Bad news for YTB:
1. Royal Caribbean drops YTB
2. Perrilo Tours drops YTB
3. YTB makes the front page of WorldWideScam.com (this has historically done more damage to MLM companies than any other negative news online.)
4. YTB makes headlines news in many travel industry journals. (See attached for examples.)
5. IATAN drops YTB (You must have an IATAN in order to get travel agent discounts.)
6. YTBs stock tanks and looks like may continue down (see below)!
7. RI Agency Investigates YTB.
YTB in LA Times
http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-tr-insider25nov25
FLORIDA AG HITS YTB DISTRIBUTORS
http://www.mlmwatchdog.com/pyramid_burn_lounge_burnlounge.html
Reality Check: Raising the Red Flags on YTB International
http://seekingalpha.com/article/26398-reality-check-raising-the-red-flags-on-ytb-international
Update on YTB Travel and The Ricketts
http://mlm-networkmarketing.blogspot.com/2007/08/update-on-ytb-travel-and-ricketts.html
#1 YTB Earner Ricketts Being Investigated by Florida Attorney General for Pyramiding
(Scam.com misc. info on legality of YTB)
http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?t=27821
Someone just forwarded this article/blog that you'll be interested in if you haven't seen it. Go to:
http://notravelmlms.blogspot.com/2007/11/for-complete-change-of-pace.html
The article is of most interest and the majority of the blog comments are a waste of time to read but there are two or three really worth reading.
One of the things that I was completely unaware of was "Former CEO Michael Brent is the single largest shareholder in YTB. Since August 2, 2007, he has sold 983,184 shares of stock and received $2,070,983. He is selling stock very frequently and usually daily." What's the scariest part about this is "He still owns 14.1 million shares." I would have a hard time promoting a $1M bonus if that bonus was paid in YTB stock. What the regulators want to see is for companies to be as transparent as possible to customers and shareholders. I was hearing mixed stories from different leaders on whether the bonus was paid in cash or stock. If it's not easy to find on their site, do you think new recruits or new investors might feel misled?
Here's another article from months ago regarding Coach selling 1M shares at close to $7M earlier this year. I'm not personally questioning his motive but the perception from others is what can drive SEC complaints. Go to the following link and then scroll down to the article dated Monday, February 12, 2007 "The Best Press Release of 2007: A Sentimental Journey with J. Lloyd Tomer"
http://jeffmatthewsisnotmakingthisup.blogspot.com/2007_02_01_archive.html
---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: RI Agency Investigates YTB
Date: Mon, November 19, 2007 3:56 pm
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RI Agency Investigates YTB Business Model
Fri Nov 16 2007, by George Dooley
The Rhode Island state Department of Business Regulation (DBR) confirmed that it is reviewing and evaluating the YTB business model, according to Richard Berstein, its executive counsel.
In an E-mail to John Frenaye, the sponsor of the MLM petition, "MLM Travel Agents Cheapen Industry," that has to date won over 2,600 travel agent and supplier signatures, Berstein confirmed the review to ensure YTB complies with state law and oversight of the travel industry.
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Hopefully this will be able to help you. If you are still interested in being part of a Travel Business take a look at
www.ecashtravel.com and click on the numbers for more info..