The latest move by one of the big two portals to retain loyalty in the face of the new Agents' Mutual site takes an unlikely form - cut-price coffees, laptops and groceries.
Zoopla is launching a members' reward scheme giving perks to staff of its so-called member' agents and house builders. The scheme offers discounts and savings on brands including Morrisons, Asda, Dell, HP, Starbucks, Halfords, Sainsburys, Costa, CineWorld, Alton Towers and Fitness First.
The scheme is available as a free benefit to all employees of all Zoopla Property Group agent and developer members and is the equivalent of at least £99 per person per year, the portal claims.
Typically these schemes are offered by large employers but our sector is made up of a large number of small businesses who often aren't able to offer these types of benefits to staff says Alex Chesterman, ZPG chief executive.
He claims the scheme has 2,000 members already.
Comments
Every industry has to adapt to changes, it gets me why so many agents are against a little competition. I for one welcome it! Provide a good service for a reasonable price, and it shouldn't be an issue. Most clients want the personal agent face to face, or at least the option of it, not to deal with someone over the internet or phone only. These sort of agents either won't last long, or won't be the type most go to.
Panicked move, pull the other one. It's one small additional nice perk, part of being a member. How does that turn into panick! Are they not allowed to provide nice things to members.
We left Zoopla about 5 months ago but stayed with RM. Would not notice we have left Zoopla other than having better things to spend the money on! I am sure in our area (Gloucestershire) Zoopla will be the casualty when Agents Mutual get going.
Zoopla getting worried
Seems a bit of a desperate, panicked move. I've long been sceptical about Agents' Mutual and it's actual threat to the big two, but I definitely think Zoopla will be in more trouble than Rightmove when it comes to agents choosing which portal to stay with. These perks seem to be their very unsubtle way of currying favour before AM launches.
We are leaving zoopla/RM for that exact reason. The zoopla rep isn't even capable of making a half decent argument when confronted with this subject.... We are in Central London and Needaproperty who is much cheaper is actually getting us all the applicants we need for both sales and rentals. Never again will I consider paying crazy fees from Z & RM. Not a plug for NAP, we genuinely find that we are selling and renting without Z & RM. We found we end up giving good service to those who enquire as you don't get as many people enquiring.
Yes a few hundred agents up here in Glasgow are leaving zoopla as zoopla isnt loyal as it allows private sellers and private landlords in that were not prepared to prop up any more.
100's of us Glasgow agents have served notice to remove listings from zoopla come January 2015. Goodbye budget agent loving zoopla.
Appears Zoopla want their cake and to eat it. They allow marketeers such as Openrent in where private landlords can advertise rentals and avoid agent costs from 29 and first advert for free. Also allow in Purple Bricks and other budgets.
Crazy for agents to stay there.