Over the past month YTB has had quite the run on their stock. It went from well under a dollar to over $4 and settled in around $3.60 for a recent close. All of this is in anticipation of, and response to their annual report which was released on March 31, 2008.
First off, congratulations to YTB for pulling out of a stock slump. Secondly, congrats for selling more travel this year than last.
I have skimmed the 123 page document, and while comments and other blogs are all cheering the reported $414M in sales and the recent stock trading levels, I want to point out some parts of the document that are being overlooked by the YTB zealots and should be a concern to anyone considering investing in this company or considering joining as a Rep or RTA.
- Regarding the recent run up of the stocks. I have said I am not an expert in the market by any means, but according to page 9 of the annual report, there are only 366 shareholders of record. With director bonuses all being paid out in stock, it appears that the vast majority is held by executives and directors--the report does not say, but I would venture a guess at 75%. With that type of influence, and that much riding on the success, any manipulation would be easily attained.
- Another interesting tidbit is that YTB is losing a ton of RTAs each year. At the end of 2006 YTB had 59,736 RTAs operating sites. During 2007, they recruited 139,239 more. Yet at the end of the year, they only had 131,065. Do the math...59,736 + 139,239 = 198,975 (potential RTAs). 198,975 - 161,065 = 67,910 RTAs that dropped out of the program. That is a huge number and really disproves the rhetoric espoused at other blogs.
- YTB claims to be a travel company, yet once again, recruiting accounts for the vast majority of their income. 73.4% of the income comes from recruiting. 14.5% comes from travel sales. Even more concerting is that almost 10% comes from selling marketing materials to RTAs. And even more interesting is that while most traditional travel agencies saw an increase in their income in 2007, YTB's numbers were flat in terms of a percentage of income. However, their percentage of sales for recruiting rose 1%. Certainly with the addition of all the RTAs, the base commission and overrides should have increased. So where is the focus here? I think we all know the answer.
- And to just put this in perspective to the non-YTBers, the total commission paid to RTAs was only $13.4 million--or an average of about $100 a year for each RTA. The total commission paid for recruiting was $80.5 million--or an average of $265 a year for each Rep. Participate in both programs and you too could earn $1 a day!
- But let's take a look at the travel sales and commissions. YTB earned $20.4 million in travel commissions. Everyone has agreed that 10% (across the board) is a good number for commission percentage. With this number in commissions, their sales would have to be $200,400,000. Now I know all about the not paid till traveled argument, but I think it is safe to assume that all travel booked in 2006 has now been traveled...and this number does not even match last year's sales figures. The true sales figures from YTB are likely to never be disclosed. And I suggest that anyone should treat any of these claims with skepticism.
- The management practices also have a lot to be desired. Some quotes from the filing:
- We did not maintain sufficient competent personnel to maintain an appropriate accounting and financial reporting organizational structure. Specifically, we did not maintain personnel with an appropriate level of accounting knowledge,experience and training in the selection, application and implementation of generally accepted accounting principles commensurate with our financial reporting requirements.
- We did not maintain proper internal controls over expenditures and accounting for certain liabilities which resulted in unrecorded liabilities and expenses.
- Our Board of Directors failed to maintain documentation of actions that it had approved. Formal Board of Director meeting minutes were not maintained during this reporting period. As a result, certain share-based transactions were not recorded or were recorded incorrectly in our financial statements.
I can rebut several comments in your statement that were NOT pulled from the report, but your opinion BASED on stuff from the report. The one I will mention right now as time is tight....is this.....INCOME AND REVENUE ARE NOT THE SAME THING. Revenue from site sales makes up 73 percent of the revenue but remember that YTB paid out 80 million in marketing expenses as well to the REPS.
ReplyDeleteSo, please make the correction.
Also, while I have a moment, the 366 number is from DEC 31.
I can say with 100% certainty that in the last 2 months, I personally know 15 people who now own stock that didn't in December. Also, me personally, I sold my stock and took a loss in December for tax reporting. So, I wasn't one of the 366. Now, I own stock again.
With respect to the folks that drop out....it is a huge numer that drop out..however a larger number join each year.
With respect to silly average per person stuff you people do, it is silly. As you are looking at this with the expectation that EVERYONE is expecting to have this as their main source of income. I have people on my team that are content with doing a few bookings each year for themselves and netting more than the 50 bucks a month out it costs them. I have one guy who in 2007 made a profit of 62 dollars! He didn't do any work to generate that so he looks at it as a free 62 bucks for doing what he was already doing, booking travel online. He is a busy guy and doesn't want to work.
It is a fair assumption that most travel booked in 2006 will have been paid out, however, some of that would have also been paid in 2006.
As far as the quotes from management, I can't speak to them personally, except for this, go read any annual report from any company and this type of stuff is in there to please the requirements for disclosing everything for the SEC requirements.
And just to be fair, the Olympics thing bothers me. But, I do realize that all companies end up with would can be construed as errors in business judgement after the fact. Truth is, I didn't sell any personally. However, also after the fact, regardless of the Shanghai Spring situation, I would be worried if I was any kind of travel agent and have pending Olympics sales with all that is brewing over there. But, that is for another discussion.
John, most important, Make a point to correct the distinction between income and revenue and be responsbile.
No correction is needed at all. The numbers are fact until they are changed by YTB in a restatement.
ReplyDeleteLook at it another way, of their total operating EXPENSES, 58.3% went to supporting recruiting. 9.7% went to supporting travel sales.
Look at their profit levels as well--they are showing yields of 23% on the recruitment end, 35% on the travel end, and a whopping 56% on selling brochures and CDs to the RTAs
You need to correct your post to show that you are talking about REVENUE when you mentioned INCOME. That is an ERROR on YOUR part.
ReplyDeleteOkay Anon, would you please tell me what you would state your understanding about the INCOME vs the REVENUE figures. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteRevenue IS income you idiot. Profit is NET income.
ReplyDeleteSign up for the Business 101 at the YTB University.
The only thing that needs to be corrected is that this is from the SEC Form 10-K, not the annual report, which is something distributed to shareholders.
ReplyDeleteIncome is money that comes in. Expenses are money that goes out.
Profit is Income less Expenses.
Anon...you need to learn some basic business terms! Did you go to Proud's seminar to learn that stuff?
ReplyDeleteAnd you wonder why 99.9% of the YTBers remain anonymous? Just look at the above. Clueless.
ReplyDelete" We did not maintain sufficent competent personnel to maintain an appropriate accounting and financial reporting organizational structure."
ReplyDeleteWhat??? Are you freaking kidding me?? Ya I want to hook up with them. Jeeze. All that money they spent on a plane and they don't have the good sense to get quickbooks or hire a real accounting firm? Pretty freaking IRRESPONSIBLE don't you think? What they hell kind of a way to run a business is that? And you trust these people? The only part of the disclaimer they left out is " we have our heads stuck totally up our ass and don't want to tell you how we're really doing financially"
Blah, blah, blah -
ReplyDeleteGreat companies admit mistakes and do something about it. As an example, YTB invested over $1 million in new accounting software that was put into place late winter.
Overall, YTB has done a remarkable job of managing hyper-growth. To more than double the number of RTAs in one year was a challenge to keep up with. To grow from 140 full-time employees in Jan 07 to over 350 today is another huge challenge for any company. And YTB has 3 profitable quarters in the midst of it all. You insinuate things are in disarray, but sounds like we have our act together enough to attract a company like HTS.
Complain and fuss all you want about all things YTB. We are here to stay. I will be glad to compare notes with any of you a couple years from now. We will be bigger and better than ever.
And the TTA throng will still be be whining and complaining about all-things YTB.
YTB and TRAVEL: A GREAT MIX!
Check out the last couple of comments on this blog.
ReplyDeletehttp://timothysykes.com/2008/04/07/this-is-how-a-fraud-trades/
Is that you Doug? I thought so! Just ignore the numbers and spin it your own way...That's the YTB Way, and my oh my you are good at it!
ReplyDeleteYTB and Recruiting: A Great Mix!
YTB and TRavel: a Scary FIX!
ps I don't think HTS is attracted to YTB, I think it's the other way around, but that's spin for you.
I found this rather interesting comment from Doug's Blog. Take a wild guess. Who does this remind you of that posts here regularly?
ReplyDelete“Anyone who has to lash out with detectable anger is afraid of something. Intelligent investors offer countering opinions with relevant points. To that, I will listen and give my attention. However, someone with limited English vocabulary who can't give solid reasons why he or she disapproves of something to save his or her life-- is rarely charismatic, convincing, or successful."
OleScorekeeper
I'd have to read the blog for more info, but I just can't. It's too, too 'oh I am wonderful, blessed and please join my downline so I can take the kiddies to Disneyland and help coach pay for his jet" for me to stomach. Did you write that Ole?
ReplyDeleteI'm on hold with AA reaccomodating because they decided to cancel a bunch of flights. any YTBers with pax on AA today?
Eddie said..."Is that you Doug? I thought so!"
ReplyDeleteEddie, you remind me of dear Martha. She too has an uncanny ability to detect who hides behind the anon curtain. Of course Eddie, you could be old Martha. One never knows for sure. ;>)
OleScorekeeper
Me ? No no Ole. I'm Eddie, remember?
ReplyDeleteSo I asked Anon his take on the 10K as explained by John and he went bye bye. You care to explain the YTB stance on the figures?
Eddie said..."I'd have to read the blog for more info, but I just can't."
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling you will. You and "the rest" can't wait to see what's up with Doug's blog. That's why JF took it off his "Links I Love" list. lol!
Olescorekeeper
Just Picture It Now
eddie said -
ReplyDelete"ps I don't think HTS is attracted to YTB, I think it's the other way around, but that's spin for you."
I've got very good information that is is exactly the opposite, eddie boy.
My customers booked AA through my website. And AA is handling them just like they do with Expedia customers. It might sound like a novel idea to you, but here's a clue: Millions of people are doing it with online companies. Being glued to my office and the phone like you are does not sound like much fun to me! A majority of my customers also pump their own gas at self service stations rather than having someone pump it for them and pay for full service.
YTB and TRAVEL: A Great Mix!
I copied this off the YTB press release:
ReplyDeleteValue of travel services booked on YTB's RTAs websites increased 84% in 2007 to $414.5 million.
Where is the 414.5 million figure coming from? I can't find this number supported anywhere but on the press release. I must be missing something? And why only 20 mil in commissions if this is the case?
ytbnomoreandwearegladyouaregone -
ReplyDeleteI thought you TTAs were among the best and brightest! Let's try this:
414.5 million in travel SALES.
20 million in commissions PAID.
Travel Agent 101: Travel commissions are not paid when the travel is sold . . . Duh!
In ytbnomore's World, all of those sales were made for IMMEDIATE travel and the vendors quickly paid the commissions so YTB could report it as income for 2007. I think not.
YTB sells a lot of leisure travel and a significant percentage of that travel will take place in 2008.
Here's a hint: Much of it was SOLD in 2007.
Feel better?
YTB and TRAVEL: A Great Mix! (all 414.5 millions dollars of it)
I don't believe you had 414 million in travel sales in 2007. I don't trust press releases so show me where on the 10k does it state that.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry your commissions are not paid out to you in a timely manner. Talk to HQ about that, not me.
how much was sold in 2007? I can tell you to the penny how much i sold, and how much has been paid and will be paid. Why can't YTB supply those numbers? The accounting problem again?
"I thought you TTAs were among the best and brightest!"
ReplyDeleteIf you sat on your butt all day long order-taking and order-fixing, you probably would suffer from acute brain fog*.
*Brain fog involves persistent or episodic cognitive dysfunction, and may be associated with forgetfulness, confusion, slowed thinking, distractibility, depersonalization, the inability to remember the correct words when speaking or writing (dysphasia or aphasia).
OleScorekeeper -
"If those that oppose YTB are so sure it will crumble, then let it go and let the chips fall were they may."
"YTB claims to be a travel company, yet once again, recruiting accounts for the vast majority of their income. 73.4% of the income comes from recruiting. 14.5% comes from travel sales."
ReplyDeletewhy is ytb ashamed that they are better at recruiting then selling travel? They are an mlm, and all mlms are based on recruiting, right? I realize that if they did away with the recruiting, and only sold travel, most in the program would make little to nothing, and I'm sure they know that too. why not admit it? People should be proud of what they are good at, but it seems to me YTB people want you and the world to say they are better at selling travel than websites.
If your sitting on your ass all day doing nothing while your clients are sitting on hold with AA for hours trying to get re-accomodated, you are a disgrace to the industry. You got paid for the transaction, get off your ass and help the passenger. Expedia, Orbitz etc have CUSTOMER SERVICE PEOPLE rebooking clients...what are you doing?
ReplyDeleteOle I honestly don't give a crap that you consider us order-takers..I know it amuses you to spout it..but I would rather be an order taker then be a leach making money off other peoples "misfortunes". And stop regurgitating Doug's blog..I swear if you get your lips any closer your going to have a nasty shade of brown lipstick. Why should John leave Doug's blog link on here..does Douggie have Johns? No, because he doesn't want opposing views..only his own, or those he sees fit. If you love his blog so much...stay there. We'll all live here without you
:)
No, no, no.... Ole sitting there having his clientele use a booking engine themselves is essentially an automated "order taker".
ReplyDeleteAny TA (traditional or otherwise - like Home Based) who spends time qualifying a client and matching them to the correct destinaton/resort/ship is no "order taker". My cleints pay for a consultation and get quite a lot for that fee.
An order take (like a booking engine) does nothing more than react to "orders" put into it. An order taker applies no intellect to a "problem" and learns nothing from it. An order taker can be replaced by anyone/thing (machine). An order taker needs nothing more than average (or even in many cases, below average) intelligence to just sit and react. An order-taker does not have the wherewithal to advocate for the client - they order taker can only react by saying, "that's how it is". An order taker (like a YTB RTA hiding behind a booking engine) can do nothing proactively. In fact, an order taker can hide, while a true "agent" or "consultant" can not.
CTA in MD
I didn't realized two little words like "order-taker", could flush out two birds of a similar feather. Relax those talon's ladies, we all know about your professionalism based on your most intelligent postings.
ReplyDeleteHey, speaking of booking engines, there is some BIG NEWS coming soon from YTB. You TTA's are just gonna love it!
Now stop posting and get back to helping all those AA pax's that had the "misfortune" of booking with an airline that's fleet of MD-80 planes recorded 23 landing gear problems in the last few months with several resulting in emergency landings. Your beef should be with AA, FAA, and not YTB.
olescorekeeper
Traveling? Why pay a travel agent $30 to $100 more in fees for that airline ticket when you can go on-line and book it yourself and help fight cancer too! Click on this link...
National Foundation for Cancer Research
The following is a serious request from a B&M agency looking for one or two "untrained" shells to work as travel agents. This is why I quit the brick and mortar and moved to the click and order. This is no joke..THEY ARE SERIOUS!!
ReplyDeleteTravel Agents Wanted!
Now on the lighter side, this is so funny and a must see. I couldn't help but think of CTA in MD when I saw this. I'm still LMAO..check it out and note what the TA says about his 52 year old sister.
ReplyDeleteThe Travel Agent
From Legacy Travel--seems they want someone interested in the industry. They start out at $8 an hour and go to $10 an hour during training and then it is a commission. Hmm, lets see. $8/hr with legacy $.049/hour with YTB. Let me think long and hard...
ReplyDeleteWe've owned Legacy Travel since 1982. As you can imagine, we are often asked, "How does a person become a travel agent?" Travel schools used to be available and although we've never thought they did a very good job, they commanded a high fee to teach some geography along with some airline reservation system commands. The problem today is twofold. The first issue is that most of the travel schools went belly up in the early to mid 90's when airline commissions dried up. The other thing is that in a travel agency that sells mostly vacation travel, the airline reservation systems are no longer the primary booking tool which means that knowing how to run an airline reservation system doesn't contribute to the needed job skills in this area.
So, the question remains, how does a person become a travel agent?
We can't speak for everyone, but at Legacy Travel, we do things differently than most travel agencies. We've always believed in hiring the right people and providing them with the skills to be the best travel agents. In fact, right now we're looking for a person or two who would like to make a career change. If you think you'd like to be a travel agent, review this information. If you're interested in pursuing this opportunity, give us a call!
Q. How much will it cost me to become a travel agent for Legacy Travel?
A. There are no fees for our training program. In fact, we'll pay you a small stipend during the duration of your training. The first six months you are with us, we will pay you $8.00 per hour. After that time, we'll increase that to $10.00 per hour. This is because we assume that by the time you'll be with us six months, you'll have the skills to make a contribution to the productivity of our office.
Q. What is the salary for a travel agent at Legacy Travel?
A. The compensation plan at Legacy Travel is also different than what you'll encounter at most travel agencies. At Legacy Travel your salary is based on a percentage of the average commission you've brought in over the last twelve months. The reason we average the commissions is that vacation travel tends to run in rather drastic cycles. In the summer time the commissions come in just about as fast as we can process them. In the winter time things are a bit slower.
Q. Can you explain the "Rolling 12" pay structure in greater detail?
A. Certainly! The average vacation we sell has a commission of approximately $170.00. Counting on approximately 20 work days in a month, let's assume that you sell 2 vacations a day. This would bring your monthly revenue to $6800.00. Your portion of this would be 33% (if this was your average over the last 12 months). This would mean that your gross monthly paycheck would be $2244.00. With our state of the art marketing program, we bring in plenty of customers. It is all up to you to turn those prospects into profit.
Q. When can I expect to move from the training pay to the "Rolling 12" compensation plan?
A. As soon as you're ready! For instance, let's say that it is 7 months into your training and you get up to speed very quickly and start selling travel and doing well. We would take the commission you've generated it and average it by however many months you've been with us. If your percentage of that amount exceeds what you would make on the hourly wage, then you'll be paid according to the "Rolling 12" average from then on. Two things to be aware of, however, On the vast majority of vacations we are paid after the passengers travel. This means that you could hit the ground running selling travel. It could still be several months till people travel and therefore several months till the money starts coming in. You get paid when we get paid. The other consideration is that once you go to "Rolling 12", there is no going back to training pay.
Q. How many hours per week will I train/work?
A. We are looking for someone for approximately 30-35 hours per week. Although you wouldn't be working weekends during your training, you need to be available and willing to work Saturdays when the time comes.
Q. What kind of person are you looking for?
A. We are looking for someone who either has an aptitude for selling, or has demonstrated prior success in a selling environment. Selling vacations is unique in that not only do you have to develop a rapport with the customer and discern what they want and need and match them up with an appropriate experience, but you also have to be detail oriented enough to make it happen. It is one thing to be able to sell a person a car...it is quite another to be able to build the car itself.
Q. I saw an ad on the Internet claiming that if I pay them $495.00, they will make me a travel agent and pay me commission. How is this different than that?
A. Night and day. We are looking for an actual employee. We are not charging you for your training, in fact, we are paying you. Those types of "opportunities" you read about are called "Card Mills" in the industry. Basically the company makes their profit on those $495.00 fees they charge you. Perhaps you'll book your vacations and perhaps a few others, but the company doesn't care, they've already made what they expect to make.
Q. Will travel be a required part of my job?
A. Required?! Will travel be required? Travel will certainly be a part of your job. It is important that you see the destinations so that you can do a better job of matching customers to their best vacation. We will send you on familiarization trips which are trips sponsored and escorted by tour operators or tourist bureaus. The days of those trips are filled with touring hotels and other attractions within a given destination. There is time allowed for leisure enjoyment as well. Additionally, there are a multitude of discount travel opportunities that you can take advantage of.
We invite you to contact us at philip@legacytravel.com to pursue this opportunity!
Well that is certainly a ridiculous starting salary even for entry level. No Agency here (Metropolitan DC) would even consider anything so insulting.
ReplyDeleteA starting salary in this area (perhaps Travel School Grad) based on a 2080 hour year is around $16 an hour - anyone with more than five years should expect no less than $19-$20 an hour before any bonus/commission, plus health insurance, paid vacation/sick, disability, and more and more often dental and 401K.
NY - around the City - they're starting at $28 - $30 an hour. Of course when you average the entire country, the numbers drop considerably.
Sorry you're so embarrassed to be "outed" as the actual "order taker" Ole. If I wanted to be a mindless order taker, I'd work in a Call Center or be hooked up with YTB.
CTA in MD
"The first six months you are with us, we will pay you $8.00 per hour. After that time, we'll increase that to $10.00 per hour."
ReplyDeleteWow! 8 bucks an hour and, after an indeterminate amount of time, BINGO!..10 big ones. Can't hardly wait to fill out the app!
Oh, some bad news for you TA's. The lady in the video said, "Have you worked as a travel agent in the past?" This is so funny as she then says, "I'm sorry..you won't qualify as a member of our staff." ROTFLMAO! Must be they don't want you TA's making all that starting high pay.
But then the benne's are great. A trip to Nordstroms, clown hats for everyone, and a "monthly message". I guess you'd need that sitting on your can all day long! ;>)
OleScorekeeper
Sorry, it's a "monthly massage". Don't want to offend the spelling police here.
ReplyDeleteOleScorekeeper
Monthly Messages are what Coach sells to RTAs for $29.95.
ReplyDeleteTraveling? Why pay a travel agent $30 to $100 more in fees for that airline ticket when you can go on-line and book it yourself and help fight cancer too! Click on this link...
ReplyDeleteBecause you want someone to help you when the airlines go out of business, have cancellations and have you re-accomodated instead of waiting on the phone or in line for hours because your "website" or website clicker agent is too lazy to get off his ass to help you. Hold time for AA was approx 2 hours or more today...I'm sure your clients love you.
Have a nice nite :)
CTA in MD said, "Sorry you're so embarrassed to be "outed" as the actual "order taker" Ole."
ReplyDeleteGood try CTA, but too long of a stretch for any embarrassment.
If I wanted to be a mindless order taker, I'd work in a Call Center or be hooked up with YTB."
Now CTA, you do make a good argument. Why I bet your former training at McDonalds has been somewhat beneficial for you. You know what I mean..a meaningful adaptation that might go like this. "Welcome to McTravel. My name is CTA. May I take your order?" And later...a great closure. "Would you like to supersize your travel order? I can get you into a mid-compact for just ninety-five cents more per day!" What genius!
Do you get clown hats and massages were you work? Legacy Travel does. ;>)
OleScorekeeper
I'll give you a monthly message for 19.95!
ReplyDeleteIf I wanted to be just mindless I'd work for YTB!
ReplyDeleteJohn said..."Monthly Messages are what Coach sells to RTAs for $29.95."
ReplyDeleteHere's one from Coach's Corner that you TTA's should pay very close attention to. It's from February's quotes about, "Worry".
3 - "Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow."
-Anonymous
Think about it folks. You too Edward.
OleScorekeeper
Eddie said..."If I wanted to be just mindless I'd work for YTB!"
ReplyDeleteEdward, are you saying "mindless" is a qualifying trait one would find in your resume? ;>)
OleScorekeeper
TravelLisa said..."Hold time for AA was approx 2 hours or more today.."
ReplyDeleteThat's awful TL. Bet that flattened out your pancake.
...I'm sure your clients love you.
Kind of a love/hate relationship TL. They love me. They hate American Airlines.
Have a nice nite :)
Nitey nite. :>)
OleScorekeeper
PS Please donate to NFCR. Help fight cancer.
Ole
ReplyDeleteI actually do donate to Several Cancer foundations, as I've lost about 7 people in the last 5 years to it. I'm actually on the board of a Non-profit cancer org for my cousin who passed at 29 of liver cancer.
I prefer my dollars to go direct to them...not via a MLM or coach in anyway...but thanks!
glad to see coach knows anon too.
ReplyDeleteanon's a popular guy. i sure hope you didn't pay 29.95 for that.
i know i'm better at this job than all the anon's and oles put together. and i'll be thankful every day that my work is appreciated and my abilities are recognized by those who matter.
ytb is unimportant in the grand scheme of of all things travel. an irritation at best. 81% of you are manipulated losers and the rest brainwashed braggarts. you too ole.
and it's eddie to you. only god calls me edward.
unlike you, my day in the biz ain't over yet....
fast eddie -
ReplyDeleteFor YTB to be "unimportant in the grand scheme of things", you sure spend a lot of your time obsessing about them.
Yes, our customers are just like Expedia, Orbitz or Travelocity customers. There are occasional irritations like today, but usually things go very well.
To spend $30 to $100 on a $300-400 airline ticket, that's expensive insurance. Some will spend it and enjoy their relationship with the eddies and TLs of the TTA world. But there are many "do it yourselfers" that don't need their hands held. They will put up with occasional problems and be happy to keep the expensive TTA fees in their pockets.
And there are plenty of those people to do business with.
Keep pumping that full-service gas!
YTB and TRAVEL: A Great Mix!
Very funny but well said Great Mix.
ReplyDeleteAnd for Edward. Sorry if calling you Edward is offensive, but I should think your "god" and your mama would want to endearingly refer to you as, "Eddie" and not the Ole Scorekeeper.
OleScore
OleScorekeeper said...."Eddie, you remind me of dear Martha. She too has an uncanny ability to detect who hides behind the anon curtain. Of course Eddie, you could be old Martha. One never knows for sure. ;>)"
ReplyDeleteYou are correct about one thing, and for you that's something. I can detect who is a fake and who isn't, ALAN. Or is that Doug? Or is it James, or Babs, or what? I asked you once before if you would tell us where you are and who you are. Silence. I say you are a coward in the first degree. Me also thinks you don't work for a living but spend all of your time on the blogs, especially "Picture it Now." Why, you even promote it. That is another tip-off.
Were you the "one" that made the nasty comment about me on yesterday's blog? Most likely it was you and your alter-ego, Doug. All those self-help books and seminars have not worked. Have you ever tried a psychiatrist for the multiple personalities? Today you are accusing Eddie of being me? I have a vagina and yes, I was born with it before you say something else nasty.
When do you have any time to do any recruiting and travel related business?
What do you actually know about me Ole? Do you know how much education I have, do you know that I have never worked in Fast Food, or traditional "retail"? Do you know anything? No. What I know about you is very little as well. I don't know whether you have a Gradutate level degree or if you even graduated High School. I don't know whether you a published author in a juried business publicaiton, or a High School English teacher. I don't know whether you have ever worked for a large coporation or run one or whether you have ever worked for anyone else or just been self-employed. I don't know whether you've had supervisory experience over zero people, dozens, or none at all. I don't know whether you've been responsible for large budgets or none.... But what I do know is that you are way off on what you think you know abuot me.
ReplyDeleteAnon,
ReplyDeleteI can not speak for Travelocity or Expedia but I know for a fact that Orbitz helps their clients. I used to work in the same office as them and heard their agents calling clients at all hours when flights were delayed or cancelled. I have heard them on the phones with the airlines reaccommodating their clients. If you can't do that for your clients then you have no business calling yourself a travel agent.
How many of these clients of YTB are now trying to reaccommodate themselves after thinking they booked with a travel agent? Just one more instance of YTB giving travel agents a bad name.
CTA in MD,
ReplyDeleteWhile I normally agree with what you say, as a CTC who has worked in a couple of call centers I have to take offense to your comments. Not all call center employees are order takers and I do not appreciate being equated to a YTB'er. Believe me working for a full service travel agency and doing all business over the phone is not an easy thing to do.
I am still on your side but please try not to insult your fellow TTA's. :-)
I am sorry you were offended AR.
ReplyDeleteI have worked in Corporate Travel for many many years, and taking calls one after another is basically like a call center. So am I an order taker, YES. Am I a travel agent, YES. I am proud that I actually serve the clients well, and have maintained the volume of business I do daily. I have the same clients I did then, and more. I may not be that person anymore..but I'm still proud of doing it. I earned my pay...unlike others who want it and don't work for it.
ReplyDeleteBut my point was that not all call centers are order takers. I have not worked in corporate travel in many years so I am not sure if that is different. But working leisure travel in a call center is not an easy thing to do and order takers do not make it. I saw many quit or get fired because they thought they could come in and just be an order taker.
ReplyDelete"I saw many quit or get fired because they thought they could come in and just be an order taker."
ReplyDeleteAnd, your average RTA would NOT last 5 minutes because all they could not hack it. Point people to a website and tell them to call a vendor is there is a problem does not make you a travel agent. IMHO, most YTB RTA's are lazy. They want to get the perks, travel for free or discounted with very little effort on their part. They think they can make money recruiting a down line and having a website. Secondly, the average RTA is not that smart. If they were they would see through the smoke and mirrors.