Posted by Michelle/AL on 12/1/09 9:13pm
Msg #312692

Renewing Memberships on Notary Sites

I appreciate how easy it is for me to renew my membership here on NotRot. There's another notary site where I have my profile and for the life of me I cannot figure out how to calculate what it costs for me to renew, let alone move to a different "position" for greater visibility. Nor do I understand why it has to be so...difficult to figure out. Just send me a invoice or give me a dollar figure to pay.

So...I settle for a lower position, utilize link exchange, and sometimes it works out for me. On more than one occasion, I received a phone call from the administrators asking me what I want to do. If they make it easy for me I spend more money. If they don't. I don't. They seem nice. My goal is not to trash them or their site. But I tell you what. Whenever I go to that site to do anything other than post in the forum, my blood pressure goes up a few points because it ain't easy getting things done and I feel like a moron asking for help each and every time.

Reply by Claudine Osborne on 12/1/09 9:19pm
Msg #312695

I call for pricing..I don't want to mess with trying to figure out a position and how much and jump through hoops to do it! I just played that game last month.

Just make it easier for me to spend my money..No Rot does it right..thank you Harry!

Reply by DEEBIE JEFFERSON on 12/2/09 8:19am
Msg #312727

I totally agree with you about jumping threw hoops to pay your hard eraned money good luck

Reply by Laura_V on 12/1/09 10:06pm
Msg #312700

I totally know who you are talking about!

The guy who owns the site you are talking about is a bottom feeder.

PM me if you like. I know how to deal with that jerk. I'll tell you what to do and what not to do.

Michelle - you are a top notch, high class, professional. You do not deserve to be treated like scum.

That jerk is like someone in FL who would raise the price of plywood right after a BIG hurricane was announced on the news. Shame on him and those ppl.

Reply by Michelle/AL on 12/1/09 10:14pm
Msg #312701

Laura, I don't think we're talking about the same person.

I've never felt jerked around by the notary site in question. I just find the process for renewing my membership cumbersome. I've talked to two different people in the past three years and both times the guys were helpful. I've always been treated professionally.

I just wish the I didn't have to use pen and pencil to figure out what it's going to cost me to renew my membership each year.

I'm trying not to judge this person's motives or cast any negative asperations. I'm just venting. Perhaps if I had been a better math student in school I would not find the process so complicated.

Reply by Laura_V on 12/1/09 10:20pm
Msg #312703

PM me. I still think we are talking about the same person.

Admired Michelle,

I grew up in SoCalif. First 18 years. I know those jerks.

Then I went to NorCal to attend an ivy league woman's super-expensive private college (full scholarship and I am grateful every day since. Truth.)

J is based in SoCal.

You can't figure out why J is such a greedy, disgusting person.

I grew up in SoCal. I know exactly where he is coming from and I hate his guts for it.

Pls PM me, gal. I'll tell all.

xox
LauraV

Reply by kathy/ca on 12/2/09 12:19am
Msg #312707

Laura, whatcha got against us So Cal folks? If you knew us,

I think you would like us!

Reply by Louis/AZ on 12/2/09 3:19am
Msg #312710

Huh?

Does anyone else find themselves sitting at their computer and laughing at this daffy broad's comments about "another" site? Maybe it's just me? (Yes, I'm being blatantly rude. I'm a hypocrite. Sue me.) >

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 12/2/09 7:42am
Msg #312721

Okay Laura..my .02 here

I think you're out of line here with the name-calling - you may have a personal agenda with these "guys" but name-calling here is, well, unnecessary. IMO, and from my personal experience, I've never been treated anything but courteously and with respect by anyone over there (and here!!) and in no way do I consider any of them "bottom-feeders"...

I "spoke" with Michelle via p/m and tried to explain some of the mechanics of the structure (I *think* I was clear enough to help her)....we both agree they're good people and we've had good experience with them.

I disagree 100% with your assessments of that site and its owners.

MHO

Reply by CT_Notary on 12/2/09 11:29am
Msg #312790

Re: Ivy League None are in CA!

Laura:

You went to an Ivy League private wmen's college? In CA?

Here are the Ivy League schools:

Brown University
Columbia University
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Harvard University
University of Pennsylvania
Princeton University
Yale University

Reply by kathy/ca on 12/2/09 12:17am
Msg #312706

I have always been treated nicely by J but I agree with

trying to determine the cost of the "positions" and whether or not it is beneficial to pay more to be placed in a higher position is a PITA!

Reply by DEEBIE JEFFERSON on 12/2/09 8:17am
Msg #312725

Re: I have always been treated nicely by J but I agree with

sometimes paying a higher fee is not the best plan I just wonder if it's worth it for example we both go to the car lot to buy a car & get same car but different names you might pay twice is much as me again because your just paying for the name I was alway's told by my wise grandmother putting a higher price tag doens't make your better or worse then someone else it just makes you spend more money that you might need to put toward your monthly bills just reminder everything has a price

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 12/2/09 8:20am
Msg #312729

Think of the fee structure this way

Basic listing here vs. premium - varies by area

Take a business card size ad in your local newspaper - maybe $300...

Take out a billboard advertising your services - $6-$8K...

The determining factor? - Exposure...

Reply by Louis/AZ on 12/2/09 11:07am
Msg #312782

Good points Linda

My experiences have also been only positive with those guys. Granted, the system can be tricky sometimes, but it's not a huge problem. I like exposure, too. *wink*

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 12/2/09 11:13am
Msg #312784

"I like exposure, too. *wink*"

That's illegal, isn't it??...hehe

Reply by Louis/AZ on 12/2/09 11:18am
Msg #312785

Re: "I like exposure, too. *wink*"

Not in Europe, hehe. Although I have to say that overall I prefer the "decent" variety. The kind that keeps my phone ringing.

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 12/2/09 12:56pm
Msg #312816

If you like exposure...

Why don't you link to yopur profile and expose yourself?

Reply by Louis/AZ on 12/2/09 11:23am
Msg #312786

Re: "I like exposure, too. *wink*"

Although I am curious. A signing agent in another county here in AZ posted saying they "screwed her royally." I'd be interested to know what that means.

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 12/2/09 12:13pm
Msg #312806

Curiosity killed the cat! n/m

Reply by MW/VA on 12/2/09 7:35am
Msg #312719

No one can figure out how the pricing on that site works. It is not a set amt. A notary in my area recently purchased #1 spot, and no one else was aware that a higher position was available. I'm not sure how that game is being played, but it clearly a money game.
It is still an essential place for me to list. Maybe soon NR will be #1 (three cheers).

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 12/2/09 7:47am
Msg #312722

He has his favorites. He screwed me royally the other day.

Reply by Louis/AZ on 12/2/09 10:55am
Msg #312777

Shoshana - Question

Shoshana, you said the people "screwed you royally the other day." Could you elaborate?

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 12/2/09 12:07pm
Msg #312803

Re: Shoshana - Question

No. I'll pull a Tiger Woods on this one. it's not your business.

Reply by Louis/AZ on 12/2/09 1:02pm
Msg #312820

Re: Shoshana - Question

I apologize, I didn't mean to offend or pry. As I said before, I haven't had any problems with the site in question (at least not yet).

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 12/2/09 1:28pm
Msg #312828

You MADE it our business by posting ...

you slice & dice another human being, give absolutely no justification for doing so, and then claim it's nobody else's business?

that's not exactly a 'Tiger Woods', imho.

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 12/2/09 8:19am
Msg #312728

It uses the seniority system, pricing is dependent on how

many others there are in that area. There is a set system - but agree, not easy to figure out.

Reply by MW/VA on 12/2/09 9:49pm
Msg #312889

Re: It uses the seniority system, pricing is dependent on how

I thought that was how it worked also. In the situation I was referring to, that is not the case.
I had just renewed, and would have called had I even remotely thought I was going to loose my position. Granted, it is a matter to be taken up with them, not to cry about on this board.

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 12/2/09 8:17am
Msg #312726

Sometimes an opinion of character tells more

about you than about the person you're characterizing.

I have managed to wiggle into the first position in my area, on the 'other' site. It took years and it isn't cheap, definitely can be confusing, but it most certainly is fair trade. Nobody else will be getting 'my' spot as long as I'm in this business.

Further - I am listed there for BUSINESS, same reason I'm listed here. Who runs it, where they grew up, where they live or ?? who has/doesn't have some Ivy League degree doesn't factor into my choice. The only factor I have is if it works. If it works, I'm doing it.

Reply by Michelle/AL on 12/2/09 9:19am
Msg #312751

Renee, excellent point! I may need to call you for some

accounting tips. LOL. The reasons you gave are why I keep hanging in there but I'm slowly being moved to the bottom of the stack. I'm going to need to "put up" or "shut up".

Reply by Michelle/AL on 12/2/09 9:31am
Msg #312756

Since I started the thread I would love to have the last

word. Fat chance of that happening, right? : ) . I hope it is clear that it was never, ever my intent to start a bashing session of another individual and his business. What I was hoping was that someone here could explain it to me to make it easier. I did get a several PM's doing just that...thank you!

I took a chance by posting a frustration publicly. I was quickly reminded that once my words leave my mouth (or in this case, leave my fingertips) I have little control over what happens next. I think I owe someone at the other site an apology and I'll do just that.

Reply by Laura_V on 12/2/09 10:57am
Msg #312779

Re: Since I started the thread I would love to have the last

You are always a class act, Michelle.

I just lose my temper when I see a social injustice, such as raising the price of plywood when a hurricane is likely to be a rough one.

Reply by Laura_V on 12/2/09 10:55am
Msg #312778

Re: Sometimes an opinion of character tells more

I just beat J at his own game.

I come up on the first page of Google at least 6 times for the words notary and the name of my town.

J comes up zip number of times on page one for my town or the name of the biggest town in my huge county.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 12/2/09 11:06am
Msg #312781

I did it for myself...

and I showed up in many search variations...but so did his website, which is the point .... you're not going to find google for him personally, it's his website - and THAT shows up a multitude of times (for me)..

You won't find Harry in Google search either...you find Notary Rotary...

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 12/2/09 12:05pm
Msg #312802

Google search results are NOT the end-all ...

depends on what you're looking for - or rather who is looking for you. The general public will use Google, but I'm not all that interested in them.

Business-to-business? I believe the industry knows which databases to search, because that's pretty much where they find me.

Reply by LKT/CA on 12/2/09 12:05pm
Msg #312801

My vision of the best notary directory would be when someone does a search for zip code 10000, all notaries in THAT zip code are shown first, then the closest zips to 10000 are next. There would be different pricing for the various spots in THAT zip code. Position #1 costs the most, #2 spot costs a little less and so on and so forth for that zip code. If the person in position #1 leaves the business, then that spot is offered to #2 spot and if #2 doesn't want it or goes out of business, the next spot is offered the higher position - in THAT zip code. That way, when someone is looking for a notary in zip 1000, that is who they see first. The site would have an automatic purge feature that sends an email to the notary to update every (for example) 90 days or 6 months or whatever....if notary does not respond...they lose their position and drop to the bottom of their zip code. If they do not respond after a year, their profile is permanently eliminated. This way, profiles stay current and only those in business remain listed.

People should be able to put in a specific zip code and get exactly that - not other zips they must maneuver through to find what they are looking for. NotaryRotary is almost there - great search feature but old profiles need to be purged and an automatic purge feature in place as described above. As that just a pipe dream or can it actually happen?

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 12/2/09 12:12pm
Msg #312805

Exactly. In this directory now, if you bring up my zip code the other guy shows up first, even though he is 15-20 miles away!

Reply by PAW on 12/2/09 12:29pm
Msg #312809

My beef is that there is a notary who bought the top spot in many different locations and she is about 60 miles away and runs a small signing service! I don't think signing services (anyone who contracts out signing work) should be listed along with individual signing agents unless it is explicitly clear what they are and that it more than likely won't be the named person doing the signing. Then the person's credentials become almost meaningless.

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 12/2/09 12:34pm
Msg #312813

I totally agree with you!

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 12/2/09 1:26pm
Msg #312827

Agree, HATE that, happens here too. n/m

Reply by BrendaTx on 12/2/09 1:43pm
Msg #312835

Agree, Renee'...this site's members complain

of SSs having multiple listings ... it's just hard to stay on top of them.