Bandit Signs - Good or bad idea?

[Randy Smith]

Hello BP readers!

I'm just getting into real estate investing, and I've listened to about 75 of the BP podcasts, read their two most recent books (in addition to about 10 others) and started networking to build my "team."

I was recently contacted by a wholesaler in my local area via BP, and we had a great conversation about wholesaling.  With the advice I've read on here over and over again, I asked if I could help her and her business in anyway in trade for learning about the business.  She quickly offered the opportunity for me to place Bandit Signs for her business to drive some phone calls which she would coach me through her script in weeding out the leads.  

I was very excited about the opportunity, and she quickly had two very large boxes sent over via courier ($40 fee). I then began to start researching Bandit Sign best practices and tactics. Here's where the problem arose: while there definitely are advocates for bandit signs out there, and many people have had huge success with them, the large majority of my research lead to negative comments on using these signs. Specifically, I've learned that they are illegal in most areas (including Phoenix which is my area) which potentially leads to very large fines, they tend to give REI a bad name because they liter the roadways with tacky looking signs, and there seems to be a large population that goes around and pulls them up so this impacts their effectiveness.

Bottom Line: I'm not sure that I want to participate is something like this as I try to live my personal life and my business life with integrity, I don't want to incur any fines, I don't want to participate in giving REI a bad name in my community, and I don't want to waste my time on marketing efforts or educational efforts on something that won't lead to results. On the other hand, I feel bad that I've wasted this wholesaler's time as well as money (sending over the signs).

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  I'd like to get back to the wholesaler as soon as possible so not to waste any more of her time if that is the direction I go.

Best,

Randy Smith