Posted by SarahBeth_CA on 2/6/06 12:46pm
Msg #94748

NNA-Saturating CA even more

I got the latest NNA flyer in the mail. They are churning out notaries faster than Orvill Redenbacker can pop corn. They have 200 notary seminars scheduled in CA and this is only up through April. So here's my math. If they get 25 per seminar that is 5000 new notaries. If they run the same number of seminars during the last 8 months of the year then that is 15000 new notaries for the year in CA just for them. Then we have to consider that they aren't the only ones churning out notaries by the hundreds either.

Reply by patricia on 2/6/06 1:01pm
Msg #94752

I have spoken to a couple of the new notaries who recently took the nna course to become
a notary and one who took the loan signing classes, both were very confident that they would be able to make a good income, both were part-timers who worked full time day jobs.
The one who just became a notary felt she would be getting loan document signings and also
thought she would get lots of requests to notarize trust documents, this was even though she had no background in either field.
Anyway, both ladies thought that work would easily come to them and sneered when I told them that competition was fierce.

Reply by Lorraine Maguire on 2/6/06 3:02pm
Msg #94788

I have to say that as a one-year Notary in CA, you may be correct regarding saturation in some markets. However, the attrition rate is huge, too. I believe that our ability to generate business is related to our local markets, local saturation, local demographics (how many TCs are seeking outside signings) and our own competent marketing and availability.

I am more successful than some of my local colleagues, and I am less successful than others. As with any business, there are those who jump in thinking they will be wildly successful without any hard work. Those people will quickly find that this business requires a tremendous amount of marketing and excellent people-skills.

The NNA is in business to make money. They do that by training Notaries and we must presume that they focus their training in areas where there is clear demand (or shortage of supply, ie: Notaries). I do not view it as negative that they are focusing attention on the California market - that should be an indicator to those of us already commissioned that there is a ton of business waiting for us - we just have to tap into it.

Reply by SignerCA on 2/6/06 3:41pm
Msg #94802

Well said... there is nothing we can do about it so...

why continue to complain about it.

Reply by SarahBeth_CA on 2/6/06 3:44pm
Msg #94804

Although I absolutely agree that our own ability to market will definately affect our success. I disagree on the NNA. I have read numerous posts on how they have been unavailable for support when needed or flat out wrong on the information. Not to mention the last convention. Where there was only around a dozen or so vendors. They are definately more into churning out as many as they can than support. I also disagree with the idea that the NNA is targeting areas that there is a clear demand. Take San Diego, CA zip code 92165 a search on notrot shows 452 mobile notaries within 20 miles of the zip code. Even if attrition is half and there were 225 in that radius, considering the refi bubble is almost deflated; I really don't think there's a need for 12 seminars in SD alone through April. In fact every 4 months if they had 20 students in each class that would be 240 more notaries. There's a constant churning of newbies that come in and take $50 signings for a couple of months until they realize that it's not for them (since they aren't making any real money). By the time they realize that there's another new batch out there doing the same thing.

Reply by SignerCA on 2/6/06 3:49pm
Msg #94806

As frustrating as it is...

the NNA is a business and businesses thrive only by supply and demand. If there wasn't a demand for classes and if people were not using the NNA's products there would be a decrease in the supply. However, that's a lot of people.

Reply by patricia on 2/6/06 4:34pm
Msg #94822

Re: As frustrating as it is...

we know that starting and maintaining a business is hard work, but remember the NNA is advertising that doing loan signings is "full time income for part-time work". But of course you all are right that there really is nothing we can do about it.

Reply by BrendaTx on 2/6/06 4:37pm
Msg #94825

Re: As frustrating as it is...So true, SignerCA...however...

***the NNA is a business and businesses thrive only by supply and demand. If there wasn't a demand for classes and if people were not using the NNA's products there would be a decrease in the supply. However, that's a lot of people.***

You are right. The NNA can do whatever they want to do and should.

My problem with this company is I got fooled into a membership because I thought it was a true non-profit. Yes, there is a demand for classes as many are interested in the business...it's the most fun job in the world.

MY FAULT. They did not get me into the business, but it seemed a natural thing to join. I figured it was like a real assn for professional people like most professions have.

I did not realize it was a teaching and retail outfit. My mistake. Now that I have the picture I do not join. I hated that they fooled me, darn it.

Free enterprise is the greatest thing in the world.

I do not like hidden agendas and I think that is what they do.

Reply by SarahBeth_CA on 2/6/06 5:22pm
Msg #94842

Re: As frustrating as it is...So true, SignerCA...however...

If it weren't for the many posts just like Brenda's I would have gotten fooled too.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 2/6/06 6:58pm
Msg #94859

Re: As frustrating as it is...So true, SignerCA...however...

I agree with you 100%, Brenda. It is a question of supply and demand, but unfortunately, the demand is coming from people looking for a way to make more $/faster $/easier $, etc. The market the NNA is selling to is the general public who sign up for their courses. I think it's giving them too much credit to say they are holding classes in response to a real business need. Their customers are not the same as ours and they will keep holding classes and churning out more SAs as long as they can sell them and all the materials they hawk at them. The reason they hold so many in So Cal and other densely populated areas is in good part because they can concentrate their advertising and marketing efforts and sell lots of classes.

My guess would be that the good 'ole 80/20 rule applies here, too. I imagine the attrition rate would be approx 80% right off the top. Of those that survive, probably only 20% really end up making a living at it, and perhaps 20% of them make "really good money". "Course with the entire market shrinking while the number of SAs grows, it may be closer to 90/10... jmo