Comments on: Alphabet Soup

By: Jim Klinge

Jim Klinge — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 07:04:26 +0000

Jim Klinge, SHK

By: Kris Berg

Kris Berg — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 18:25:43 +0000

Brian – That is just what Steve always says! (Not.) I hope so, too.

By: Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 17:39:04 +0000

You are an absolute delight, Kris. I always enjoy reading your posts! Hope to meet you at the Bloggers Connect!

By: Kris Berg

Kris Berg — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 14:27:45 +0000

True, Vicki. Seems goofy to me, but maybe that’s because I am not on the billing end. I am all for learning (for the sake of learning, not necessary to buy a vowel), but it is a little like your alma mater billing you in perpetuity for your degree.

By: Vicki Moore

Vicki Moore — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 11:33:14 +0000

It’s so interesting – I was thinking about this topic last week. What irks me is that so many of these designations require yearly “membership” fees but offer nothing for the money.

Vicki Moore, BS

By: Phil Hoover

Phil Hoover — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 02:11:49 +0000

Kris ~
Your post has actually stimulated me to consider not renewing my CRS, ABR, and e-Pro designations.
The public doesn’t understand them, doesn’t care about them, and that makes me question why I am going to send in my annual dues.
Who really cares about this stuff anyway?
All of them are obtainable with a day or two’s time and a few hundred dollars.
The courses are all fluff with brain-dead exams that anyone with a pulse can pass (or they allow you to take the exams as many times as you need in order to pass).
I just may do it this year!
All of these silly alphabet soup designations do little more than generate additional revenue for the issuing branches of NAR.
I think I will retain my BS credential, however (Blogging Specialist)

By: Jay Thompson

Jay Thompson — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 01:20:59 +0000

Great post! But young lady, had you had NARWisdom.com in your feed reader, you would have been aware on Nov 10 that Designation Month was upon us.

Jay Thompson, CRAP

(Certifications for Realtors Are Pointless)

By: Ines

Ines — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 23:53:56 +0000

I’m all for continuing education but give me a break – I started thinking that all the designations were making up for the lack of education and training required from real estate agents.

Loved the CRS one – it’s exactly when I think of when I hear it. And your SCUBA one was hilarious!

By: Kris Berg

Kris Berg — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 22:54:28 +0000

Jeff – I see you slipped a little light reading in before the Chargers game.

Phil – As we are now approaching the end of a very painful first half, thank you for the levity. I know you know my remarks were not intended to diminish the effort you and others put into the courses nor the benefits reaped. As Jeff said, I was just questioning whether the consumer cares or even understands, much less perceives that there is a benefit to them.

Now, if the Titans forget to return to the field in the second half, we might be able to win this thing!

By: Jeff Brown

Jeff Brown — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 20:06:07 +0000

I knew Phil would show up for this one.

My personal favs are the appraiser designation, MAI, and the commercial real estate moniker, CCIM. Those two tribes are often at odds.

The investment broker says MAI actually stands for — Made As Instructed.

Appraisers counter, saying CCIM means — Can’t Close, I Miscalculated.

Seriously, the public either totally discounts the myriad letters they find on cards, or give far too much credit for designations your babysitter could acquire with some cash and a day or two.

As usual your conclusion hits the mark. Show you have the skills and have been producing what so called ‘consumers’ hunger for most — RESULTS.