As we reported last week, Rightmove is facing huge pressure from its customers as they sign up in increasing number to the SayNoToRightmove campaign.
The number of agencies on-board is now reported to be over 900 nationwide and movement leader Rob Sargent was quoted this morning as saying that he expects this number to rise to 2500 by the end of the month.
Agencies large and small are flocking to lend their names to the initiative which according to the campaign website seeks to have the portal giant “set a tariff free period for their members during this Covid19 crisis, allowing agents to focus on adjusting their cashflow and methods of operation which in turn, ironically, services the long term prospects and interests of Rightmove itself.”
Sargent is on record as saying that the aim is not to “take down” Rightmove and that the movement is not looking to encourage agents to list with any other portal in its place. Interestingly, Sargent -who is the CEO of agency franchise The Acorn Group- says that SayNoToRightmove is focusing on gathering as much support as possible before revealing their end-game.
As businesses around the world continue to have their bottom line threatened by the coronavirus crisis, is it just a matter of time before we see similar grass-roots, agent-led initiatives such as this in other markets?