Why I hate Redfin…
If you’re thinking your going to read a scathing rebuke of Redfin… you can bounce out right now.
I was trolling the real estate blogsphere over the weekend and was shocked by the absolute hate that Redfin receives from the real estate community. Its really more sad than anything. When an industry attacks innovation it is a sure sign of that industry’s impending death.
The major airlines attacked Southwest when it started, and left a lasting scar which is still visible to this day, (you can’t fly into Texas on Southwest from any state that doesn’t touch Texas, so no direct flights from LA to Dallas) They almost killed them. However, today, Southwest is one of the few airlines that can turn a profit, all of its attacker have long since gone or are now emerging from bankruptcy, realizing the status quo can no longer be maintained. They fought their competitors, unions, and the airports, built systems that save consumers money and time and most of all made the short air travel enjoyable and affordable.
Redfin could be the next Southwest.
One thing is a sure bet, if we are attacking innovation, especially consumer centric innovation, we are losing the consumers hearts and minds. A battle we should and NEED to be winning.
What are we telling the consumer? We don’t care about you? We care more about protecting our tuff than helping you keep more of your money?
I’m embarrassed by the cheers that went up when Redfin got hit with a $50,000 fine for posting reviews of homes for sale? Can you imagine? What if Roger Ebert got hit with a fine for being critical of a current movie? What was even more galling, was the fact that were Redfin simply a consumer, instead of a licensed brokerage, posting those reviews nothing would have happened.
We ultimately make it harder for us all, when we poop on the consumer, we are lumped into the heap of deplorable professions like “used car salesman†or “blog operatorâ€.
 Let’s elevate the discussion… if you’re better than Redfin, why?
Why I am better than Redfin:
I have been profitable for over 20 years listing and selling Real Estate.
Comment by Agent 21 — June 13, 2007 @ 8:57 am
Agent 21, I guess in a general business sense, yes that would make you better. What I was asking for was from a consumers perspective? Why should consumers what to work with you?
Comment by mike — June 13, 2007 @ 9:27 am
Two points-
This is debatble >When an industry attacks innovation it is a sure sign of that industry’s impending death. cheers that went up when Redfin got hit with a $50,000 fine for posting reviews of homes for sale?
Comment by B.R. — June 16, 2007 @ 9:37 am
History is a good indicator of that statement. Coach makers attacked autos, airlines attacked southwest. Trains attacked airlines. You can’t stop people from building a better mousetrap… if they are taking marketshare from you… you should try to figure out how you can fit in not how you can crush them
As for the cheers…
http://activerain.com/blogsview/101400/Redfin-Fined-5-and
>>WAHOO!!! Thanks for the awesome news!!! <<
Comment by mike — June 16, 2007 @ 10:43 am
well, seeing that only 5 lines of the comment were actually posted and your 10 line reply made it through- we’ll call this debated. thanks.
Comment by B.R. — June 16, 2007 @ 11:37 am
Hmm… I don’t know what happened… its all there now…
Comment by mike — June 16, 2007 @ 3:50 pm
Funny you should ask…I talked about this very thing right after the 60 Minutes episode aired…It’s the May 17th post on my blog…
Comment by April Groves — June 19, 2007 @ 8:05 am