yes, you can get rebates, especially when the entire firm is using them, but it was still cheaper to use your name inm the both passivley and actively.. Besides, Many ECN's didnt have to accept a Fims preference and would just sit there ignoring the preference which was bullshit... The bottom line, in order to get the fills our customers needed, we needed to use the best medium possible, ECNS.. you theory is true about advertising, but sometimes, firms that want to trade a few hundred thousand or a million want you on the bid for 10K attracting someone who has a big block to sell... Yes, it might move the market alittel, but in order to get off 500K shares it is worth it..