PropertyIndex leaves agents in dark about classified eBay listings
PropertyIndex.com, the pay-per-lead portal, has struck an agreement to market agents’ properties as classified adverts on eBay.
But an investigation by The Negotiator exclusively reveals that a number of agents listed on the auction website giant claim neither to have subscribed to PropertyIndex.com, nor to have any knowledge about appearing on either site.
One Gloucestershire-based agent expressed his annoyance about his loss of control of where his properties are being marketed. He claims that PropertyIndex.com attempted to sign up his agency a month ago, but it declined to do so. Nevertheless, properties from the agency’s four branches were being advertised by PropertyIndex.com on eBay at the time of writing on Wednesday.
Another agent in New Malden, Surrey, says: “I’ve never heard of PropertyIndex. They must have taken the details from another website we advertise on.”
Ed Williams, managing director at Rightmove, says: “It seems that PropertyIndex is using agents’ listings as a Trojan horse by which eBay could effectively cut out agents from the sales process all together.”
He adds: “We do not believe that PropertyIndex makes it clear to agents as to how they will use their properties.
Alice Gould, a partner at London-based law firm Wedlake Bell, says that PropertyIndex.com’s use of agents’ logos – essentially their trademark – alongside property details and photography without their knowledge could potentially constitute trade mark infringement.
But Greene & Co in North West London, which subscribes to PropertyIndex.com but had no knowledge about its presence on eBay, expressed delight about the deal between the two sites.
Jacqui Daley, marketing manager at Greene & Co, says: “If PropertyIndex can generate new leads for us from eBay, that’s great news. All this commotion about whether property-focused advertising sites should be allowed to list alongside private sellers is overrated.
"If you are a professional agency providing a quality service, then you will remain in business, earn more money for your clients and will graciously accept leads from these companies.”
PropertyIndex.com and eBay declined to comment.