This is an excellent example of the nonsensical attitudes of realtors, and why they rate so low on the customer scale: Got a call/fax yesterday, from a real estate firm on the other side of the state, asking for a "quote". "We need a sign for the Ames shopping center to go on the pylon(???), it has to read from two sides, Space Available and the phone number, as cheaply as possible, maybe a banner. Please call us ASAP with a quote, we want to get this by next week."
This shopping center is about twenty miles away; there's no indication of size, and color indications consist of "all copy PMS 1134". Out of courtesy I returned the call, got a clueless receptionist. Any idea how big this masterpiece should be? Oh, can't you just stop by and measure it? No, don't think I'll have time today. (translation: I don't drive 40 miles to measure anything for a "cheap as possible" quote.) Oh, well, I'll call you back.
This morning, I get a voice mail. "This is Belinda at Nonsense Realty. I found out how big the sign needs to be for the Ames center. It's ten feet. (By WHAT?) Please call us with a quote."
By now, Big Harry in sales(you know Harry; he's got a Benz convertible, three gold chains and reeks of Aqua-Velva) who's job it is to con a tenant into renting the empty Ames center, has had poor empty-headed Belinda calling sign shops all over Connecticut to get a quote for the cheapest sign possible, with only one dimension. Just for shyts and giggles, I'm thinking of calling them and quoting for a paper banner for $100, but no, we don't do installations, you have to pick it up. Yeah. Wrap that sucker around the "pylon" and you're all set.
[ April 11, 2003, 02:50 PM: Message edited by: Cam Bortz ]
Posted by mike meyer (Member # 542) on :
The paper banner is a great idea....for additional money you can provide 1 roll of masking tape. Go get em CAM!
Posted by Myra Grozinger (Member # 327) on :
Cam: Call back, tell them you might be interested in a trade. That you have been looking to buy a house and are curious about how much a house is.
(And tell them to use their own duct tape FOR REAL SAVINGS)
Posted by Cam Bortz (Member # 55) on :
Hee hee. Myra, I like the way you think.
"Yes, is this Beulah at Dingbat Realty? You called about a sign. Would you be interested in a trade? I need a house. Yes. A h-o-u-s-e. Do you sell them? I need one as cheap as possible. How big? Ummmm... I dunno. Twenty? Would that be big enough? I have three dogs, and my sister and her druggie boyfriend and six kids, they live down at the shelter right now, so they really need a house....Tell you what, we can trade. Trade what? A sign. For a house. What? Hey, you have houses, I have signs, right? We should be able to work something out here. What? No? I thought you were a realty firm. Don't you sell houses? What?"
Posted by cheryl nordby (Member # 1100) on :
yep yep yep realtors are right next to beauty salons in the book of bad customers.
I have had realtors call me and order custom signs...then after they get the signs they call to complain about the price. (they knew the price)
I have had realtors call for me to pick up a disk with the artwork....only to have other sign people there at the same time. (ooooo what fun...bidding game! no thanks)
I have had realtors take 3 months to pay 100.00. Many have said they mailed the check...and I later get the check with an entirely different date on the check than they said.
Just this week I received a sign order in the mail from a realtor I used to do signs for. Got a call yesterday to cancel. He was going to make his own sign!!
Like I said in your other post Cam...I only deal with two commercial realtors anymore. They pay as soon as I deliver their signs. Realtors are kinda flakey huh.
Posted by jimmy chatham (Member # 525) on :
if they ask me if they can mail a check i tell them if the mail man brings the sign then he can bring my check
Posted by Bob Burns (Member # 268) on :
Why are they called REALtors.....they're anything but "REAL"!
Posted by AdrienneMorgan (Member # 1046) on :
HAHA, Cam!! Too funny.....
If they want supin a bit more sturdee...offer em a corplast sign!! And tell em they can save a bundle if they paint it themselves...oh...offer to throw ina can of spray paint and a packet of stenciles from Staples.. Yeah, we got that!
lol
A:)
How much for a sign? Well,you tell me: How long is a piece of string? 'Bout the same, I figger!
Posted by GARY CULY (Member # 3130) on :
love a good cam post! first laugh ive had all day
Posted by KARYN BUSH (Member # 1948) on :
yeah speaking of realtors...i did a good pay back...i was sooo glad when it came to house selling time...boy didn't they want to be my friend..for a listing. well if they can make their own signs i sure in f^&k can sell my own house, my brothers and my mothers...go to staples get a sales agreement...let's see $5.95 vs $7,995.00..there's a no brainer...i DO make signs...have sign will sell...they were ****ed! it just so happened we all sold within a year and of course i wouldn't hear of giving those dirtbags thousands for sticking a 4 sale sign out front...i made really nice for sale by owner signs..ya know, cause i can! and those houses sold quick!..didn't need no lameass realtor.. they would call and say they had a buyer and wanted a flat fee...i told them to kiss my a$$...house is already sold...buh bye realtor commission! Posted by Rick Beisiegel (Member # 3723) on :
GREETINGS FROM MICHIGAN!!
Go get em Cam! I had a simular experience. A new tobacco store who wants a "cheap as possible sign" Then he proceeds to tell me how much of a goldmine this store is going to be. He was the north end of a south bound horse. Needless to say, after discussing w/my artist, we decided we didn't want to work for him or promote his product.
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)