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| The Tripology website, as of the 2014 redesign. |
Travel agent lead generation site Tripology has ceased operations, according to a statement on the Tripology website.
"Since our launch, Tripology has strived to connect trusted travel agents with travelers across the globe," Tripology said in a statement. "We have a great passion for informing the travel community and have had a lot of fun sharing our enthusiasm with you. Together we have built a strong community of followers, contributors, and partners. However, we have made the decision to cease operations. It’s been a great run and we thank everyone who has been part of our journey."
Agents can download their Tripology history as a .csv file by logging into their account before June 25, 2015.
Tripology was founded in 2007 as an online service aimed at matching consumers with travel agents. The company briefly ceased operations in 2010, before being acquired by Rand McNally. USA Today Travel Media Group then bought Tripology from Rand McNally in April 2013, relaunching the service with a redesigned website and plans to increase the service's exposure through trip request widgets on USA Today Travel Media Group's online properties, such as USA TODAY, 10Best.com, Experience Cruises, Experience Caribbean, Experience Beach, Experience Food & Wine and other Experience Travel sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tripology has released the following FAQ for travel agents on the shutdown:
Why is Tripology shutting down?
The Tripology community includes highly engaged and loyal contributors, but unfortunately, it hasn’t grown at the pace we had expected. Therefore, we have made the tough decision to shut down the service.
What will happen to my Tripology account history after the shutdown?
From now until June 25, 2015, you’ll be able to access and download your history in CSV format by logging into your Tripology account and clicking on "Download your purchased leads."
After June 25, 2015, your profile will no longer be accessible and you will not be able to download your Tripology history.
How long will the website stay active?
As of June 16, 2015, the website is no longer accepting new trip requests and/or sending leads to your Tripology account.
As of June 16, 2015, leads are also not available for purchase.
We encourage you to access your Tripology account and retrieve past client information by going to "View Transactions" and downloading a report of your historical leads by clicking on "Download your purchased leads."
After June 25, 2015, your profile will no longer be accessible and you will not be able to download your Tripology history.
What happens to leads that were purchased before June 16, 2015?
As of June 16, 2015, the Tripology client contact form has been disabled.
You are encouraged to contact any leads in progress using your own email account and/or by phone if the client has given his or her phone number.
What happens to the trip requests that have not yet been purchased as leads?
As of June 16, 2015, all qualifying trip requests have been referred to the appropriate agents.
Any requests not referred to an agent by this time have been notified by email that we are unable to process their request.
What is your refund policy?
Tripology will use commercially reasonable efforts to refund the remaining paid lead credit balances as of June 16, 2015.
We'll not issue refunds for:
Any unpaid lead credits including free, promotional, and/or courtesy lead credits left in your Tripology account.
Please note, if you have both paid and unpaid lead credits remaining in your account, it is always assumed that paid lead credits are depleted first and unpaid lead credits last.
Per the updates made to Tripology’s Terms of Service and an email notification sent to all registered agents on November 5, 2013, we will not issue refunds for unused lead credits if you haven't made a lead purchase within two years of registering.
Please note, if you have not logged into your account since June 16, 2013 and did not purchase a lead before June 16, 2015, all lead credits in your account as of that date will be forever forfeited.
How will I be reimbursed for my lead credits?
Beginning June 22, 2015, all registered Tripology agents that have been active on the account at any point June 16, 2013 with remaining paid lead credits will receive a refund by check, mailed to the physical address on file.
To ensure that you receive your refund, please verify that you have the correct mailing address on file. You may update your mailing address by logging into your Tripology account before June 25, 2015 and going to http://www.tripology.com/agent/company/.
When will my refund payment be made?
The refund payment will be initiated beginning June 22, 2015 for remaining paid lead credit balances.
Please allow a minimum of 14 days to receive your refund payment in the mail.
What if I used a credit card to make a lead purchase?
All refunds will be made by check, mailed to the physical address on file.
To ensure that you receive your refund, please verify that you have the correct mailing address on file. You may update your mailing address by logging into your Tripology account and going to http://www.tripology.com/agent/company/.
How do I contact the Tripology support team?
From now until June 25, 2015, you can contact our knowledgeable Relationship Manager for any and all assistance you need with your Tripology account during the shutdown.
Business Hours: 9AM to 6PM EST (Monday through Friday)
Phone: 1-800-924-0722
Email: [email protected]
What do you think the decision to shut down the service means for travel agents going forward? Let us know in the comments below or on our Facebook page.