False advertising..who's the criminal?

I just got an email from a real estate agent that was interested in my services. I sent her all the info. She then proceeded to tell me that she only pays $95 for a video tour and photography services from someone else. Naturally, I was shocked and of course skeptical. So, when I looked up her listings, of course we all know what I found. Her “video tours” are just photos. Not even the Ken Burns junk. Just a high res photo viewer. The kind we all offer in our photography. Nice photos, but just photos. I called her on the phone and when I extremely politely tried to explain that she could just order my photography services and pay less, she insisted that gets “video” with her orders.  I tap danced a while and I finally had no choice. I had to ask her:  “a videographer walks through your listings with a camera in one continuous shot?” She replied quietly, ‘no.’   When she finally realized that she was wrong, she said: “Well, I don’t even want that!” Got mad and hung up on me. She was just a nasty mean person from the beginning and I’ve moved on. However, it got me thinking. Who is the real criminal? The agent out there telling sellers that they use “VIDEO!” to sell their listings, or…the photographer that is advertising to real estate agents that he uses “VIDEO.” How do we educate agents without pissing them off?  Is it possible? Here in St. Louis, it’s almost necessary. There aren’t enough agents who “get it.”  I am amazed that people still don’t understand what video is? Video? Really? Our business aside, in 2011 you can’t understand the difference between video and photography?  I meet sellers all the time who “get it” and probably laugh behind their agents back when the agent shows them a “video tour” of moving photos, but just don’t care enough to speak up.  If it was just this agent I would shrug but I run into this all the time.  It’s very frustrating and I’m thinking it’s the photographers out there that are lying that cause the problem.  I am sure most professional real estate photographers would never advertise that they use video.  Maybe this guy doesn’t and she’s the criminal? But if not, sometimes I wish I could file a complaint for false advertising.

 No worries... I have been fighting this for the last 10+ years first there was the "virtual tour" that had the panos or other spins and then every one called everything that had a picture all of a sudden a "virtual tour".

Now it's the same song different decade. Everything is called a video tour. It's the crooks and the "don't really know any better's" riding the popularity wave. 

I just reinforce "FULL-MOTION" video!

 I educate my customers to sell AGAINST their competitors on a listing appt.... I created a sample video of a "zooming photo tour", a "twirly tour", a stitched tour... and a video tour.  I give it to my clients for their iPhones, iPads, or laptops.

They SHOW their clients what others are claiming to offer as video and then show what THEY offer as video.   I have no competition at all, so I know if someone says they're doing video... and they're not using ME... they're not doing video (except Coldwell Banker, who basically puts a camera on a tripod and spins it around in 5 rooms).

For some reason, only real estate agents have a problem telling the difference between zooming pictures and real video. Unless, of course they paid $10 at a movie theatre only to be presented with zooming pictures... they'd demand their money back!

But seriously, vendors of photo slideshows, visual tours, stitched tours, etc. are now making those tours exportable in .mp4 format for uploading to video sites.  So they are marketing their "tours" as video to agents, who in turn market it that way to their sellers.  Everybody wants to jump on the video bandwagon ya know....

It is hard to explain to some people without seeing it. That’s a perfect idea, Fred. If they see the 3 types of virtuals back to back the discussion is over before it began. My clients all use samples of their properties on their phones (well, they have the files anyway) but I never thought of doing something like that. I’ve done presentations at office meetings and when I show the difference, it usually gets the “oh’s” and “ok, I see.”  I just need to have my clients on the front line showing the man behind the curtain pretending to be the wizard.  As for the agents that are asking me directly, I guess I have no choice but to direct them to a sample video like that one before the conversation goes too far. It will be hard knowing my fate lies with their willingness to click the mouse but words just don’t do it. I should know that by now.   

 Darin, wrong analogy.  It's advertising a Cadillac and selling a bicycle.  I don't even try to explain anymore.  Since video cost more than photo and most agents don't want to spend a dime on anything.  The good thing is all the videos that I post OWN page 1 on google and youtube.

Honestly, at this stage of the game if I think they can't tell the difference, I'm just not into trying to educate people, because my experience shows that either you get it or you don't.  Period.  No gray area.  Those that get it, see the difference immediately and do it.  Those that don't... don't and won't.  You can explain and show the differences until you're blue in the face and they still don't quite get it.  It's just not worth the effort.  

That's why I don't spend one minute of my time marketing to Realtors in any way, shape or form.  I stopped doing that years ago.  Those who get it call me.  Those who don't.... don't.... and probably never will.  I'm not going to waste my time trying to "convince them".  Doesn't work!

Fortunately, LOTS are calling.  I couldn't be any busier.  Just hang in there...  You just need to work with that small 4 or 5% who do get it...