I have always said that there are some very good people in YTB. There are some good agents and there are some good business people. Unfortunately, the opposite seems to be the norm and ethics and honesty seems to take a decided back seat to doing things right.
I was looking through a Craigslist posting and found this gem. Rather than have all the slimy directors telling you how to cheat your taxes and scam some freebies from the suppliers, why not ask these folks to honestly market what it is that you sell. Huge kudos to Peter and Aileen Pelt! I still don't like the concept, but if more Reps and RTAs would take this type of approach rather than the "get rich quick, quit your job, screw the IRS, and travel for free and deduct it all" approach, it would be a giant step in the right direction!
Join Our YTB Team (bernal heights)
http://peltinternationaltravel.vacationmedia.net You want to enter the 7 Trillion Dollar Travel Industry that is setting all time records and still growing. The opportunity is great and Your Travel Biz give you that opportunity to setup your own travel business; it is easy and extremely affordable for the average American or Canadian. Your Travel Biz (YTB) is a home-based opportunity that lets individuals start their own travel companies. The business, the enormous commissions, the discounts and tax breaks on travel are the fringe benefits that you receive the very first day you start operating your travel business. There is no probationary period to suffer through to begin to capitalize on lucrative home-based business benefits. Because of that, the opportunity for growth is fast and unlimited. With YTB, which uses a network-marketing business model, you can build a team of hundreds or even thousands and; although they all will be working for themselves, you will be working together to achieve success. A network marketing home-based business is so different from the traditional concept of selling. It is working together in the spirit of cooperation, the spirit of excellence to achieve success. Through teams, independent YTB business owners can help each other grow their businesses by providing support, training, and friends to rely on. In the 7 trillion dollar travel industry, which is going to double in the next ten years, there is more than enough business to go around. In the process of building your team, your business will grow as well as your relationship with your teammates. YTB built its success on the foundation of relationship marketing with people like you, people who relish a sound financial future and enjoys traveling. The travel business is a people business. To build your business, you just go out and find like-minded people like yourself interested in the business. Whatever your business objective may be, YTB is the bridge to connect you to your dreams. YTB gives individuals the opportunity to decide how they want to run their business, by choosing one or combining both of the company's income-earning options. You can work your business two ways: through your own travel site where people can book flights, hotels, and other travel necessities and by helping others set up their own YTB travel sites. You can literally become your own neighborhood travel agent. You will make money as family and friends book travel. You will also receive discounts on your own travel. Eighty percent of travel is based on a recommendation from a friend or someone we trust. By owning your home-based travel business, you get to travel more often, and to more places. There is also the opportunity for tax deductions when travel is your business. In everything, there are rules you have to follow and there are rules in YTB. You have to keep the proper documentation; but its exciting to know that every time you take a trip, you're enhancing your business success. Join the financially secure; those who operate home based businesses. To learn more about home-based business opportunities, YTB and its commission scale, bonuses, discount travel, and flexible work schedules. Our team members are helping each other every step of the way. I will see you there! Your Travel Biz gives you the opportunity to travel the world while putting money back in your pocket at the same time. Do you what to earn additional income and have fun doing it. Do you want to know more? http://peltinternationaltravel.vacationmedia.net For More Information Please Contact Peter & Aileen Pelt @ 1(866)990-8991
Well--the RATS can't say you neve post anything positive now can they?
ReplyDelete"The business, the enormous commissions, the discounts and tax breaks on travel are the fringe benefits that you receive the very first day you start operating your travel business."
ReplyDeleteThey are still promoting the disounts and tax breaks from day one. Most suppliers require a valid IATAN card for these discounts and do to YTB and other MLM's travel industry discounts are few and far between. Some supplies such as Carnival have put sales requirements in place for travel agent fams. No novice TTA gets these starting out of the gate either.
I don't care how it is worded. It's the same song different tune.
Sure there has to be somewhat of a pitch, but this is a decent ad. There are indeed discounts available, there are tax breaks, there is a commission.
ReplyDeleteI did not see anything wrong with this. They told you the facts, they invited you to explore and learn, they said it was MLM, etc. They did not promise overnight riches.
They did not promise upgrades, free trips, FAM trips for the family, the ability to deduct your every waking moment or millions. They did not portray the few that make a lot of money as typical.
They might if you contact them, or maybe not, but when I came across that ad on CL, I honestly had no problem with it.
John,
ReplyDeleteI agree with AT on this. This add is no different than the same ones you have been seeing before, slightly worded different, but still no difference. Not sure why you would have no problem with this. I see you stated why, but when it comes down to it, it is promoting the same thing all the other adds have.
John,
ReplyDeleteGood for you.
You have earned some credibility back in my eyes. I know that isn't your goal... :) but you did.
Good post today.
The other comments prove that no matter what YTB or anyone in YTB does, it will be wrong.
I mean to those posters, what is wrong with mentioning the fringe benefits of getting into the travel industry. Openly and honestly, think back to the day you decided to become a travel agent. It was more than likely because YOU like to travel or YOU wanted to see the world. Sure, you can help people, but there are thousands of careers in service. Just think about it.
Again, good post John.
It's a lot less BS than most of the ads I've seen.
ReplyDeleteI think its a better post then most. I dont like the one line "The business, the enormous commissions, the discounts and tax breaks on travel are the fringe benefits that you receive the very first day you start operating your travel business.". You do not get discounts the very first day. Especially now since CLIA has upped the anti.
ReplyDeleteI do however like this particular line..."In everything, there are rules you have to follow and there are rules in YTB". My opinion is the rules need to be more stringent and followed thru.
All in all I don't think its a bad post, its alot better then most I've seen, and they are not gloating on the riches, the discounts or the shady tax writeoffs most tout.
I agree that the ad is much better than the average MLM ad. While there might be a few words I would change, I can say the same about a lot of TTAs that advertise for independent agents.
ReplyDeleteAnd I guess I should add, that any ad on Craigslist probably should be considered carefully. Certainly not the best way to market your business, but again that is a business owner's decision
ReplyDeleteI believe Craigslist ads are NOT effective nor are ads that are run in the papers. Network marketing is most effective in relationships. Relationships based on an ad rarely if ever last. Plus the type of people that answer these ads are usually people looking for something for nothing. So I agree with John %100 on this. Also I believe if you run any kind of ad using YTB's name you are supposed to get it approved through the legal department through YTB. I doubt that YTB would even approve the ad above.
ReplyDeleteOverall I have learned a lot on this blog in the past few days. I do understand the frustration. I do not believe it is the business model that is the problem but rather than a training issue on the part of sponsors. Policing this by the home office is definitely a challenge also.
I keep putting the "%" sign in the wrong place.
ReplyDeleteI do have to say that it seems that most of the anti-bloggers pretty much go along with whatever John has to say. If his tone is negative then they are. In this post he takes a more positive tone and look how the rest respond. Yet when YTBr's respond in kind we are called "minions" or "kool-aid drinkers". Anyone see the resemblence? I by no means am trying to turn this talk negative but just merely trying to bring something to attention here.
ReplyDeletefireman...it is not any one issue it is a conglomeration of many. And to be honest if any one or two of them were not so glaring, my guess is that YTB woudl not even be on the scorn radar of suppliers and TTAs
ReplyDeleteI mentioned it before, but next time you are at an industry trade show (not a YTB one) take off the green shirt and tuck your name badge in your collar and simply approach a few suppliers and engage them and then say "boy, these YTB folks are something" and note the reaction of most of them.
Again from my POV the issues are in general and not specific to all
lack of training
lack of professionalism
promotion of perks and tax write offs
lack of desire to assist the clients
cockyness and ego
failure to qualify anyone that enters the program
If you were legitimately trained (not the cockamamie CRTA classes) that is a huge thing. If you were a little more professional in all aspects of your business that would be huge as well. But when you take anyone in the program and they steal money and say they are a travel agent with YTB it gives YTB a black eye as well as the TTAs. There is no differentiation between the two.
The perks piss us off but that is a supplier issue., If they are willing to essentiually sell to the public and let you promote discounted travel as a "perk" of being in business and they are good with it---that is their issue, but it does piss us off when we cannot get on a FAM trip because there are people like Regina looking for a vacation that took our space with no interest in selling travel
Fireman...this is not different than Doug's website when he used to allow people to voice their opinion.
ReplyDeleteThe YTBers woudl all praise Doug and lavish him with accolades and adulation. The TTAs that commented on it were put down. Its the difference between an anti MLM blog and a Pro Recruiting Blog I suppose.
GO there and see if you can read some of the old comments, not sure if you can or not, but while he says it was because of the other reasons, he cut off comments because he was failing at justifying his posts more and more.
So it was his ball and he took it and went home
I am too new at these blogs to know what Doug's is all about.
ReplyDeleteI used to work in Branson Missouri back in the early 90's. My drive to work would consist of about an hour to drive 5 miles. That is because the roads sucked, meaning there were not enough and they would back up. I would take the back roads hoping the people that lived there would not find out about them. One day a guy came by the theatre I worked at and put out maps of the backroads or shortcuts. We employees took the maps and hid them because we did not think they should know about them. Those were OUR roads. That is how WE got to work and they did not deserve to know about them. Even though we did not own them, build them, or have one shread of control over them we claimed them as ours. Getting mad at the tourists for being there was just ridiculous.
Like you said, if the suppliers are giving out the trips then that is out of your control. I have yet to take a bona-fide FAM trip but if I did I would take it seriously because I am interested in selling travel. I have taken four cruises in the past 2 years and you can bet I talk about it with my friends and they book on my site.
I meant to say that the "people who did not live there" in the above post.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I actually like being on this site. I am actually learning a lot.
ReplyDeleteFireMedic..
ReplyDeleteWe do not all always agree with everything John says. You'd have to go back and read some of the older posts to see that. For the most part, we are all on the "same page" when it comes to what we dislike about MLM though. It's quite different then taking every word that the trio says for gospel.
It amazes me that people think they are in this for true love of people and travel, as business men, they are in this for true love of money and nothing more. It would be easier to see the jet, fancy cars, mansion etc without the blinders sometimes. If they truly wanted to help the soldiers/firemen what-have you with this $8million dollar monstrosity, I'm quite sure that the money would've been put to much better use for them. If the $8mil meant nothing to them, a simple donation (also tax writeoff) would've helped them far more then a gigantic statue thats harmful to the environment.
Again, I have only my own opinion, I do not go off what John says, or what any other agent on this blog says..I speak my own mind. I would hope everyone does the same.
all in all, it's not perfect, but there are definitely a lot worse out there. Of course the reference to "enormous" commissions is misleading. Profit margins on travel sales are still thin at best, for anyone, not "enormous" (I doubt any YTBers sell Crystal or Silverseas on a regular basis). And as long as those profit margins are thin, as long as the MLM company doesn't control the product (travel), then there still has to be an inordinate amount of focus on recruiting. Nontravel MLMs don't have to focus on recruitment as heavily as YTB or other travel MLMs do....
ReplyDeleteJosh said...."Openly and honestly, think back to the day you decided to become a travel agent. It was more than likely because YOU like to travel or YOU wanted to see the world. Sure, you can help people, but there are thousands of careers in service. Just think about it."
ReplyDeleteI did think about it and I did not become a travel agent for the free trips or the tax benefits. I became a travel agent because I had been a flight attendant and already knew a lot about the destinations. Knowledge is powerful. I retain approximately 80% of my clients. I do it because I enjoy it and once I built up a clientle, I have a rapport with them and know what they expect. I do not get tax benefits, I seldom take a fam or ask for a freebie. That is not what being a travel agent is all about. It is not about networking, but it is about service and knowledge.
You go Martha tell em like it is. These dingleberries don't have a clue about the travel business. It's all networking, schmoozing, recruiting and pointing people to a fancy pants website. They could care less about servicing a customer or any REAL travel knowledge. They think they are going to make millions! Keep reading "The Secret" boys.
ReplyDeletePrior to becoming a travel agent, I had been in customer service for over 25 years. I loved working with people, just hated my employer (a public utility). I wanted to work in a customer service atmosphere where clients looked forward to calling me, not where they were calling 99% of the time with a complaint.
ReplyDeleteI was also the over attentive detail driven one when it came to planning our vacations.
I knew several people that were travel agents, and they loved their jobs. The combinations of attention to detail and customer interaction intrigued me. I knew my TTA friends were not traveling free or getting killer discounts every time they turned around - they were TTAs because they loved it and made a decent living doing something that they loved. I envied that.
I also consulted our CPA to find out how realistic it was to start my own business (versus trying to get hired by a B&M as a salaried employee).
So I took travel classes online through a community college, joined OSSN & NACTA, spent 6 months researching host agencies to find the right fit, and went from there.
At no time did I think I was going to make money off the tax write offs, that I'd travel for free, or that clients would miraculously just walk in off the street.
There are only so many hours in a day and dollars that can be dedicated to marketing - I'd much rather prefer focusing my efforts on RECRUITING CLIENTS than on recruiting a downline.
I was working for my dad in his printing company while still in high school. One of his largest accounts at the time was Thomas Cook. I would talk to the agents quite a bit, and became interested in travel from talking to them. Their love of the job, having people WANT to call you, being excited about going on that dream trip. I went to travel school while working, and shortly after was hired by the agency I still currently work for. I started from the bottom, and learned/earned my way to the top. I still have the clients I did from 18 years ago, and I still love what I do. I've gone one 1 FAM, and I worked, it wasnt a trip. I've done several cruise site inspections, alone without family..again to learn. I will say I do get free airline tickets, but thats due to the mass amount of volume we give the airlines, and because I'm management.
ReplyDeleteI didn't get into this job for any perks, the tax writeoffs are minimal (I refuse to embellish to screw uncle sam), I do it because I love it. The customer interaction is what drives me, and the above poster is 100% correct...focus on RECRUITING/RETAINING CLIENTELE...not your downline, that is what a true TA does.!
Firemedic said:
ReplyDelete"I am interested in selling travel."
You want to sell travel then get your butt out of YTB!!!! Here check out these sites:
http://www.hostravelagency.com/
http://www.pathonline.travel/How_to_choose_a_host_agency.asp
Kitty Kat,
ReplyDeleteI know it was directed to FM, but I checked out the link you provided. Here is one of the company profiles...
First line...
The following are some of the features that are available to YNT subscribers:
General
• Tax Benefits — Travel deductions and expenses
• You decide when you work
• Basically no experience needed
Here is another one...
Independent travel agents looking for exceptional career opportunities with an established agency serving the luxury travel market will find an ally in Susan Weissberg, president and CEO of Wylly’s Professional Travel, Coral Gables, FL.
Weissberg’s goal is to recruit, train, and motivate a small group of elite agents with existing clientele who have the skills and drive to serve the most demanding market segment — the high-end luxury traveler who demands and can afford the best.
The luxury market is expanding in terms of cruises and land based vacations, as well as customized travel backed by personalized services, Weissberg believes. With 24 independent agents now, Weissberg wants to expand the reach of Wylly’s — including international associates who can service and escort clients.
Wylly’s clients include the wealthy, celebrities and royalty, as well as travelers of means who want to tap into its agents’ knowledge of worldwide destinations and travel options
SO WEISSBURG REALIZES SHE WILL EXCEL FINANCIALLY BY BUILDING A TEAM OF AGENTS...
Here is another one...
Our philosophy is that agents deserve to be making 100% of their commissions. Our 100% program is very simple and straightforward — 100% commissions for $250/month
So, good for her for providing her agents with 100% but also good for her for earning 3k per year for each person she brings in. Nice leverage.
She also has a 80/20 plan for 20 bucks a month.
Again, the host is trying to build overal travel numbers by BUILDING A TEAM OF AGENTS>>>>
Here's one...
We want Cruise Value Center’s Affiliate program, now with 150 members, to grow
Here is a quote from another one...
To develop a network of entrepreneurial, motivated and educated travel designers
See here is the big problem.....Many of you equate YTB as a company with a handfull of eager craigslist posters.
Many REPS who are also RTAs realize, just like the host agencies that Miss Kitty kindly linked to, that in order to build bigger travel sales for your company, team, organization, whatever, you need to bring in more travel sales people to reach more potential customers.
It is a simple premise really that has different avenues to reach the goal.
Again, like Firemedic said, and I concur, the blantant unprofessionalism of any RTA or any other travel pro for that matter is unacceptable. YTB is and has been taking necessary and effective steps to eliminate that from the industry.
But, bear in mind, that the MLM model is useful in the sense that as a REP, you can recruit 200 people to each do 5000 in travel sales....or recruit 2 people to do 500,000 in sales. The former is more realistic for the average individual (ie the 5000 in travel sales part) Admittedly, recruiting is actually challenging. You may not like this sentence but the travel selling part is the easy way to make a few extra bucks. The recruiting takes skill, effort, finesse, etc.
And again, YTB is an opportunity for many to do whatever they want with it. I have stated that my objective, to Miss Kitty's feminist views< that we wanted to make enough money so my wife could stay home with our children. We have reached that goal. And we are happy.
Allow YTB to continue to work with RTAs in training more experienced travel professionals and lets have a friendly addition to the travel industry without all the whining.
Miss Kitty,
ReplyDeleteAfter looking at the way you talk to people on here, I really don't have anything to say to you unless you want to talk like adults do and not make personal attacks like "dingleberries" and whatever other sarcasm you can think up. I truly believe you are better than that but I don't see you choosing to show it.
My question is this. I am a paramedic and a firefighter by trade. I did what I had to do become that. There was a SPECIFIC itinerary I had to accomplish in order to take on the title of "paramedic". I had to take a state boards test after I did the training. Now, maybe I am wrong but I have not seen anything that says "you do this and you are a 'travel agent'". So what is it that makes a personal a person in the travel profession? Do you have to have a "host agency" in order to be one? I have my reasons for transitioning into the travel industry but all I here from this site is there is a way it has always been done and that is the way it should always be done from now on.
Now with that question I will say that I had to undergo background checks in order to be a paramedic. Do TTA's have to have one? Or is it only if they are sponsored by a "host agency".
I know that things change and those that resist inevitable change are left behind. Case in point, as a firefighter, the jurisdiction I work for is expanding. There are taking on new areas and other departments jusridictions. The firefighters in those areas are scared about their jobs and understandably so. The take-over is going to happen. But what I do know is that the more they resist (bad mouthing my department and the leadership) the less they are able to find a solution to their dilema. The ones that are looking for win/win solutions are probably the ones that will profit the most. I know this because I have heard the chief say so in that they are the ones that will be looked at to keep their jobs.
Excellent post Josh. I agree. Let's keep this adult like. Professionalism was one of the characters talked about earlier as one of the problems amongst RTA's.
ReplyDeletePeople in glass houses....
ReplyDeletefiremedic227 said...
Miss Kitty,
After looking at the way you talk to people on here, I really don't have anything to say to you unless you want to talk like adults do and not make personal attacks like "dingleberries" and whatever other sarcasm you can think up.
John,
ReplyDeleteI am speaking for myself here but have you seen me calling people names and making personal attacks? I don't need to because I recognize we are all people with the same desires to succeed. We just may have a current disagreement on what is the best way.
Well Fireman and Josh may have some recruiting ethics but most YTBs i've come in contact with don't care WHO you are as long as you sign up under them. Recruiting IS hard, so many go the easy way and make false promises of riches, tax breaks, huge discounts and oh yeah - all for 500.00 and 50.00 a month. There is no showing the reality that 90% of those recruits will fail. Gullible people will fall for it and voila - another RTA.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to more info on the franchising...and hoping that YTBs desperate desire to expand into other countries forces them to become a more legitimate modle for this industry.
Weissburg wants to build "a small group of elite agents" - not 150,000 agents.
ReplyDeleteNexion, one of the largest host agencies, has 2100 agents - all need to go thru a background check before selling ANY travel.
Quality, not quantity.
Fireman may not be as ethical as he proclaims.....right fireman? Glass houses!
ReplyDeleteJohn,
ReplyDeleteI am not claiming to be perfect by no means. And you are right, we all live in glass houses. As far as ethics in business I do have to say I take that serious. And quite honestly I AM becoming more of a fan of your passion for the travel industry. I have been thinking a lot about your concerns and in fact have been talking to my group about it today.
I am still looking for an answer as to what says you are a "travel agent"? At what point do you get to claim that term? Is there a governing body?
Oh and John as far as the cards you picked up in the coffee shop I don't agree either with what you found. Now as far as the guy that said "Travel Agent" on the card do you know for 100% assurity he wasn't a "Travel Agent?" I mean, if someone in YTB did have all the same credentials as a TTA then is he disqualified from claiming that just because of the association with YTB?
Josh said,
ReplyDelete"But, bear in mind, that the MLM model is useful in the sense that as a REP, you can recruit 200 people to each do 5000 in travel sales....or recruit 2 people to do 500,000 in sales. The former is more realistic for the average individual (ie the 5000 in travel sales part) Admittedly, recruiting is actually challenging. You may not like this sentence but the travel selling part is the easy way to make a few extra bucks. The recruiting takes skill, effort, finesse, etc."
I agree with what you said but I don't like the term "recruiting". I don't blame them for disliking the term. I personally don't "recruit". I "sponsor". Sponsoring means I take responsibility for teaching the person. "Recruiting" is what is done in typical sales and the typical sales person does not do well in networking. Networking, true networking, is about building relationships and teaching. With that is built a team of loyal customers. The typical sales person is only looking for the quick sale and then moves on. He is not interested in teaching, thus the reason networking will most likely not work for them until they become a teacher.
I think this is a legitimate concern of the TTA's and I respect that.
Can't say if he is a travel agent, but I am guessing not since he went with the whole PAYCATION deal, has an AOL address, the printing is crooked and there is very little info on the card. Even a rube for a real agent would know better
ReplyDeleteFiremedic-Your feelings are hurt because I called you I called you dingleberries. Poor guy. Don't give me that crap about maturity. You and your cohorts can dish it out, Denyse, Regina and Mix but when we call you out you run screaming back to Mommy you don't want to play the game any more. YOU Grow up. Any grown man that falls for YTB's dog and pony show and throws his money away deserves to be called on it. If you had an ounce of maturity you wouldn't be selling a down line and following the false dream and prophets....
ReplyDeleteAnd firemedic---sucking up does not do you any good. Glass houses!
ReplyDeleteJohn,
ReplyDeleteSucking up? Sorry you feel that way. I don't agree with you on your opinions but I do on others. Whether you believe me or not I do see some of your concerns and I believe them to be legitimate.
Miss Kitty......wow.
John said,
ReplyDelete"Can't say if he is a travel agent, but I am guessing not since he went with the whole PAYCATION deal, has an AOL address, the printing is crooked and there is very little info on the card. Even a rube for a real agent would know better"
All assumptions. Perhaps you are right but perhaps not. Seems like a lot of the gripes (though I feel some legitimate in my eyes) on this sight are mostly from assumptions and conclusions drawn from made up meanings to very little facts.
Joe,
ReplyDeleteYou do make a good point but mine was this....that those host agencies' goal is to BUIILD a sales team however big or small in order to build the company's total travel sales. That is the goal of YTB.
Remember that even though the revenue from the 450 and 50 per month is high it almost entirely goes out to the comp plan. I can't remember who showed it once but it was about 99.85% gets paid out.
So, YTB as a company makes NO income from the network marketing side of the business.
I agree that sponsoring implies relationships but from a business and team building standpoint you are recruiting. Just because it is recruiting doesn't mean that you leave the "new recruits" out in the dust to fend for themselves.
I recruit, and it is tough, to find valuable members of my sales team.
Eddie also makes a valid statement and hopefully after CLIA and the franchise opportunity combined with more ethical recruiters on the marketing side, YTB will not only be viable, but welcomed and respected.
ReplyDeleteHopefully, more than just Eddie could see it.
I am still looking for an answer as to what says you are a "travel agent"? At what point do you get to claim that term? Is there a governing body?
ReplyDeleteJosh,
ReplyDeleteI understand what you are saying about the term "recruiting". I just think I would rather be "sponsored" than "recruited". Just my opinion. Don Failla stuff.
You are right about he compensation too Josh. The marketing side of the business is meant to compensate the person for building a loyal customer base. Use the product yourself and also promote the product to your friends and family. Lots of people doing a little as opposed to a few doing a lot and money is save on the advertising. That is money that is given back to the people in the field instead of spending it on the traditional advertising. Word of mouth so to speak. More and more traditional companies are even doing it now.
ReplyDeleteThere is no "governing body" and to be honest that is an issue with the industry because for lack of it, we have allowed it to be cluttered up with the YTBs and Traversuses of the world.
ReplyDeleteI am still completely convinced that travel is a stepping stone for YTB and is only in the picture because it is sexy, attractive, and the presence of a "product" deflects the scrutiny light from the authorities.
However, in terms of an "authority" in travel, I would have to say that IATAN is certainly one as is ASTA. Until I heard of the deal with CLIA and YTB I may have considered CLIA an authority, but they sold out.
In lieu of those, I would say tenure and reputation could suffice.
Unfortunately, ASTA has written a white paper on YTB and the Card Mills, IATAN has tossed you out, RCCL has given yo uthe boot, and you do not ahve a good reputation or any significant tenure in the industry.
Card Mills are mills that sell the cards with no intention of ever selling travel. YTB sells travel and has a policy to ensure it. You call it reactive but call it whatever you wish.
ReplyDelete"In lieu of those, I would say tenure and reputation could suffice."
Who decides John?
"and you do not ahve a good reputation or any significant tenure in the industry". Your opinion. All subjective.
I don't know anything about the other companies.
Well, perhaps YTB is changing, but as of December last year they were a mill per your definition. I was pressured to join before the end of the year to get the card "before I had to sell any travel". So they got caught and changed.
ReplyDeleteTenure and reputation is not controlled by any individual. Tenure is evident--basic math. Reputation is just that. Who do you want as your pump op when you are on the tip? Someone with a good reputation or a bad one? And in whose eyes? The biggeslt idiot could be a hero in his mommy's eyes, but he could get you killed.
I am sorry 7 years is not a long tenure in the industry. You are all proud that you outlived many MLM companies and I suppose that is meritable. Although I might argue that it is not a good indicator of MLM companies in general.
Reputation...it sepaks for itself. No other travel company has front page listing on Scam.com, no other company routinely gets letters written about it in Travel Weekly. Few others have been canned by IATAN for illegally selling the number. Few have been canned by a major supplier for undisclosed business practices. Not many travel companies have been slapped down by the SEC for irregular accounting practivces. So in your opinion this is all a good reputation?
Scam.com means nothing. It's tabloid. Travel Weekly is legit and they comment both ways with YTB. YTB never "sold" IATAN numbers. Slapped down by he SEC? Rarely is there Any company that is publicly traded will never make a mistake. Did you know that YTB has reported errors to the SEC before the SEC ever knew about it? Something that is relatively unheard of. The supplier canning for undisclosed business practices? Not sure whatFor i that is about.
ReplyDeleteYTB is the biggest networking travel company. It only makes sense that they draw the most scrutiny. Look at Wal-Mart and what they get on a daily basis. Just like the "YTB Bad Press" video on YouTube.
Here is what I have learned John. There are FACTS and then we attach MEANINGS to it. The thing is the meanings are all made up. We make them up and we can give the facts any meaning we want but they have nothing to do with the truth. Then whatever MEANING we attach to that FACT has to be cooborated by other meanings we look for. If you are anti-YTB whatever fact comes across the bow you will most likely attach a meaning that YTB is bad. Then you will continue to find more facts with made up meaning to prove that. However if you are not against YTB you may CHOOSE to view it as YTB is paying their growth taxes and ALL companies pay it.
Do you give any credibility to the DSA John?
ReplyDeleteDo you still need proof that Bob Seligman exists and has the credentials talked about?
ReplyDeleteDSA....very little credibility.
ReplyDeleteSeligman---still waiting. He is a concoction by Mike Arcarao in Florida to drum up businesss.
hello.
ReplyDeletefiremedic227 said...
ReplyDeleteDo you give any credibility to the DSA John?
Not really. YTB makes over 70% of their income from recruitment, not travel sales. They skirt the rules by showing that their RTAs make the bulk of their renumeration from travel sales, even though it's the REPs that get the bulk of the money from YTB for their recruiting.