I'm not in the Real Estate business, but if I felt my broker was not communicating my offer in a timely fashion, I would let the seller know. Of course, I would include all sorts of disclaimers about how I was not trying to circumvent the relationship between seller and broker. I would think the seller would want to know if the broker was behaving in a fashion that could jeopardize the sale of his/her property.

Posted by: anon552 at September 22, 2009 2:18 PM in response to Worst Broker Experience Ever

Quite a few of the participating restaurants notified their regulars via email of their participation in DIB and were booked up a week before the full list was released. A little shady, but an opportunity to try some of the lesser-known or out-of-the-way joints.

Posted by: anon552 at March 10, 2009 11:58 AM in response to Dine in Brooklyn Line-Up Announced

does it not sound like some of the above individuals are shills? 11217, troll, etc. are you business owners on the block?

Posted by: anon552 at August 28, 2008 7:40 AM in response to Streetlevel: A New Wine Shop on 5th

With managed care organizations severely limiting pharmacy benefits to insured individuals and most requiring members to obtain long-term prescriptions from mail order pharmacies, like Medco, the pharmacy business in dying. Mom-and-pop pharmacies, like Palma in Park Slope, are suffering and have resorted to selling vitamins, health accessories and other stuff. Most people use chain pharmacies, where they get poor service and no counseling. I can't imagine a new pharmacy moving into a neighborhood like PS. Given the square footage of the Second St. Cafe site, this joint is going to have pharmacy as only a small part of its business. The signage seems to suggest that health products for children will be a major aspect of its efforts. Given how much PS parents spend on imported deluxe strollers, they could do quite well among the stroller set (ie parents who comfort themselves about their parenting by spending lots of money on childcare and accessories).

Posted by: anon552 at August 22, 2008 9:11 AM in response to Streetlevel: Health and Beauty Shop on 7th Ave

Actually, as a licensed real estate broker, I am not allowed to contact the owner of a property under exclusive to another broker, so that was not an option. As the firm is not a REBNY member, my only recourse was to call that agent's managing broker directly, which I did, with the predictable response of, "That's what you say; my agent tells me a different story," so no hope there, and the other alternative is the DoS, which, actually pays much less attention to complaints from within the industry than from without, so nothing doing there either. It's a shame that so many sellers fall for these two-bit brokers' lines about charging a lower commission, etc. -- kind of like the unscrupulous mortgage brokers -- preying primarily on less-sophisticated owners.

Posted by: babs at September 22, 2009 2:57 PM in response to Worst Broker Experience Ever

Babs, your statement about "two bit brokers" and so on is a gross generalization of the industry and insulting to many involved. I am sure there are many sound and prudent methods for conveying your situation to the owner represented by this difficult broker. I believe the statute makes public policy exeptions, if even applicable and hopefully the same for REBNY rules; again, I believe it is an industry duty to protect against bad broker behavior and poor representation. You would rather spew your generalizatios about non-REBNY brokers instead of taking the proactive measure of protecting your own industry. By your inaction, you as a real estate broker, left another prospective buyer, broker to the exposure of your own horrible circumstance. This is how you protect your business and perhaps property?

Posted by: foulplay at September 22, 2009 3:33 PM in response to Worst Broker Experience Ever

Actually, the buyers who were with me at this incident were more upset about it than I was and later purchased a (more expensive) property through me, co-broking with another REBNY broker, so my business was very well-protected, thanks to the unprofessional actions of the seller's broker.

But this thread was not originally about the difference between REBNY and non-REBNY brokers, although I can't understand why any good, experienced, and knowledgeable broker would NOT be a REBNY member. You, foulplay, obviously believe otherwise and nothing I say or do will change your mind. Nor do I care to -- the market will take care of that just fine. Good luck to you.

Posted by: babs at September 22, 2009 3:48 PM in response to Worst Broker Experience Ever

As a member of REBNY, I can assure you – belonging to that trade group is no guarantee of ethical behavior. There are many, small Non-REBNY brokers that are both professional and ethical. Brokers are like any other trade: Contractors, nannies, mechanics, doctors etc. It comes down to the individual.

Posted by: Crownlfc at September 22, 2009 4:00 PM in response to Worst Broker Experience Ever

Because any "good, experienced and knowledgable broker" quite frankly should NOT have to become a REBNY member. I would love an explanation. The market indeed does take care of itself. A good broker is a good broker regardless of the existence of REBNY. Why is every broker, agent, etc. of a large brokerage house obligatd to become a REBNY member? Perhaps, the named managing broker for each office might make sense; but every agent? That sounds like many memberships and a great deal of expense. The public should flesh out the bad brokers and sales agents; not the "false" protection of REBNY. Your conduct and professionalism as a broker should validate your ability in the industry - not REBNY. The reputation is what carries the day, NOT a symbolic membership.

Posted by: foulplay at September 22, 2009 4:12 PM in response to Worst Broker Experience Ever

I completely agree with both foulplay and Crownlfc. Of course there are very reputable, professional non-REBNY brokers that provide terrific service, get great prices for their clients and cobroke all day long. There has always been this tug back and forth between REBNY and non-REBNY offices, but to not even acknowledge that there is value in a non-REBNY broker, shows an inability to be objective and therefore, is not very credible advice.

Posted by: broker at September 22, 2009 4:13 PM in response to Worst Broker Experience Ever

Crownlfc, based on your last note and as an actual member of REBNY, the bloggers, especially Babs, might some pay attention.

Posted by: foulplay at September 22, 2009 4:20 PM in response to Worst Broker Experience Ever

To joe the bummer re: libel--To be exposed to a suit for libel or slander, the basic premise is that the accusation(s)is/are FALSE so if the O/P is stating the story accurately, then there is nothing to worry about. Obviously the O/P should be prepared to document the claim(s).

Posted by: Hank at September 22, 2009 4:30 PM in response to Worst Broker Experience Ever

libel is the untruthful posting about anybody. You can get the name and email address of an anonymous poster through legal means. Remember google or yahoo had to give the name recently in a case and they have been sued by the blogger-the suer will lose IMO-.

Since brokers tend to sue a lot, its also likely they will sue for what they think is libel.
There are two types of libel per se and libel that caused injury. libel per se is when you say someone is a crook or things like that say they do illegal things. The other libel is when you say someone is a bad person and that causes them actual monetary damages. The person suing in the latter case has to prove actual damages. You don't have to prove damages to be able to sue for libel per se(but it helps with getting an award of damages) but you are also entitled to punitive damages not based on actual loses.

Finally truth is a defense but the defendant has the burden to prove the truth of what they said.

Remember there are some exceptions to this as an example when the person is a public figure(absent malice you can say almost anything you want about a public figure)or what you say in court or in court papers...

Posted by: smeyer418 at September 22, 2009 4:36 PM in response to Worst Broker Experience Ever

stuyhts - as far as i know a buyers broker is really, at the end of the day, working for the seller. whoever is paying the bill is the one any broker involved in the transaction needs to appease to get PAID. in the case of such co-called buyers' brokers, there is really no such thing, unless you are paying them a cash fee out of pocket upfront. if not, and you are revealing ANYTHING to a so called "sellers' broker", especially how much you like or want a place, and what is your maximum price, you are completely working against yourself. trust no one. assume the worst. its real estate.

Posted by: invisible at September 22, 2009 7:16 PM in response to Worst Broker Experience Ever