- Report: #546231
Complaint Review: Reply Real Estate - Reply! Real Estate - ReplyRealEstate.com - San Ramon California
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Reply Real Estate - Reply! Real Estate - ReplyRealEstate.com
12667 Alcosta Blvd., Suite 200 San Ramon, 94583 California, United States of America
Phone:
925-983-3480
Web:
http://www.replyrealestate.com/
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Reply Real Estate - Reply! Real Estate - ReplyRealEstate.com Brian Mc BEWARE of BAIT & SWITCH!! San Ramon, California
AVOID THIS COMPANY LIKE THE PLAGUE!!!
On October 13th, 2009, I was contacted by a guy named Brian McNair (despite being on the national do-not call list). He gave me his whole sales pitch, said they would wave the typical sign-up fee and told me that every lead they would provide me would be properly vetted so as to ensure that it is a genuine lead (e.g. someone who is looking for a real estate agent). I was also told on several occasions by Mr. Brian McNair and another salesman he passed me on to named Kapil Dev Kandeth that if no one answered the email address or phone number that Reply! Real Estate provided I could contact them within 72 hours and they would issue a refund, no questions asked (Section 7 of their "Program Overview").
Well, most of the "leads" I was given during my 3 days of hell with this corrupt company never returned any my 3 phone calls or 3 emails (for all I know Reply! could have made up the email address or phone numbers). Of the 3 people who I actually spoke with, 2 were already working with another agent and didn't even know what Reply! Real Estate was and 1 was some guy who was trying to get realtors to visit the homes that he buys and flips. Great leads right?
When I followed the directions they gave me to notify them of these invalid leads, they charged me for all of them except for one! Here's what the Reply! rep named Brandon Antoin wrote:
"Typically we can only issue extensions for leads that are non-responsive, not credit/replacements. However, your business is important to us and as a courtesy I have placed a request for a replacement."
This is quite contrary to what Brian McNair, Kapil Dev Kandeth and Brandon Antoine (another sales rep) told me as well as what is written in their own policy.
It's unbelievable that, even in a time when most of us our struggling to put food on the table for our kids, there are companies like Reply! Real Estate who are using bait and switch tactics to steal from their fellow neighbors. Shame on them.
Hopefully, justice will be served.
On October 13th, 2009, I was contacted by a guy named Brian McNair (despite being on the national do-not call list). He gave me his whole sales pitch, said they would wave the typical sign-up fee and told me that every lead they would provide me would be properly vetted so as to ensure that it is a genuine lead (e.g. someone who is looking for a real estate agent). I was also told on several occasions by Mr. Brian McNair and another salesman he passed me on to named Kapil Dev Kandeth that if no one answered the email address or phone number that Reply! Real Estate provided I could contact them within 72 hours and they would issue a refund, no questions asked (Section 7 of their "Program Overview").
Well, most of the "leads" I was given during my 3 days of hell with this corrupt company never returned any my 3 phone calls or 3 emails (for all I know Reply! could have made up the email address or phone numbers). Of the 3 people who I actually spoke with, 2 were already working with another agent and didn't even know what Reply! Real Estate was and 1 was some guy who was trying to get realtors to visit the homes that he buys and flips. Great leads right?
When I followed the directions they gave me to notify them of these invalid leads, they charged me for all of them except for one! Here's what the Reply! rep named Brandon Antoin wrote:
"Typically we can only issue extensions for leads that are non-responsive, not credit/replacements. However, your business is important to us and as a courtesy I have placed a request for a replacement."
This is quite contrary to what Brian McNair, Kapil Dev Kandeth and Brandon Antoine (another sales rep) told me as well as what is written in their own policy.
It's unbelievable that, even in a time when most of us our struggling to put food on the table for our kids, there are companies like Reply! Real Estate who are using bait and switch tactics to steal from their fellow neighbors. Shame on them.
Hopefully, justice will be served.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
RogerWilco
USAThe truth is a powerful thing...
#2Author of original report
Wed, January 06, 2010
@JParr-
It's no secret that most large companies these days are well aware how damaging the web can be to their reputation when the people speak the truth and will usually either pay a separate entity or an in-house employee to scour the web looking for negative posts about their company.
Since no one would take the time to write a lengthy defense of a
company like Reply! Real Estate, it's beyond obvious that you work for
the company in some capacity. We're not idiots, if anyone simply Googles "Reply! Real Estate" all they will find is complaint after complaint about how they have ripped someone off.
JParr, please tell Reply! to stop wasting their time covering up the truth and start treating people honestly. It's the way business used to be done in America, it's time we get back to it.
Cheers!
JParr
United States of AmericaThis isn't a solution provided on a silver platter but a good investment.
#3Consumer Comment
Wed, January 06, 2010
How is Reply Real Estate a scam when it is corporate partners with large real estate companies such as Keller Williams and Coldwell Banker? They have provided me with numerous solid leads. I have invested so far in excess of $2500 into my business with Reply Real Estate and I have made $29000 in commissions within 16 months of starting the program from their leads alone, which is only set at five a month. Their return policy is very clear, if the lead lacks a correct name, has an invalid phone number, is outside of your target territory, is a minor, or is another real estate agent (usually trying to test the product) you will be credited back to your account. Furthermore, when you sign into the online account manager for the first time you will be able to view and agree to the participation agreement which clearly states the policy on cancels and service pauses. If you wish to cancel with the program you must give a 30 day written notice and you WILL be charged for any leads given during that 30 day period unless the leads are invalid in which case you will receive a credit. And as for pauses to your account for vacations and such I believe I read there is a 7 day limit per month that you can use. And as for the number of invalid leads, Reply uses a company called TargusInfo to verify that all of the names and phone numbers are a match, as you might imagine some will fall through the cracks. Lead generation companies industry standard for sending out the same leads is four times, I did my research as all of you have before I signed up and I spoke to a good friend of mine who recently evaluated the company for an award it received and found that the number of times the average lead was sent out was 1.2 times (4 leads for every 5 agents). I believe most of the agents posting complaints on this board are struggling and were simply searching for a solution to be served to them upon a silver platter, however this is not the case, these leads as with any others must be nurtured into a close with much work and time. This is by far the most cost effective way to generate leads that I have ever had to use. Reply Real Estate has without a doubt helped me succeed during these trying times and I will continue to use them as I hope the rest of you will.
