Comments on: YTB IATAN/IATA Accreditation Cancelled http://www.theytb.com/273/ytb-iataniata-accreditation-cancelled/ THEYTB, The Fairest Review of YTB..... Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:44:44 +0000 hourly 1 By: Bruce http://www.theytb.com/273/ytb-iataniata-accreditation-cancelled/#comment-1490 Bruce Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:06:31 +0000 http://www.theytb.com/273/ytb-iataniata-accreditation-cancelled/#comment-1490 Introduction A federal lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois against YTB International, Inc. and its affiliated entities, officers and directors (“YTB”). The lawsuit alleges that YTB has violated the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act by operating an illegal pyramid sales scheme and utilizing an illegal chain referral sales technique. Further, the lawsuit alleges that YTB purports to sell travel services, but their business is primarily based on the inducement of additional persons to serve as "travel agents." Factual Allegations The following are factual allegations in the lawsuit: In 2007, Plaintiffs and their class paid over $103 million to Defendants for websites and "licensing" rights. In 2007, Plaintiffs and their class made only $13 million in travel commissions from Defendants. In 2007, Defendants generated net revenue of over $141 million dollars. Seventy three percent (73%) of Defendants’ net revenue in 2007 was generated from the sale of websites, initial fees and monthly fees. Ten percent (10%) of Defendants’ net revenue in 2007 was generated through the sale to consumers of training and marketing materials. Only fourteen and one half percent (14.5%) of Defendants’ net revenue in 2007 was generated from the sale of travel services. Sixty two percent (62%) of Plaintiffs and their class failed to earn money on the sale of travel services, including their own personal travel. Introduction
A federal lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois against YTB International, Inc. and its affiliated entities, officers and directors (“YTB”). The lawsuit alleges that YTB has violated the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act by operating an illegal pyramid sales scheme and utilizing an illegal chain referral sales technique. Further, the lawsuit alleges that YTB purports to sell travel services, but their business is primarily based on the inducement of additional persons to serve as "travel agents."

Factual Allegations
The following are factual allegations in the lawsuit:

In 2007, Plaintiffs and their class paid over $103 million to Defendants for websites and "licensing" rights.
In 2007, Plaintiffs and their class made only $13 million in travel commissions from Defendants.
In 2007, Defendants generated net revenue of over $141 million dollars.
Seventy three percent (73%) of Defendants’ net revenue in 2007 was generated from the sale of websites, initial fees and monthly fees.
Ten percent (10%) of Defendants’ net revenue in 2007 was generated through the sale to consumers of training and marketing materials.
Only fourteen and one half percent (14.5%) of Defendants’ net revenue in 2007 was generated from the sale of travel services.
Sixty two percent (62%) of Plaintiffs and their class failed to earn money on the sale of travel services, including their own personal travel.

]]> By: Tim http://www.theytb.com/273/ytb-iataniata-accreditation-cancelled/#comment-1489 Tim Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:26:39 +0000 http://www.theytb.com/273/ytb-iataniata-accreditation-cancelled/#comment-1489 unfortunate companies like YTB have issues. Network marketing can experience difficulties with out bad press. When any company has problems it effects them all. I have been full time networking and this stuff disturbs me. We put out a scam truths site for my company and is pretty interesting www.5linxscamtruths.com unfortunate companies like YTB have issues. Network marketing can experience difficulties with out bad press. When any company has problems it effects them all. I have been full time networking and this stuff disturbs me. We put out a scam truths site for my company and is pretty interesting http://www.5linxscamtruths.com

]]> By: denyse http://www.theytb.com/273/ytb-iataniata-accreditation-cancelled/#comment-1449 denyse Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:26:26 +0000 http://www.theytb.com/273/ytb-iataniata-accreditation-cancelled/#comment-1449 Susan, do you think this is YTB's headquarters site? Susan, do you think this is YTB's headquarters site?

]]> By: susan miller http://www.theytb.com/273/ytb-iataniata-accreditation-cancelled/#comment-1433 susan miller Thu, 28 May 2009 15:40:07 +0000 http://www.theytb.com/273/ytb-iataniata-accreditation-cancelled/#comment-1433 id#239500 SUSAN MILLER Birthdate: 01/12/1945 Password: sue2joe. Please send me infor so I can get on Princess to find discounted rates. Need sign in from YTB. id#239500 SUSAN MILLER Birthdate: 01/12/1945 Password:
sue2joe. Please send me infor so I can get on Princess
to find discounted rates. Need sign in from YTB.

]]> By: dina http://www.theytb.com/273/ytb-iataniata-accreditation-cancelled/#comment-911 dina Sat, 21 Feb 2009 20:09:49 +0000 http://www.theytb.com/273/ytb-iataniata-accreditation-cancelled/#comment-911 YTB IS GREAT!!!! YTB IS GREAT!!!!

]]> By: hannah http://www.theytb.com/273/ytb-iataniata-accreditation-cancelled/#comment-71 hannah Tue, 04 Dec 2007 09:29:31 +0000 http://www.theytb.com/273/ytb-iataniata-accreditation-cancelled/#comment-71 Hi guys For over 20 years, this VIP Luxury Resort Membership has been sold exclusively to high net worth individuals via private sales presentations Cheer"s <a href="http://www.enjoyurich.com" title="VIP luxury resort membership " rel="nofollow">VIP luxury resort membership </a> Hi guys
For over 20 years, this VIP Luxury Resort Membership has been sold exclusively to high net worth individuals via private sales presentations
Cheer"s
VIP luxury resort membership

]]> By: Mike http://www.theytb.com/273/ytb-iataniata-accreditation-cancelled/#comment-63 Mike Wed, 21 Nov 2007 04:35:18 +0000 http://www.theytb.com/273/ytb-iataniata-accreditation-cancelled/#comment-63 I feel obligated to post a reply to your blog. I have conversed about this on several blogs. I have a friend that is deeply involved in YTB and I have unfortunately had to advise him to cash out his money and get out. The YTB travel discount is predicated on the exploitation of a loop hole in the travel industry. Until now the industry has tolerated these abuses and or simply denied benefits until the RTA booked several “packages”. This is what Carnival has done. Caribbean set the precedence and now IATA and ASTA have followed suit. It will not stop there. The central problem is that YTB is selling a “product discount” that is discretionary. This is not like a rebate coupon where if you follow the guidelines you will get the discount. The vendors hold all the cards, makes all the decisions, and YTB or any of the other Travel MLM’s are completely at their mercy. The vendors are now speaking and speaking loudly. I am not here to debate the validity of MLM or the YTB model. That is a conversation better left for priests and fools. I am not here to debate whether or not YTB put more travel dollars in the vendor’s pockets. I think they have. The simple, clear, loud and undisputable fact is that the vendors are saying that they do not like the MLM model being used for travel. Their stance is that we (the vendors) existed before MLM and we do not want to be associated with it, GO AWAY! Certain areas of the travel industry will not care. In particular hotels will not care. They will keep booking with the MLM companies because their prices are over inflated and many of their parent companies, Marriot, Cendant, Windham, already sponsor MLM type setups known as fractional timeshares. I know that in ‘08 YTB is finally raising their standards so that you actually have to do full training to be an RTA. You will also have to actually sell travel to get the discounts. The problem is that is it too little too late. The travel industry as a whole has made up their mind on MLM’s and it is not good. If YTB can not regain their standing in the industry within the next few months they are in trouble. They can sell the changes all day long but if the vendors aren’t biting, you might as well be fishing with dog doo. If the only thing you can promote as a discount is hotels and Carnival Cruise Lines, then there is not much of a “travel company”. The system will collapse or be an “also ran”. Just some things you might want to think about ~ Mike ~ I feel obligated to post a reply to your blog. I have conversed about this on several blogs. I have a friend that is deeply involved in YTB and I have unfortunately had to advise him to cash out his money and get out. The YTB travel discount is predicated on the exploitation of a loop hole in the travel industry. Until now the industry has tolerated these abuses and or simply denied benefits until the RTA booked several “packages”. This is what Carnival has done. Caribbean set the precedence and now IATA and ASTA have followed suit. It will not stop there.

The central problem is that YTB is selling a “product discount” that is discretionary. This is not like a rebate coupon where if you follow the guidelines you will get the discount. The vendors hold all the cards, makes all the decisions, and YTB or any of the other Travel MLM’s are completely at their mercy. The vendors are now speaking and speaking loudly.

I am not here to debate the validity of MLM or the YTB model. That is a conversation better left for priests and fools. I am not here to debate whether or not YTB put more travel dollars in the vendor’s pockets. I think they have. The simple, clear, loud and undisputable fact is that the vendors are saying that they do not like the MLM model being used for travel. Their stance is that we (the vendors) existed before MLM and we do not want to be associated with it, GO AWAY!

Certain areas of the travel industry will not care. In particular hotels will not care. They will keep booking with the MLM companies because their prices are over inflated and many of their parent companies, Marriot, Cendant, Windham, already sponsor MLM type setups known as fractional timeshares.

I know that in ‘08 YTB is finally raising their standards so that you actually have to do full training to be an RTA. You will also have to actually sell travel to get the discounts. The problem is that is it too little too late. The travel industry as a whole has made up their mind on MLM’s and it is not good.

If YTB can not regain their standing in the industry within the next few months they are in trouble. They can sell the changes all day long but if the vendors aren’t biting, you might as well be fishing with dog doo. If the only thing you can promote as a discount is hotels and Carnival Cruise Lines, then there is not much of a “travel company”. The system will collapse or be an “also ran”.

Just some things you might want to think about
~ Mike ~

]]> By: Travel Agency » YTB IATAN/IATA Accreditation Cancelled http://www.theytb.com/273/ytb-iataniata-accreditation-cancelled/#comment-62 Travel Agency » YTB IATAN/IATA Accreditation Cancelled Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:35:40 +0000 http://www.theytb.com/273/ytb-iataniata-accreditation-cancelled/#comment-62 [...] YTB Admin wrote an interesting post today on YTB IATAN/IATA Accreditation CancelledHere’s a quick excerptAs YTB continues to grow, we become a bigger threat to both brick and mortar travel agencies and other online travel sellers. That means that some of our competitors might attempt to impede our business progress in any way they can. … [...] [...] YTB Admin wrote an interesting post today on YTB IATAN/IATA Accreditation CancelledHere's a quick excerptAs YTB continues to grow, we become a bigger threat to both brick and mortar travel agencies and other online travel sellers. That means that some of our competitors might attempt to impede our business progress in any way they can. … [...]

]]> By: Is YTB just a Scam? - Page 2 - ITYT Travel Forums http://www.theytb.com/273/ytb-iataniata-accreditation-cancelled/#comment-59 Is YTB just a Scam? - Page 2 - ITYT Travel Forums Sat, 17 Nov 2007 16:12:18 +0000 http://www.theytb.com/273/ytb-iataniata-accreditation-cancelled/#comment-59 [...] YTB IATAN/IATA Accreditation Cancelled Interesting thread. YTB just had their IATAN/IATA cancelled. This article claims that YTB.com just posted their best quarter of its history and their legal counsel is working to regain accreditation. This could be a major blow to YTB's image. If they survive the PR, though, they could become a major player in the industry. Check here for the article. YTB IATAN/IATA Accreditation Cancelled [...] [...] YTB IATAN/IATA Accreditation Cancelled Interesting thread. YTB just had their IATAN/IATA cancelled. This article claims that YTB.com just posted their best quarter of its history and their legal counsel is working to regain accreditation. This could be a major blow to YTB's image. If they survive the PR, though, they could become a major player in the industry. Check here for the article. YTB IATAN/IATA Accreditation Cancelled [...]

]]> By: Travel Agent » YTB IATAN/IATA Accreditation Cancelled http://www.theytb.com/273/ytb-iataniata-accreditation-cancelled/#comment-58 Travel Agent » YTB IATAN/IATA Accreditation Cancelled Sat, 17 Nov 2007 05:06:31 +0000 http://www.theytb.com/273/ytb-iataniata-accreditation-cancelled/#comment-58 [...] YTB Admin wrote an interesting post today on YTB IATAN/IATA Accreditation CancelledHere’s a quick excerptWe are a legitimate travel agency for many reasons including our affiliation with ARC and CLIA, the extensive training and support that we offer our RTAs, our strong vendor relations, and the fact that Travel Weekly named us the 11th … [...] [...] YTB Admin wrote an interesting post today on YTB IATAN/IATA Accreditation CancelledHere's a quick excerptWe are a legitimate travel agency for many reasons including our affiliation with ARC and CLIA, the extensive training and support that we offer our RTAs, our strong vendor relations, and the fact that Travel Weekly named us the 11th … [...]

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