YTB Scam

Is there a YTB scam or is it a genuine business opportunity?

YTB stands for Your Travel Business and is a travel booking service that is based on the Internet.

YTB have independent representatives throughout the U.S. and in 2008, they expanded into Canada, Bermuda and the Bahamas. These representatives book online travel for the company.

You can either be an Independent Marketing representative, i.e. a person who resells the opportunity to become an agent, or an actual RTA [Refer Travel Agent]. To become a RTA, it costs around $449.95 upfront to activate your travel booking engine, and a monthly fee of $50 for your website.

You first have to build your power team which consists of 3 representatives or more, and at least 6 RTA's who all pay their monthly dues. You are now free to build away.

YTB claim to have sold $425m of travel during 2008.

Is there a YTB Scam?

YTB was launched by three people in January 2001 in downtown Alton, Illinois.

The Founders, J. Lloyd 'Coach' Tomer, Scott Tomer and Kim Sorensen, came from a successful marketing business in financial services. They decided YTB was to be the 'model' direct sales company, capitalizing on the growing travel industry and the explosion of Internet commerce.

By 2008, they claimed to have 200+ employees.

YTB is a networking marketing business [or multi level marketing] and is suited for a home-based business.

YTB's Associate/Rep income disclosure statement shows that in 2008, 28% of all reps received no income at all. From 7/1/2009 to 9/30/2009, 76% of all reps received no income at all.

The median annual income for all reps in 2008 was $175. The median annual income for all reps for 7/1/09 to 9/30/09 was $0.

YTB is a publicly traded company and is a member of the Direct Selling Association.

As a member of the Direct Selling Association [DSA], their marketing and business plans were reviewed by the DSA to ensure compliance with all provisions of their code of ethics.

The DSA code of ethics prohibits pyramid schemes and deceptive or unlawful consumer or recruiting practices, misrepresentation of earnings or sales potential, inventory loading, and unreasonable fees.

Like any other business, you should always view a network marketing opportunity with great caution. The more a salesperson raves about it, the bigger the promises, the more likely it is to be a scam, or even if it is legitimate, you may be sorely disappointed.

If you do some research on the Internet, you will find forum posts, blogs and information to help you decide if this is an opportunity for you, or as some believe, a YTB scam.

Remember:

In general, MLM or network marketing has a low success rate [often around 1%] a high drop out rate, fierce competition usually with no sales territories, possibility of being in a neighborhood that is already saturated.

The problem is that some YTB recruiters try to sell the idea that by signing up you will quickly become rich and will be able to leave your jobs, and this can leave unsuccessful people with the view there is a YTB scam.

Well, yes you could become rich, but not easily, because you will have to work at it, you will have to be consistent and motivated, you will have to spend time and network extensively, you will have to have a plan, you will need support, knowledge of your company/products/market and you will have to recruit and motivate your downline, and also take care of your customers.

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YTB Scam