Archived Topic
Topic ID 3444
05/03/2008 by azzza
Shepherd's Brainwashing Tactics....
Over the past 4 weeks, Shepherds have conducted a campaign of publishing a series of 'monologues' in the Mercury entitled:-
Agent's Skill in Demand
Should Your House Have Sold By Now
Serious Buyers
The Benefits of Independence
I am finding the content increasingly bizarre, offensive and extremely patronising. It's as if they are trying to brainwash me in to thinking that any Estate Agent that offers lower rates than them are rubbish,..... Not to contact them unless I am serious about buying or selling .... suggesting that if my house hasn't sold by now, it must be because my agent must be rubbish .... All 'Chain' Estate agents are rubbish .... and that I must tidy my garden before prospective buyers come round ...
Now,... Unfortunately for Shepherds, all this attempted brainwashing has done to me, is to confirm the fact that they can't be doing any business and that they are arrogant enough to think I can't make my mind up for myself , ... and the big own-goal for them, the fact that it will be easy to negotiate a better % rate if I decide to sell through them!
Why can't they just come up with a positive Ad campaign that extols their virtues rather than this creepy stuff?
0 replies
Archived Replies
Reply ID 50036
05/03/2008 by Ewoowar
They also appear to have sold the bridge at the bottom of Port Hill.
Reply ID 50039
05/03/2008 by James007
quote:
Originally posted by Ewoowar
They also appear to have sold the bridge at the bottom of Port Hill.
Which bridge?
Reply ID 50048
05/03/2008 by JohnSmith
quote:
Originally posted by Ewoowar
They also appear to have sold the bridge at the bottom of Port Hill.
[:D]
Best post I've read in ages.
Reply ID 50054
05/03/2008 by Dude
Maybe they will run an article called "We've started paying tax on ALL our sales"?
Reply ID 50057
05/03/2008 by James007
quote:
Originally posted by Ewoowar
They also appear to have sold the bridge at the bottom of Port Hill.
[:I]
Reply ID 52426
14/05/2008 by azzza
Written in Shepherd's weekly indirect begging letter in the Mercury last Friday, I was interested to read that we should be warey of Estate Agents that are cutting back their advertising, as it could be a sign of lack of business ..... Well, during my usual read of the mid-week Star, I was interested to notice that Shepherd's haven't advertised their houses this week (as they usually do)? ...... Is this a case of 'do as I say, not do as I do'?
Reply ID 52554
21/05/2008 by fordlebury
We recently dealt with Shepherds and I totally agree with your post.. they were nothing but rude and defensive.. they were on the phone to us daily when they wanted something from us but as soon as the deal fell through..they would'nt even take our calls.
This post has been edited and some content removed by Admin following legal advice
Reply ID 52556
21/05/2008 by teddylad
my thoughts on the agents in town is that Steven Oates lot are very hard sales and aggressive and shepherds are more of a soft sell. shepherds also take the worst photo's of any agent in town. kings and lanes are they still in Hertford?
has what shepherds have done in sending out this flyer worked? i think so, the majority of people i would guess read the heading and throw it in the bin but they then know the name shepherds is an estate agent who leaflet drops everyone. we're not talking about Steven Oates on here so maybe it has had the desired effect for shepherds. i do think the content of the flyer is rubbish :)
Reply ID 52557
21/05/2008 by fordlebury
I don't think the flyer has worked.. with Estate Agency, it's not a case of any publicity is good publicity.. Steven Oates try.. don't get me wrong..they still are'nt Angels themselves but at least they give it a go..there was more of an aggresive sale with Shepherds i thought.. a bit more good cop bad cop.. we got one viewing from them....... enough said.
Reply ID 52559
21/05/2008 by exiled_in_Reading
I have also dealt with one rather unpleasant female estate agent at Shepherd's.
She was so unpleasant I had to unleash my rarely used "melting the phone" approach when I spoke to her on one occasion. She became a bit more pleasant after she realised I wasn't someone who really doesn't relish coming home to offensive messages on the voicemail.
I wouldn't use them again unless I really had to...
Slightly off topic, there is a property just set back off the London Road in Hertford just before Stanley Road (from memory I think this is what it’s called) and I think it was being “marketed” by William H. Brown. I emailed them about it to get some details as I was away on business, yet they didn’t bother to get back to me. I rang them to enquire what the score was with it, was told I would be telephoned back, and wasn’t.
I wonder which agent will be first to close in the next few months….
Reply ID 52561
21/05/2008 by fordlebury
I think it will come down to the old saying.....'last in .. first out'!
Reply ID 52562
21/05/2008 by Donostia
Azza's opening post is spot on , Shepherd's patronising Mercury monologues must be the biggest 'own goal' in advertising history .
Just to add to the list my father had a terrible experience selling his house with them .
Reply ID 52564
21/05/2008 by exiled_in_Reading
I had to laugh when I saw there was a direct link from Shepherd's website to hertford.net.
Lets hope they have a look in the forum....
Reply ID 52626
26/05/2008 by Moulder
Estate Agents ! One of the group that I consider 'non-producers' along with solicitors and car-salesman. Parasites the lot of them.
Reply ID 52629
26/05/2008 by exiled_in_Reading
quote:
Originally posted by Moulder
Estate Agents ! One of the group that I consider 'non-producers' along with solicitors and car-salesman. Parasites the lot of them.
Best I bow out here then!
16 replies
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