Rough transcription of an actual call received this afternoon:
<happy voice> “Good afternoon, this is Jay.”
“Jay. Jay Thompson with Thompson’s Realty?”
“Yessir, how can I help you?”
<authoritative voice> “I’m the designated broker of XXXXXXXXX and I wanted to let you know that I’ve talked to an attorney and I am suing you.”
<mental thought> Shit, this can’t be a good thing”
<concerned voice> “Uhm, for what?”
<angry voice> “You are illegally manipulating the Google.” (Editor’s note: that’s not a typo. He really said “the Google”.)
<confused voice> “Excuse me?”
<still angry voice> “All my listings are on your web site and when people search for them, your site is ranked higher than mine.”
<been here before, willing to explain voice> “Ok. Here’s what”
<interrupts> “Well there is no way in hell that could happen unless you are manipulating the Google.” (Editor’s note: “the Google” makes me want to snicker.)
<curious voice> “What is your website?”
<bitter and angry voice> “You’ll find that out when you get served!”
<trying not to be a smart ass voice> “Sometimes I am hard to track down, would you like the address of my attorney?”
<pompous, arrogant voice> “You will also be hearing from the ethics board. I’m a personal friend of the CEO of the Arizona Association of Realtors.”
<somewhat snarky voice> “Oh, tell Tom I said hello!” (Tom would be Tom Farley, the CEO of the Arizona Association of Realtors. Great guy. I wouldn’t say “personal friend”, but definitely more than just a passing acquaintance. Much like, I suspect, the real relationship the caller has with Tom.)
At that point, the guy hung up on me. Ever since my ex-wife started pulling “the hang up” consistently, I’ve found it extremely annoying. I oh-so-wanted to call this guy back, but of course his caller ID was blocked. That makes sense, because as real estate agents and brokers, we should make it difficult for people to contact us”
It’s probably a good thing it was a blocked number though as I might have said something I would later regret. I’ve now passed the impulse response stage of wanting to give this knucklehead a piece of my mind.
I have no idea if he will actually have me served or not, but he was one pretty pissed off guy.
One would think there isn’t an attorney in the land that would take on such a ridiculous lawsuit, but:
We’ll keep ya posted!
Photo Credit: Robert Scoble on Flickr. CC Licensed.
The Phoenix Real Estate Guy was started by Jay Thompson, and I have a little blogging problem... he liked to say...
Jay, you are a funny guy. I enjoy your sense of humor. I wonder how many others have figured out how to manipulate “The Google”. Maybe he should take one of your classes 😉
That would make a great class title…. “How to Manipulate ‘The Google’.” Ooh my, that is IDX 101. How can you be a broker and not know that? Is he going to sue Realtor.com, Trulia, etc too if his listing shows up on their site at a higher ranking? This guy could be in for a lot of lawsuits!
I don’t know, Jay – there is something oddly appropriate about The Google. Don’t know why I never thought of it;-)
As for the poor schmuck and his maybe attorney – this could get very funny for us bystanders, so I am selfishly hoping for a continuation of some kind… (so long as it doesn’t cost you anything, of course, which I can’t imagine it getting that far).
Never thought of it either but am liking it too. From now one “The Google” is a must use.
manipulating the Google? Is that kinda what Anthony Weiner did? Now there is a visual, lol
Miriam – I am pretty sure we still call that Jimmy Johnson, but it’s been a while since I had to pay attention to those things.:-)
A wise person knows:
The Google will not be manipulated.
The Google knows!
I agree with Doug, Jay, oh and if you are putting on a course on “Manipulating the Google” I would be one sure to sign up!
My gawd, what a stroke of marketing genius! I think we should apply for a trade mark on that phrase and start offering classes “How to Manipulate ‘the Google'”. We could even franchise it ……. 🙂
Jay – theGoogleFix.com is available, if you want it:-) Just sayin’
Funniest or stupidest comment I have ever heard from a broker. I would love to see the reaction from his buddy at AAR. Time to take his license and send him back to school. I love “The Google” though!
Jay… another thing… he must not be a very smart and successful broker if he doesn’t understand the basics of Google.. I mean, of “the google”… lol
Shaking my head in amazement… I get that the public sometimes has a hard time figuring out how the system works with IDX listings, but the designated broker of a real estate company ???
And you’re manipulating “the Google?”… He really needs to take an SEO 101 course.
“the Google”
Awesome.
you keep right on manipulating “the Google” Jay– all of your agents LOVE it
Hell Jay,
The guy should have offered to buy you lunch to find out what is working right.
Great blog.
Tap
That’s pretty funny “manipulating the Google”…he will end up feeling very foolish once someone enlightens him. It’s doubtful that you’ll get an apology though.
Are you wearing a zebra suit? LOL..we get these calls ALL the time and I typically just laugh at the agents that get so angry. They obviously have NO clue. We’ve been threatend as well and surprise surprise…nothing. You are obviously the Phoenix “real estate bomb”…keep up the great work Jay 🙂
“All you have to do is check that box on ARMLS if you don’t want it on the internet.
Really Jay, that is a little disturbing. How dare you manipulate the Google. I have seen some pretty low things but that just takes the cake. The only question I have about this is that he said he has his listings on your site, but yet is upset that you are pulling up above his? I guess if you weren’t manipulating the Google, then none of his listings would be showing. Great story.
Jay- It’s sad that people don’t understand internet marketing nor do they read the fine print when signing an agreement. I can almost guarantee that somewhere in the listing agreement that they signed & entered into the MLS they agreed to have this sign show up on “The World Wide Web”.
Sometimes people just don’t understand “The Google” and are just angry about it. He should be happy that you are marketing his listing for him. Maybe he will lighten up when your work on “The Google” brings him an offer on his listing.
*Standing by. Waiting for THIS post to “out Google” “the Google.”* You manipulator you, Jay!
Would somebody please pass ‘The Google”?
The knowledge gap between old school agents and internet savvy agents is already amazingly wide and apparently it’s growing too.
Ha! I love it! I’m trying to manipulate “the google” myself. Thanks for the laugh!
Maybe they should up the ante to keep a brokers license. Seem’s this guy is grandfathered in from when it only took 2 bucks and a boxtop.
Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Google does!
Jay, your post and the responses from everyone had me laughing so hard I nearly couldn’t catch my breath. The Google…
That’s IT! “THE GOOGLE” HAS SPOKEN!
Not…THE GOOGLE!!!! Just goes to show that even though the agent pool was thinned out (good thing) not all of the idiots turned in their licenses. The fault dear Brutus, lies not within the stars…
Jay, you’d make a lot of money teaching this at a workshop. “How to manipulate ‘The Google’!”
this is just too funny
Can you teach me how to manipulate “The Google”. I want and need to learn how to do it too!!!
Would it be possible to let this guy at least take his “the lawsuit” as far as “the deposition” so during his “the discovery” we can all find out “the secret sauce” to “the Google’s” “the Page Rank?”
After that, the your “the mystery caller” can go pound “the sand.”
Next time he calls you, Jay, please respond as follows…
“We are “THE THOMPSON’S REALTY”. We will add your technological and biological “distinctiveness” to THE GOOGLE..
RESISTANCE IS FUTILE…”
LOL…
I think he should say:
I AM “the google”, didn’t you know? 🙂
At least the broker had the decency to contact you directly, as misplaced as his anger was. I had a local broker contact my state commission for a similar complaint, so the first I heard about it was from the investigator who didn’t understand what IDX was or how a live feed might work.
Congrats Jay on learning to manipulate “the Google”
Well Jay, you better hope he doesn’t bring me in as an expert witness. I’ve seen you manipulate the google, with all that content you write about real estate. It just isn’t fair to the blissfully ignorant, just not fair at all.
The Zebra, now The Google…what will The Jay do without these lunatics in his life?!
Ha! I am “The Luxury Agent”, so I guess it works for me and “the google”.
Can’t wait to see what ethics Article he uses to justify his complaint.
I’d like to be a fly on the wall when the ethics board or EO ‘splain things to him!
Darn that uber-useful and wonderful sales tool IDX! Darn it all to hell! LOL. What planet is this broker from?
I am very afraid. I have spent hours trying to figure out how to manipulate THE GOOGLE and not I find I am in danger of being sued.The GOOGLE Wars begin.
Jay, so please share how you manipulate “the Google”. I’m just dying to know that so I can do it too!
I warned you that would happen if you didn’t weiner yourself away from that google juice.
But nooooooo … you insisted on twittering … and even facebooking … all because you became addicted to the juice.
To paraphrase Lennon & McCartney …
He is the egghead, he is the egg head
You are the google, goo goo g’joob goo g’goob, google google good job!
May “The Google” be with you 😀 and me
That was a good laugh Jay. Thanks for that. We’re all going to need frequent updates on The Lawsuit…..and definitely any follow-up phone calls.
Problem is that it has the potential of a waste of time and money for Jay.
Google “The Google” … turns up interesting results
Ira
That is just great. It’s hard to believe how many people just don’t understand how the internet works.
Boise Idaho Real Estate
Hughes Group Real Estate
What an idiot I’m with you Real Estate Guy.
Enjoy your weekend
Dianne
It really is too bad you didn’t get his name, we could have had a lot more fun manipulating “the google” for his name.
Awesomeness, Jay. “The Google” – I am so adding that to my snarky vernacular (with unnecessary finger quotes because this just cries out for them). Some people should not be allowed on the Internet or near “the Google.” On the bright side, I would totally subpena Matt Cutts on if it goes to trial – such a great way to get to know him.
That guy must be related to the many agents who’ve contacted me asking about how to do better in Goggle.
Now I need to buy special google goggles?
Manipulating “the Google”!?
What’s next Jay, “Tweaking the Twitter”? Finagling the Facebook”? Where does the evil end? 🙂
Does this voice sound familiar Jay? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90DKubFKwVo
I would LOVE to see the legal documents on this one! Do you think “The Google” will be called to testify, or would “the Dude” suffice?
Hah thanks for the best laugh of my week. I knew it was going to be a good one as soon as I saw the title.
The interwebs can be a scary place for dinosaurs Jay. Why not bury the hatchet and befriend him on the Facebook.
Hi Jay.
Great story. Perhaps it is just as well that you could not get straight back to him.lol Just popping down to Mc Googles for some SEO.
Croz
This is hilarious. I long to be in cahoots with “The Google” too.
I found it! The Google! This explains it all! LOL!
http://www.theonion.com/articles/google-launches-the-google-for-older-adults,5850/
Jim – thank you for a great find:-)
Jay,
When I move into the Phoenix market and when, I mean if your site out ranks mine, I will see you in court!
That’s funny!
This has the makings of a classic Seinfeld show…….The Google Nazi! The comments are killing me.
Well, I know what I would do….set up a group of telemarketers, have them call all Realtors and sell the Program, How to Get on Page One of Google.
Then create a slick web site, one that scrolls and have them sign up, don’t give the price til he end, make it red, black and yellow.
Retire to Texas, you do like Texas right? The Jay
Wow. He named dropped the CEO? Did you tell him that you are really good friends with The Google?
It’s good to see so many normal people commenting on the google. I don’t feel so unusual or ashamed now, since I’ve known about the google since my early teens. I didn’t want people to see me learning about the google, but it turns out that whether we admit it or not – we all have grown our knowledge over the years…about the google. Nuff said, I’m thankful to be one of the many who can now speak openly about the google. (Best…the Jay article I’ve enjoyed since, well since I came out from the shadows of the google) Enjoy 🙂
This is utter nonsense. I am completely confident the joker who called you up will never follow up on his threats. In any case keep us updated!
Funny stuff. You know, I was just talking with a few realtors the other day about how funny it is when people talk about the twitter or the facebook. (course it really was The Facebook to start with) Don’t think I’ve run across The Google. Hilarious stuff man.
“The Google”. That’s a good one. I never realized how many people don’t understand the internet. Ask most people what a browser is and they don’t have an answer.
Not surprised at all by this! The internet and “the Google” are leaving a lot of Realtors in the dust and they aren’t too happy about it. Good luck Jay, but I’m guessing nothing will come of it.
Well, it definitely seems like this guy has some serious issues 🙂 Luckily for you, “The Google” ranking you higher isn’t your issue, but you get to reap the rewards!
I recently got a similar call from a photographer. He had taken photos for another agent’s listing here in town. She put the pics she’d commissioned on the MLS as you would expect. He called me 10 days into the listing saying that I couldn’t use “his” photos on my website…. He is expecting to become a “shareholder in Diverse Solutions and the 27 other websites he’d found his images on”. He had stayed up all night long tracking us thieves down.
Stephanie – That’s funny! Ah, the tales we could tell from this business would make a great book!
this made me chuckle!! what kind of two-bit attorney would a) take on this case, or b) tell the client to call the guy he’s suing?
Someone who’s paid by the hour!
classic. Sounds like this guy has done his homework and relly knows what he’s talking about. “the google” really adds credibility to his case.
Interesting story.
On a related note, I had an agent call me recently asking me to remove all references in Google of his old brokerage, which he had closed.
I could tell early on in the conversation that education was not an option for this caller, so I basically just went along with it and told him I would take a look at it when I got back in the office.
Never heard from him again, thank goodness…
Sounds like the makings of a great for profit webinar…. How to manipulate The Google… not for REALTOR(R)s only. Featuring the one and only The Jay.
You are illegally manipulating the Google? LOL, I never heard that one before. Who would come after you Phoenix Police or the Google Police?
Jay … I saw the photos of the dust cloud in Phoenix.
Is that a direct result of using The Google to manipulate “The Cloud?
Ira
I am so ready for the course on “manipulating the Google”. Wonder if I can get those calls??
So … have you heard any more from Mr. Google?
Nope, not a word…
I am truly glad to hear that!
Wow what an ignorant agent. “The google”, haha. Good luck in finding an attorney who would take on that case. LoL
I just used “The Google” to search for the following expression:
“attorney who would file lawsuit against the google”
The Google answers all questions … even ones it probably shouldn’t
Ira
Grab a brain, any idiot capable of passing a real estate licensing exam can figure out how to manipulate google, thats a no-brainer even the kids are doing it.
sat my kid down in front of tumblr this morning and told him that for every red hart he clicks on he gets a candy…367 backlinks later….lol jez kiddin.
I’m a little late to this post but found it entertaining as the same thing happened to me with a local broker who was pissed off that on my site (through my IDX) they can find her listing.
She said I had stolen her listing…PUHLEEZE!. Anyways I directed here to our local who promptly educated her on current technology.
The nerve of some people with their baseless, unfounded and often-times stupid claims.
GO GET’EM JAY