Two real estate agents have been told to stop a campaign that involved putting advertising material in people's recycling bins.

Auckland real estate agents Matt O'Brien and Cris Casares, of Barfoot & Thompson, have been distributing flyers into Aucklanders' recycling bins suggesting neighbours' bins are overflowing with champagne due to their successful property sales.

Some residents have not been impressed,complaining on Twitter that they should "stay out of the bins".

can’t believe I have to say this but AUCKLAND REALTORS STAY OUT OF MY BIN!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/YArwUdkC7E — Katie (@k_tieparker) October 19, 2018

Marketing and communications consultant Cas Carter said that was not necessarily a bad thing for the campaign.

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"It has clearly created some controversy but that may have been the intention to get more 'cut through ' to their audience. In this instance getting people talking, and posting, about the campaign is giving it good profile."

Some homeowners were surprised to spot marketing material in their recycling bins.

Property blogger and now real estate salesperson Alistair Helm said the response was not a surprise.

"I can imagine the thinking that went into the creation of this piece of advertising material. The venomous feedback is very enlightening and is symptomatic of the challenge that agents face everyday in a cut-throat world of fighting for their business."

But University of Auckland head of marketing Bodo Lang said it was a risky tactic when an increasing number of people were putting up "no junk mail" signs on their letterboxes.

"This particular example was then also executed in the spirit of guerrilla marketing which means putting commercial messages in unexpected places. As a result, it seems to have been met with more negative comments than what would be typical.

"This is because it can be seen as doubly invasive: it is direct marketing that was put in an usual spot that most people would regard as their private sphere and because it implies that the sender [the agents] pay close attention to other people's rubbish bins, which according to many people would be considered unusual, if not intrusive behaviour.

"Responsible marketers who care about the long-term value of their brand weigh up the pros and cons of various options to avoid negative backlash and inquiries by legislative agencies."

Peter Thompson, managing director of Barfoot & Thompson, said he had asked the pair to stop "what many regard as a clever and innovative campaign promoting their sales services".

"The majority see the posters, attached to the inner lid of recycle bins, for what they are – a tongue-in-cheek promotion. However, there is a bylaw prohibiting putting material into other people's recycle and rubbish bins and the act of attaching the posters will be viewed by some as interfering with their property. I give Christina and Matt full marks for trying, but it is a step too far. What needs to be emphasised, is that the agents did not enter people's properties. The leaflets were attached when the bins were at the kerb following recycling."

Bindi Norwell, chief executive at the Real Estate Institute, said real estate agents are always looking for new and innovative ways to build their personal brand and stand out from the competition in a local area.

"Clearly this is just a case of where an attempt at being innovative and doing something different hasn't quite hit the mark.

"Following a conversation with the agency involved we can confirm that the agents did not enter anyone's property. The leaflets were attached to the bins when they were at the kerb following the bins being emptied for recycling. We also understand that the agents involved won't be continuing with the promotion."