_Commercial Grade is a weekly post by John Cicero, MAI who provides commentary on issues affecting real estate appraisers, with specific focus on commercial valuation. Today John talks stuff, and how he is not a vendor._

_Disclosure: John is a partner of mine in our commercial real estate valuation concern [Miller Cicero, LLC](http://www.millercicero.com) and he is, on Thursdays, one of the smartest guys I know._ …Jonathan Miller

When I think of a [vendor](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vendor), I think of a booth at a flea market or a hot dog cartsomeone that sells _stuff_. Twice this past week I was referred to as a _vendor_ by a clientone explained to me that the assignment that I bid on went to another vendor at a lower fee (no, I am not going there again!). This didn’t sit right with meanother _vendor_? But I don’t sell stuff!

I like to think that I sell my _intellectuality_ when I am hired for an assignment, which really makes me a _consultant_. (In fact, I do have a client that refers to the appraisers he retains as _external consultants_).

This may just be a matter of semantics, but this is an important distinction which goes to the heart of how our profession is perceivedare we _vendors_ selling a commodity, or _consultants_ that provide a service? I know many commercial appraisal firms that call themselves _Appraisers and Consultants_ or _Real Estate Advisors_, but none that advertise themselves as _Vendors._