The Naughty List…
I happen to be out of town, (without internet access!) but enjoying the Holiday with family none the less. I decided to schedule something for today before news became old news next week. First and foremost however, I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, and although at the time of this writing, presents are still wrapped under the tree, by the time this is posted and you are reading, I’ll be enjoying gifts my kids had made for me, and of course finding what Santa brought.
That being said, don’t think for a second that there isn’t something to talk about over this extended Holiday weekend.
Are you kidding me? This Industry?
While the jury may be out if some made Santa’s “Naughty” or “Nice” list, after what I’ve been reading the last several months, it’s time to bring this “Naughty” Agency to the forefront after a year long hiatus.
Back in October 2007 this blog gained considerable notoriety after tackling the issue head on concerning Royal Caribbean who terminated its relationship with no more than four Agencies. Two of those agencies came to light very quickly and the industry outrage on the internet concerning “Card Mills” came to a head.
Although it’s been documented that Royal Caribbean did in fact terminate four Agencies, Lisa Bauer, VP of Sales with Royal Caribbean at the time, skirted the direct questions asked by Travel Weekly concerning just who these Agencies were. To this day, there has been nothing to verify, although there has been plenty of speculation, any more than two Agencies. That being of course YTB and the other being Joystar.
Other than YTB, I can’t think of another Agency that has been the target of more controversy than Joystar. If you look at the founders history, you’ll get a better understanding to just why, and I did document his exploits with the first Travel MLM (TravelMax) back in the mid 1990’s. It looks as if both Bill Alverson’s and Joystar’s issues have not subsided, but in fact increased a year later.
While you found nothing concerning any new issues on this blog, there has been plenty to write about concerning Joystar a year after being terminated by Royal Caribbean. In addition, no less than three headline news stories broke back in October of 2008 concerning the Host Agency. One, October 9th, reported that Joystar failed to pay commissions owed to its independent contractors along with laying off 14% of its staff. Later in the month, on October 23rd, it was reported the CLIA revoked Joystar’s Membership for not renewing its Seller Of Travel License with California. (Although it appears that SOT’s have been made current as well as its association with CLIA.) The very next day, October 24th, it was reported that InterContinental Hotels Group filed a federal lawsuit against Joystar for claiming more than $163,000 in improper commissions.
And some think YTB has problems?
Actually, that’s what a small group would like you to believe as they obsess over anything they can drum up to cast fear and doubt because they’re convinced the YTB “model” is flawed…doomed to collapse. (Yet the “model” started to take shape over a century ago, and still standing tall.) Part of drumming up anything these poor folks can think of is this notion that after more than a year of inactivity, suppliers will again take up the cause of these Agents and Associations and start terminating relationships with Agencies critics simply don’t agree with moving into 2009.
One of the favorite ploys of critics is not implicating YTB directly, but word posts and threads in a way that gives them an out if egg is then thrown back in their face. Naughty for sure after reading comments, as there appears to be no question just who they hope the Agency is. Just one of the dozens of posts I sent to Santa this year for the “Naughty List”. As they wait to see if the rumor is true with gleeful anticipation, Santa more than likely coaled the entire lot of them for lack of good cheer.
I never like this type of speculation and rumor. It’s far too easy for hearsay like this to come back and bite you when documentation squashes the rumor you’re attempting to spread. Especially when you find out that the rumor started in an attempt to point the finger at one host, was initially about an entirely different host.
It appears the glass slipper that some are attempting to slip on YTB belongs to Joystar.
Agents are using the Joystar community board to voice their complaints. One posting dated Dec. 17 claimed Carnival Cruise Lines was prepared to cease doing business with Joystar if the agency did not make good to agents. When queried about the posting, Carnival declined to comment.
To be fair, there is nothing to substantiate ANY rumor that Carnival or any other supplier for that matter will be terminating anyone. Instead, I would look at the last year and ask just how many suppliers terminated its relationship with any Agency in 2008.
Of course that answer is Zip…Zilch…Nada…not one.
Yet there are some who still want to hang onto this small glimmer of hope that suppliers might come around. If the rumor is true about Carnival terminating its relationship with Joystar, can you blame them? (That would be “No”.) It’s been documented that Carnival believes these Agents, no matter what host they’re associated with are the life blood of their sales force.
But how much would you want to wager, that if Carnival does terminate Joystar because its failed to pay the commissions owed its Agents, the speculation will be that YTB is next in line? It’s what some will do I’m sure in order to restore this whole fiasco about suppliers “getting it” to surface yet one more time. I know that sounds irrational, but you have to understand the anger and resentment that creates such illogical thinking. Just accept that this is another small thread critics reach for in their attempt to pin someone else’s misfortune to YTB.
With the news out Tuesday about Joystar being down to just 5 employees and the thousands of dollars in commissions owed its Agents, I have to wonder if Peter Stilphen, (a pompous and overzealous Joystar critic who’s been plastering both Bill Alverson and Joystar for years) will be having a Merry Christmas this year?
I don’t know if there will be anyone really posting about this over the Holiday’s or into next week for that matter. I guess I’ll have to check and update you when I get back first of next week.
In the meantime, I’d like to enjoy my time with family and finalize some goals I have moving into 2009 while I have some time away from the internet and all it’s trappings.
It will be interesting to see what 2009 will bring, and while there are some who claim to know what’s going to happen, take some time to do what a couple of my favorite mentors have taught me over the years.
“Don’t believe a word you hear, unless you can verify it on your own to be true.”
Which I suppose is one of the reasons why people like this blog so much. Instead of spreading rumors and hearsay about what they’ve heard about or read about somewhere else, without a single shred of documentation to back it up, they come here for documentation and truth.
That’s why I’m on Santa’s “Nice List”.
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Tags: Anti-MLM, Bill Alverson, Card Mill, Critics, Home Based Buisiness, Joystar, MLM Myths, Peter Stilphen, Travel Agent Commission, Travel Agent Issues, YTB, YTB Travel Network
December 30th, 2008 at 7:57 am
For those coming here from John’s “reaction” to this post, let’s get a couple of things straight with some facts. (Although I know some don’t care about facts and appear to like the way he spins things.)
I’d respond there, however, it looks as if the comments section has already been derailed. (Big surprise I’m sure.)
1. Coach spent 20 years with A.L. Williams, which transformed into Primerica. (An MLM that’s still in existence and has yet to collapse because they ran out of suckers.) A.L. Williams was also the largest seller of Whole Life Insurance for 7 straight years, topping all other Traditional Insurance Companies at the time. What successful MLM has Bill Alverson been with?
2. I’m not aware of any document that states YTB would dis it’s Agents the same way Joystar has. Of course, we’ve not seen much of anything in regards to actual documentation or links to verify anything by our critics. Could it be more mud thrown up to simply cast doubt and fear? Furthermore, would any court in the land side with YTB if they did?
3. Joystar is down to just 5 employees at their two locations in California and Florida. YTB on the other hand has over 300 and will be moving into a 130,000 square foot, state of the art facility in mid January. And let’s not forget the very recent investment and upgrade to our current booking engine.
4. We’ll forgive the fact that YTB remains current with all it’s SOT’s. (Which is why CLIA terminated Joystar.) YTB has been without IATA for more than a year, and has not hindered our ability to sell travel in any way shape or form. (In VERIFIED sales.) Why this continues to be an issue after all this time is beyond me. Anybody on the call Monday night with Jennie Sharpless and CLIA concerning the new Accreditation? Any mention of this mysterious loophole we keep hearing about? Any worry for you about CLIA “wising up”? Me thinks this loophole is nothing but a black hole in the heads of those who need to come up with lame excuses and have nothing better to do but come up with things to gripe about.
5. I’ll forgive the fact that the TWO Class Actions are under a ruling right now to be rolled into one. I do have to ask however how much money this critic lost for his participation and opportunity to participate and recruit people in YTB.
Oh, never mind. He’ll never answer, because that would shatter his illusion that the California Attorney General’s suit actually has teeth.
I’m guessing this critic had a bit too much eggnog over the holiday weekend and spent a considerable amount of time dreaming up a way to spin this. Me, I’m clear as a bell, and have been for almost 20 years.
Maybe it’s time to head into a 12 step program John?
It appears that the blinders are being worn by the wrong person, and someone needs to look at actual documentation for a change and take a look at what’s REALLY going on with YTB.
PS – While I realize John would like everyone to believe that he HATES Joystar, take a gander at this post. I knew it was out there, but like most everything else, his new position concerning Joystar is just a (dare I say Kool-aid) “flavor” of the month.
January 5th, 2009 at 5:40 am
[...] a completely different note, and simply a followup on a previous post concerning Joystar just after [...]