For months travel agents have been making the argument that these untrained RTA’s are ruining the credibility of our industry. And each and every time this comes up someone starts spouting off about how YTB has Marc Mancini and CLIA and the RTA’s are getting training, blah, blah, blah.
What no one seems to get is that these untrained, uneducated are destroying the reputations of agents everywhere. The consumers and the press don’t know the difference between an RTA and a TTA, so when these stories are reported in the press it makes all of us look bad.
The “agent” who abused the trust of over 60 high school seniors couldn’t even spell the destinations that the cruise was stopping at!
If I were in YTB, I would be embarrassed beyond belief at this point. Do you really believe that you can be successful in the long run with a company that is doing nothing to prevent things like this from happening? And please don’t tell us that YTB is going to make it right by settling up with the students. As long as they allow anyone, “from Yale or Jail” you will continue to have these problems, and it will continue to have a negative impact on your ability to get people to join your downline as well.
What no one seems to get is that these untrained, uneducated are destroying the reputations of agents everywhere. The consumers and the press don’t know the difference between an RTA and a TTA, so when these stories are reported in the press it makes all of us look bad.
The “agent” who abused the trust of over 60 high school seniors couldn’t even spell the destinations that the cruise was stopping at!
If I were in YTB, I would be embarrassed beyond belief at this point. Do you really believe that you can be successful in the long run with a company that is doing nothing to prevent things like this from happening? And please don’t tell us that YTB is going to make it right by settling up with the students. As long as they allow anyone, “from Yale or Jail” you will continue to have these problems, and it will continue to have a negative impact on your ability to get people to join your downline as well.
Another vendor, APlus Tours, has dropped YTB due to this incident. Are you going to claim that you don't need them either?
I know that cruze, it gows to
ReplyDeletefort lowderdal
grand camon
cuzoomel
montgomery bay in jaymaca
and Forks and Camon ilands
Hey! Another "guest poster"!
ReplyDeleteJohn Frenaye -
ReplyDelete"untrained RTA’s are ruining the credibility of our industry"
Definitely no excuse for this woman.
BUT . . . you are zeroing in on one particular incident.
Your typical MO.
How about the dozens of TTAs that have gone bad or fit the title of "rogue"?
How do they help the credibility of the industry, John?
A bit of selective outrage going on here, John.
Where is your outrage and disgust when a TTA goes bad?
I would also be a bit careful, JF, with using the picture and now the misspelling. I did not see any misspelled words in the typed brochure.
A bit of typecasting going here, John?
YTB and TRAVEL: A Great Mix!
Nope it was me! I posted it! John was busy giving a radio interview in Tennessee regarding the recent incident with the RTA. I have to say he was much more diplomatic than I would have been.
ReplyDeleteI would be outraged no matter if it were an RTA or TTA that did this. It's another black eye to our industry.
As a business owner, I would take steps to ensure something like this never happened again were it someone within my organization. However, it keeps happening with YTB, and they haven't changed their business practices one bit.
Make no mistake! I am not stating that this couldn't happen to anyone. The difference is that most business owners would make sure it did not happen a second time, and stop recruiting from the Yale or Jail crowd. I can't believe whoever they get their E&O from hasn't dropped them!
John Frenaye and Kate Holmes : A Bad Mix
ReplyDeleteJohn said "The consumers and the press don’t know the difference between an RTA and a TTA, so when these stories are reported in the press it makes ALL of us look bad." (emphasis mine)
ReplyDeleteALL of us, I'll say it again - ALL - RTA AND TTA.
RTA's in the news, bad stories, bad press. TTA's in the news, bad stories, bad press.
The general public doesn't know the difference!!! SO WE ALL LOOK BAD - it hurts the RTA and the TTA business - both.
If it happens enough, clients will be heading back to Travelocity and Expedia and avoiding the TTA, the RTA - and possibly by association with the YTB name - avoiding the YTB websites as well.
Wake up.
What that rouge RTA did pales in comparison to what this traditional travel agent allegedly did!
ReplyDeleteN.C. travel agent arrested on fraud charges in Carroll Co.
Police say she canceled Hawaiian vacations without refunding customers...
Information Travel News | North Carolina | United States
Updated On: 3/27/2008
The owner of a North Carolina travel agency has surrendered to Carroll County authorities to face charges that she defrauded dozens of Marylanders.
Barbara Herrington, 42, of Fenton, Mich., is charged with operating a theft scheme through her business, Southern Travel LLC, based in Mooresville, N.C.
Police in Maryland and North Carolina began investigating Herrington more than a year ago after at least 35 Carroll residents reported being defrauded of more than $115,000.
Authorities say Herrington made a presentation in Westminster in December 2006 to promote a Hawaiian vacation. She allegedly took money from customers and booked their trips, only to cancel the accommodations later and keep the money.
Of course John will not try to get to the bottom of this story since it's not self serving. His desire is to "milk" the rouge RTA story for what ever it's worth. The story appears to be his main stay for now. No need for any fair and balanced reporting here..right? After all, it is his blog.
But what about that NC TTA? Now that's quite a story. It's plastered everywhere on the internet because of the magnitude of the alleged crime.
OleScorekeeper
You missed the point as usual ole. It makes ALL of us look bad.
ReplyDelete"I would also be a bit careful, JF, with using the picture and now the misspelling. I did not see any misspelled words in the typed brochure."
ReplyDeleteYou did not see "Grand Caman"? Of do you believe that's how it is spelled?
Here's what makes us all look bad:
ReplyDelete"YTA" and "Travel Agent" linked in the same article:
the RTAs who post here saying they don't want to do what a TTA does - in other words, they don't really want to provide any service - and frankly should not receive a commission:
the implication that anyone can be a real Travel Agent - "from Yale or Jail" in the recruitment....
Ole missed the point again. It makes all TA's look bad - RTA and TTA!
ReplyDeleteLet's look at it this way:
Herrington's agency will most likely close now, with her probably going to jail. It's highly doubtful that anyone would do business with her agency even if it did remain open.
The RTA who allegedly took money from the high school students is not in jail - yet - and will she need to repay the money to the kids? Maybe - maybe not - YTB may come in and "make things right" with the kids.
What message does this send? TTA commits a crime, goes to jail. RTA commits a crime, YTB (maybe) saves their butt.
Which is the better scenario? Which sends a better message?
Don't think too hard now.
Scorekeeper,
ReplyDeleteYes the point was that it makes all of us look bad.
And if you dug deep enough into the two stories that you posted you would have learned that the North Carolina agent was also in an MLM. We went over that one a couple of weeks ago sweetie.
Kate Holmes 1
Scorekeeper 0
OldCrotchkeeper said....."Of course John will not try to get to the bottom of this story since it's not self serving. His desire is to "milk" the rouge RTA story for what ever it's worth. The story appears to be his main stay for now. No need for any fair and balanced reporting here..right? After all, it is his blog."
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be a lot of YTB rip-offs in the news lately. It's nice that you're able to copy and paste old news of TTAs ripping people off. I'm sure you would be in the news too if you could even get a booking.
You're right. This is John's blog and he allows all points of view, much unlike your buttbud Doug who's bog is endlessly boring yet at the same time fascinating in it's BS. Then there is the coward issue with him on only allowing posts that agree with him. "After all, it is his bog."
P.S. It's ROGUE, not "rouge." Rouge is what they use to give a woman that rosy glow without just having had sex. (Why do I have the feeling I just set myself up?) It's also a product used for polishing metal.
YTB and TRAVEL: Doug's alter ego.
YTB does not care WHO they recruit as long as they recruit. Ole's probably hanging around outside his States Pen looking to boost his downline.
ReplyDeleteAnd would people please discover the difference between "loose" and "lose"? It's driving me crazy.
ReplyDeleteWho cares what the acrynim is - TTA or RTA. A thief is a thief.
ReplyDeleteI would trust a RTA that has a powerful company like YTB backing them than say some grey headed columnist's agency up around Maryland.
YTB has the perfect program for someone wanting to build a business - even if one or three rip off consumers - there are still thousands of good ones.
LOL - Too funny . . .
"Who cares what the acrynim is - TTA or RTA. A thief is a thief."
ReplyDeletePrecisely Tom.
All the public sees and comprehends is TA = Travel Agent = thief, thereby lowering the confidence that they have in ANY TA.
Kate Holmes said...
ReplyDelete"Scorekeeper,
Yes the point was that it makes all of us look bad."
And you missed my point. You have so many out of control TTA's making you all look so very bad. You can not keep them in check anymore then YTB can for all their associates. So far, John has pointed out 3 bad little YTBers since last August, and for you folks the world is coming to an end. Those 3 are certainly not what we want in YTB, but we are so far removed from giving travel agents a bad name..or whatever you want to call it. You TTA's are using these 3 cases as a scapegoat for your own failings of honesty within your ranks. Shameful.
"And if you dug deep enough into the two stories that you posted you would have learned that the North Carolina agent was also in an MLM. We went over that one a couple of weeks ago sweetie."
Oh..so you're the Anon who "went over that one a couple of weeks ago". What a surprise. Do you also remember me replying to you to give us the proof that the NC agent was in an MLM, not that it matters. It appears you have bigger crooks then her in your ranks.
OleScorekeeper ;>)
"And you missed my point. You have so many out of control TTA's making you all look so very bad. You can not keep them in check anymore then YTB can for all their associates. So far, John has pointed out 3 bad little YTBers since last August, and for you folks the world is coming to an end. Those 3 are certainly not what we want in YTB, but we are so far removed from giving travel agents a bad name..or whatever you want to call it. You TTA's are using these 3 cases as a scapegoat for your own failings of honesty within your ranks. Shameful."
ReplyDeletePlease find three TTAs who have done such thinkgs in the same time period as the three YTBers - give or take 3 months - not years. I don't think you can find three. I think the only recent w=one was the guy who ran the "Christian Tours" out of one of the Carolinas.... "Sonrise" or something like that?
Ole--are you saying that the crime is less severe because she only stole $40K versus the agent that stole 113K? Yes they both suck, but the agent in NC was affiliated with TAN (Travel Advantage Network).
ReplyDeleteNo one had ever denied that there were rogue TTAs out there. There are. But when YTB essentially doubles the number of "travel agents" in the workforce in a single year and provides them with a product that simply does not work--and has three high profile scams on the books in three months, it seems like it is the tip of the iceberg.
In September you had a solid hull--now you have three holes in it and are taking on water. YTB HQ is doing what they can but as someone said--what does that say to the others in YTB? It's OK to steal, Coach will call a play and make it right?
What about the few who are serious about travel in YTB and this crap is affecting their good name. Where is the uproar from the RTA community? Oh that's right...they are only concerned about signing up the next RTA.
BTW, I notice now that A Plus Student Tours is not longer doing business with you. So now what? "We don't need them, we are gonna take over the world." Well apparently you did need them at one time.
Oh look, another hole in the hull!
As each Tour Operator has a problem, they will drop off YTB's list of "partners". It seems to me that all these issues with the TOs have involved Groups, no? Groups can be very lucrative, but managing/selling them is fraught with dangers ... that is why only the most experienced TAs (real ones not RTAs) should be handling them.
ReplyDeletePersonally, while I hate doing groups, I will go ahead and take them on. But they are nothing but a headache .....
CTA in MD
"John was busy giving a radio interview in Tennessee regarding the recent incident with the RTA."
ReplyDeleteI'm sure the media-whore JF offered his services as an "expert" on YTB.
Like showing up at an accident hoping to get face time on TV.
I can see it now. John contacts the media in TN: "Hey, I'm JF. I'm an MSNBC columnist and I'm an expert on YTB. Do you want to my take on this? (I can give you the GOOD stuff!")
And the "unbiased" media thrives on innuendo.
No, John does not really care when TTAs make the industry look bad.
It's a nice spin.
He wants to take a YTB situation, fan the flames and do whatever harm he can do to YTB.
Fair and balanced?
Not even close.
Just like when he reported on the Maryland situation late last year.(one of a couple of YTB incidents compared to many by TTAs)
He left it up for a few days on his blog that YTB corporate would not return calls from the TV station.
When in fact YTB had not only returned calls, but stepped up and made the situation right when then legally did not have to.
But it was good spin and fit his template.
And John said he was too busy to edit the untruths.
No wonder MSNBC wants him . . . the media company that brings you the "fair and balanced" Keith Olbermann.
Throw enough spaghetti against the wall and some will stick.
YTB and TRAVEL: A Great Mix!
Gee, sorry you don't like john getting the attention. why don't you contact whatever media you wish and get yourself in print?
ReplyDeleteand who says this blog has to be fair and balanced? you mean like Doug's is? Not. Get over it.
Sorry, but a listener in Nashville called the radio station and they called me. And yes, I was happy to give my opinion. It was mostly about tips on how to vet out a responsible agent. I am sure YTB would not have a problem with that.
ReplyDeleteI never said I was too busy to edit a post. Nice try. And yes, YTB did not step in or return calls until just before it aired. It seems that had it gone away, YTB was content, but had it not, well then they need to put a positive spin on it!
karla -
ReplyDeleteYes, it is his blog.
But don't try to spin that all John or Tom Cruise's wife care about is agent reputation.
I have a weak stomach and have a hard time handling their selective bleeding hearts.
TTAs should also be appalled when a TTA goes bad.
It disgusts me when a YTB agent goes bad.
I do not pretend to know what goes through people's minds that causes them do stupid, mindless things.
HS and Junior High teachers are completely vetted.
In spite of it, some teachers end up having affairs with teenagers.
Doesn't make sense to me.
It disgusts me.
Is it the school district's fault?
No. Good people go bad.
Make all of the rules you want and someone will break them.
Unfortunately, that's life.
YTB and TRAVEL: A Great Mix!
John. What was the call letters of the radio station you were on?
ReplyDelete"And yes, YTB did not step in or return calls until just before it aired. It seems that had it gone away, YTB was content, but had it not, well then they need to put a positive spin on it!"
ReplyDeleteThat's your opinion.
That does not make it a fact.
It aired and the reporter said that YTB had contacted the clients and promised to make it right.
Which they did.
But that little piece of the news was slow to come in your blog.
Your story that YTB refused to answer calls stayed front and center.
YTB and TRAVEL: A Great Mix!
WWTN 99.7
ReplyDeleteNashville's Morning News With Ralph Bristol was about 940am EST
You did not see "Grand Caman"? Of do you believe that's how it is spelled?
ReplyDeleteThe HAND WRITTEN portions could have been hand written by one of the students, not the TTA (as in, the student took some notes on a flyer she was handed). You cannot assume that the RTA hand wrote that on the flyer.....
And you can not assume that a student did.....
ReplyDeleteRegardless, this fraudulent TA - in fact, fraudulent RTA allowed this to go out over her name....
ReplyDeleteI personally booked a High School Senior trip. It was done professionally, the school has the tickets and everything. Should all YTB RTAs be blamed because one was bad?
ReplyDeleteAre you all going to LIE and said there has never been one TTA who scammed consumers???? Not one Travel Agency that bilked people out of their money?????
Should all of you TTAs be labeled as frauds because ONE of YOUR KIND cheated and scammed and stole from people??????
Geez.......