You best stay out of the kitchen.

Being one of the more visible YTB blogs on the internet, I have my share of readership. Most readers are supporters and enjoy my insight and information about our company.

I also have my share of detractors. Some I would safely say detest my existence for one reason or another. If you’re in the public eye, you can’t be everything to everybody and there will always be those who don’t agree with you. What makes my sort of activity and exposure dangerous is when emotions enter into the mix.

Emotions have too many variables. You can’t expect emotions to remain constant over time or from one person to another. Each individual perceives and reacts to each situation differently. Logic and facts however always have a base or a core that remain constant. One of the things we’re finding through our journey together with YTB is that the facts of our business model are able to withstand the misconception, half-truths, and lies that we see from those who use perceptions and opinions as their core defense.

As expected, John Frenaye took exception to my article on Friday and boldly laid claim that I’m the one who “spins”. He added that his blog was more “legitimate” and his was the only viable option where people had to ability to “judge for themselves”.

He’s also a tad upset at what he’s deemed a “personal attack” and eventually, “my lies” will catch up with me.

My – my – my. How easy it is to dish it out.

It’s interesting to me how quickly this group pulls the “personal attack” card when challenged. I’m not sure if they think they’re too pure, or we’re to take pity and look the other way when their blatant misrepresentations about our people, our Founders and our company are created by their hands. I hate to break it to this group – but they leave some enormous “stinkers” out there on the web. Their activities have left some laughing, and others appalled. We DO know right from wrong, ethical from unethical, what is morally right and what’s morally bankrupt.

To illustrate how bold and brazen John has become over the years, we’ll reference one of the most legitimate and honorable sources I know – our court system. What was forwarded to me last week clearly illustrates why our Home Office made the decision to turn down his requested interviews and why others have come to the conclusion that John can’t be trusted to “report” anything concerning YTB in an unbiased or accurate manor.

Case in point: This was written by John last week on his blog:

Of course, back in August of 2009, we reported on the story where Coach had a ramshackle home and was able to convince a church to make the repairs in return for a lease. But Coach reneged on the lease and got his home fixed for free.

I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t call his post entitled “Once Upon a Time” an actual “report” but ironically – a “Fairy Tale”. If you strip away John’s “report” and look at the court documents which are linked in the word “TRUTH” it reveals John’s elaborate web of deception – not Coach’s.

Yes – John’s the one deceiving the flock – pouring Kool-Aid if you will. The “truth” shows that Coach and Chris “donated” the parcel in question to the church for a Minister and his family use as a parsonage. More troublesome; the word “lease” never even appears in the actual court documents, although conveniently inserted by John in his – “report”.

True, the home needed electrical upgrades to meet code, and a gas furnace needed to be converted to propane. There was never any lease however, and Coach and Chris never received a penny for their generous donation to the Church and its family. Consequently, the court concluded:

“the parcel here in issue and the house thereon qualified for exemption during all of the 1998-assessment year either because it was in the process of adaptation for exempt use or because it was actually used by the Church as a parsonage for Rev. Casey.”

I know I’m going out on a limb, but you be the judge here. Which do you find more “legitimate”? John’s “Once Upon A Time” fairy tale – or – documentation from “The State of Illinois“?

What’s so astounding to me, is the man doesn’t appear to understand how anyone could possibly question his “reporting” as wrong or even inappropriate. To question anything he says or does is challenged with a very coy rebuttal and continued claims that HE is the most fair and unbiased source concerning YTB in the land. According to John, he’s proven how Coach has a long history of deception and he’s proud that his flock agrees that Coach should be thrown in jail for doing what he did to this church.

And yes, that type of arrogance is frustrating – even for me.

We can’t forget another court ruling regarding YTB’s business model and claims of an elaborate pyramid scheme that wasn’t just dismissed but tossed out as “redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous matter“. Again we find John and others on the wrong end of an argument calling the absurd complaint “powerful”.

Here’s how the Honorable Judge Murphy described the complaint:

“The First Amended Consolidated Complaint, filed July 15, 2009, is an ungainly monster of 39 pages containing 133 paragraphs (many of which have subparagraphs) that likely does not pass muster under the familiar federal “notice pleading” standard.”

True to form, John “disagrees” with the court’s ruling, and makes no apologies for his position or opinions. John falls right in line with the type of hideous and outrageous accusations Counsel tried to pull in its second go around, after the first complaint was dismissed. Their answer to the problem – a bolder, more brazen attack.

So which do you find more legitimate? John’s statement, or Judge Murphy?

From John’s point of view, it’s YTB that is “crafty” and “sly”. The only reason why YTB is still around is due to changing our model or living on the very edge of the law. Regardless how much change or how close we “appear” to be, it’s still the right side of the law. YTB’s model has never required “payment for the opportunity to recruit others” from day one. You may not agree with that – you may not understand that – and you may never accept that. But because yours is only “opinion” and not “fact” – you do have to continue to deal with YTB.

Finally, John recently found out that the law is the law, and everyone (including him) must abide regardless of opinions or perceptions. The creation of a fake Zam Zuu fan page to mock and poke fun at our company violated ZamZuu’s trademark causing a confusing similarity. His defense – a space between “Zam” and “Zuu”. (And no, I’m not kidding.)

John, you don’t just stink – you absolutely reek of lies, deceit and a perception that the laws of this land simply don’t apply to you. It’s a double standard that I will not turn away from and I will not make any apologies for in calling you out. We all make mistakes (even me) but there comes a time when you have to stop blaming others or being a victim and take personal responsibility for your own actions.

You are in the public eye and there will be those who will disagree and oppose you. There will also be those who will hold you accountable for your actions. If you don’t like it, either toughen up or stop what you’re doing and go back into hiding.

As it stands right now – you have proven to me, our company, and several outsiders who have no beef one way or another with YTB that you should not be trusted due to your attitude and your actions documented above.

For every action, there is a reaction. So if you don’t like my reaction, stop acting the way you are!

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Do You ZamZuu?

I received my ASTA SmartBrief this week and was floored at one of the columns highlighted in this weeks mailing.

Before I move forward, I need to put out some sort of warning here that readers should not be drinking any type of liquid at this point in time. (All the sugar in your Kool-aid will ruin the monitor and cause the keyboard to stick.) When you find out who the author is, you’ll be just as surprised as I was. (As others have asked if this is the same now famous critic of YTB we’ve all come to know – but not actually love.)

Truth is, if there’s anything going on about YTB, you’ve got to know at this point in time that John Frenaye isn’t far behind. He’s pretty famous in our company for trolling the internet on anything YTB. It makes no difference if it’s one of his peers in the industry, a District Judge, an industry Power List, or an articulate member of YTB – John has an uncanny way of coming up with a “Yeah-But” or a “Look over here” piece to take the focus off the main subject and point you down a road that conforms to his own perceptions and beliefs.

Although this article is riddled with some pretty absurd perceptions of how MLM takes things to the extreme, you can judge from you own actions and experience if it has any value. Personally, I’ve never lost a friendship over YTB and nobodies ever vowed to never speak to me again. Furthermore, I’ve never been approached by anyone about any opportunity while standing in line at that grocery store.

We can simply kick those perceptions to the curb for the time being.

I do however, have to give John some credit for pointing out some very basic and solid business skills that MLM does in fact excel at. Based on my own experience with YTB, my business looks very much like his “traditional business” in every aspect. Based on those of you I personally know in this company, I think you’ll agree that yours does too.

All the snide and exaggerated comments and perceptions aside – there is something for the new recruit here to learn about why MLM works.

Referrals are as simple as John says they are. Do you know anyone who might be interested in selling travel, or picking up some extra income on a part time basis? The beauty of MLM is that you work when you have time. It’s not like a regular part time job that you have set hours, and quotas that you need to meet. Which can also be a problem for some – because it’s far to easy to think you don’t have time. The vast majority of our company work YTB on a part time basis with regular jobs and families to tend to.

Think about it…doesn’t asking for referrals sound much more attractive than hounding someone in line at the grocery store? (Who’s really tried that anyway?)

When it comes to followup, the company has a very cool system in place called the YTB System. I’ve used something similar to this my entire carrier with YTB. Not only does it capture qualified leads for you, but also notifies you when a prospect has looked at the program. Notification are also sent when they’ve returned and what they’re looking at while on the site. Using a system like this allows you to sort, not chase. For those who work YTB part time, this puppy is a real time saver. You’ll find yourself working with and talking to qualified prospects who are truly interested in what you have.

It’s all about working smarter not harder. However, the entire system is wasted if you don’t follow-up. It doesn’t have to be nearly the nine times John talks about. (I personally only spend half that much time before moving on.) But the money truly is in the follow-up.

Lastly, I’ve never seen a company with more products, or more streams of income than YTB. All I bought 5 years ago was a booking engine to sell travel. I was also given the opportunity (meaning it was a free opportunity) to sell booking engines as an added stream of income. Today, I’ve got something for hunters, golfers, newlyweds, and with the addition of shopYTB, just about any other product under the sun. If it’s available online, I probably have it. Heck, I’ve even got beef jerky if that’s what you’re into. (Or in John’s case – girdles!)

Yes, I know there some ribbing going on about that sort of thing. Honestly, neither the jerky or the girdles get me all that excited. But I’m certainly not going to knock the women of YTB for going nuts about girdles. (I know better – and if John was still married, he probably would too.)

These skills, principles, and the model really DO work. It’s why Avon is still around after more than 120 years. It’s the same reason Earl Tupper pulled Tupperware off store shelves in 1951 and has been sold via the MLM and the Direct Sales model for almost 60 years. After a decade of selling Nutrilite Products via MLM, two guys founded the American Way Association in 1959, which we know today as Amway. (Amway now owns Nutrilite Products Corporation.) In 1963 Mary Kay Ash started with 9 “beauty consultants” which today has expanded to 32 countries. In 1977 a good ol’ southern boy for Georgia founded A.L. Williams and just two years later, J. Lloyd Tomer joined the group just before the company outsold the entire insurance industry for 7 straight years in a row during the mid to late 1980’s.

And today you have a little company based in Wood River, Illinois who has been able to sell $424 million in travel in it’s 8th year in business.

There are hundreds of companies who sell via this model because MLM does have it right. (Take a look at the DSA list for more than 200 of them.)

True, it’s sad that John and others can’t seem to get out of their own way at times when it comes to some of the ridiculous and outlandish beliefs. Just remember, don’t take it personally. (Unless you’re the one person who pestered him in the grocery line. ;-P)

Truth is, MLM is more like their traditional business than they’ll ever know.

The only difference is some get that, and some don’t. 

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Do You ZamZuu?

I had something else ready to post this morning, but found a fairy tale that was just WAY to funny that I needed to share with you. It never ceases to amaze me how low some people will go to bend and twist documentation in an effort to pitch their own perceptions and limiting beliefs.

It’s no secret that there is a segment of our society that think rich people are greedy. Because this segment of society has never actually known anyone that thinks in terms of “net worth” instead of some “hourly wage”, this same segment also assumes that rich people got their money through unethical and dirty business practices. It’s one of those social memes I wrote about some time ago.

Now, take the myths and social memes surrounding rich people and combine it with Network Marketing and you’ve got yourself one heck of a double whammy when it comes to anger, bitterness, and resentment.

Case in point, our very own J. Lloyd Tomer.

While Coach is certainly loved and admired through the ranks of YTB members, there is a segment of society who spend an exorbitant amount of time attempting to knock this man off his perch because he’s obtained his wealth through Direct Sales or Network Marketing. For those of you who don’t know his story, you can Google “J. Lloyd Tomer, AL Williams” to find his bio. Here is one on the first pages that I found on Portfolio.com. (emphasis mine)

J. Lloyd Tomer, Chairman of the Board of Directors, has been a Director of YTB since December 2004. He is the father of our Chief Executive Officer, J. Scott Tomer, and is a seasoned veteran of direct sales and marketing. After spending thirteen years in the ministry, he became an agent of the A. L. Williams Company (now known as Primerica Financial Services (“Primerica”) in January 1981. He achieved the level of Senior National Sales Director in 1985 and maintained that position through 2001. While at A. L. Williams he built a successful sales organization numbering in the thousands, whose combined life insurance sales was measured in the billions, with assets under management of $750 million. He sold his agency in Primerica in January 2002. Thereafter, Mr. Lloyd J. Tomer devoted his marketing expertise to YourTravelBiz.com, Inc. He attended Anderson College in Anderson, Indiana.

Here’s a guy who build an immensely successful organization with sales in the billions and assets in the millions through Direct Sales from 1981 through 2002 thanks to capturing the dream of Art Williams back in the early 80’s. Even after the sale of the business to his son Frank in 2002, the assets and money generated from this organization were used to help fund the start of YTB in the early years.

Fast forward to today, and we find a select few are upset with Coach, an outsider, for infiltrating their business segment with a bunch of Travel Agent wannabes’. (Or so they claim.) What we end up with are obscure twists on how this man attained his wealth, lived his life, and given back to the community.

I learned a long time ago from Harv Ecker that part of the rewards of being rich is the ability to donate money or assets to organizations and associations that are important to you. When you think about it, what makes a bigger impact – $10 in the offering plate or $10 million in stock options to pay off a mortgage? Obviously creating wealth can and does have a bigger impact for those who desire to make a difference in people’s lives.

Those of you who have met Coach, spent time with him, or listened to his leadership call’s: Would it surprise you that new documentation has come to light of Coach’s generosity?

In a link provided just this morning to a court document, it has been revealed that Coach and his wife Chris donated a parcel of property to Midwest Community Church in 1998 so that the Pastor and his family could have a parsonage (a home) in which the Rev. Casey, his wife, his son age 16, and daughter age 13 could live. The property was bought by Coach in 1995, and when Coach was elected as Trustee of the Church in 1997 he donated 100% of the use of this parcel to the church.

According to the document revealed we also found the condition of the property.

Initially the yard needed to be cleaned up. All of the lights outside the house had been broken. Inside the house there were numerous electrical problems that violated the electrical code and which needed to be corrected. The house had two furnaces. One furnace to heat each side of the house. A new natural gas furnace had been brought in to heat one side of the house. It was anticipated that natural gas would soon become available in this neighborhood. However, that did not happen.

The document also reveals that at the time the land was donated, Coach’s desire was to assist in the development and growth of Church’s religious organization. Pursuant to the agreement, this parcel could be used for any purpose the Church deemed appropriate, including but not limited to a parsonage, youth retreats, church administration, or marital retreats. In return, the Church was responsible for all expenses, repairs and maintenance costs, and was to maintain adequate insurance on this property, naming the Tomer’s as a loss payee.

Because I can actually read and comprehend the documentation provided, I can deduct that Coach was enjoying a tremendous amount of success and creating substantial wealth which enabled him to purchase the property in the first place. I can also conclude that the church obviously respected his financial position by appointing him as trustee to the church. I can also assume that Coach believes in sharing his wealth and supports religious organization with very generous donations to a number of church organizations.

Not a bad way to live your life if you ask me.

Now I know this is going to upset some of you, but I need to remind you that we’re not dealing with individuals who are playing with a full deck here. (Not the sharpest tools in the shed, if you know what I mean.) I do however think it’s important to reveal how desperate and delusional some people are when it comes to mud slinging and slandering individuals who they’re obviously jealous of. They need to peck and poke in an attempt to bring others down with an obvious twist on what actually happened.

I’d advise you that you put down any drinks or food at this point because it may end up on your computer screen. Here’s the introduction of the post I found this morning concerning what happened:

Once upon a time in a land far away, there lived a man in a ramshackle house. The house was in such bad condition, that the local authorities would not issue occupancy permits. When the time came to pay the tax man, the man in the ramshackle house could not afford to pay the property taxes.

Destitute and without too many options at his disposal, he turned to God and the Church. Knowing that Church property was exempt from taxes, he “donated” this ramshackle property to his Church for only a year who decided to worship on the property and to fix up the house for their minister and his family to occupy as a parsonage.

While I can’t disagree that this donation was a “tax deduction” for Coach and Chris, (donated in December of 1997) but to claim that Coach was destitute at this time with an AL Williams business generating millions, and an elected Trustee of the church is a pile of manure that only critics can step in. What makes it comical for me is the way this guy capitalizes “TRUTH” at the end of the post which links and documents what we’ve uncovered here.

The truth is, this “expert” doesn’t expect people to actually read the document he’s provided because he’s bend out of shape as the “be-all-and-end-all” when it comes to YTB. (Arrogant and cocky I know, but that’s what he thinks of himself.) What it turns out to be is yet another documented example of the lies, deceit, and misrepresentations that are plastered all over the internet to pitch Coach as some sort of scammer. If you look at the URL that links to the court document that clearly recommend that Madison County Parcel be exempt from real estate taxation in 1998 it’s linked by hims as http://www.singleparenttravel.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Tomer-Church-Scam.pdf.

I might not be the best speller in the world and I’ve been known to make a mistake or two over the years. But at least I can read and comprehend what’s truth and what’s pure spin. And how are the critics going to answer to this blatant attempt to spin and slander? My guess is that what we’re going to find as a rebuttal is a dog’s tail isn’t spelled “tale” in an attempt to take the focus off them and back on our Founder in YTB and me.

Think it’s gonna work?

Me neither, but the faceless, nameless cowards who support this jerk as some type of crusader against the evil YTB will be jumping for joy that they’ve found more documentation and truth, when it’s obvious to me, their simply chasing their own “tales”.

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Do You ZamZuu?

A four year old class action lawsuit looks as if it will finally close pending court approval in December to the tune of $123.4 million to be paid by Expedia, and another $5.5 million to be paid by Hotwire. The suit filed back in 2005 came to a head back in June when a Superior Court ruled that Expedia collected a total of $184.4 million in service fees which the company pocketed as “pure profit” from consumers who purchased hotel stays and other travel packages between 2003 and 2006. The judgment is currently the largest award in Washington state history for a consumer class action.

When the ruling was handed down back in June, Expedia was quoted that it would “vigorously pursue our rights on appeal“, but changed it’s mind due to the high cost of the litigation and the additional time it would take to appeal. Instead, Expedia was able to deny any wrongdoing in the settlement, and has set aside $19 million for the class action settlement, a low end estimate of the cost associated with the settlement.

The class action case was based on unfair business practices and breach of contract in the way the online travel company paid taxes. Not only did Expedia bundled the service-fee charges with taxes into a single line item, but collected taxes based a higher retail price, when they paid wholesale, thus pocketing the difference.

Expedia’s second quarter profit fell to $41 million, down from $96 million a year ago – a 57% drop.

Although we don’t see much about the hotel tax issue at all on message boards and blogs due to over aggressive concerns concerning Travel MLM’s being “flawed”, the battle over traditional online travel companies has been a heated debate in courts all across the continent.

In June, a Los Angeles Superior Court ruled that Expedia and Hotwire had to pay $35.6 million to the city of San Francisco. A Georgia Supreme Court has also required Expedia to pay the city of Columbus, Ga. a 7% tax on the retail rate of hotel rooms, which forced Expedia and other online agencies to cease doing business completely in the city. New York adopted a new hotel-occupancy tax ordinance requiring that OTA’s remit taxes to hotels based on the net rate, then pay the city an additional taxes for service fees or margins. Also in Canada, an Ontario Superior Court is seeking $47.5 million in damages for violating Canada’s Competition Act and Consumer Protection Act for disguising taxes and service fees.

In all, some 46 city and county taxing districts have filed lawsuits due to this issue.

But what will critics in the travel industry be talking about today? An overly aggressive and unfounded theory about how YTB will run out of people to recruit in some “pay to play” pyramid scheme suit up in Illinois. (An issue that has already been thrown out in a District Court there for being redundant, immaterial, impertinent, and scandalous.)

For those that desire to reside in reality, or have been “taken” by the concealment of service fees by Expedia over the years now have several options according to the Expedia Litigation Settlement Website.

1. Tell them you want a cash settlement (Send me a check)
2. Tell them you would like a credit (To be used on a future Expedia purchase)
3. Object to the settlement (It was all some big “misunderstanding” and it’s YTB’s fault.)
4. Opt out (You don’t care to receive cash or credit now due.)

Here’s what you need to be considered and qualify as part of the settlement:

You need to have “made a “standalone” hotel reservation through Expedia between January 10, 2001 and June 11, 2008 and paid a bundled “Tax Recovery Charge” and “Service Fee” in connection with that booking…

and/or

…you made any hotel reservation (either “standalone,” or as part of a “package” including airfare and/or car rental) through Expedia between February 18, 2003 and December 11, 2006 and paid a “Tax Recovery Charge” and “Service Fee” charge in connection with that booking”

A Final Approval hearing will be held on December 1, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. to determine if the proposed Settlement is fair, reasonable and adequate – whether the Named Plaintiffs will receive incentive awards in an amount not to exceed $7,500 each – decide if counsel should receive an award of attorneys’ fees and costs – or Order of Final Judgment and Dismissal should be entered.

While the final chapter certainly hasn’t closed on the subject of unfair and deceptive trade practices, it is however apparent at this point that many have taken issue and given notice over the Expedia issue. We’ll see what comes in the future for YTB concerning the claims surrounding YTB and this nonsense about misleading and deceiving people. While it has returned $125K to consumers in California, it’s a small pittance compared to the $129 MILLION settlement with Expedia.

But as we’ve seen for the past few years, YTB is apparently a bigger threat and far more dominant in the minds of a select few who want to wallow in thier own illusions that YTB is the real problem in the travel industry.

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Do You ZamZuu?

According to YTB’s 10Q filing with the SEC, the office of the Illinois Attorney General has agreed to extend the date by which YTB must respond the Illinois complaint to this Wednesday, August 26, 2009. If you’re not aware, or forgotten due to last months Convention and the improvements YTB is currently enjoying we wanted to prepare you that another chapter is about to revealed for discussion of both pro and con on blogs, forums and message boards all over the internet. (We are talking about YTB after all!)

Before the ink was able to dry on the California Settlement on May 14th, Lisa Madigan, the Illinois Attorney General, filed their civil complaint against YTB and the Founders the same day. Many of the claims and allegations were a mirror image of what was found in the California complaint. Although Illinois had opened an ongoing “investigation” that started just days after the California complaint filed last August, 2008, Illinois apparently chose a “wait and see” attitude. (Possibly in the hope that California would be successful in shutting YTB down.)

YTB management obviously can’t discuss legal matters publicly or with the field. However the two words we hear over and over from the Founders and Executives is “very optimistic”. We would agree with this optimism based on the successful settlement agreement in California, and the Illinois class action that has already been thrown out. The allegations brought against the company are based in fear, myths, and deception and one needs to keep in mind that the foundation of court rulings and decisions are based on fact and documented law.

We’re not going to bore you, (or for that matter insult or taint your intelligence) with the gross misrepresentations and allegations made against YTB. Other than claims that YTB continues to promote Royal Caribbean, NCL and IATA as a benefit of joining – the premise of the entire complaint is based on the belief that one must to “pay to play” for the opportunity to recruit others into the YTB business. (The “gigantic pyramid scheme” mantra.)

We possibly need to elaborate for you, like YTB will this week with the courts that the YTB model, as it has always been from day one, does not require payment for the opportunity to recruit others. Nor does YTB “pay” someone simply to recruit.

The $449.95 provides a travel website and $49.95 a month provides the continued maintenance of a travel website in order to sell travel. (Travel sales generated from these travel websites were documented at $424 million in 2008) Payments to the field as either an Associate or Website Seller (Rep) are dependent on the travel site (or product) being sold and maintained. Most Host Agencies such as Uniglobe, Travel Planners International, Nexion, MTravel, Expedia Cruise ShipCenters, and Dugan’s Travels are also dependent on the sale of sites being sold to others (in order to therefore generate travel sales) and all charge a startup fee and monthly maintenance fee for website hosting and maintenance of a booking engine, support, training, licensing, and/or E&O insurance for their product or service.

As we’ve found so many times before, all the focus and attention is pinned directly on the Network Marketing aspect of the company while all rules, customs, and normal business practices are thrown out the window. Instead of YTB keeping the money generated from payments of $449.95 and $49.95 a month as other hosts do, YTB pays field representatives for sales they produce and maintain in their own organization. Limiting beliefs are compounded by critics, Attorney Generals, and former Reps who failed, based on the fear that everyone does not have the same opportunity to generate income in this fashion. There are additional phobias based on the MLM model running out of prospects, instead of realizing that it takes personal responsibility, action and effort to build an organization. To compound the emotion of these fears and phobias, the model in some cases does generate millions of dollars of income for common everyday individuals who go to work, promote and build a business of other websites under them. (As documented in both the 2007 and 2008 Rep Income Disclosure Statements.)

The cost for such an opportunity? Not a single penny.

Avon, Mary Kay, PrePaid Legal, NuSkin, EcoQuest, Amway, Primerica, Fuller Brush, and HerbaLife have all built their business via the Network Marketing and Direct Sales model for multiple decades, generating billions, no…TRILLIONS in income. However, fears concerning the window of opportunity for YTB will soon end for someone at the bottom of the pyramid. Because of this unfounded and undocumented belief, there are those who feel its up to them to step in and protect others from something that has never – EVER happened.

Is there any question that YTB believes it has meritorious defenses to the claims and intends to vigorously defend its case based on fact, not perception?

Regardless of your keen understanding and intelligence to see YTB for what it truly is, YTB should be able to successfully defend the misrepresentation and limiting beliefs made in the complaint filed by the Illinois Attorney General. Unlike the many blogs, forums, and bizarre emotional outbursts we see concerning the YTB company, it’s Founders, and the people involved, on the internet – the legal system instead must favor on the side of actual documentation and facts, not perception.

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Do You ZamZuu?

Call me a gluten for punishment – a dreamer – what ever you choose it doesn’t matter. To think that I could actually change someone’s ideas or behavior is a pipe dream. People will do, say, and think what they please and there isn’t a blessed thing I can do about it. The responsibility to change is entirely up to them.

I spent the last week “calling out” my favorite critic and pointing out several errors in judgment, thinking, and perspective to help others see how irrational and self absorbed this individual is. While Tuesday was good, Thursday once again called out one of the most obnoxious critics of YTB for various abuses against the company and it’s people. In the article, I pointed out several glaring mistakes and flat out lies. As expected, no comments, no apologies, not a peep about the documentation provided which questioned it’s credibility.

Until yesterday.

I commented in Thursday’s article that if you don’t like the heat, you need to stay out of the kitchen. If you want to play in the YTB kitchen, every attempt is made to throw you from the frying pan into the fire. If it’s me, there’s a huge reward for anything negative that can be dug up in an attempt to get back at all the times I’ve been able to correct and document the lies and misinformation posted on the internet. And mark my words, they will find it and they will ride it for all it’s worth.

I’ve done a lot of writing in the last few years. I’ve not only written here, but have been paid to write several other articles, and also write for the Examiner as the Atlanta Family Travel Examiner. People happen to like my style and ability to communicate. So much so, that I often find others who use my work. 

I do several posts a week on the Examiner, including Georgia Curiosities, Sunday Saver, and Thursday Travel Tips. I got the idea for Thursday Travel Tips from a weekly e-mail I receive who I also happen to contract with to write articles and publications. Because my information is used without my name (known as a “ghost writer”) I asked if I could use these travel tips for my Examiner page.

The group of writers I’ve come to know I have no problem with sharing information as an unknown. Yesterday however, I found out that the e-mails I had been using…had been lifted from various published sources on the internet, some dating back as early as 2000. Meaning, that what I was using was plagiarized and therefore put both myself and the Examiner at risk.

OUCH!

I can’t reason why, nor do I have any excuse for not checking to verify if there was another source before I posted these articles. As I am finding out from several of these “tips” that many were simply lifted from the web to be used in the e-mails that arrived in my inbox.

Because critics watch every move I make, they have kept a close eye on my Examiner page. (Just like the obsession they have with my with my blog and my newsletter.) One of the readers on Examiner commented and documented an original source of the article I posted on Thursday. A link was provided and when opened to my horror, there was the same article I had just published as my own.

As a result, it proved to be just what the critics needed to throw your truly from the frying pan into the fire. A lengthy post was written calling me out, and demands for answers proceeded to fill the comment section on the blog and various other places on the internet.

What I offered up in return was an apology, and a correction to the gross error that was found.

I also offered up the same to the management of Examiner who had also sent me notice of the finding. While one was corrected on my behalf, the other two that were found were simply deleted last evening out of my own disgust and embarrassment over what had happened. I subsequently will be checking for snippets of a “source” for all of my Thursday Travel Tips over the next few days to correct any further glaring mistakes and carelessness on my part. What happened was wrong and it needs to be corrected.

Fortunately, management of the Examiner appear to have handled this situation in a professional and respectable manor. I wish I could say the same for the critics. If anyone thinks an apology and agreement to correct my mistake would calm my critics…you’re dreamin.

My glaring error was just the ticket to feed the huge fireball of resentment and anger towards me all over the internet. I have been a huge thorn in thier side for years and this finding was just what they needed to get back at me for all the times I’ve documented, corrected, and embarrassed them with what’s been written here. And boy have they had their fill of it!

I’ve always said actions speak louder than words and what we have another lesson in how behavior can be very telling.

As a result of my new found error, John’s claim that no one at Carlson Wagonlit has any record of Candi May is now justified a year later, and he’s once again able to stand tall in his assertion. In addition, the class action that was later dubbed an ungainly monster of 39 pages containing 133 paragraphs is once again deemed “powerful”.

What they found was a doozy, I have to admit. How quickly it turned the tables to take the focus off themselves and throw it right back on me.

All the while, this whole charade of bantering back and forth has gone on for almost two years now without any resolution. It’s never been about correcting, resolving, or coming to terms with our critics. It’s always been about someone else being wrong and them being right. And because my wrong points a very large finger at me, all the critics now somehow feel justified in their own actions over the years for any wrongs that may have been documented here.

Me? I’ll swallow my pride here and admit the gross error out in the open, and hopefully learn a very valuable lesson. In addition, I’m reminded of a prayer I use to use when I first sobered up some 20 years ago.

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change.
The courage to change the things I can.
And the wisdom to know the difference.

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Do You ZamZuu?

One of the most powerful skills you can learn in this day and age is DISCERNMENT. Knowing when you’re hearing truth or lies is a necessity, not a luxury. One of the things I pride myself on is providing third party documentation to validate what’s being written.

Back when California agreed to settle it’s lawsuit with YTB and the final papers were filed, I gave you direct access to the legal documents that were signed by all parties involved. I did this so everyone could read for themselves what the settlement actually said instead of relying on all the garbage that was being posted on the Internet. (Which started with the very person who filed this nonsense about YTB being some sort of “gigantic pyramid scheme” and the “Press Release” that said so.)

It’s been said before that when YTB sneezes, the entire industry catches a cold. News reports soon followed concerning the settlement that YTB had been stopped by the California Attorney General and created a media frenzy of mass confusion on forums, message boards and blogs.

I attempted to cut out all the nonsense and spin by asking everyone to actually read the filing instead of following the propaganda and spin elsewhere. For the most part, people did actually take the time to read the settlement and some of the bullet points that I documented at that time.

Yet we still have a few stragglers who either can’t seem to grasp, or more likely, don’t care to grasp the reality of what this settlement has actually done for YTB. You need to remember that the promise from the California Attorney General was to shut the company down. (Or at least that’s what we had to endure for 10 months.) Those who were convinced about the power Jerry Brown had have been shown otherwise once the settlement was reached. You would think some would man up and consider the possibility that they might not know as much as they think or claim. The California AG did come up considerably short in shutting the company down and $25 million the suit was seeking dwindled to $1 million in the process, so you certainly can’t claim any type of victory there.

Still the initial suit was brought about which attempted to cut the legs out from under the big recruiting commissions being paid to the field. The entire focus, because of something I call “wealth envy”, were the millions paid to YTB Reps for building the business, and not enough money being generated from actual travel sales. Therefore the settlement addressed this phobia directly in what has become known as the “60% Rule”.

(f)(2) Defendants may pay a Website Seller compensation based on the Website Seller’s Total Personal Sales Volume (the dollar amount paid to Defendants that month as a result of the Website Seller’s personal sales) only if the Website Seller has met that requirements of subparagraph (f)(1), [compensation other than a $50 flat fee] immediately above. Defendants shall not pay a Website Seller the full amount of such compensation unless at least 60% of the Website Seller’s Total Personal Sales Volume is derived from Website Owners who are not also Website Sellers. If more than 40% of a Website Seller’s Total Personal Sales Volume is derived from Website Owners who are also Website Sellers, the amount of such compensation Defendants may pay the Website Seller shall be reduced so that the amount of such compensation derived from payments by persons who are also Website Sellers does not exceed 40% of such compensation paid to the Website Seller in any month.

I explained in the article that addressed the settlement when it was announced how worthless this particular clause was, but put there anyway to address the common misconceptions and fears surrounding our company. The hope of this clause was that it would curb the hefty recruiting commissions.

Defendants shall not pay a Website Seller the full amount of such compensation unless at least 60% of the Website Seller’s total personal sales volume is derived from Website Owners who are not also Website Sellers. Meaning that you now need to limit the amount of Website Sellers in your business. You actually want people that are solely interested in selling travel. If you look at the Income Disclosure Statement from 2007, it documents that 80% of the people in YTB didn’t recruit a single person you quickly realize that’s not going to be hard to do.

The idea here is an attempt to limit the amount of income Website Sellers make. (Also known as “recruiters”.) Clearly, California and the “experts” who designed this didn’t bother looking at the Income Disclosure Statement when they designed this rule. With only 20% of the company acting as Website Sellers, it’s not going to be very difficult for Website Sellers in the company moving forward to make that 60/40 split. Unfortunately for California and other critics who have a phobia about “recruiters”, they got too caught up in the actual income and not how the large sums of income were actually made.

When we go back a few years and look at the breakdown between those who sell travel, those that recruit, and those that do both the 2007 income disclosure statement documents more than 80% of YTB were “Website Owners who were not also Website Sellers”. If we go back just one year to the 2008 the income disclosure statement the percentage of both “Website Owners who are not also Website Sellers” increases to 89%. Both the 80% from 2007 and 89% from 2008 assumes that everyone is Website Owner. (RTA/TSO)

Moving forward with the new requirements in the settlement, if we again assume that everyone wants to be both a Website Owner and Website Seller each individual who accomplishes this must first refer 3 other “Associates” who wish to do the same. If successful and that Associate upgrades to a Website Seller and is also a Website Owner, only one person in their organization (out of 4 meaning 25%) qualify as both a Website Owner and Website Seller, far below the 40% that the settlement addresses.

So you can take your pick here. 20% were both in 2007, 11% were both in 2008, and moving forward we increase to whopping 25% ratio between Website Owners who are not also Website Sellers. At best we see gap of 15% below the 40% required to appease the new “60% Rule”. (Also assuming that everyone wants to be both a Website Seller and Website Owner.)

You may be asking yourself at this point; if documentation and the facts provided are informing me that this “60% Rule” isn’t a legitimate concern, why should I care?

Because “The Stalker” says so. (More on that name a little later…)

In a post written yesterday, we found a very creative play on why YTB will be re-activating Travel Sites that have gone inactive over the last year. More than likely these sites have lapsed simply due to falling for this idea that California had the power and resources to topple YTB and a decision was made by the Website Owners to move on.

This new take is as follows, as the self proclaimed “expert” on YTB and MLM.

Rather than comply directly with this requirement, they are simply artificially inflating the number of travel sellers (RTAs/TSOs). There are many people that simply quit YTB without an official notice. Maybe they canceled their cards or disputed the transactions.

Well, now YTB appears to be turning on all of these sites back on (after all they never got an official notice to turn them off) and can re-assign them at will to the appropriate Power Team Leaders who may not comply with the 60% rule. Shrewd. Very Shrewd.

Now, I have to ask you: based on what we know based on documentation dating back to 2007 concerning those in YTB who actively participated as both Website Owners and Website Sellers, how is this possible? Why on earth would YTB now need to inflate the RTA numbers? Because critics have said so and without being aware of what’s being spun, most people would not be able to discern the truth from the lie created.

This idiot (along with the other dolts who blindly hang on his every word) have given us yet one more example of their ignorance. It’s not that they’re incapable of figuring this out, it’s that they are unwilling to look at YTB as anything other than flawed. These desperate attempts to spin and create doubt as specifically designed for anyone who might be looking into YTB and does not have access to the documentation that discredits it. (Note: not one link or reference to any actual numbers in the post. Just an observation from some numb nut who thinks he’s got it all figured out.)

I did make a small attempt to engage in the conversation there after receiving several e-mails asking how this “creative take” could be accurate. But upon returning several hours later, the conversation wondered off to Steals and Deals, the Can Spam Act, and claims that my life has fallen to new lows. (They never were very good at staying on topic.)

Instead I found the exercise above more productive.

Look, I know your tired of dealing with the lies, the misinformation, and the spin just as much as I am. You might as well resign yourself to the fact that there are those who are determined to throw this type of mud out there. They can’t help themselves and it’s becoming obvious that they need some sort of 12 step program or a good shrink to cure what ails them. Unfortunately, the first step is an awareness that you have a problem. I’ve been enduring this dolt going on two years now and I just don’t see any of them coming to grips with what YTB truly is any time soon.

In fact, it’s been getting worse rather than better now that YTB has once again shown how clueless this “expert” really is.

I mentioned “The Stalker” a little while ago. That’s the new name the Home Office has given John Frenaye. We’ve come up with this name because he’s reporting information on his blog from my newsletter based on the access he’s obtained. We also had a new revelation that he’s now a fan of Coach on the new Facebook page. That should tell you that his desperation and obsession is getting worse not better. It had been discussed that we de-fan him, but he’d only appear once again as some “John Doe”, so he’ll remain as is. (Much like he has with my newsletter.)

Just be aware that he’s joining these groups designed for YTB members, in an attempt to continue on with his charade that MLM’s and Travel don’t mix. If you’re like me, you begin to find the claims about YTB always being the one who reacts and responds odd. Truth is, it’s the critics and the industry that always responds to what YTB does. Not the other way around.

The trick is knowing when you’re hearing the truth or just another lie.

PS - If you're involved with YTB, sign up for our FREE Newsletter. As a Website Owner or Website Seller, we'll keep you up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB.

PPS - Subscribe to the Just Picture It Now RSS feed, (including e-mail) for all the latest posts and updates found right here!

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Do You ZamZuu?