Since I've been gone for the past couple of months on our wedding and honeymoon, I got a disturbingly large amount of phone calls and e-mails from another travel company's reps trying to recruit me into their business. Starting about a year ago, I had one rep try on more than one occasion to get me to leave by comparing YTB to their travel company (let's call it "TC"), mainly the start-up fee.
I think the deluge of TC folks bombarding me with their pitches began in large part to YTB's 2007 Income Disclosure statement.
The constant flood of sales pitches over the past few months gives me no choice but to "clarify" a few things for those who may fall prey to the "TC" is better that YTB trap.
First, I want to begin by making a blanket statement for all of the other Travel Company reps out there- don't waste your time calling or e-mailing me. I am not interested in joining your company- YTB is the only travel company for me.
Now, onto the real stuff of the YTB versus TC debate...
The YTB Income Disclosure Statement
Here's what one TC Rep said:
According to the 2007 Income Disclosure Statement at YTB, only 4% will ever get to their power team. In addition, less than 1/3 of 1% will ever make it into coach's corner. There is over 246,000 reps of which 95% an average of $90.32 in yearly income
Okay, now the first OBVIOUS question to pose to the suave TC salesperson is this: "Could you please send me a copy of TC's 2007 Income Disclosure Statement". If the answer is anything but, "sure here you go" then you need to take everything they say after that point with a grain of salt.
The truth of the matter is that YTB's statistics are fairly representative of network marketing companies in general...95% make little to no money at all. I seriously doubt that TC's statistics are any better.
Let me give you a real world example- I have at least 23 Reps whom I contacted after they joined as a Rep who said that they were "just looking". 23- in just MY organization, who are nothing but "tire kickers". Multiply that by the Tens of Thousands of active Reps (i.e, non-tire kickers) and you start to see why it is that such a large percentage never make any money...THEY DON'T WORK THE BUSINESS AT ALL!
Now, if you think that people who just sign up to "look around" because it's free should be compensated by YTB, then you need to head on over to Cuba and hang with the Communist crowd! In this capitalist society, you get paid for the value you bring to the marketplace- you don't work, you don't get paid. Ask your friendly TC rep if they are just handing out checks to those who don't work the business at all, I'll bet my life they will say no.
Therefore, common sense dictates that taking the amount of commissions paid by YTB in 2007 and dividing it by the number of Reps is completely ridiculous. In reality, you have just about the same percentage of success in most any legitimate company. Your success depends in large part on YOU.
Marketing Techniques
One of the things that really struck me about one particular company, is that it has become very apparent how they are marketing the business... encouraging their reps to contact current YTB reps and try to get them to leave YTB for their company. Hmmm... Questionable tactic at best. I have never once contacted someone who did not contact me first for more information, and I never once enouraged someone to leave their company to come to YTB...but that's just me.
The Price To Join
Another favorite of TC Reps is to show how much "cheaper" TC is to join. Now, if we are comparing prices on something- anything, doesn't it make sense to make sure that you are comparing apples to apples?
For example, if you are looking to buy a car- do you just look at the price? Geez, I hope not! You look at features...what car gives you the most bang for your buck? what car has the features you want?
Now, let's look at YTB. For $449.00 you get an on-line travel booking engine, the ability to book travel directly with vendors, a YTB Flowers site, a YTB Cars site, a YTB Outdoors site, a YTB golf site, and a marketing site, complete with a back office for both travel and marketing. (assuming you sign up as a Rep and an RTA). Then your monthly web-hosting fee for your travel booking engine is $49.95 per month (which is refunded if you sell 6 travel stores). As an RTA you receive 60% of the commission earned by YTB on the sale of travel.
Now, from what I understand about TC:
When you join at their "low, low rate" (which varies from $49 to $99 depending on what day of the week it is and a $49.95 monthly fee) you don't get any credentials, don't have the ability to work with travel vendors directly, and you only get a 20% commission on travel booked through you. Okay, so with the base package you pay the same monthly fee, but your products are limited (because you can't book directly through vendors) AND you get 40% LESS of the commission on all travel booked through you! If you plan to book a lot of travel on your site, the joke's on you, because while you saved $300 on the initial fee, how much commission will you lose over the next few years because you only get a 20% commission?!?
Now, if you want a sharp looking website- you'll add another $9.95 for that. Do you want to market the TC opportunity? Well, it's gonna cost you-another $19.95 a month. So, now you are paying almost $80 per month for a fraction of what YTB offers (remember, YTB has numerous product websites- YTB Flowers, YTB Cars, YTB Golf, Honeymoon Wishes, YTB Romance etc. which all come with your $449 start-up fee).
It doesn't take an accountant to figure out that after just a year, TC is actually MORE expensive than YTB for less features.
I could go through an even more thorough analysis of the differences between YTB and other travel companies(YTB is #26 on Travel Weekly's 2008 Power List (up from #36 last year), YTB is a member of the Direct Selling Association, etc, etc.) but I will leave the due diligence up to you!
Best of Luck!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Monday, January 7, 2008
YTB: Fact of Fiction
If you are searching for information about whether or not YTB is a scam, you came to the right place! I will address some of the big misconceptions and rumors going on about YTB at the moment.
YTB is a “Card Mill”. Fiction.
The “Card Mill” label has gotten slapped onto pretty much every opportunity to sell travel except brick-and-mortar travel agencies. A true “card mill” is a company who sells “travel credential cards” for a fee, and the company does not really sell travel.
In response to the rapid growth of YTB and other travel companies using the network marketing business model, a band of really angry brick-and-mortar travel agents have gone on a quest to rid the world of all network marketing travel companies. They’ll try to tell you its because YTB and others don’t sell travel. The problem is: we do, and we have started putting a dent in their customer base...which is what has prompted this reaction from the brick-and-mortar folks.
Truth be told, YTB was named by Travel Weekly (which dubs itself the "National Newspaper of the Travel Industry") as one of the top eleven leisure travel agencies and one of the 35 largest travel agencies overall for 2006. Just recently, YTB International President, J. Kim Sorensen, was even named by Travel Weekly as one of the 33 most influential people in the travel industry. Not to mention that little record-setting cruise "sail-a-thon," YTB held last November which booked more than 12,000 passengers in less than 24 hours. Sound like a card mill? I don't think so.
YTB Lost Its IATAN Status So It Can’t Book Travel. Fiction.
Yes, IATAN temporarily has suspend YTB's IATAN status. However, it really isn't that big of a deal. IATAN is a travel trade organization. It sounds like a fancy governing organization, but the bottom line is, it is just a trade organization. Now that you know this, it should be no surprise that YTB can and is still booking travel while the technicalities of the suspension are being ironed out. My bet: YTB will be back in IATAN’s good graces in the next few months.
If I Join YTB, I’ll Have to Recruit Other People. Fiction.
Looking at my own YTB team, I can tell you that I did the statistics and exactly 50% of my team is composed of people who were interested in just selling travel. Some were in the brick-and-mortar travel industry and moved to an on-line business due to the overhead, others are in the wedding industry who are marketing to their clients’ honeymoon needs, and others travel a lot and enjoy the perks of booking their own travel. The YTB Travel opportunity is very real, and very serious. Learn more about the opportunity to sell travel by visiting: http://www.bluescitytravelbiz.com/
YTB has never made a profit. Fiction.
YTB recently reported its second consecutive quarter of profitability and record revenue and net income figures of $39.9 million and $2.1 million respectively. The truth of the matter is that most companies are not profitable from the start. The costs of getting the big machine turning far exceed initial revenue. This is how the story goes for most businesses. What is incredible about YTB is that it actually became profitable while also investing substantial money into improving travel training for its Referring Travel Agents by the creation of an eCampus Training feature is incredible. YTB is going to spend money to improve the company, and if you are looking to join YTB, this should be a plus not a minus!
YTB revenues come mainly from selling business opportunities rather than from selling its core product: travel. Fiction.
YTB offers two real products: Travel and Travel Stores. Referring Travel Agents (RTAs) sell Travel only. They make commission based on the travel they sell. RTAs cannot sell Travel Stores. There is a fee to become an RTA of around $500, with a $49.95 monthly web-hosting fee. Quite reasonable for a travel store in a box!
Independent Marketing Representatives (IMRs or Reps) sell Travel Stores. Reps make commissions from the sale of travel stores ONLY. There is no fee to become a Rep. Reps cannot sell travel. Reps do not make money from signing up other Reps. Since it is free to become a Rep, the only “business” being sold by YTB is the opportunity for a person to become a Home Based Travel Agent who can sell travel and make a commission. This opportunity isn’t just some invisible “opportunity.” It is a tangible product: an e-commerce-ready travel booking engine, complete with sales tracking, marketing resources, training, etc. It is truly a business-in-a-box!
YTB Changes Lives. Fact.
A little over a year ago, I was pretty bummed at the idea of spending the next 40 years trading my time for money as an attorney, and categorizing my days in increments of tenths of an hour. I was introduced to YTB, and after about eight solid months of studying network marketing and working my YTB business, I am enjoying a four-figure supplement to my monthly income, and now it appears that within the next couple of years I will be putting away my time sheet, walking away from my law practice, and spending my time doing what I love to do most: help others reach their goals.
YTB is a “Card Mill”. Fiction.
The “Card Mill” label has gotten slapped onto pretty much every opportunity to sell travel except brick-and-mortar travel agencies. A true “card mill” is a company who sells “travel credential cards” for a fee, and the company does not really sell travel.
In response to the rapid growth of YTB and other travel companies using the network marketing business model, a band of really angry brick-and-mortar travel agents have gone on a quest to rid the world of all network marketing travel companies. They’ll try to tell you its because YTB and others don’t sell travel. The problem is: we do, and we have started putting a dent in their customer base...which is what has prompted this reaction from the brick-and-mortar folks.
Truth be told, YTB was named by Travel Weekly (which dubs itself the "National Newspaper of the Travel Industry") as one of the top eleven leisure travel agencies and one of the 35 largest travel agencies overall for 2006. Just recently, YTB International President, J. Kim Sorensen, was even named by Travel Weekly as one of the 33 most influential people in the travel industry. Not to mention that little record-setting cruise "sail-a-thon," YTB held last November which booked more than 12,000 passengers in less than 24 hours. Sound like a card mill? I don't think so.
YTB Lost Its IATAN Status So It Can’t Book Travel. Fiction.
Yes, IATAN temporarily has suspend YTB's IATAN status. However, it really isn't that big of a deal. IATAN is a travel trade organization. It sounds like a fancy governing organization, but the bottom line is, it is just a trade organization. Now that you know this, it should be no surprise that YTB can and is still booking travel while the technicalities of the suspension are being ironed out. My bet: YTB will be back in IATAN’s good graces in the next few months.
If I Join YTB, I’ll Have to Recruit Other People. Fiction.
Looking at my own YTB team, I can tell you that I did the statistics and exactly 50% of my team is composed of people who were interested in just selling travel. Some were in the brick-and-mortar travel industry and moved to an on-line business due to the overhead, others are in the wedding industry who are marketing to their clients’ honeymoon needs, and others travel a lot and enjoy the perks of booking their own travel. The YTB Travel opportunity is very real, and very serious. Learn more about the opportunity to sell travel by visiting: http://www.bluescitytravelbiz.com/
YTB has never made a profit. Fiction.
YTB recently reported its second consecutive quarter of profitability and record revenue and net income figures of $39.9 million and $2.1 million respectively. The truth of the matter is that most companies are not profitable from the start. The costs of getting the big machine turning far exceed initial revenue. This is how the story goes for most businesses. What is incredible about YTB is that it actually became profitable while also investing substantial money into improving travel training for its Referring Travel Agents by the creation of an eCampus Training feature is incredible. YTB is going to spend money to improve the company, and if you are looking to join YTB, this should be a plus not a minus!
YTB revenues come mainly from selling business opportunities rather than from selling its core product: travel. Fiction.
YTB offers two real products: Travel and Travel Stores. Referring Travel Agents (RTAs) sell Travel only. They make commission based on the travel they sell. RTAs cannot sell Travel Stores. There is a fee to become an RTA of around $500, with a $49.95 monthly web-hosting fee. Quite reasonable for a travel store in a box!
Independent Marketing Representatives (IMRs or Reps) sell Travel Stores. Reps make commissions from the sale of travel stores ONLY. There is no fee to become a Rep. Reps cannot sell travel. Reps do not make money from signing up other Reps. Since it is free to become a Rep, the only “business” being sold by YTB is the opportunity for a person to become a Home Based Travel Agent who can sell travel and make a commission. This opportunity isn’t just some invisible “opportunity.” It is a tangible product: an e-commerce-ready travel booking engine, complete with sales tracking, marketing resources, training, etc. It is truly a business-in-a-box!
YTB Changes Lives. Fact.
A little over a year ago, I was pretty bummed at the idea of spending the next 40 years trading my time for money as an attorney, and categorizing my days in increments of tenths of an hour. I was introduced to YTB, and after about eight solid months of studying network marketing and working my YTB business, I am enjoying a four-figure supplement to my monthly income, and now it appears that within the next couple of years I will be putting away my time sheet, walking away from my law practice, and spending my time doing what I love to do most: help others reach their goals.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
YTB Scam Alert: The Truth on Those Numbers From the Financial Reports
Always dedicated to helping you get the facts on YTB, I wanted to address all of those out there that claim: The average YTB Referring Travel Agent (RTA) makes $40 per year (or $70 or some other variation of a minuscule number). They’ll tell you that this is based on YTB’s own financial records and things of the like which appear to give credibility to this statement.
What these people are doing is simply dividing the YTB yearly amount of gross commissions received by the number of active RTAs to come up with this figure. Common sense should tell you that this figure is a bit deceptive.
Not all have the same:
- Education on the travel products
- Number of contacts to market their travel website to
- Money to spend to advertise their business
- Time to dedicate to their business
- Dedication to growing the business
This isn’t comparing apples to apples. For example, I have a couple of people who purchased travel stores just so their friends and family could book on their site. Others really wanted to dive into and learn everything about the travel products so that they could start booking travel for their company, church group, civic group, etc. And then there are people such as myself who joined in October, but due to an unforeseen health issue was unable to start working the business until January. Some are totally new to the travel industry, and others are travel pros.
Do you REALLY think that each of these RTAs are equal and deserve to earn the same amount? No way! The people that focus on the travel business, educating themselves on the products, and marketing their travel business are going to make more money than those who spend an hour or less per week on the business.
Each of YTB’s 106,102 RTAs come from different backgrounds, which will determine how quickly they will earn money and how much. Dividing YTB’s gross commission revenue by 106,102 won’t tell you anything whatsoever that you should consider before you join YTB.
If you take the time to educate yourself and market your business, you should make more than that $40 or $70 the naysayers love to quote
A similar deceptive YTB scam argument using figures is the one where people say that YTB only shows $x in travel revenue…so obviously the $256 million figure in 2006 was fraudulent. You look at the financials, and hey- they are right…or are they?
YTB doesn’t put the “retail sales” on their books! YTB sells travel for vendors. Vendors get the “retail sale” money. YTB, in return, gets the commission. Thus, YTB’s travel revenue reflects the travel commission earned. Very simple answer to a very sneaky argument made by the naysayers.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Is YTB Legitimate?
It's funny. When you tell someone about YTB some people will automatically say: Oh, YTB is just another one of those pyramid scams.
What's even funnier, is the person making that comment is at his 9 to 5, hoping that his vacation time will be approved, and waiting for the 15th of the month to receive his paycheck. That person is forced to work when another person tells him he has to work, trading his hours for wages- and he'll gladly give you his opinion that YTB is a scam!
Oh, wait- but YTB has to be one of those pyramid schemes right? One person gets more people, who get more people. It's a pyramid. Don't get wrapped up in the hype. Think logically.
You know what a pyramid is? It's one of the strongest structures in the world. The cheerleader at the top, isn't worried about falling, because of the solid base below. Fortune 500 companies, pyramids. US Government, pyramid. The Vatican- pyramid. One of the 7 World Wonders-pyramid.
You know what a pyramid is? It's one of the strongest structures in the world. The cheerleader at the top, isn't worried about falling, because of the solid base below. Fortune 500 companies, pyramids. US Government, pyramid. The Vatican- pyramid. One of the 7 World Wonders-pyramid.
But for some odd reason, the majority of folks blindly follow the belief that they HAVE to work their way up the pyramid, and that building down is wrong. Why is that? Doesn't everyone have the ability to be a CEO? Well, maybe not everyone, but most do. The problem is, the majority of folks aren't willing to do what it takes to get there.
Many people want an income guarantee. And they think that their J-O-B provides them with that more so than YTB or another home-based business. Your income from your job isn't truly dependent upon you, but instead, on your employer.
Sure, you need to do some work to ensure that you keep your job, but all things being equal...If your employer crumbles, and it can happen, ask the folks at Enron- you're on your own. If your employer decides to go towards automating their systems--you're on your own. If your employer finds cheaper labor elsewhere- you're on your own.
Still think you've got an income guarantee at your job?
Actually your job does offer you one guaranteee, and that is:
You will NEVER make more money than your boss, muchless the CEO or President of your company
You will NEVER make more money than your boss, muchless the CEO or President of your company
Why?
Because apparently if you have to pay money to make money, it is automatically a scam. Have you ever stopped to think about what that means? If you did, you would realize just how ridiculous that "advice" is.
I have worked with people who are starting their businesses. I've also worked with people who were filing bankruptcy when their businesses failed. Do you want to know what kind of money it takes to start a business? Let's see....
You'll need start-up capital: $100,000 to $500,000.
You'll need real estate, which either requires you to buy land and build, or rent space (both are costly)
There are, of course, legal fees. Which can range from $1,000 just for a simple corporate formation document to $100,000+ for complex partnerships. Not to mention, you'll need your attorney to draft and review contracts with vendors or other business partners, review your lease agreement or sales agreement, etc.
You'll likely have insurance costs. Licensing fees, Bonding fees
Then you'll want to advertise your business, so there are printing costs, advertising agency fees, etc.
At the end of the day, it can take you three to five years or more before you actually make a profit. And of course, you will be spending 80-100 hours per week building your business.
And sadly, after putting in all of that time building your business, your business may never become profitable. Or worse, your business may fail.
And sadly, after putting in all of that time building your business, your business may never become profitable. Or worse, your business may fail.
Unfortunately, most just can't walk away and say "oh well". I know this because of the many people I've worked with who have been financially ruined by a bad business venture.
Knowing all of this, and the fact that the US Small Business Administration estimates that 50% of all small businesses fail in the first year, it is incredible to me that people still want to say that paying $450 initially and $50/month to start and maintain a fully functional travel business is a scam. Hopefully, you are no longer one of those people.
Knowing all of this, and the fact that the US Small Business Administration estimates that 50% of all small businesses fail in the first year, it is incredible to me that people still want to say that paying $450 initially and $50/month to start and maintain a fully functional travel business is a scam. Hopefully, you are no longer one of those people.
Want to know my experience with YTB? In my first few months with YTB, I pretty much focused on telling my friends and family about my travel website. I made travel commissions with YTB in my first month! Best of all, a few months later, I recieved a much larger refund check from the government because of all of the business deductions I was able to take advantage of with my new business. Together, these two things made me more money than the initial sign up fee.
Not only that, last month I went on a trip and saved money on a hotel because of my YTB referring travel agent(RTA) status. The money I saved was more than my monthly web hosting fee. So, I had a little extra cash in my pocket thanks to my business. Throw in the commissions for building the business, and you can see why YTB is a legitimate business opportunity.
Your Travel Biz is no scam. The majority of failures in this business, and any business, are a direct result of people being unwilling to put in the necessary time, effort, and yes, money to build their business. YTB is not a J-O-B. YTB is a business. If you treat it as such, the possibilities are endless. And unlike your 9 to 5, this business can set you financially free!
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Your Travel Biz is no scam. The majority of failures in this business, and any business, are a direct result of people being unwilling to put in the necessary time, effort, and yes, money to build their business. YTB is not a J-O-B. YTB is a business. If you treat it as such, the possibilities are endless. And unlike your 9 to 5, this business can set you financially free!
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Monday, September 24, 2007
More on the YTB Scam
You know, there are REALLY scams out there- ones that are taking people's money every single day. What really makes me mad is when people try to lump legitimate businesses in with these other scams.If you are truly doing your due-diligence on YTB, you need to be armed with the appropriate information to make an informed decision. Don't just rely on "Scam sites" that automatically deem virtually ALL businesses "scams" except "miraculously" their one program.
You should also be hesitant to base your decision on the opinion of a business owner in a competing business. They do not have your best interest at heart.
Finally, the one thing that absolutely blows my mind is when people look at one Better Business Bureau bad "report" and judge an entire company. First of all the BBB is not a governmental organization, it is a private entity that sells "memberships" to businesses. Who gets favorable ratings? their members. There is much debate as to the BBB's impartiality.
So, sadly, they aren't the end-all-be-all judges of "scams" versus "legitimate business opportunities". Also involved are the competitors who want to tank the other business' reputation by filing bogus complaints.
Another problem with relying on the reports are that there are THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS of YTB Reps and RTA's. As hard as YTB may try, they simply cannot control all of the actions of every single one of their agents. Sadly, some people resort to hype and lies to get people into the business. If someone has told you that this business won't take any work, and the money comes quick and easy- talk to me first, I'll give you the real story.
One of the things that I tell people looking at YTB is that while it is a legitimate business opportunity, it does take work. This isn't the lottery where you put in $1 and get millions. It isn't a "get rich quick" scheme.This business, for most, won't get you millions in a short period of time, you've got to be willing to dedicate a few years, at least. But, unlike your 9 to 5, this business CAN set your financially free.
Another one of my pet-peeve YTB Scam comments is that YTB Reps get paid for signing up other Reps. WRONG.To sell travel stores- it costs nothing. This is known as a Rep or an Independent Marketing Representative/"IMR". You do not make commissions from getting Reps to join your business.Reps sell a product: travel stores. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. To check out a sample travel store click here.When you sell a travel store, you make a commission.
People who purchase travel stores are known as RTA's or Referring Travel Agents.Referring Travel Agents pay a one-time start-up fee of $449 and then a recurring monthly webhosting fee of $49.95. Some say the recurring fee is the YTB scam. This is completely ridiculous.YTB provides you with a fully-functional e-commerce website. They host your website. They offer customer service to your customers. They fulfill your customer's travel requests. They track all of your sales. They send out marketing pieces to your travel customers weekly. They offer you travel training. That is worth WAY more than a measly $49.95 per month. I have other websites, and I know that hosting and design, and order fulfillment can cost way more than the price YTB charges. More importantly, RTA's cannot sell travel stores. So, when you purchase a travel store, unless you decide to also be an IMR, you cannot make commission off of the sale of travel stores. RTA's sell a product: travel. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
YTB is not a scam. I have had more fun with this business, and I've definitely made money with it.
You should also be hesitant to base your decision on the opinion of a business owner in a competing business. They do not have your best interest at heart.
Finally, the one thing that absolutely blows my mind is when people look at one Better Business Bureau bad "report" and judge an entire company. First of all the BBB is not a governmental organization, it is a private entity that sells "memberships" to businesses. Who gets favorable ratings? their members. There is much debate as to the BBB's impartiality.
So, sadly, they aren't the end-all-be-all judges of "scams" versus "legitimate business opportunities". Also involved are the competitors who want to tank the other business' reputation by filing bogus complaints.
Another problem with relying on the reports are that there are THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS of YTB Reps and RTA's. As hard as YTB may try, they simply cannot control all of the actions of every single one of their agents. Sadly, some people resort to hype and lies to get people into the business. If someone has told you that this business won't take any work, and the money comes quick and easy- talk to me first, I'll give you the real story.
One of the things that I tell people looking at YTB is that while it is a legitimate business opportunity, it does take work. This isn't the lottery where you put in $1 and get millions. It isn't a "get rich quick" scheme.This business, for most, won't get you millions in a short period of time, you've got to be willing to dedicate a few years, at least. But, unlike your 9 to 5, this business CAN set your financially free.
Another one of my pet-peeve YTB Scam comments is that YTB Reps get paid for signing up other Reps. WRONG.To sell travel stores- it costs nothing. This is known as a Rep or an Independent Marketing Representative/"IMR". You do not make commissions from getting Reps to join your business.Reps sell a product: travel stores. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. To check out a sample travel store click here.When you sell a travel store, you make a commission.
People who purchase travel stores are known as RTA's or Referring Travel Agents.Referring Travel Agents pay a one-time start-up fee of $449 and then a recurring monthly webhosting fee of $49.95. Some say the recurring fee is the YTB scam. This is completely ridiculous.YTB provides you with a fully-functional e-commerce website. They host your website. They offer customer service to your customers. They fulfill your customer's travel requests. They track all of your sales. They send out marketing pieces to your travel customers weekly. They offer you travel training. That is worth WAY more than a measly $49.95 per month. I have other websites, and I know that hosting and design, and order fulfillment can cost way more than the price YTB charges. More importantly, RTA's cannot sell travel stores. So, when you purchase a travel store, unless you decide to also be an IMR, you cannot make commission off of the sale of travel stores. RTA's sell a product: travel. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
YTB is not a scam. I have had more fun with this business, and I've definitely made money with it.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
YTB Scam? Find Out Here.
It's funny. When you tell someone about YTB some people will automatically say: Oh, YTB is just another one of those pyramid scams.
What's even funnier, is the person making that comment is at his 9 to 5, hoping that his vacation time will be approved, and waiting for the 15th of the month to receive his paycheck. That person is forced to work when another person tells him he has to work, trading his hours for wages- and he'll gladly give you his opinion that YTB is a scam!
Oh, wait- but YTB has to be one of those pyramid schemes right? One person gets more people, who get more people. It's a pyramid. Don't get wrapped up in the hype. Think logically.
You know what a pyramid is? It's one of the strongest structures in the world. The cheerleader at the top, isn't worried about falling, because of the solid base below. Fortune 500 companies, pyramids. US Government, pyramid. The Vatican- pyramid. One of the 7 World Wonders-pyramid.
But for some odd reason, the majority of folks blindly follow the belief that they HAVE to work their way up the pyramid, and that building down is wrong. Why is that? Doesn't everyone have the ability to be a CEO? Well, maybe not everyone, but most do. The problem is, the majority of folks aren't willing to do what it takes to get there.
Many people want an income guarantee. And they think that their J-O-B provides them with that more so than YTB or another home-based business. Your income from your job isn't truly dependent upon you, but instead, on your employer.
Sure, you need to do some work to ensure that you keep your job, but all things being equal...If your employer crumbles, and it can happen, ask the folks at Enron- you're on your own. If your employer decides to go towards automating their systems--you're on your own. If your employer finds cheaper labor elsewhere- you're on your own.
Still think you've got an income guarantee at your job?
Actually your job does offer you one guaranteee, and that is:
You will NEVER make more money than your boss, muchless the CEO or President of your company
If you have surfed the Internet you KNOW that people are making a killing online, but STILL people say that online businesses are a scam.
Why?
Because apparently if you have to pay money to make money, it is automatically a scam. Have you ever stopped to think about what that means? If you did, you would realize just how ridiculous that "advice" is.
I have worked with people who are starting their businesses. I've also worked with people who were filing bankruptcy when their businesses failed. Do you want to know what kind of money it takes to start a business? Let's see....
You'll need start-up capital: $100,000 to $500,000.
You'll need real estate, which either requires you to buy land and build, or rent space (both are costly)
There are, of course, legal fees. Which can range from $1,000 just for a simple corporate formation document to $100,000+ for complex partnerships. Not to mention, you'll need your attorney to draft and review contracts with vendors or other business partners, review your lease agreement or sales agreement, etc.
You'll likely have insurance costs. Licensing fees, Bonding fees
Then you'll want to advertise your business, so there are printing costs, advertising agency fees, etc.
At the end of the day, it can take you three to five years or more before you actually make a profit. And of course, you will be spending 80-100 hours per week building your business.
And sadly, after putting in all of that time building your business, your business may never become profitable. Or worse, your business may fail.
Unfortunately, most just can't walk away and say "oh well". I know this because of the many people I've worked with who have been financially ruined by a bad business venture.
Knowing all of this, and the fact that the US Small Business Administration estimates that 50% of all small businesses fail in the first year, it is incredible to me that people still want to say that paying $450 initially and $50/month to start and maintain a fully functional travel business is a scam. Hopefully, you are no longer one of those people.
Want to know my experience with YTB? In my first few months with YTB, I pretty much focused on telling my friends and family about my travel webste. I made travel commissions with YTB in my first month! Best of all, a few months later, I recieved a much larger refund check from the government because of all of the business deductions I was able to take advantage of with my new business. Together, these two things made me more money than the initial sign up fee.
Not only that, last month I went on a trip and saved money on a hotel because of my YTB referring travel agent(RTA) status. The money I saved was more than my monthly web hosting fee. So, I had a little extra cash in my pocket thanks to my business. Throw in the commissions for building the business, and you can see why YTB is a legitimate business opportunity.
Your travel biz is no scam. The majority of failures in this business, and any business, are a direct result of people being unwilling to put in the necessary time, effort, and yes, money to build their business. YTB is not a J-O-B. YTB is a business. If you treat it as such, the possibilities are endless. And unlike your 9 to 5, this business can set you financially free!
Thursday, July 26, 2007
YTB scam Part II
If you are like me, as soon as you heard about YTB, you rushed to Google to type in YTB scam. Then, you were fortunate enough to find entire boards dedicated to telling you why YTB is a scam. Heck,the boards are even dedicated solely to telling people about scams so they must be legit, right?
Wrong.
Besides the stray person such as myself trying to infuse a bit of reality into the posts, the authors in the forum are typically two kinds of people:
1. Representatives from competing companies
2. People who despise MLM and all things Network Marketing
Neither one of these two types is looking out for your best interest. Here's why:
Type 1. Representatives from competing companies
These people have one thing on their mind and one thing only- to get you into their business at any cost. They'll trash talk all competitors of their company, and say whatever it takes to get you to join their business over their competitor- even by fudging the facts. They'll throw out fancy figures and technical terms, and make you think that they are legit, but if you do the slightest bit of due diligence, you'll discover that more often than not, the YTB scam they are preaching about just isn't true.
Believe me, you do NOT want to get into business with these folks. As a person with a degree in advertising, I can tell you that psychological studies have shown that negative campaigns are not effective marketing tools. Plus, they've just shown you how it is that they do business- maliciously bash the competition. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't sign up for that style of marketing.
Honest, ethical business owners don't market their business by talking badly about their competition. Don't get me wrong, they will make comparisons and distinguish themselves from the competition, which is fine, but they never degrade the competition.
When was the last time you heard a McDonald's commercial telling you that Wendy's was going bankrupt, that Wendy's corporate leadership was a bunch of crooks, and that you better get to McDonald's as fast as you can? Oh, you didn't hear them say that?
Well, I just read those comments pretty much verbatim on a message boards written by a rep from a competitor of YTB. This is why you should be wary before putting your faith in these posts. You need to research the YTB opportunity for yourself to determine if the business is right for you.
The second type of people you encounter on message boards are the MLM-haters. These people are of the opinion that MLMs are only out to take advantage of people, and that they prey on unsuspecting victims.
Pull back the fluff, and look at what these people are truly saying, which is: People are too stupid to make up their own mind about what to do with their money. People shouldn't be allowed to make their own decisions, because they aren't intelligent enough to make the proper decision on how to spend their time and money.
I've actually read this same philosophy in my college political science classes...
when I was studying the works of the most famous socialist out there- the Father of Communism, Karl Marx, who believed that the people are too stupid to determine how to spend their money or make decisions, so the all knowing government must step in to help them.
The real reason why people fail in this business is not that it is a scam, rather it is because they have unrealistic expectations about what it takes to actually build a business, and/or they do not have sufficient time or money to properly build a business. I don't care what anyone else tells you: to make money, you need money. Period. There isn't such a thing as a free lunch. If someone tells you to join their business because it's free, easy, and they'll build the business for you...run for the hills...fast.
If it is so easy, and they build the business for you, why do they need you? Better yet, why would they need to PAY you? Not a legitimate opportunity, so move on.
In short, YTB is not a scam. It offers entrepreneurs a legitimate business without the exorbitant start-up costs inherent in a brick and mortar travel business.
People like to say that the YTB scam is that the company focuses on representative sign-up fees. This is not the case. In fact, as an Independent Marketing Rep (Rep) you can sign up with YTB for free and start selling travel stores. YTB is in the business of selling travel, and the way we do that is by setting up thousands (102,000 to be exact) travel stores, and have 102,000 people referring their family, friends and coworkers to their travel website.
YTB is no scam. I was making travel commissions my first month. It was that easy. YTB is a legitimate home based business opportunity.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
YTB scam
YTB scam
If you type in YTB scam into Google, you will likely see the Scam.com board. This board should not be trusted because no matter what anyone says, the moderator's goal is to bash YTB and every other network marketing company, no matter how legitimate the opportunity is.
No matter what anyone says, there is no YTB scam. I have been in YTB since October. At first, I just joined for the travel side of the business. I quickly started making money because all of my friends and family like to travel, and started booking on my website.
Some say the YTB scam is that it is a card mill. I don't find that to be true at all. I do get travel perks, but I treat my travel business as just that- a travel business. I give everyone I know my business card with my travel site. I've been on several trips where I have gotten a discount for being in the travel industry. In fact, for our honeymoon/wedding in the Dominican Republic- we're getting a $399 room/night for $179- can't beat that! We're staying there for 2 weeks now because of the great deal! Sound like a YTB scam? I don't think so.
Now, on the marketing side of the business, it is an ingenious product. Definitely no YTB scam here! You are not begging people to do things they wouldn't normally do. If my price was the same or cheaper, everyone I know would book on my site.
Some say that the YTB scam is that you can't compete with big names like Expedia, Orbitz, and Travelocity. Here's the thing, you don't have to. You will earn extra money each month for basically doing nothing more than telling people to go to my website. You can make as much money as you want selling travel, it is up to you how you run your business. If you tell everyone you know (family, friends, co-workers, friends of friends) you have a pretty good client base. I just made $100 off of booking one cabin on a cruise for a college student's spring break trip. Sound like there's a YTB scam?
Nope. I think it's a pretty sweet deal! There's no inventory, no quota or requirement to book a certain amount of travel each month. Not to mention, the money I save using my credentials is just extra money in my pocket. So- the concept is pretty easy to introduce to other people. Definitely no YTB scam here!
BUT, if you want to succeed in the marketing business of YTB, you are going to have to work. This is a business, and far too many people I know treat it as a job, or worse- they have some sort of "entitlement" attitude- I paid $500, so I should automatically become a millionaire in 6 months. Not how it works. But these entitlement people are the ones posting to Scam.com and hollering that there is a YTB scam.
Not a single one of those people dedicated all of their free time for a year to make the business work. Not a one! I am an attorney by day. I work my tail off until 7pm, come home and work my YTB business until 1 or 2 in the morning- and on weekends? Yep- YTB all day. Doing that consistently for a year will lay a terrific foundation, and I WILL be able to live on just my YTB income within 2 years. Do you see a YTB scam? No. Just a solid business opportunity that can change your life if you put in the time, effort, and yes, money- to succeed.
Others say that the YTB scam is that you have to be a good sales person to succeed. That you have to be able to speak in front of a crowd. Thanks to internet marketing, you can succeed in this business even if you aren't good at selling. I get e-mails every day from people who are interested in the business- I don't cold call anyone. Hopefully by now you are seeing that there really isn't a YTB scam, just a bunch of people whining because they couldn't get something for nothing- or become a millionaire without lifting a finger.
Still not done with the naysayers arguments, some say the YTB scam is the $500 sign up fee. You get your own travel business for $500- who can beat that? Other sites may be cheaper, but don't assume they are all of the same. YTB has incredible training resources- training from vendors, training on marketing, plus YTB has incredible partnerships with huge vendors like Hotels.Com and Carnival.
For those who think that the fact that the program costs money, indicates that there is a YTB scam. I hope that I'm not telling you something you don't already know, but you WILL NOT make money without spending money- it just doesn't work that way. McDonald's and FedEx required money to start up- why is any other business any different?
Still others argue that the YTB scam is that the only "emphasis" is on selling travel sites- This is by far the silliest thing I've heard. If you are looking on the internet for information on YTB of course you are going to primarily see marketing sites. YTB Travel Reps are marketing TRAVEL not the YTB business opportunity. Start looking for travel deals, and you'll see more travel sites! Look for information on YTB and you'll find lots of sites on the YTB opportunity. Surely you are now laughing at the idea of a YTB scam now.
I will say that you do need to do your due diligence.
If you type in YTB scam into Google, you will likely see the Scam.com board. This board should not be trusted because no matter what anyone says, the moderator's goal is to bash YTB and every other network marketing company, no matter how legitimate the opportunity is.
No matter what anyone says, there is no YTB scam. I have been in YTB since October. At first, I just joined for the travel side of the business. I quickly started making money because all of my friends and family like to travel, and started booking on my website.
Some say the YTB scam is that it is a card mill. I don't find that to be true at all. I do get travel perks, but I treat my travel business as just that- a travel business. I give everyone I know my business card with my travel site. I've been on several trips where I have gotten a discount for being in the travel industry. In fact, for our honeymoon/wedding in the Dominican Republic- we're getting a $399 room/night for $179- can't beat that! We're staying there for 2 weeks now because of the great deal! Sound like a YTB scam? I don't think so.
Now, on the marketing side of the business, it is an ingenious product. Definitely no YTB scam here! You are not begging people to do things they wouldn't normally do. If my price was the same or cheaper, everyone I know would book on my site.
Some say that the YTB scam is that you can't compete with big names like Expedia, Orbitz, and Travelocity. Here's the thing, you don't have to. You will earn extra money each month for basically doing nothing more than telling people to go to my website. You can make as much money as you want selling travel, it is up to you how you run your business. If you tell everyone you know (family, friends, co-workers, friends of friends) you have a pretty good client base. I just made $100 off of booking one cabin on a cruise for a college student's spring break trip. Sound like there's a YTB scam?
Nope. I think it's a pretty sweet deal! There's no inventory, no quota or requirement to book a certain amount of travel each month. Not to mention, the money I save using my credentials is just extra money in my pocket. So- the concept is pretty easy to introduce to other people. Definitely no YTB scam here!
BUT, if you want to succeed in the marketing business of YTB, you are going to have to work. This is a business, and far too many people I know treat it as a job, or worse- they have some sort of "entitlement" attitude- I paid $500, so I should automatically become a millionaire in 6 months. Not how it works. But these entitlement people are the ones posting to Scam.com and hollering that there is a YTB scam.
Not a single one of those people dedicated all of their free time for a year to make the business work. Not a one! I am an attorney by day. I work my tail off until 7pm, come home and work my YTB business until 1 or 2 in the morning- and on weekends? Yep- YTB all day. Doing that consistently for a year will lay a terrific foundation, and I WILL be able to live on just my YTB income within 2 years. Do you see a YTB scam? No. Just a solid business opportunity that can change your life if you put in the time, effort, and yes, money- to succeed.
Others say that the YTB scam is that you have to be a good sales person to succeed. That you have to be able to speak in front of a crowd. Thanks to internet marketing, you can succeed in this business even if you aren't good at selling. I get e-mails every day from people who are interested in the business- I don't cold call anyone. Hopefully by now you are seeing that there really isn't a YTB scam, just a bunch of people whining because they couldn't get something for nothing- or become a millionaire without lifting a finger.
Still not done with the naysayers arguments, some say the YTB scam is the $500 sign up fee. You get your own travel business for $500- who can beat that? Other sites may be cheaper, but don't assume they are all of the same. YTB has incredible training resources- training from vendors, training on marketing, plus YTB has incredible partnerships with huge vendors like Hotels.Com and Carnival.
For those who think that the fact that the program costs money, indicates that there is a YTB scam. I hope that I'm not telling you something you don't already know, but you WILL NOT make money without spending money- it just doesn't work that way. McDonald's and FedEx required money to start up- why is any other business any different?
Still others argue that the YTB scam is that the only "emphasis" is on selling travel sites- This is by far the silliest thing I've heard. If you are looking on the internet for information on YTB of course you are going to primarily see marketing sites. YTB Travel Reps are marketing TRAVEL not the YTB business opportunity. Start looking for travel deals, and you'll see more travel sites! Look for information on YTB and you'll find lots of sites on the YTB opportunity. Surely you are now laughing at the idea of a YTB scam now.
I will say that you do need to do your due diligence.
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