[quote=Perky_REALTOR]
I think it's just another gimmick derived to suck more money from REALTORS, and yeah, I doubt that many customers know exactly what all that alphabet soup after people's names mean./quote]

I agree with that, if I'm gonna display a designation I always spell it out so the consumer at least has a chance of knowing what it means.

I have an ABR, and have been practicing Exclusive Buyer's Agency for more than 13 years. I do have to say that it has come in helpful over the years to teach me a few concepts and its one of the few classes I paid attention in for the whole thing.

I took it my first year in RE and it was very helpful, learned a lot but like someone said before besure you take cousre that can be used for other designations.

I earned mine about 6 or 7 years ago and found the course useful. I did not renew this year, however. Trimming the budget was at the top of my list and ABR has done nothing for me since I earned the designation. Being a broker is more important to me for marketing myself now. No buyers know what ABR is anyway. I used to enjoy the magazine, but the last issue had an article on keeping my desk clean.
Give me a break...give me something I can use.