Posted by CaliNotary on 4/5/06 4:51pm
Msg #111325

Southern CA Saturation Update

On Dec. 4 I had responded to a post by somebody else in Southern California about the growing number of notaries. On that date there were 965 members on this board within 20 miles of me and 1657 within 30 miles of me.

On February 7 there were now 1073 within 20 miles of me and 1845 within 30 miles.

Now on April 5 there are 1176 within 20 miles of me and 2022 within 30 miles of me.

That's a 22% increase in the number of notaries in 4 months. Between the slowdown in the home loan market, the ridiculous rate of new notaries, and the alarming increase in frequency of posts on this board talking about which company has cut its rates, I'm beginning to think it's time to jump off this sinking ship. Unless something drastically changes in the industry, there is no way this is going to be a viable career option in Southern California within the next few years.

We're the beanie baby and pog sellers of the new millenium.

Reply by TitleGalCA on 4/5/06 5:00pm
Msg #111327

There's no arguing with the numbers Cali; just wish the NNA and others who crank out the new notaries read and try to support their position with the numbers you just posted.

Reply by Charm_AL on 4/5/06 5:04pm
Msg #111330

Those are totally unfreakingbelievable numbers! These notary classes over there are like leeches at this rate! What a way to totally ruin a career, while stuffing their pockets!

Reply by CaliNotary on 4/5/06 5:17pm
Msg #111335

I'm just waiting for Joan to pop in and tell us that California still doesn't have enough notaries, and that all we have to do is market ourselves and we'll be fine.

Reply by cyndi_ca on 4/5/06 5:30pm
Msg #111344

Re:Calinotary with this amazing n/m

Reply by cyndi_ca on 4/5/06 5:37pm
Msg #111349

Re: Re:Calinotary with this amazing oops.

amount of notaries I wonder just how many of them actually go anywhere with their commision. I too see the number growing leaps and bounds in my area, but when you go on some of these profiles, they haven't been updated since, 05 and even 04. Secondly, when you can only view the first 25 (basic and premier) how does one get found? Not that I'm eager for every new notary to get and be seen, and I certainly am grateful for my position now. I would hope that people who want to get into this racket really check things out first. Me personally?, would not get into this line of work now. The competition is huge, don't misunderstand, I love what I do, but it's not for everyone and those who are looking for the get-rich-quick scheme are in for a rude awakening. IMHO

Reply by Jenny_CA on 4/5/06 5:32pm
Msg #111345

Re: CaliNotary

Perhaps you can find a new niche : "CaliNotary , notary for the stars"

buy an ad on the Hollywood reporter or billboard like the realstate people do, or .....oh. well me and my wacky ideas. :-)

Reply by Jenny_CA on 4/5/06 5:42pm
Msg #111352

Re: meant "realtors' n/m

Reply by CaliNotary on 4/5/06 6:15pm
Msg #111370

Re: CaliNotary

That's not a bad idea. I could start charging $400 per signing and maybe get my own reality show out of it.

Reply by Becca_FL on 4/5/06 6:30pm
Msg #111384

Re: CaliNotary

Why is it that I'm suddenly reminded of Anna Nicole's Interior designer??? Fabulous and luxurious.

Reply by CaliNotary on 4/5/06 6:42pm
Msg #111390

Bobby Trendy

One of the most rancid gay stereotypes to ever grace our TV screens. Can't I be Jay from the first Project Runway instead? Hell, I'd rather be Anna Nicole than Bobby Trendy.

Reply by Becca_FL on 4/5/06 9:21pm
Msg #111417

That's the guy.

Bobby's 15 minutes were over quicker than you can say Cato Kalin. Bobby was WAY over the top.

I'm with you, I'd much rather be Anna, now that she's lost the weight and is back in her sexy, curvey figure. Tell me, do you really think she lost the weight by taking a pill? Pa-leese.

Reply by BetsyMI on 4/5/06 5:20pm
Msg #111337

Wow Calinotary, I feel for you in Southern CA.

Here in Michigan there are only 142 within 20 miles of me and 251 within 30 miles of me. I had no idea it was so bad out there. Best of luck keeping your good clients.

Reply by Teddog_CO on 4/5/06 5:35pm
Msg #111347

Wow! I feel for the CA notaries. This is the reality of over-saturation by NNA and others cranking out notaries. It's a shame it is ruining this profession. Here in my zip code which is in the (Boon Docks) there are-32 in 20 miles-45 in 30 miles. Remember this count is just from NR members and not the actual notary population. Our CO numbers may not seem very high, but consider where we are located in a rural area. I'm sure glad I have a part-time job. Like Cali I tend to agree it will get a lot worse before it gets better. So I would say it's only wise to have another option to fall back on if needed.

Reply by Susan/CA on 4/5/06 5:36pm
Msg #111348

You can really feel it . . lately it has been tough. Even with regular notary jobs! I have gotten several calls for my own city asking how much I charge to notarize 1 document (go to them) and I thought aw well, in the same city what the heck! 25.00. They say okay thank you and never call back! That means more than likely someone is doing them for less! Until I am starving I find that my time is more precious than less than 25.00! I think 25.00 is reasonable as it would only be 15.00 for my time and 10.00 per CA statute. People are desperate out there! What they don't realize is it's NOT going to get any better by trying to get business through undercutting the other guy. . . it just doesn't work. With a saturation of notaries their rates are never going to go up! They will be working for peanuts and then their cars will break down and they won't be able to afford to fix them!

Reply by Teddog_CO on 4/5/06 5:47pm
Msg #111356

How right you are Susan. Not only their cars, they will not be able to purchase their supplies. Look what a laser cartridge costs, not to mention everything else!
To bad is'nt it.

Reply by cyndi_ca on 4/5/06 5:50pm
Msg #111359

Re: costs of doing business, they'll find out! Ouch n/m

Reply by ColleenCA on 4/5/06 6:22pm
Msg #111376

Re: Cali, I was thinking the exact same thing today...

I have been getting blasted with calls from low ball companies, but this morning took the cake. I received a call at 7am for an 8am "emergency" signing that another notary had screwed up for a whopping $40.00!!! I almost choked on my coffee!!! It just seems to be getting worse and I am so very thankful that I have a fulltime job and didn't decide to quit a year ago.

Reply by CA_Dreamer on 4/5/06 6:22pm
Msg #111377

$5,000+ in March - Southern CA

Thanks for the stats Cali! Boy oh boy, it really peeves me hearing this. I did over $5,000 part time evenings and weekends last month. Imagine what I could have done if the market wasn't saturated here in Southern Cal.

I'm going to start putting nails in my competitions' tires. That'll keep them away from my jobs!

Reply by CaliNotary on 4/5/06 6:29pm
Msg #111383

Re: $5,000+ in March - Southern CA

Wow, way to read for comprehension. March was my best month since June of last year, but that's not quite the point I was making.

Let's see how much you do next March when there are 75% more notaries in your area than there are now. Or March of the year after when there are 2 1/2 times the notaries in your area than there are now. You really think it's not gonna affect your livelihood in an industry that is so price conscious?

Hope you put some of that $5000 in savings.

Reply by CA_Dreamer on 4/5/06 6:32pm
Msg #111386

Your point

was to use stats to dishearten newbies and convince them not to even try.

Reply by CaliNotary on 4/5/06 6:38pm
Msg #111389

Re: Your point

LOL, you think my post was directed at newbies? Your comprehension skills are worse than I thought.

Reply by CA_Dreamer on 4/5/06 6:35pm
Msg #111388

BTW

I'm one of those notaries you mentioned in your original post here.

Watch out for your tires

Only joking... About your tires

Reply by Erin C. Wall Signature Services on 4/6/06 7:32am
Msg #111485

<<<has police grade tires... :) n/m

Reply by Joshua Basil on 4/5/06 6:29pm
Msg #111382

2190 mobile notaries found within 30 miles

Reply by lulu on 4/5/06 7:16pm
Msg #111393

This topic might be too hot to join in on but I'll try.
I am sooo in awe of the dilemma you have in front of you. I can see the reason
for some of your attitude toward newbies now. I am fortunately in a very rural area in IA.
My sincerest appreciation for your dilemma.
I don't think the majority on this board think to much about the topic of e-notarization but I can't help but wonder if many will drop out of the picture once e-notarization gets underway in the majority of the states. Fortunately for those of you in CA this will come sooner than here in little ol' Iowa. I'm sure there are many who will not invest in the laptop, enjoa etc to continue. I feel that not only the mortgage industry but also the gov't (due to mortgage fraud etc) will be pushing hard to get e-notarization implemented nation-wide. Just hoping to give you guys in CA a ray of hope for down the road.

Reply by Charles_Ca on 4/5/06 7:32pm
Msg #111399

Microchipping at birth may eliminate notaries completely n/m

Reply by cyndi_ca on 4/5/06 7:34pm
Msg #111403

Ok, thats just sick. n/m

Reply by Charles_Ca on 4/5/06 10:30pm
Msg #111428

Not any sicker than having an SSN issued at birth! n/m

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 4/6/06 2:24am
Msg #111456

I think you are trying to scare away competition

Where did your figures come from as you don't post with a link and we don't know what zip code you live in? Until you do, your numbers are meaningless.

My numbers do mean something: The number of Ca notaries for 2005/2006 were taken from our Ca Sec of State Handbook on the 1st page for both years.

2005 notaries in Calif (236,000 notaries with a population of approx. 35,893,800)
1 Notary for every 146 people.

2006 (260,000 Notaries with a population of approx 36,456,389, has: 1 notary for every 140 people!!
Well thats a huge gain of approx 6 notaries per 100 population!!

Calif. has the lowest per capita Notary ratio in the nation by at least half. (The reasons: we have the hardest test in the United States and also now have a 6 hour study requirement that started in July 2005.) My guess is this will probably decrease the number of Notaries in Ca, but only time will tell and this is a guess on my part.

New York has 1 notary per 70 people. population 19 million with 250,000 notaries

Texas has 1 notary for every 61 people population 22 million with 352,000 notaries

Florida has 1 notary per 57 people population 17 million with 365,000 notaries

Go to States such as Kansas and this state has 1 notary for every 21 people.

I received a call from a title company today from Denver and I wasn't in her zip code she wanted to hire and she used notary rotary and when she found me she said "I was the only notary that answered the phone call."

Yes, it's about marketing!

Reply by christiSocal on 4/6/06 3:01am
Msg #111457

truth in numbers

I know cali's zip and checked- His figures are correct ( actually since I checked a few hours later, there are 2 more notaries for the 20 mile radius and 4 more for the 30 mile!) Now I can't verify the earlier stats, but considering the growth in just a few hours, it's not hard to believe. I'm not very far away but my numbers are better ( a little) 10 miles-171 and 30 miles-1780

Reply by Teddog_CO on 4/6/06 5:35am
Msg #111463

Re: I think you are trying to scare away competition

Joan,

I think one very important point that is being overlooked by you is where these notaries are concentrated. That is the reason for giving the numbers for 20/mi - 30/mi. areas. Yes, the areas talked about are oversaturated with notaries. It would be nice if we could spread all those numbers you quoted evenly all over the States. It's the fact that these numbers are concentrated in major cities where the NNA loves to sell their wares.

Marketing is an important thing. Personally I don't think that will help much with a zillion notaries concentrated in certain areas. The Notary Auction is the "in thing" right now, the cheaper the notary the better. To heck with the quality of work is the attitude in general.

When a majority of people are having the very same experiences across the country you have to start admitting those experiences are true.

"Trying to scare away competition" Not hardly! We are stating the facts.


Teddog

Reply by FlaMac on 4/6/06 7:20am
Msg #111480

Let's be honest here..I think it was a lil' of both:)....

Going by NR number's is completely inaccurate. The database house's everyone who has ever signed up for a free or premier membership. We have no way of knowing who is still active..or even alive..for that matter. I think you have alot less competition than you may think..

Enotarization will take care of this problem. And, IMO, over the next 5-10 years, we will see it become mandatory throughout the nation. Paper books, files, forms...all will become a secondary form of documentation. Why? One of just many reason's, is the cost to store all of it.

These big corps that run our lives realize they can save a huge amount of money (overhead, office space, furniture, labor) by not storing paper. Not to mention the cost in copying and "running the paperwork to another dept.". The days of hand carrying anything inter-office are soon over. The U.S. Census, in 2010, will for the first time take the population survey by electronic media. No more paper forms to fill out.

The cost for notaries to set-up is going to be pretty hefty especially if you want to do it "right". Plus, all the Identity, Patriot Act and Fraud laws that have to be instituted within the Enotarization system. I'm hoping as the time get's closer someone will come out with some kind of uniform software for us. I think it will actually help us because we will have to become more specialized and better trained.

It's not fair, but all these people who aren't extremely motivated will fall by the wayside. And, those of us in it for the long haul, will remain standing Just my honest opinion, of course.

Reply by KBLedgard_CA on 4/6/06 8:26am
Msg #111503

Re: Let's be honest here..I Don't

If you want to be honest FlaMac, let's acknowledge the fact that not all notaries are signed up with Notary Rotary so while your theory of the number being off since "The database house's everyone who has ever signed up for a free or premier membership. We have no way of knowing who is still active..or even alive..for that matter." You are not counting the notaries who haven't joined here. So for every notary you think my not be alive, there is someone who is not on here.

Reply by PAW on 4/6/06 8:38am
Msg #111509

Same old battle cry ...

Back before PC's were on everyones desktop and kitchen table, the advent of the mini- and micro-computer was the "beginning of the paperless society". It was touted then, as it is now, that computerization will eliminate the need to paper to make business runs. But, the computer apparently has created a bigger demand for paper than ever before. Now, instead of circulating a 2 page office memo, everyone gets an email. Fine, so far... no paper. But, 25 people now print that email. So, the 2 page memo has developed into a 50 page tome. This is paperless?

As for storage, microfilming and document digitizing have been around for years and will be for years to come. The issue is the ability to truly eliminate the need for the paper as a medium to get the "printed" word to the reader and ultimately to storage. Not too difficult a task. But, one major problem exists and that is getting the document amended and updated and signed. Even with the proliferation of computers and internet access, there is still a lot of people that have neither.

Health insurance companies have learned a tough lesson this past year with "Plan D" drug program. They were telling everyone just to go online the www.thisplace.com and sign up. Well, guess what, they were flooded with calls from people who didn't have the capability to do that. More paper had to be generated.

"A Paperless Society", imo, is somewhat a pipe dream. Historically, technology has generated a paper-inundated society beyond comprehension. Sure, there are pockets of business that will be able to. There are even pockets in society that will go that way (http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=4046), but it'll be a while till everyone is issued a computer, logon ID and SSN number in one fell swoop.

Reply by Anonymous on 4/6/06 9:45am
Msg #111526

Cali Continues to beat the Dead Horse .. S N O O Z E ....

Go wipe your boogers on someone else. Now that I finally saw your mug when you were found out, I see why you don't get any work. Not ony do you act like a psycho, you look like one too.

Reply by TitleGalCA on 4/6/06 12:41pm
Msg #111573

Lets be honest, Flamac, you have no ability to think

***I think you have alot less competition than you may think..***

and Enotarization? Why not just come out and post that pigs can fly?

Thank god it has been proved your facts, numbers, and statements are always inaccurate and you make this crap up for the purpose of sounding like you have a brain.

Tinman. The female version of the Tinman.

Reply by CaliNotary on 4/6/06 12:07pm
Msg #111558

Re: I think you are trying to scare away competition

"My numbers do mean something"

Yeah, your numbers mean that there are a hell of a lot of notaries out there.

What your numbers DON'T address, nor do you ever address when the question is posed to you, is that the per capita notary numbers have nothing to do with the actual NEED for notaries. Why on earth do we need 1 notary for every 140 people here? Why does Florida need 1 notary for every 57 people?

Several months ago I posted a comparison of notaries to postal workers. The USPS has about 650,000 employees NATIONWIDE (approx 1 per every 46 people in the US) and they deliver mail to every address in the country, 6 days a week. If 1 in 46 can accomplish that on a daily basis, why do we need 1 in 140 to provide notary services, which most people don't even use once per YEAR?

But of course you'll do as you always do when somebody challenges the "facts" you post on the board. Just conveniently ignore it because you have no answer for it.

Reply by SarahBeth_CA on 4/6/06 12:14pm
Msg #111564

Admitting the answer

You are correct Cali and that was a great illustration. If Joan ever admitted that you are correct in public then her classes wouldn't fill up and her livelyhood would go down the tubes. She has too much of a financial interest in newbies believing that there's a need for more notaries. Not to mention the company she represents wouldn't be too happy either.

Reply by CaliNotary on 4/6/06 12:21pm
Msg #111567

Financial Interest is the key

If we got down to 1 notary per 20 people out here, Joan would just come up with some other set of meaningless figures to justify her marketing spiel about us needing more notaries in California.