Daily Archives: October 15, 2006

Zune, Microsoft and The Competition, Long Beach

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Microsoft has accustomed us to low, unethical moves in order to win market shares.  Stories abound from bullying little companies, to buying out, to outright stealing ideas and rebranding them.  This time with Zune, they outdid their previous sketchy business model and practice.

Let’s go back in time to a few years ago.  Microsoft realizes it does not have the market on good public image.  Shocking!  So the deep pocket PR Microsoft machine goes to work.  Much like when right after Microsoft was being sued left and right, even by the government in the lates 90s, all the sudden Bill Gates finds himself a philantrophist and starts a foundation.  A good thing based on dubious motivations.  A few years ago, Microsoft facing more and more technological oblivion touts many new, "revolutionary" functions and features, amongst which Play For Sure which allows a device to play any music and respect DRM.  After dragging the competition in its court, not without resistance and skepticism, Apple still nose-thumbing Microsoft with the iPod success, Microsoft finally rallies the last big players, including Creative Media and its awsome Zen player.  Guess what Microsoft just announced after winning its new Play For Sure allies, most of which hardware manufacturers?  Zune!  Their very own, carbon-copy-a-la-Microsoft iPod.  But it gets even better, they also announce it will not support Play For Sure but the new, behemoth, unyieldy and buggy Windows Media Player!

So not only, they rally the competition in, turn around and come out with their own hardware, then add it will not support the previous Play For Sure they hailed but their own inhouse software.  Not a bad way to conquer competition, even non-existent competition. 

More and more the fine line between free market and capitalism has been crossed into just low, unethical acts.  Many people justify this as Capitalism but I suspect they are more in love with power than being fair and honest.  And what is wrong with being fair and honest?  Many well to do folks held their integrity and managed very well.  On the contrary, most unethical well to do people often land in jail or in the limelight.  Fortunately, we are seeing more government probings of scandals, not just your little Mom and Pop shops but the big guys.  I guess Enron and MCI started something good in the end.

As far as Microsoft, I stay firm.  Their business model is ill-adapted to market conditions.  It is based on securing market share and buying out competition.  After almost three years of working with OSx, I am light years away from the daily annoyances, security vulnerabilities, quirkiness of Windows.  I am always reminded when I am helping out my wife or friends.  I always ask them why they are putting with that extremely quality software that costs too much?  What I would really like to see from Redmond is some innovation, in-house innovations.

What Do Buyers Want From an Agent, Long Beach

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A NAR 2005 survey turned up some interesting points.  77% bought from an agent.  12% directly from a builder, 9% from a seller.   Most buyers search first on their own, 2 weeks before using an agent, 6 months with an agent.  First time buyers 3 weeks on their own before contacting an agent.  Most buyers interviewed more than one agent, with 66% of repeat buyers interviewing one or more agent and first time buyers interviewed one to three.  Most found their agents by friend referral or neighbor or relative.  Shows how important it is to establish a client base, sphere of influence and keeping in touch with clients and potential clients.  Next category were buyers who had used an agent before and finally, tied in third were open houses, contact from a re sign, and walking into the office.  However far less likely to bring in new buyers.

Most important quality in an agent were: expecting knowledge about the purchasing process, responsiveness, followed by re market knowledge, communication and negotiating skills, people skills and local area knowledge.  Least important as I pointed out in may posts: Technology!  Wanting help in finding the right home was primordial, only 10% wanted negotiating help, paperwork, comparable.  Less help with finance.  58% signed an Agent Representation Disclosure either first time they met or by the time of contract.  22% never signed,  20% weren’t aware of it.

Generally buyers were satisfied with skills and expertise of agent.  Agent’s knowledge of purchasing process was important.   as well as knowledge or re market.  Least satisfied were agent negotiating skills.  Greatest benefits from agents was understanding the process at 59%, 48% agents pointed out features or defects, 39% said agents shortened their search.  36% negotiating better terms, improved knowledge of searched areas and negotiating better price at 29%.  66% would use their agents again and recommend.  An additional 19% would use the same agents.

Expand client base and ask for referrals.  Open houses and presence on the Internet.  Most important is reputation and experience.  Reading all this, I feel very confident with who I am and the values I uphold not only in my personal life but also business.

Data gathered by Cardinal Pacific Escrow