Dear MRIS – Has It Really Come to This?

Dear MRIS, I’m writing this letter in regards to your new “SafeMLS Token”.  You know, the oval shaped piece of plastic with the LCD that looks like it came straight out of a 1980s digital wrist watch – the one with the button I push that gives me a new passcode that’s required every time I need to log into my MRIS account.  The “Token” that I therefore have to have with me at all times in order to do my job.  Yeah, just wanted to thank you for making my job that much more complicated.  Further, I appreciate your short-sightedness and continual bureaucratic ideologies -- punishing those who follow the rules with another layer of red tape. 

I’m not sure how other Realtors across the country log into their MLS systems for property searches, tax records, price reductions, property history...but remember the good old days when all you needed was a passcode and a computer?  Oh those were times, MRIS.  But I knew our time together was too good to be true.  You’ve changed.  Because you detected a few cheaters who “borrowed” passcodes in order to avoid your fees or who gave out passcodes to clients, you decided it made sense to set up a system that punishes all of us.  MRIS, you can’t stop trusting just because you’ve gotten cheated on in the past.

I get it MRIS, you don’t want to be cheated on any more -- but I was expecting more from you.  Why couldn’t you just track down those cheaters and punished them appropriately?  Could you not have developed a system that tracked IP addresses -- so if the same account is was linked to 16 different IP addresses in one day, it’d be pretty safe to assume there could be some “cheating” going on?  Combine this technology with a hefty fine or suspension for the “cheaters” and I think you would’ve had a long-term solution and we could’ve salvaged our relationship.

I know you’re the biggest, baddest MLS provider in the country; so  I understand you may have little time for thinking of the daily needs of your individual members in this mobile, “fast information” industry (just to be clear, we don’t use index cards anymore).  Let me give you some scenarios. 

Say I get a sign call, or a call from a website consumer asking for the listing history of a particular property.  I’m sitting right in front of my computer at the office with high speed internet connection -- but I forgot where I left my keys.  So now I’m running around the office, looking through my briefcase, stalling as long as I can.  And when I finally give up, I apologize (blaming it on a computer glitch – because how can I possibly explain this ridiculous system) and ask to call them back.  For today’s consumer, that may be just enough time for them to go find that information elsewhere (and I would do the same thing if I were in their shoes).  Beyond possible relationship losses, it’s just bad form.

And, MRIS, there’s also the issue of wireless communication...many of us have small laptops, Blackberrys, iPhones, and other devices so we can provide “fast information” on the run (sometimes literally!).  And this wireless technology is growing with or without you. I’d like for us to participate together in this movement but how can we succeed with your treasured “Token”.  Short of getting rid of this nuisance, you should at least offer some sort of implantation program, so we can be assured of always having access to you.  I’ve seen some of the agents in my office with the “Token” on a string around their neck but I just look silly in the shower with mine on.

Many thanks for keeping us in line, while making sure that we take two steps back for every one step forward.

Warm regards,

Kevin, from The Koitz Group

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