According to a conference call with Coach on Saturday, June 7, 2008, the RTA count was 135,000. It was pointed out to me that YTB was on the "rebound" because as of December 31, 2007, the count was 131,065--a net gain of nearly 4,000.
Again, on the surface it appears to be a gain, but if you look at the numbers from the end of March 2008 it is a decided decline. According to the YTB 10-Q filing, on March 31, 2008 they had 138,814 RTAs. This is a LOSS of nearly 4,000 RTAs in less than three months!
The figure that was not disclosed was the number of sales in the period, but that will be released in the upcoming 10-Q for the second quarter.
With the touted expansion into Canada, Bermuda, and the Bahamas, one might expect to see an increase. I saw a "RTA Counter" website last fall and it indicated that at one point YTB was recruiting 500 RTAs per day. With this latest revelation, it seems they may be losing 56 RTAs per day.
Well this kind of makes sense. Recruiting was down 1Q 2008 pretty seriously and rumor has it on scam.com that Coach brought all the Directors into Dallas last week to chew them out about not recruiting enough.
ReplyDeleteI woudl like to see the RTA counter--that is funny! Anyone have a link.
But no news from YTB they are due for a press release soon. I believe Coach has a bowel movement scheduled for noon!
Anon,
ReplyDeleteIt's all about "travel sales", not recruiting right?
So maybe they can promote "ole Doogie" to a M.D. You know YTB has a way of promoting people that don't have any form of degree.
Crotch probably wasn't to happy. With gas rising higher he needs to fuel the jet, and with a bunch of people dropping out of YTB. He can't afford to fly around on his "fams".
Doug is now a Director. He was one of the ones promoted in Dallas.
ReplyDeleteCoach took the RTA counter down for more reasons than 1.
ReplyDeleteDoug is now a director, because he coulnd't make it the traditional YTB way. He was promoted without actually producing for YTB.
ReplyDeleteThis is a last ditch effort by Crotch. He knows YTB is in trouble, and he is trying to jumpstart the "program". Unfortunately for YTB, they don't sell fake suntans. Maybe that's in the future?
FAKE SUNTANS and FLOWERS...A GREAT MIX!
That whole Coach's Corner thing always makes me thing of a priest and an altar boy. Shhh, what goes on here we don't want to say. Come here and sit next to Old Coachy....
ReplyDeleteVery creepy
Anon,
ReplyDeleteAll you gotta do is look at Doogies profile picture. That's about as creepy as it gets.
ytbscam -
ReplyDeleteYou are clueless as usual.
And totally irrelevant as always.
The idea that YTB is in trouble is ridiculous.
Oh, how someone irrelevant like you and the relevant TTAs would like it to be!
Lots of great things coming from YTB in the months ahead that will keep the TTAs (and irrelevant losers like you) all worked up.
It is going to be fun!
YTB and TRAVEL: A Great Mix!
If you google ytb lately, you will notice that the link that draws the most attention is that YTB scam video on youtube.
ReplyDeleteThat video has been viewed over 80,000 times.
Even if only 20,000 people that viewed that video decided not to join.... that is a loss of (20,000 x $1,100 per year) over 20 million dollars.
I don't know how many times this blog has been seen by prospects.... I'm sure that this site has done some damage.
Not to mention all the RTA's that are not making money... that see news like this.
Over 80% of the RTA's (the ones that did not get a check) would be a lot better off jumping ship.
The kool aid has got to wear off sooner or later. RTA's are waking up with one major hang over, and an empty wallet!!!!
They are all thinking " What the F@ck happened?!!!"
Everyone is switching over to Traverus! Which is a much better company.
ReplyDeleteWell if they are thinking about Jumping Ship, I woudl have to say that Carnival was probably a wise partner. They are leading the industry in jumpers!
ReplyDeleteHey, thanks for the Traversus plug...want a marketing tip? Include a link to your recruiting site...you might as well get credit for it.... no?
ReplyDeleteI am still wondering what the other smaller MLMs are doing? Are they waiting for YTB to trip and fall then come in and take over what they can? Or are they waiting to see if YTB can be a success before sinking any major money into the industry?
There area a few reps from World Ventures over on scam.com rattling on that upgrades to their program are ongoing. They've bragged they are going to be the first travel mlm company with a billion dollars in travel sales. World Ventures is not publicly traded so what they say can't be verified. Traverus can't even prove they are using legal SOT #s on their reps websites.
ReplyDeleteSo we have a Hickory Exec in our offices last week (we're doing RT registration here for all our Corporate Travelers and it was set up via Hickory - now all your RTAs can ask what that is.). Anyway, here's what she had to say about the YTB rumor"
ReplyDelete"Why in the world would we want to have anything to do with a Card Mill? They can't produce anything for us anyway." "No, they are not members." "There were discussions but no one was ever serious about a sale or even any kind of partnership."
Interesting.
I understand this is off topic, but interesting never the less that the following article about CLIA professing the needs of TTAs, is still in bed with a pack of RTAs. As it has been said before, its apparent that CLIA only wants RTAs for their membership fees.
ReplyDeleteArticle:
CLIA study finds agents crucial to cruise sales
CLIA's recently released 2008 Cruise Market Profile Study found that travel agents continue to be essential in generating cruise sales, a reinforcement of previous studies. Additionally, the study shows that about 33.7 million Americans say they plan to take a cruise within the next three years. "Given the current economic climate, we are particularly pleased to see that American cruisers remain bullish on the industry," said Terry Dale, president and CEO of CLIA. Travel Trade (6/10)
OK, here's the score so far. Not too impressive the last few days. Perhaps the declining interest is due to vacations or more important matters to attend to.
ReplyDeleteAnon - 8
SCAM - 3
Rod - 2
Mix - 1
John - 1
OleScore - 1
OleScorekeeper
:) Oh I'm here, just haven't had a minute to post. Up to my eyeballs in group stuff.
ReplyDeleteI think the RTA's are starting to wake up, hence the drop each month. They are told one thing, and see for themselves its a bunch of hooey. Not to mention the state of the economy, people do not have $50 to toss to the wind every month "hoping" for that online sale thats going to make or break them. People are being more frugal with their money, so when they are going to toss down $5K on a vacation or more, they are going to have a professional take care of it because they want it done right without the possible "what ifs". Thats my opinion.
As for the Hickory post above..LOL, good for them. I know several people who've worked for them over the years, actually almost did myself. Didn't think they were that stupid unless they wanted to run the business into the ground. And as far as CLIA, its appalling that all they want is the mighty dollar and don't care who they are giving the credentials to. I've not reapplied for my CLIA, and won't.
Wow I made Oles scorecard. Stranger things have happened.
ReplyDeleteOnce again Doogie...you don't sell travel, you sell websites. You got promoted because people are jumping ship. Crotch needs something to pump up the idiots that are still buying into the program, so why not start with people like yourself.
Doug, if YTB was so great and easy to run, why couldn't you make Director like others before you? Oh I know why...you failed! It's pretty sad that you had to be promoted, probably to fill the void of someone who left, because even you couldn't get it to work.
Keep dreaming, and keep trying to pump up those in your downline. The ship is sinking and there is nothing you can do. And you always have some great "breaking" news that never shows up.
FAKETANS and TRAVEL: A BAD MIX
If you really look at the issues, why would anyone in their right mind pay about $1,100 the first year to be in YTB? Besides all the "tax advantages, travel like a pro, earn money while you sleep, get paid to take vacations, FAM trips galore, get into the 800 trillion dollar travel business," and the rest of the bullshit that never happens, of course the RATS give up. Why pay for something that brings in nothing? Not everyone is as stupid as YTB and TRAVEL: A Great Mix!
ReplyDeleteYTB and TRAVEL: We'll SCAM your ass off and grin while doing it.
One of the biggest misnomers is the tax advantages. I have to think the majority of the folks in YTB are not earning enough to even make sense to itemize. I doubt many are incorporated and are just using a SP. So you need the income to deduct. Well at least to make it worthwhile to deduct.
ReplyDeleteBut no one want to address that!
YTB and TRAVEL: We'll SCAM your ass off and grin while doing it.
ReplyDeleteThat's got a nice ring to it, Martha. You filled my TTA day with laughter.
TravelLisa said...
ReplyDelete":) Oh I'm here, just haven't had a minute to post. Up to my eyeballs in group stuff."
You naughty, naughty girl.
Travel Lisa said, "As for the Hickory..I know several people who've worked for them...actually almost did myself. Didn't think they were that stupid unless they wanted to run the business into the ground."
ReplyDeleteWell it certainly was a damn good thing Hickory didn't hire YOU. Nice you are honest about it.
Actually it was me that turned them down. I moved out of state so declined. :) But it was a nice attempt on your part to take it that way. Hickory was never going to merge or whatever with YTB..they would lose all their TA customers..that would be plain old silly when your making multi-million dollars off them no?
ReplyDeleteAs for the "group" thing...good to see your minds in the gutter. Group meaning work related group of 180 people air/hotel/car service, something I doubt MLMers fully understand.