BiggerPockets

We were interested in getting your thoughts about how many real estate clubs (REIAs) profit off the products of their speakers, so we put a poll together.

Please follow the link and vote on your thoughts, as well as leaving your more complete thoughts in the discussion below.

Should Real Estate Clubs let speakers market their products during meetings?

No. If I go to these meetings I don't want upsells at all. You go to these meetings to learn and interact not buy some gurus merchandise.

No. I've been to a few meetings here and the first thing you see when you enter are the tables with the upsells. Can't even get to the meeting room without getting hit on. I don't go anymore. Just because of that.

One of the reasons I attend the OC Investors Club meetings (and the fundamental reason for it creation) was to create a hospitable atmosphere for investors to meet and listen to presentations without being subjected to the "Time Share" sales pitch.

Naturally, many of the speakers will have authored a book(s) or created some sort of training course and will mention it at the end of their presentation, but the seminar must be informative and educational on its own, not simply a lead in to selling something.

I was a member of the NWREIA here in Portland for a year. They have about 10 meetings a month, the first Thursday always being the General Meeting, and 11 out of 12 times featuring a guru and sales pitch. I got over it.

I was about to rejoin when I saw that they invited a guru to the last Thursday of the month meeting, the Deal Analysis meeting, where it had always previously been nothing but locals talking about deals. I didn't rejoin and have no plans on it. Enough was enough.

I am 100% with the majority here (and I voted). I find it very rude for the meeting host or hostess to plop a "guru" on stage in front of a captive audience. It's almost like we were sold a bill of goods....we're there to learn and network, not be upsold on some junk from the host/hostess friends.

It's down-right rude. I've walked out in the middle of the guru's sales pitches more than once. And I'll continue to do so. The lack of professionalism is monumental, in my opinion.

No. I think that the guru pitch gives the meetings a "made for newbies" feel. Adding to what FinanceExaminer said, I would love to hear a talk given by a local expert on pertinent subject matter. But I can't stand the sales pitches. I stopped going because of them.

I've already voted and completely agree with most of you. I will admit that I've taken advantage of the local reia knowing that they're in the business of making money and that the speakers are going to be selling something.

What I've done is shown up and networked with others who can/will benefit me. This means a lot of newbs who have and will bring me deals because they're not up to doing it themselves.

I know that doesn't sound professional but I plan on doing it again once I acquire my RE license. I'll be showing up with personal agendas in tack.

Hey, where else can you find a bunch of willing and ready newbs to actively seek out deals/business for you for a very very very very minimal return to them :)

I hate to say it, but I don't think a survey is going to make a difference. People vote with their wallet and to a lesser degree, their shoes. There are a number of pitch-fest based real estate clubs in LA that have been attracting hundreds of attendees for years. Why? I don't know, but many must feel they are getting value for their time spent and are willing to put up with the sales. Plus, I suppose sales bother some more than others.

Steve Love's club is very sales oriented yet is free to attend and he occasionally gets some great speakers. He also attracts a huge crowd. Phyllis Rockower's pitch-fest (now managed by Steve Love I believe) charges nearly $30 per meeting. Her attendance is down recently but she can also attract hundreds with the right speaker.

There are clubs in LA that specifically advertise themselves as no-sales-allowed events (see FIBI on Meetup.com). Some are great and some lousy. Others, like the most of the Orange county clubs, claim they don't allow sales, but seem to tolerate some anyway. These are well attended as well. I think that depending on the aggressiveness of the pitch, like it or not, many people will attend a real estate meeting even when they know they must endure the inevitable sales presentation.

I say yes, it is entirely up to the individual club as to what they present and how the present it. Would I attend a club that focused on it, absolutley not!

Different real estate clubs exist to serve different purposes, and different members. I believe that they success of the club will let them know if what they are doing is working well or if they should stop and try something else.