Sep 11, 2008
Ever been invited to an art auction on a cruise ship? It's a bad idea and you know it
Among the less savory practices on cruise ships are art auctions for the sale of paintings and prints to passengers, many of them inexperienced with how art auctions work. One tip-off to the character of these questionable events is the free booze -- typically a table of cocktails and wine -- offered before and during the auction; tipsy cruisers get excited about the prospect of scoring a deal, and buy a painting for multiples of its true value. There have been recent newspaper articles about lawsuits brought against the seagoing art houses for foisting inflated, misrepresented works on ignorant travelers.
The definitive expose is by Jason Cochran, a really fine travel writer, in a recent post on the website www.walletpop.com. I think you'll be intrigued to read that some of the cruise lines have apparently pressured the art houses conducting these sales into allowing passengers to return their purchases for refunds. It's about time.
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The definitive expose is by Jason Cochran, a really fine travel writer, in a recent post on the website www.walletpop.com. I think you'll be intrigued to read that some of the cruise lines have apparently pressured the art houses conducting these sales into allowing passengers to return their purchases for refunds. It's about time.
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Jul 29, 2008
Scam artists are at it again, offering discounts to persons who will first pay them an exorbitant lump-sum fee
To my horror and dismay, I am continuing to hear of travel agents who charge "membership fees" for their services. They form a club or organization, claim that it is capable of obtaining unusual (but unspecified) discounts and other benefits, institute a fee of $1,500 to $3,500 for "membership," and then proceed to book you onto various flights and into various resorts at what they claim are preferential prices.
Of course, the prices they obtain are no lower than many internet services or other non-fee-charging travel agents would obtain for you. I am astonished at the gullibility of the public in responding to these "club" offers. And I am shocked at the so-called "bonuses" and "discounts" that these fee-charging travel agents offer.
Often the benefits are coupons entitling the bearer to a free, two-night stay at a resort hotel in a sunbelt location. These are almost always time-share properties that proceed to subject the coupon-holder to intense marketing sessions pressuring them to buy a time-share. Alternately, the coupons and certificates simply entitle the bearer to a discount that they could have obtained from numerous other marketing organizations, but without paying a "membership fee."
I know the readers of this blog will respond with extreme skepticism to the offers of these scattered, fee-charging "travel agents." The moment you hear of a agency offering benefits only if you will first pay an up-front fee, make a wide detour around that snakeoil salesman and scurry away.
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Of course, the prices they obtain are no lower than many internet services or other non-fee-charging travel agents would obtain for you. I am astonished at the gullibility of the public in responding to these "club" offers. And I am shocked at the so-called "bonuses" and "discounts" that these fee-charging travel agents offer.
Often the benefits are coupons entitling the bearer to a free, two-night stay at a resort hotel in a sunbelt location. These are almost always time-share properties that proceed to subject the coupon-holder to intense marketing sessions pressuring them to buy a time-share. Alternately, the coupons and certificates simply entitle the bearer to a discount that they could have obtained from numerous other marketing organizations, but without paying a "membership fee."
I know the readers of this blog will respond with extreme skepticism to the offers of these scattered, fee-charging "travel agents." The moment you hear of a agency offering benefits only if you will first pay an up-front fee, make a wide detour around that snakeoil salesman and scurry away.
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Labels: membership clubs, scams, travel agent
Jan 10, 2008
Those "be a travel agent from home" organizations are still charging $500 (plus a monthly fee) for their services
I've written a great deal about the firms that many travel pros call "card mills" and which the firms themselves (like YTB) insist are respectable travel agencies. These are the companies that charge individuals an initial membership fee of $400 to $500 just to be listed as a member and receive an "identity card."
A particularly poignant letter came in this week from a woman who paid that $500 fee, and has yet to earn a penny. Note that she does not claim to have any special travel expertise or travel information to impart. I'm not commenting on her letter (sent to me because I mentioned the controversy over such arrangements in a recent newspaper column) but simply re-printing it verbatim:
A particularly poignant letter came in this week from a woman who paid that $500 fee, and has yet to earn a penny. Note that she does not claim to have any special travel expertise or travel information to impart. I'm not commenting on her letter (sent to me because I mentioned the controversy over such arrangements in a recent newspaper column) but simply re-printing it verbatim:
Dear Sir:Write and read comments about this post.
I read your article today in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
I joined YTB as a referring travel agent last Feb., paid my $500 and monthly fee for websites. My marketing skills are negligible. Therefore I haven't profited, even though I've distributed several hundred business cards.
The flip side is; I've attended meetings and part of a convention where thousands of people are claiming they have been so successful.
I must confess I was skeptical about this deal, but can't explain all of the success stories. Therefore, I'm "on the fence" regarding this company. Probably more time should be devoted to the marketing aspect, but I'm wondering if this is really for me?
Any more input on this subject would be appreciated.
Thank you so much, [Name withheld]
Labels: scams
Dec 19, 2007
If you'd like to read a serious analysis of the "card mill" controversy go to the Chicago Tribune's website
As you may know from previous posts, a number of companies have been accused of being "card mills" (firms in business primarily to sell identity cards naming the bearer as a travel agent), and I for one have warned readers to be extremely careful about paying out $400-or-so for such a card.
Several companies accused in that manner have, in turn, heatedly argued that they perform a legitimate function, enabling people to earn income from the sale of travel, after they have paid a hefty sum to obtain such a card.
The best analysis I've seen of those claims appeared in a December 9 issue of the Chicago Tribune, and you can read the article online. See, especially, the author's final statement claiming that "97% of the travel agents [buying such cards] lasted on average less than one year."
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Several companies accused in that manner have, in turn, heatedly argued that they perform a legitimate function, enabling people to earn income from the sale of travel, after they have paid a hefty sum to obtain such a card.
The best analysis I've seen of those claims appeared in a December 9 issue of the Chicago Tribune, and you can read the article online. See, especially, the author's final statement claiming that "97% of the travel agents [buying such cards] lasted on average less than one year."
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Labels: scams
Dec 11, 2007
Royal Caribbean Cruises sends a warning to dealers of questionable travel agent I.D. cards
The major current controversy in the travel trade press (the newspapers and newsletters mailed to travel professionals) is about the alleged "card mills" that charge $400 and up for an I.D. identifying the bearer as a travel agent. Some of these card-issuing companies also engage in what is called multi-level marketing -- which gives a commission (and promises the sky) to a card purchaser who persuades other people to purchase I.D.'s. from them.
The traditional travel agents are obviously frantic about such "card mills," and last month the giant Royal Caribbean Cruises named several specific companies whose cards they would no longer honor for travel agent discounts. One of the alleged offenders prominently mentioned in the travel press is a company called YTB, which has apparently issued many thousands of such cards -- and YTB has now been cut off by Royal Caribbean Cruises. YTB, in turn, has fought back, claiming it is an honest operator of a chain of largely-home-based travel agents who receive genuine instruction, work hard to sell trips and tours, and do not simply buy I.D. cards.
Several other major travel suppliers have endorsed Royal Caribbean's stand and lambasted the so-called "card mills." Yet surprisingly, Carnival Cruises -- sensing an opportunity -- has refused to take similar action against several card-issuing companies that have, apparently, produced passengers for Carnival.
And so it goes. My warning remains as before. Travel suppliers (cruiselines, airlines, hotel chains, tour operators) aren't fools. They are able to identify those people who are genuine travel agents and those who have simply purchased an I.D. Much more than the card is now required to qualify you for travel discounts. And companies that simply take $400 or $500 from you for an I.D., without operating a genuine, disciplined course of instruction or chain of retail agencies, are scam artists. Dealing with them, you are simply exchanging $400 or $500 for a worthless piece of cardboard.
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The traditional travel agents are obviously frantic about such "card mills," and last month the giant Royal Caribbean Cruises named several specific companies whose cards they would no longer honor for travel agent discounts. One of the alleged offenders prominently mentioned in the travel press is a company called YTB, which has apparently issued many thousands of such cards -- and YTB has now been cut off by Royal Caribbean Cruises. YTB, in turn, has fought back, claiming it is an honest operator of a chain of largely-home-based travel agents who receive genuine instruction, work hard to sell trips and tours, and do not simply buy I.D. cards.
Several other major travel suppliers have endorsed Royal Caribbean's stand and lambasted the so-called "card mills." Yet surprisingly, Carnival Cruises -- sensing an opportunity -- has refused to take similar action against several card-issuing companies that have, apparently, produced passengers for Carnival.
And so it goes. My warning remains as before. Travel suppliers (cruiselines, airlines, hotel chains, tour operators) aren't fools. They are able to identify those people who are genuine travel agents and those who have simply purchased an I.D. Much more than the card is now required to qualify you for travel discounts. And companies that simply take $400 or $500 from you for an I.D., without operating a genuine, disciplined course of instruction or chain of retail agencies, are scam artists. Dealing with them, you are simply exchanging $400 or $500 for a worthless piece of cardboard.
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Oct 22, 2007
Those "card-mills" selling I.D.'s to phony travel agents (members of the public looking for discounts on travel) are experiencing rough weather
I've written before about the "card mills," the "multi-level marketing companies" selling pyramid-like schemes that appoint members of the public to be supposed travel agents supplied with an I.D. that will enable them to book flights, hotels and cruises at big reductions. This week, one of the largest cruiselines suddenly disenfranchised YTB Travel Network, one of the largest of these card-issuing companies (YTB denies that it is a "card mill"), announcing that they would no longer give a penny's discount to people showing up with such I.D.'s. The action has been applauded by various travel trade groups, and to the extent that any big airline, hotel chain or cruiseline is still recognizing the credentials of such companies (and very few of them are), the practice is about to end.
So don't be a sucker. Don't pay out big sums to obtain a card stating that you are a travel agent. The only person benefiting from such cards is the person selling them.
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So don't be a sucker. Don't pay out big sums to obtain a card stating that you are a travel agent. The only person benefiting from such cards is the person selling them.
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Labels: scams
Aug 30, 2007
Don't ever book a large hotel without inquiring whether they charge a "resort fee" -- and if they do, refuse to book unless they eliminate it
It's a practice, shamefully enough, of some of the most prominent chain hotels -- and it needs to be stopped. You check out of your room and discover that they've added from $15 to $20 a day as a "resort fee" supposedly meant to cover the cost of the hotel's fitness room, large swimming pool towels, the availability of the business center. And you're charged that added fee despite the fact that you don't plan to use the fitness room, large swimming pool towels, or the business center. Some hotels even mention that the "resort fee" covers the in-room coffee-maker perched on the bathroom ledge, even though you have no intention of ever using it.
That ubiquitous "resort fee" is an outrageous scam meant to raise the hotel's income (and its room rates) without telling you. It's a shameful, deceptive practice on the part of hotel executives, who should know better; and yet it seems to be spreading all over the world of hotels, or at least to the larger ones.
Never get tricked into paying it. When confirming your reservation, ask politely whether there are extra charges such as a "resort fee" (or other similar scam). And if there are, refuse to book unless they remove them.
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That ubiquitous "resort fee" is an outrageous scam meant to raise the hotel's income (and its room rates) without telling you. It's a shameful, deceptive practice on the part of hotel executives, who should know better; and yet it seems to be spreading all over the world of hotels, or at least to the larger ones.
Never get tricked into paying it. When confirming your reservation, ask politely whether there are extra charges such as a "resort fee" (or other similar scam). And if there are, refuse to book unless they remove them.
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Aug 12, 2007
It's increasingly apparent that those hundred million internet votes cast for the "Seven New Wonders of the World" were inappropriately influenced
When it was announced recently that Chichen Itza in Mexico, Petra in Jordan, and the Christ the Redeemer Statue in Rio de Janeiro had been included in the "Seven New Wonders of the World," I smelled something fishy. "Christ the Redeemer" is neither a great work of art nor even especially colossal when compared, say, with the Statue of Liberty. Chichen Itza in Mexico's Yucatan? Petra in Jordan? Neither has the importance or monumentality of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the Eiffel Tower, and certainly not the great Pyramids of Egypt.
An explanation was forthcoming this week when a Newsweek reporter discovered that corporations in Brazil had spent tens of millions in rounding up Internet votes for the Christ the Redeemer statue by citizens of Brazil. In Jordan, which has a population of seven million people, fourteen million votes were counted for Petra. It was obvious -- and the Swiss foundation sponsoring the voting has never denied -- that safeguards were not in place to prevent duplicate voting.
In the years ahead, the newly designated "Seven New Wonders of the World" (Christ the Redeemer, Chichen Itza, Machu Picchu, Petra, the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal, and Rome's Colosseum) will be touted to the world's tourist populations as absolute "must-sees." We'll know better.
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An explanation was forthcoming this week when a Newsweek reporter discovered that corporations in Brazil had spent tens of millions in rounding up Internet votes for the Christ the Redeemer statue by citizens of Brazil. In Jordan, which has a population of seven million people, fourteen million votes were counted for Petra. It was obvious -- and the Swiss foundation sponsoring the voting has never denied -- that safeguards were not in place to prevent duplicate voting.
In the years ahead, the newly designated "Seven New Wonders of the World" (Christ the Redeemer, Chichen Itza, Machu Picchu, Petra, the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal, and Rome's Colosseum) will be touted to the world's tourist populations as absolute "must-sees." We'll know better.
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Labels: scams
Fifty years ago, 
Arthur Frommer is generally acknowledged to be the nation's foremost travel authority. He is the founder of the
