell me leads.."Sure send me leada and referrals, but I only pay at closing."  (I hope this person was a licensed Realtor, because I would never pay a referral fee to someon who was not."  "Oh, well thanks for your honesty" replied the caller.   Hmmmm...Sure I'll pay you money for a list of names that I dont even know are real, names for buyers and sellers that may not even pan through, what is in it for ME???

Just because I post on AR, does no mean that I am sitting here twiddling my thumbs behind my desk with nothing to do.  If I needed more business, I would do it the old fashion way..Put on my best professional outfit, a big bright smile, load up with cards, and hit the streets!!  Call Friends, old clients...knock on doors..maybe even hold an open house or three...

Please do not call me unless you are truly calling for  a real estate need...

Gordon Sloan
Group1 Real Estate, selling houses in Salt Lake City Utah - Salt Lake City, UT
Salt Lake Homes For Sale, Salt Lake Real Estate
Shari... Ask them if they have heard of the do not call list. It wont stop the first one, but will sure stop any more.
Sep 26, 2007 10:06 AM
Stephen Joos & Chris Brubaker- HouseFront
HouseFront - Denver, CO
Wow, that's no good.  Hope that doesn't keep happening or start happening to anyone else.  But waaait, you're not just sitting around doing nothing?!  I thought thats what Realtors did... :)
Sep 26, 2007 10:19 AM
Shari George
Coldwell Banker Tomlinson - Lewiston, ID

Corie--I thought of that today after I hung up...I am registered on the do not call list...

Stephen--I'm sure it is only a matter of time before the calls start rolling in...I almost thought of taking off my number..but that is just part of the business...now only if I could find out who the guy is with the NY accent who has called a couple of times telling me how beautiful I am....geeezzz!

Sep 26, 2007 11:53 AM
Ibi Sofillas
MyRealtyTeam Real Estate, LLC - Clarksburg, MD
Broker
I have not received any of those calls yet and hope I never do!  But, I liked your responses!!
Sep 26, 2007 12:11 PM
Tom Plant
WINEormous.com - Murrieta, CA

Shari - I haven't had that happen. If you're on the list you can definitely report them.

Sep 26, 2007 12:42 PM
Shari George
Coldwell Banker Tomlinson - Lewiston, ID
Now get this..some guy named Patrick contacted me via AR, this time e-mail...wants to do business with me..you know the kind..I have to give him my bank account number..yadda, yadda, yadda....
Sep 27, 2007 05:43 AM
Pat Hommel
Annapolis Plaza CB Residential and Commercial - Annapolis, MD
Annapolis, AA Co., Md. Real Estate Sales
Shari,  Thanks a million for this post - I have had two recent telemarketers - I was wondering about the source, now the mystery seems to be solved.  I'll have a comback for the next caller, you can bet on that!
Sep 27, 2007 06:07 AM
Jolynne Photography, Creative Wedding Photography, Family Portraits, Bar Mitzvahs
Jolynne Photography - Hemet, CA
Bat Mitzvahs, Senior Pictures, Event Photography
Shari: It happens to us all. Is the real estate industry still robust enough for all the leech companies to keep hanging on? Or do they smell the fear and one last chance to sucker us in?
Sep 27, 2007 02:51 PM
George Tallabas
RE/MAX Advantage - Nampa, ID
Idaho Real Estate
Shari - You are much kinder that I am and a heck of a lot cuter :-)  I simply tell them "No thank you" and say goodbye.  If there were a secret formula to making a lot of money in real estate you and I would not have to be working for a living.  I hope all is well up north and have a great day.
Oct 08, 2007 01:55 AM
Ricki Eichler McCallum
CastNet Realty - Corpus Christi, TX
Broker,GRI,ABR, e-Pro, TAHS
Telemarketers are one of my pet peeves.  They do not dare call me without me advising them of the fines they could incur since I am on the Do Not Call list.  I have to observe this with FSBO's and they have to with me!
Oct 11, 2007 01:32 PM
Ginger S
Wilkinson & Associates, Wilmington NC - Wilmington, NC
Wilmington NC Real Estate & Relocation~

Shari, I received several calls in the last couple of weeks. Latest was from someone with a service I never heard of, offering me exclusive leads for my Zip code for only....350 a month.

He talked non stop without taking a breath and when I said (loudly so he could hear me over his own jabbering) not interested, he got a belligerenat attitude like I was crazy! 

Ginger 

Oct 28, 2007 12:48 PM
Lance Cutsforth
RoboDocs - Newport Beach, CA

Shari-

 

I agree with you completely - I am also in sales, but have a hard time with people who try to leverage a 'relationship' from a network and then talk to you like you are some simpleton.  If they are on AR, then they should post their 'amazing offer' on their blog or profile so people can come to them instead of trying to hunt prospects down.  Amateurs...

Incidentally, I graduated from LHS in 1986. 

Nov 12, 2007 02:21 AM