November 3, 2007
Join a card mill / travel agency MLM?
I noticed a few more articles on those travel agent / "card mill" programs. This one says that you can get travel disocunts but that they might not be worth $500 + $50/month.
Then again if you're going to Europe for a month like I am, and you could get half price hotel rooms throughout your stay, you would end up saving a lot of money. I already have my reservations so I guess it's too late for me to consider this though.
This article looks at the business side of things. It's really a general criticism of the MLM industry that seems to have been written by someone with no actual network marketing experience (MLM and network marketing being the same thing).
The criticism starts and ends with the money you have to invest (they also mention how netowrk maketers will sometimes pressure frieds and family into wasting a lot of money but starting an MLM is not supposed to be expensive). In reality, if you enter an MLM the money you invest should be minimal. These travel agencies charging $500 and $50/month are much more expensive than regular MLMs like Amway and NuSkin/Pharmanex (which I've seen up close and personal).
Now I'm not here to defend the MLM industry either. I just want to point out that the financial investment isn't extreme (even the relatively high $500 is fairly cheap for starting your own business) as the strength of the MLM industry is that most anyone can join since it's so easy (cheap) to sign up.
Of course, that's also the weakness - anyone can join. I've met both great people and true scumbags who do network marketing. You can be arrogant, stupid, mean, whatever; someone will still sign you up. That's why I don't criticize Royal Caribbean for shunning business with these "card mills". If a company like YTB has zero quality control why would Royal Caribbean want to do business with those agents? Sure some will be fine, but some will be absolute scum.
Posted by James Trotta at November 3, 2007 1:44 PM | TrackBack
I's not too late for you to take advantage of YTB's discounts or upgrades. Sooner then better though, since your about to travel. Now. the YTB system and others weed out bad actors. They, like the cream come to the top.
RCCI gave up $15 mil in booked cruises and announce the financing of their own MLM travel booking, homebased business. They are dong it in what I think is a racist manner though...going only after ethics.
We recruit all that come, with desire and heart. No one will support a bad actor. I have not seen one yet, either. But like all professions it's possible.
Earl Allen Boek
Roberts Resorts Dot Net
530-378-1363
Plus your travel, when involved in your business is total write-off
Posted by: Earl Allen Boek at November 4, 2007 1:05 PMWhat RCCI mlm? I didn't hear about that.
Second, I can't believe you've been in business long if you've never seen a "bad actor".
Third, anyone who is considering any MLM ought to read "Your First Year in Network Marketing" by Yarnell & Yarnell.
Posted by: James Trotta at November 5, 2007 10:57 AMJames I have not seen any in my company yet. I assure you they would be gone in a day. I know the owners and they will not allow it. Why would they risk the most powerful, successful travel model ever invented?
I speak with 30 years background in the (MLM) Relationship Marketing Business. I have not read Yarnell, but I too can always learn.
No one denies that RM is the most cost effective way to deliver products, goods and services to the final user.
Our business model speaks for itself. Watch this coming week for new news on record bookings on Carnival Cruise Lines. Our company is about to stun the conventional travel industry, in answer to RCCI ill-advised move to cancell contracts with our company. Thanks for allowing the comments.
Earl Allen Boek
Posted by: Earl Allen Boek at November 5, 2007 12:36 PMActually tons of people deny that network marketing or relationship marketing as you call it is the most cost effective way to deliver products. Some of them simply don't understand advertising. Others would argue that Seth Godin's "Purple Cow" marketing ideas are more cost effective (they are correct although network marketing shares a lot of things with Godin's ideas).
And I am positive that the owners of YTB do NOT know every one of their "travel agents". How could they when thousands of people just sign up online? So, to be blunt and honest here, I find your comment that any jerks would be gone in a day terribly misleading. MLMs don't work like that and lying about the fact helps give the industry its mostly bad repuation.
Posted by: James Trotta at November 6, 2007 12:25 PMJames: We had one agent take funds from a customer that I know of, and not deliver the trip.
That agent was fired as soon as it came to light and was looked into. Also, something that the traditional agents and vendors have not addressed, YTB, refunded all the money to that customer, without having the reasponsibility to even do it.
I read dozens of cases where hundreds of potential travel agents have taken cash and checks and not delivered on the travel. The justice system addresses these cases. What does the traditional travel industry do to make these travelers whole again? Nothing. The travel media, the travel leadership, the travel assoicates and the vendors all ignore the losses.
Why? To address the issues and needed refunds would cost millions a year.
The industry's lack of action in this matter is costing them millions in potential travel and the negative news that comes out of each and every incident of fraud by the conventional travel agents is driving travelers to purchase direct and online. They are being driven to business models like mine. YTB travel.
Please don't speak to me about being blunt and honest here. You can't take the truth.
Isn't ignoring the facts a form of lying? As far as the bad reputation of the conventional travel industry. It's a little late to try to correct that now. The conventional travel agent and the industry it represents is going the way of the dinosaur. I recent report suggest another loss of conventional travel agencies for 2007.
Keep up the good work and mis-information.
RobertsResorts.Net
Posted by: Earl Allen Boek at January 18, 2008 1:43 PMNotice: Post above should have said.
Dozens of tradtional agents have stolen cash and checks intended for travel purchases, from hundreds of customers in 2007. Not the other way around. Sorry I missed it in my preview of the post.
Don't need to mislead anyone about the size of the problem, it adds up to millions of losses for 2007, while no travel leader, association, media, conventional travel vendor coming up with a solution or even a suggestion.
RobertsResorts.Net
Posted by: Earl Allen Boek at January 18, 2008 1:48 PM