You had better believe that if I had paid $400 per page for advertising and another agent was trying to use this for free, I would certainly have a problem with it. It is the same as stealing, and I bet the publisher would agree.

This is a tough subject. I still see it as more of an issue of ethics then anything else. I doubt any action can be brought against it, but i would honestly try. If i payed $400 & he was advertising for free i would be mad. The thing is he had to do every magazine by hand when you got 1,000's of copys sent out with no more work then pulling out your credit card.

The magazine pretty much gave you the answer that they don't care by trying to get rid of you on the phone. They got there money from everyone else who advertised so they probably could care less.

So Paul,

Is it o.k. also to print up a flyer and staple it to the magazine that makes it's money off selling the ads? I think that absolutely it's illegal -- specifically theft of service as the only way that the magazine stays in business is by selling it's ad space.

Additionally, just because it's free doesn't entitle you to essentially steal it's product by placing your own advertisement in it for free. It wouldn't matter if you advertised anywhere else in the book and paid $400 for it. You got what you paid for with regards to the ad printed and placed in the book. You didn't get the right to plaster printed books with additional information for free. Just my thoughts.

The agent is not suppose to be putting flyers in the home's magazine. You need to take the matter up with your local board of Realtor.

Unfortunately your opinion has no basis in law. Once those homes guides hit the street the are free for the taking or defacing or to line your birdcage or paper train that new puppy. The only person with any standing would be the owner on whose property they are placed and possibly the publisher as most of the homes guides are put out by your local association.

I did not comment on its moral or ethical rightness, only the legal position. The Board could possibly sanction the agent if he is a member of the board but it is definately not a crime.