Posted by Leon_CO on 12/7/08 10:47am
Msg #271323

Helping the competition

I decided to open a hamburger restaurant 6 months ago. There happened to be a popular hamburger restaurant across the street, but that didn't deter me. In fact, I thought I could use it to my advantage.

For help in getting my business started, I asked the owner of the hamburger restaurant across the street for some advice. He was more than willing to help. He told me all of the things that worked, and all of the things that didn't work. He even let me go into the kitchen and see how the hamburgers were prepared. I took a look at the menu to get an idea of how much to charge for various products. He was selling hamburgers for .99, so I decided to sell mine for .89.

To make a long story short: within 6 months I had all of his regular customers coming over to my restaurant, and I had gained many new customers. My hamburgers were just as good, they were cheaper, and I was still able to make a good profit. In fact, things became so good with my business that the hamburger restaurant across the street eventually had to close.
-------------------------------------------

This is a fictitious story, of course. But there are some parallels to what can happen in the notary signing agent profession. New signing agents are eager to get started, and they want help from experienced signing agents. They ask to be taken along to a closing, how much to charge, what to do in various situations, ... etc. They set up a website and copy material from websites of other signing agents. They copy information from the profiles of others to enhance their own profiles. It isn't long before they have established themselves as a notary signing agent.

In some respects it is good to help fellow notary signing agents. We want to maintain a high standard of excellence across the board. Summum bonum: for the good of all. Etc.

I once thought it would be a good idea to be a mentor. But I'm becoming a bit wary of that idea now. I'm still willing to help, to some extent. But I'm careful how I do it.

This concept of what can result from gaining an advantage from others in the business can probably be summed up by using a quote from Guido in the film 'Risky Business':

"... In a sluggish economy, never ever f**k with another man's livelihood."

Reply by Rachel_NJ on 12/7/08 11:01am
Msg #271325

"... In a sluggish economy, never ever f**k with another man's livelihood."

Could that be anymore perfect?

Absolute poetry.

Reply by John/CT on 12/7/08 11:04am
Msg #271326

... especially when it's your own! n/m

Reply by Steven Pearce on 12/7/08 11:24am
Msg #271328

wow... thought provoking indeed. I have seen very similar

profiles and wondered about that.

On the other hand though, if no one helps a newbie, will they screw it up so badly as to ruin the integrity and reliability of the rest of us? Especially for the ones that call and say '...I found you on Notary Rotary.'?

I had responded to a post yesterday from a new poster who was looking for experience. I had assumed they were familiar with docs and were just looking for practical hands on experience, like shadowing someone to a signing.
Thankfully, others offered info to direct this person to a source of knowledge that will show them what they need.
Without that, they might have stumbled across an agency who decides to give NotRot a try for the first time and mucks it up so badly that they never want to deal with us again. I have been in a position myself where I was overbooked and in trying to assist the Agency, I offered up NotRot, to which they sighed and said 'yeah, we KNOW about THEM'. We should not send out people unarmed (at least from here) who damage our rep on this site.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

...I remember when Jack in the Box had a problem with fecal content in their burgers. I did not go to the competition, I quit eating the things completely for quite a while.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'I will help you to succeed, I will not help you to surpass me' - anonymous

Reply by SteveTX on 12/7/08 4:25pm
Msg #271333

Re: wow... thought provoking indeed. I have seen very similar

I'm one of the newbies who posted yesterday, and I received several very helpful responses. I hadn't thought about possibly stealing business from another notary, although I guess some might do this. As my post stated, I am just a new guy looking for some help. I wouldn't cut the rates of other notaries, and I certainly wouldn't try to steal their established business. At least one person offered her help outside of the forum.

I guess some are comfortable mentoring others, and some aren't. Maybe what Notary Rotary should do is require a minimum number of closing before a new person can post on the forum?

Reply by jba/fl on 12/7/08 6:03pm
Msg #271336

Re: wow... thought provoking indeed. I have seen very similar

"Maybe what Notary Rotary should do is require a minimum number of closing before a new person can post on the forum?"

That would be like someone learning to feed themselves for the first time, then requiring them to wait a few days before doing it again,... Also, people would just lie (or stretch the truth).

No, I don't think so. I remember responding to someone named Steve or Steven (too lazy to look up) and at this point in the game, I don't feel a bit threatened, as I am sure many do not. One of the reasons I don't: I only do a few companies these days. The rest you can have, but as I did state, do your homework, check here and ask if necessary and be willing to give the job back if you don't like what you hear and read, or if there isn't enough profit for you to do the job. If I'm not going to do it, why shouldn't you (or anyone newer?) if it will suit your needs at this place and time.

And if you don't undercut, instead value your time and resources and learning curve, so much the better. That hamburger on the corner is McD's, but 2 miles away is Sam's and his is soooo much better, and he gives good service and the value perceived is 500% better too. It's all relative.

Reply by LKT/CA on 12/7/08 1:02pm
Msg #271329

Taste of food and price are not the only elements to a great business. It is nothing for me to drive a few miles to another establishment because it is cleaner, well managed and has great customer service as compared to the **exact same** establishment 2 blocks away.

Reply by Kathryn_OR on 12/7/08 8:15pm
Msg #271342

I've only been a notary for 1 1/2 years. In the beginning I accepted the $50 assignments. Now that I get plenty of calls (all by searching NNA), I'm picky. I do not accept signings below $100. And I turn away calls that call me 2-3 hours before the appointment. Assignments from my rural location are at least 30 minute drives1-way. And I have to look professional. And I was probably up to my elbows in the garden.

Regarding "Mentors"...there was a person who said they'd help me become an NSA, but then this person must have realized that I was "competition". And I was dropped like a hot rock. There are no other notary's within 45 miles of me. So I just hit the books and studied again, after I received my commission. And I was on my own. If I hadn't studied hard post-commission, I most likely would not have made it without errors. I'm so glad I just recently found Notary Rotary. I'd have killed for this forum, when I first started. And I'm still learning. I do love being an Notary Signing Agent...even though nobody except LSI is paying these days. I have my "Notary Rrotary List" right beside my phone.

Reply by Becca_FL on 12/7/08 8:40pm
Msg #271344

Thank You, Captain Obvious, yet again!

Do you really think your peers are a bunch of momos that really NEED to hear this?

Leon, if you like to hear yourself talk, do it on your blog.

Reply by Negrete on 12/8/08 6:57am
Msg #271349

Re: Thank You, Captain Obvious, yet again!

Was that really called for Becca.

Reply by Jacqueline Dyson on 12/8/08 8:40am
Msg #271364

Re: Thank You, Captain Obvious, yet again!

!Leon, I love your topics of discussion. I thank everyone who helped me when I first started. I did not seek help in my area, but in other parts of California. In return I attempted to bring ideals to the table which would help my business, plus my mentor's business grow. My original mentors and I have a wonderful relationship and network. I am also thankful to the individuals who responded outside my state. Our relationship is still strong and we refer each other and share information.

Amy, your help for inauguartion accomodations is priceless

Reply by MonicaFL on 12/8/08 10:10am
Msg #271383

Well, I actually taught and mentored three people in my immediate area how to get into the business and then went with them two or three times and/or took them with me to closings (got the borrowers permission first, of course) and then when they get an assignment they cannot do, who do they refer or call - me. Now, take in to mind that I don't depend on this business for my livelihood. But, when I did depend on my business for such (I owned a specialized staffing agency) I would hire freelancers who were out of work and needed a job. Yes, some of them probably took jobs on their own but only a couple - but when they were out of a job again, I refused to put them to work - they put the nail in their own coffin - as the old saying goes - But with these few exceptions, I have never not put out a helping hand, even when times are hard. Lots, and Lots and Lots of you probably won't agree with this - but that's okay too. That's just my own way of surviving in this world.

Reply by MW/VA on 12/8/08 5:36pm
Msg #271443

This is not the place for all these "blogs".