QUOTE (cryzanowski @ Apr 10 2008, 06:14 PM) The question has not been answered.
All of you REIN members pay what, $200/month to be a member. Your are asked to sign up for a minimum term as a sign of your commitment. You likely pay extra for whatever training programs and seminars you sign up for. So, who are the fees paid to? Whoever it is, are they getting significant success from real estate or from monthly fees and seminars? Which is providing the greater cash flow? Think about it. Whatever the number of members there currently are, multiplied by the monthly fee paid, is a nice chunk of change.
It is more than reasonable for someone to be skeptical before signing up for something like this. Especially without any independent verification, none of which anyone has supplied. If you buy a car and you are making payments you pretty well know what you are getting into.
I could be wrong here, but I seem to remember Don`s saying, a few years ago, something along the lines of his having around 240, or 270 doors. (Maybe 274?) That`s more than enough for me to listen to him. However, to further add to his credibility, every year he both makes predictions for the coming year AND goes back to his previous ones and discusses both his successes and his failures. Most analysts I know of don`t go back and discuss how they were wrong. On top of that, as somebody already mentioned in his thread, you have to look at the success that other people have had using his systems. Over 1.3 billion (not million, but billion) dollars` worth of RE has been bought using his methods. That establishes a track record as well.
And you`re mistaken on another aspect, too. As members, we generally don`t pay extra for different seminars and programs. As an Ontario member, I can go to a meeting or a Quickstart in BC, if I want to, for free. Along with that, the author`s royalties from his books go to charity - Habitat for Humanity.
So yes, it is totally justified to ask for verification before signing up. However, I don`t know what further evidence you could want. Does he get a whack-load of cash from REIN members? Probably, yeah. Do all the members feel like they`re getting value for the money spent? Yep! I have absolutely no problems with both parties winning in a transaction, and I definitely feel like I`m "winning".
Have a good one!
JohnS