The consensus of complaint seems to be centered around our method of doing business and how we represent ourselves.
Others have discussed methods of doing business and commissions, so I'll only talk about 'how we represent ourselves'.
The first, and most important, way a business represents themselves to the public is through their name. Companies understand this - so they spend a lot of effort in naming and branding.
The distinguishing thing about 'The Investors Club', compared to almost any other real estate business is that, as others have alluded to, it's name is built on wordplay at best, and deceit at worst.
If it's name is built on a con to suck people in one can legitimately ask what other aspects of its operations might not be to the benefit of those so sucked.
A club can be defined as "A group of people organized for a common purpose, especially a group that meets regularly"
http://www.blackstump.com.au/dictionary.htm
However this is an extremely broad definition. A workplace, school or church, for instance also comprises people brought together for a common purpose, but no one calls these 'clubs'.
The term club has many connotations that make it different from a workplace or business.
* Members pursue a particular common interest, sport or recreation in spare time
* Non-profit
* A high dependence on volunteer labour (though larger clubs do have paid staff as well)
* There may be social activities to promote fraternity between members, without other ulterior motives
* If a formal organisation it will often be an incorporated association where members have voting rights to elect office bearers (though some 'clubs' can actually be companies limited by guarantee, but they are generally still non-profit)
The term 'club' can also imply a informality, conviviality, mateship or sociability that is not expected nor present in employment relationships. Hence we're all less guarded when at a club with friends than in weighing up a business or investment proposition. There may be bonds through common interest that are not economically-based, unlike an employment or provider/customer relationship where payment is typically received in return for products or work.
Then there's the term 'investment club'. About 10 years ago Tim Hewatt wrote a book called 'The Investment Club'. This dealt with informal groups who got together to share hints and tips on investing (notably shares). By all reasonable definitions these groups were indeed clubs, with the lines blurring if money was pooled. The book was popular and the topic got a lot of media attention.
Hence we have two terms that carry significant meaning. 'club' for its voluntary, non-commercial and convivial nature, and 'investment club' as similar to the first, but with a common interest in investing.
Everyone knows what a club is. Everyone knows what a business is. There are many legitimate examples of both. But a 'club' TIC ain't. Continuing to pass a marketing business off as a club borders on deception (especially since it encourages a suspension of critical faculty) and leads thoughtful people to query what other corners might be cut.