Comments on: The Zappos MLS http://1000wattconsulting.com/blog/2007/10/a-day-in-a-life.html Turn On Mon, 21 May 2012 12:54:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Jon Strum http://1000wattconsulting.com/blog/2007/10/a-day-in-a-life.html/comment-page-1#comment-2249 Jon Strum Tue, 23 Oct 2007 13:06:18 +0000 http://wp.1000wattconsulting.com/2007/10/a-day-in-a-life.html#comment-2249 <p>Short answer...yes. Long answer...the challenge within the real estate industry is different, and much more difficult to surmount, than the challenge in the footwear industry that Zappos has clearly met. </p> <p>Your shopping experience with Zappos is one of almost endless choices...many more than you would find at any of their competitors. </p> <p>The problem with our industry isn't as simple as a "lack of selection." It's the low level of service delivered by the great majority of agents for what consumers define as a very high price. </p> <p>This market dissonance is further complicated by NAR TV spots that showcase agents in a light few consumers ever experience. As I write this, there are hundreds and probably even thousands of agents busying themselves memorizing scripts that communicate how they are "proactive" and different from the great majority of "those other agents." But there is a major credibility gap between those scripted words and the typically mundane actions that usually follow.</p> <p>So if a brokerage is willing to define "absolute best service" and "absolute best shopping experience" truthfully (And no one ever had their "best shopping experience" if they end up feeling as if they've been ripped off at the end of the transaction) then this is definitely a recipe for success in real estate. Just as soon as the great majority of us stop talking about authenticity and start believing in it.</p> Short answer…yes. Long answer…the challenge within the real estate industry is different, and much more difficult to surmount, than the challenge in the footwear industry that Zappos has clearly met.

Your shopping experience with Zappos is one of almost endless choices…many more than you would find at any of their competitors.

The problem with our industry isn't as simple as a "lack of selection." It's the low level of service delivered by the great majority of agents for what consumers define as a very high price.

This market dissonance is further complicated by NAR TV spots that showcase agents in a light few consumers ever experience. As I write this, there are hundreds and probably even thousands of agents busying themselves memorizing scripts that communicate how they are "proactive" and different from the great majority of "those other agents." But there is a major credibility gap between those scripted words and the typically mundane actions that usually follow.

So if a brokerage is willing to define "absolute best service" and "absolute best shopping experience" truthfully (And no one ever had their "best shopping experience" if they end up feeling as if they've been ripped off at the end of the transaction) then this is definitely a recipe for success in real estate. Just as soon as the great majority of us stop talking about authenticity and start believing in it.

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