How Much Is Your Time Worth?

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"I'd love to share my travel expertise for free but I don't think you'd have the nerve to ask your attorney or accountant to do the same thing, would you?"

Adrienne of Celebrations International Travel has initiated a conversation asking for agents' opinions on a topic that has been bugging her for some time. She writes:

What advice do you have to guard against getting your brain picked when potential clients call?  While I know one of the ways to deter shoppers is to charge a service fee, what I mean here is what happens while you're trying to determine what exactly this client needs (and subsequently whether he or she has a bona fide travel inquiry)? When I attempt to ask one or two basic questions just to understand what the person is looking for and didn't bargain for getting my brain picked, what should I do?

What do you think? Visit AgentNation, the industry’s only social network exclusively for travel agents, and share your thoughts.