Our Readers Speak Out On YTB Legal Action Story
- Aug 08, 2008
- By: Travel Agent Central Contributor
- TravelAgentCentral
Earlier in the week, Travel Agent's George Dooley reported on the California Attorney General's filing of a complaint against YourTravelBiz.com (YTB) for an alleged pyramid scheme. The story has remained a hot topic among travel agents and within the industry. See for yourself in some of the comments we have received on our website thus far.
Several have spoken out against YTB
On August 6, Anders Bailey commented:
"It is a shame that we, as professionals, have allowed our industry to become so weak that M.L.M. scams can prosper. Everyone reading this needs to contact their local network TV stations with News Departments as well as their local papers and have this action reported an explain the benefits of using a travel professional instead of a "Friend" selling you travel. If you have three, four, 10 or 20 travel agents you know in your area have them contact the News Departments too. This could be national headlines tomorrow if we all start calling. The "travel associations" we support do not have clout with the News Media. The News Media will not report on just a Press Release, they want to hear from YOU! Let’s start making the Travel Agent Profession a respected profession, act today!
Also on August 6, Maxine Foster said:
It's about time someone took action against YTB. I applaud the CA AG. I only hope more states
follow. YTB is a pariah in the travel industry. Companies such as YTB hurt our reputation and our
integrity.
Others have voiced resilient support of YTB
On August 7, Angela commented:
I started off with YTB and from there I've learned how to sell travel and make commissions for
my own home based travel agency. I was never mislead by YTB. I received the promised 60 percent of commission from travel I booked. Now I am constantly taking classes through CLIA in order to stay certified, and now I get 100 percent of my commissions and I get the recognition for the sale, not YTB. That is the difference. When I joined YTB I knew I was not in the game for the network marketing side of the company. I only wanted to sell travel, which I did and was paid accordingly. There is a $49.99 a month charge for the maintenance of the website which I needed to get rid of and I did. Just by becoming a member and registering my travel agency with CLIA. The money I spent monthly for the YTB website now goes towards my CLIA membership. YTB opened the doors to all of this for me. I just took it all to another level. I can't complain.
Also on August 7, laura@clgtravelnetwork.com said:
I am a CRTA with YTB and I've been paid for all travel booked on my site. I couldn't help but notice that it seemed like all the negative postings about this article were done by "Travel Professionals". I understand that it would be difficult to accept that your career may be obsolete but like a previous poster said, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em! I'm also a Funding Specialist with YTB and I am building my business by helping non-profits increase their funding by taking advantage of the travel industry. This is a blessing to any non-profit since after the site purchase, every other service to help the org is totally free to them, and they pay the same price as every other RTA. A pyramid scheme would exist if YTB paid for simply signing someone up without selling anything. They pay nothing to sign someone up as a REP. Every RTA should have known what they were PAYING for - they bought a business!
Indeed, the importance of this ongoing story within the travel industry remains significant, to say the least. We encourage are readers to continue sharing their comments to keep the discussion going. Please share your thoughts and experiences regarding YTB and the legal action pending against them by commenting below or on George Dooley's first report or follow up on the matter.
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Comments 1-10 of 38
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donna (NOVEMBER 18, 2008)
I have been a travel professional in the corporate world for 20+ years. When I learned about YTB and the opportunity to have a business that operates through the internet I was thrilled! It's no different than buying travel from Expedia or Travelocity; it's all legitimate product provided by reputable vendors through multiple search engines, the same way these others operate. Internet purchasing is growning, travel included. I am 100% satisfied with being a part of the YTB Family!
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Kathy (SEPTEMBER 29, 2008)
I have read with interest the comments previously made. I am a Registerd Nurse by Profession, and a YTB referring travel agent by Passion. I certainly understand where Professional Travel agents would become offended if a person took a one day class and called themselves a "travel agent". I know how I would feel if it were the same way about nursing.
But...there are people just like me...many people ...that have been traveling internationally for years.,booking it ourselves,passionate about travel, and willing to work hard to learn what it takes to profit in the industry.
The Travel Industry Professionals should feel complimented and embrace the YTB RTAs who want to "do it right".
As I have the good fortune of living by the home office in Wood River, I can attest that the multi-million dollar expasion is on schedule and our travel training opportunities are increasing.
#26 on Travel Sales Power List should say something...that's the industry talking...not YTB. -
Vlad (SEPTEMBER 06, 2008)
I'm with YTB and I'm proud of it. I just started, with this company and the amout of training and the support they have is just awesome. Network Marketing is legal. If you work for any large corporation or any company, you work for Pyramid. You will never be paid more then your Boss, with Network Marketing company any one cando it if they have a great work ethic.
I know you all hate Direct Sales Companies or you call it (MLM). Mary Kay, Avon and Pampered Schef Chef are all MLM companies. Now they have been around for a lot longer than YTB that is why most people know more about them, and the only people know about YTB are in travel industry.
Here is what Jim Cramer has to say about
direct selling companies.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=686220827
Check this link.
Tell me what you think: vlad_ua1@yahoo.com -
DB (AUGUST 17, 2008)
To DJ: Dated Aug 11th - Please do not take it personal about the information that I am providing. I was an RTA selling travel and earned my 60% commissions with YTB. However, after fully reading the Terms and Conditions, Policy and Procedures, Protect Your Business and the 2007 Disclosure statement I had to make the decision to leave YTB. In addition, since I have clients that enjoy sailing with Royal Carri and Abercrombie & Kent and YTB was unable to have them as a Preferred Suppliers, I had to find a host agency. Take the time to look at the documentation in your Back Office and then you can blog back.
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Liz Williams (AUGUST 15, 2008)
I was a agent through another agency. I was told by my group manager that going to YTB was the best thing we (4,000) agents could do. This was a big mistake. YTB is here to make money. If you are not pushing to sell your friends, family or?? you are not with the program. If you just want to sell travel, this is not the agency. YTB tell you that there are two way to be agent with YTB, a RTA or REP. As a RTA you pay 49.99 per month. As a REP, no cost, but you can only sell YTB, you can not sell travel.(Hmmmmmm). Tell me, why did Royal Caribbean Cruise Line probid YTB for selling their product?(Hmmmmmmm)
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ladytravels (AUGUST 13, 2008)
Wake up disgruntled travel agents! If we (YTB agents) weren't interested in selling travel, why would we even be on this web site? I, too, am taking classes, webinars etc. to learn my business. I don't wish to be critical of anyone, but some of you need to go back to school for spelling, grammar, & other proper usage of the English language.
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jfrenaye (AUGUST 12, 2008)
Bruce--
You are wrong. A REP does earn the 10% override if he has a power team and he has attended a CRTA class. If he does not meet those two criteria, then no he does not earn it. But this is a prime example of YTB mixing the two businesses.
As for the CRTA class, it is mostly recruiting in the morning and ALL recruiting in the afternoon. I have been there and witnessed it and I even have the book with the slides to prove it. -
DM (AUGUST 12, 2008)
YTB is a solid company, publicly traded, doing business in a very large industry.
It's business model is just different than the traditional Brick & Mortar businesses. It emulates other online companies then seperates itself by providing additonal services the others cannot or will not.
The main reason for all the negative press is due to market share continuing to shift away from traditional business. YTB did not start this revolution, they embraced it. YTB founders were smart enough to recognize this fact, then built the YTB business model.
I understand that traditional travel agents have a problem with this. They are fearful of the outcome as YTB continues to surge forward to become the largest provider of leisure travel on the internet. YTB can only reach this goal by booking travel, hence they are a viable travel company.
Yes, an RTA can earn commisions too by sponsoring. Thats what makes this business that much more exciting.
Future YTB Director. -
Marvice (AUGUST 12, 2008)
Like everything else in this world, some people mess things up for everyone. I personallly like my YTB website and have enjoyed educating and attending classes and workshops to learn the travel business. I have not focused on having anyone join because I wanted to learn the business. Those of you in the travel business that seem to think you have some right to the industry are wrong. There are plenty of your kind that have been less than ethical. I have myself been burned by a once reputable travel agency. I don't see anything wrong with buying travel from reputable business by using a friend or family members website. It sounds to me a lot of you are jealous because most people don't like competition. Besides it cuts into your profit. But to think you have the right to deny me the right to have my own business and not spend thousands of dollars to operate a brick and mortar bldg is plain wrong. To label everyone as bad is wrong.
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Bruce (AUGUST 12, 2008)
Steve, it's a real shame that you are speaking from ignorance instead of reality. REPs who are not RTAs DO NOT receive a 10% override. In order to receive the override, you must be an RTA and must have become Certified by taking advanced courses (become a Certified RTA, or CRTA). Then you claim that only REPs teach the CRTA class, and not by people on the travel side. Another gross misrepresentation. I have been to a number of certifications, and know many of the RTAs who are teaching. Why don't you give us the names of those who are only REPS? And finally, the entire morning session (the bulk of the training) is about travel with the shorter portion about recruiting. Is there anything else you would like to mislead the public about?
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