Let me tell you a story.
Once upon a time, in land far, far away, the RE market was a paradise. Houses were selling like mad. Developers were building anydogboxes and they would be out the door before the ink dried on the plans. 18 year old kids flat out getting jobs flipping burgers were doing 2 week RE courses and buying new cars 6 months later. RE companies were making fortunes from commissions. RE agents packed like sardines into fancy cafes, lolling in fountains of chardonnay in 2 hour lunches.
Then, disaster struck. An ogre called GFC emerged from his cave and descended on the land. Properties weren't selling. RE companies rubbed chilli peppers on toilet paper, in vain hopes of making their agents run around extra fast to get listings.
Then a clever RE company had an epiphany. Why sell properties for a commission? Instead, recruit new agents, bright eyed, bushy tailed, full of jumping beans, to run around getting as many listings as possible, and make money off the advertising? Pay them a meager retainer, fill their heads with promises and false hope, and bleed them.
Sorry but I don't know how the story ends.
In all seriousness, that scenario was described to me by one of my agents. And if he's saying that to me as the developer, imagine what is said behind closed doors.