A Franchise Opinion

On Sunday, our local paper had an article on franchising.* In it, they extolled the benefits of being in a franchise and how it can be the perfect fit for someone just starting out, and for someone with tons of experience.

However there was a big "but" in the column.

The ideal franchise will have a proven success formula consisting of four critical items:

1. Profit record. (well in 2020, YTB will be bigger than Walmart and Amazon combined)
   
2. Brand recognition. (Well, yes, but not for the right reasons)
   
3. Operating procedures. (Hey, if it takes a bunch of legal action to have ethical procedures....)
   
4. Support and training. (Yes, but only for those interested in recruiting. Minimal focus on travel)
   

and
Some additional things to check when you are evaluating a franchise opportunity include:

   1. Examples and profiles of successful operators. (We have 126 of our 300,000)
   2. Sales quotas and performance requirements. (None for travel, but if you recruit, you betcha!)
   3. Restrictions on selling the business. (We have lot's of restrictions)
   4. Satisfaction Awards from the Franchise Business Review (FBR). (We just became a franchise because we were told we had to. Don;t know these guys, but we are with the DSA. Don;t ask about the BBB, IATAN, Royal Caribbean, NCL, or others)
   5. Membership in the International Franchise Association (IFA).(see comment to #4 above)

* Link is only typically good for 30 days!

Pyramid Deal Or Franchise?

After YTB settled the suit with California for a million dollars and a drastic change to their business practices, they march on. On July 1, they are announcing a new "opportunity" for the TSOs and it will be a 14 day waiting period before they are officially listed among the ranks.  This is a great idea  since most MLMs rely on the spirit of impulsiveness for their success. This is specifically why California has required them to register as a franchise--even though they are considered a "business opportunity" based on the cost of entry. Too many people were suckered in.

But, in the throes of a rapidly collapsing pyramid (recent numbers suggest there are just over 50,000 TSOs in the system now), YTB is spinning this as a positive thing for them.   Following is the explanation given and how to deflect the whole "pyramid scheme" inquiry.

The next phase of YTB 2.0 will begin July 1, 2009, with the launch of a 14-day wait in the state of California only. When this proves to be successful, we will make this available nationwide.

You may or may not have been with YTB in January of 2007 when California wrote new legislation prohibiting "Card Mills" from offering credentials. Of course YTB was caught up in that legislation. When we finally came to a resolution more than two years ago California TSO's were required to book $2500 in travel before they were qualified to submit their application for CLIA credentials.

Critics claimed it would end YTB. Many in our own company thought it would ruin their business. It was too hard. Nobody would be interested if they had to wait for credentials.

That year California went from a few hundred TSO's to over 20,000...in one year!

This 14 day waiting period is much the same. It's going to separate the curious from the serious. You won't waste time on those who aren't really interested in this opportunity. Your prospects will be more informed about what they're buying.

If a prospect has any questions as to why there is 14 day wait to invest, we can thank California for allowing us to register as a franchise in the state. We are unaware of any franchise that's under $500 to join which makes YTB Travel Network an incredible value compared to other franchise models that require an investment of thousands of dollars. Since we are required to register as a franchise, the prospect is in fact buying into a franchise model rather than an MLM which is perceived as a better model.

It will make a difference to some when you are able to answer the question of "Is this one of those pyramid deals?" with "No, we are a registered franchise."

Here's how it works:

1. A prospect from California will not be able to purchase an Internet Travel Center until after the 14-day campaign sent via email is complete.

2. YTB will initiate this campaign once a prospect from California has clicked on "Buy Now" and filled out a small amount of registration information. (Payment information will not be collected)

3. After the 14-day campaign is complete, YTB will notify the PowerTeam Leader.
This is a very clean, very clear plan of action which we believe will end the misconceptions and ignorance surrounding our business model and company. We also believe that when it's all said and done, we will again thank California for helping us build our business in much the same way they helped us two years ago when they passed the legislation to separate "Card Mills" from legitimate Travel Sellers.

Lil Darlin'

Observations On The "Power" List

I am not sure why everyone in the world can see the discrepancies except Travel Weekly.

How can a company selling a reported $424.1 million dollars only earn $27.9 million in commission? That is only 6.6%? This might make sense if there was a heavy ARC number, but alas, ARC/Air sales are only $2.76 million or less than half of one percent! As a poster on another forums suggested; just look at a few of the other companies in the list. GTI (another MLM) rated at 53 on the Power List. $122 million is sales, $11 million in ARC.  Nexion rated 37 with $245 million sales, $111 million ARC. Travelers Advantage rated 24, $445 million sales, $189 million ARC. And then there is YTB rated 25, $424.1 million sales, $2.76 ARC. A single good corporate agent can do $2.7 million in ARC. It took YTB 92,000?


Backing out the ARC number, that leaves $423.1 million for leisure sales that typically should be in the over 10% range.

A rule of thumb has been that across all travel types, bottom line commission is 10%. Using that, on sales of $424.1 million, there should have been commissions of $42.4 million.  A long way from the $27.9 reported.

While some will argue that you cannot make an even comparison, 2008 showed people booking very close in, so there is likely not too large of a gap between booking and payment. And even so, another good assumption might be that the revenue from quarters 2,3 and 4 of 2008 and quarter 1 of 2009 might be very reflective of the 2008 sales.  That number is $25.1 million and would be indicative of $251 million in sales.

And it seems odd or a company who has seen such a sharp decline in revenue to see a slight increase in sales. Q1 2008 saw revenue of $5.3 million and Q1 2009 was $2.5 million.

I am curious as to the explanation and spin on this. Either the numbers are lies or the statements are lies. I am pretty sure Wood River is smart enough to not lie to the SEC, but there likely are no repercussions for doing so to Travel Weekly.

Aisle 19 Insight

Well, let's give someone credit for honesty---

Aisle 19 is not the only cash back site online.  There are other sites that pay cash back on the internet.

But apparently your friends and family are not candidates for Aisle 19 antics.

A great place to find Aisle 19 customers is at stores who have a "Site to Store" pick up area.  These are people you know are already shopping online.

A Swim On The Beach

When you are on the beach and there are warning flags flying all around---current, shark, or whatever? Do you heed all the warning signs and stay out of the water?

Or do you immediately jump on in because you just saw a stranger get out?

When you are approached by someone about a business opportunity and there are warning signs all around--lawsuits, poor fiscal performance, horrid BBB ratings, poor reputation, negative media image, or whatever? Do you listen (or at least investigate) the warning signs?

Or do you immediately whip out the credit card because a stranger just told you that he knows of another stranger that says the opportunity is the best one?

I'm just wondering?

Travel Weekly's Power List

For those interested. Travel Weekly Power List. Once again, the numbers are clouded by the statement made in the intro to the list:

"During fiscal 2007 [sic], the aggregate value of the retail travel services that have been booked by our RTAs and independent franchisees surpassed $400 million."

I assume the 2007 citation was an error Travel Weekly's part and they meant 2008. But it is clear that they do indeed count the franchisees belonging to Vacation Central as part of their sales figures. And Vacation Central is a wholly owned subsidiary of YTB, they neglected to mention them by name.

Guess Who?

Not sure if this is sanctioned in YTB 2.0 or not, but thought I would put it out there for opinions.

River House Tale

For those interested in a little history of the River House, this makes for some interesting reading.

 

  

 

Scott Tomer Explains YTB 2.0

For those that were confused about YTB 2.0, this video clears it all up for you.

An Answer To A Challenge

My close friend TravelPro has made a statement that I don't have screen shots proving the things that I have said about the YTB site charging a little more than $40 more for a certain set of specific flights. Well, I do have them, and here they are. They include a shot from my GDS, Worldspan, from the airline site itself, Orbitz and Expedia, all of which are charging the same total fare, and a shot of the YTB site, with it's fare that is higher.

Travel Training One For All?

A few days ago, Just Picture It Now had an interesting, yet incomplete, post regarding the training programs at YTB. With inherently flawed logic, the post rambled on an on.

One of the key points was they no one could know about YTB training without being in YTB. Well, for the longest time, YTB offered the ability to "audit" their training, and the author of the blog even encouraged me to attend. Which I did. But where the logic does not follow through is when he alludes that he is aware of all the training NOT offered to YTB. He speaks as if he knows the industry and yet he and his associates do not have access to the training at ASTA, NACTA, OSSN, or The Travel Institute.

However, he is correct in one of his assumptions. Supplier specific training is likely identical for the MLM/Card Mills as it is for legitimate professionals. However, he needs to understand that it is product specific training. And in the case of CLIA it is cruise related training. Because YTB is not eligible to participate in the training programs offered by the recognized industry association other than CLIA, they needed to create their own.

The key difference between a legitimate professional in the travel industry and a MLM/Card Mill agent is the desire to grow professionally. While YTB claims that their First Class Training is about travel, the reality is that it minimally glances on it. Yes, I attended one of the first classes when it was first released. However, of the 89,826 people selling travel, only 6% felt that additional training was worthwhile. And if only 6% will take a basic "training" class, we can only imagine the dismal acceptance of the Mancini programs. Yet the author of Just Picture It Now seems to feel that because he is seeing clicks on training topics that they translate into training.

The other glaring error made in that column is the notion that only 10% of YTB recruits. I assume what he is referring to is the number of people that are successful enough to be considered a Power Team Leader or higher. But when you look at 209,545 active Reps/Associates (or higher) and 89,826 people selling travel, it is very clear that there are more people recruiting than selling travel.

And if you want to look at it another way, we can separate the hands off and the hands on people on both sides of the business. On the recruiting side, there are 188,538 hands off Associates and 21,007 active recruiters. This represents the 10% that the author uses. Now look at the travel side of the business. There are 84,135 hands off Affiliates and 5,691 hands on RTAs travel sellers. This is 6.34%. So is this a recruiting company? Or a travel one? You tell me!

Read for yourself:

Travel Income Disclosure
Rep Income Disclosure

I figured It Out!

YTB considers people "trained" when they click on a link that leads to information about training. I wonder if they consider it a sale when someone clicks on a link about travel???

More to come tomorrow on this seriously flawed logic!

Where Did My Commission Go??

Apparently some commissions have gone missing. Does this sound like a familiar tale? Can anyone say Joystar?

When one first signs up as an RTA, you are instructed on how to establish your own website.

Now that you've ordered your domain names from GoDaddy.com now is a good time to "forward" and "mask" your YTB sites to your new domain names. We've attached a PDF with step by step instructions on how to do this, so print them out and follow along.

Instructions: ....
8. Now mask your domain, click on the Masking tab and select Mask Domain.
9. Enter a Masked Title and Meta Tags in the appropriate fields.
- Under Masked Title copy and paste this:
Welcome Website Name! For Customer Service Call: (555) 555-1212 (Please change to your information)
- Under Masked Description Meta Tag copy and paste this:
YTB Travel is 140,000 Travel Professionals Strong. A home based business that can be done part time or full time. Learn how to become a travel agent.
- Under Masked Keyword Meta Tag copy and paste this: Travel, YTB Travel Network, YTB, YourTravelBiz.com, vacations, Home Based Business, Cruises, discount travel, adventure travel, air travel, carnival cruise, cruise, cheap cruise, best home based business, business travel.
10. Click OK.

We will let the gross exaggerations slide for now. But now it seems that YTB has been caught discovered that by doing that, you strip off the information needed to pay commission for some of their vendors. Here is the latest info from the crackerjack IT team in Wood River.

We know many of you have a YTB Travel Site Owners like to use a personalized domain name (vanity URL) to route people to your YTB travel site, and this works just fine.

However, when setting this up, it is very important to avoid "URL masking," a feature offered by many domain name providers and third party website services. While this option sounds appealing since it keeps your custom URL in the navigation bar of your client's browser throughout their shopping experience, it does not work well with some of the complex web applications used to book travel.

These applications use data placed in the URL to track the user's progress through the application, route them to the requested data, and track important information like your YTB ID number that allows you to get paid commissions. URL masking sometimes "breaks" this data delivery mechanism, causing the booking applications to fail. In particular, we know this is a problem with World Choice Travel, our primary source for air, car and hotel bookings.

To ensure that your clients do not experience problems shopping on your site, and that your commissions are tracked properly for online sales, please ensure that your domain provider or third party web hosting provider does NOT enable URL masking for your personalized domain name. Additionally, when considering your personal web presence or the use of a third party web hosting provider, please be certain that there are neither information about nor links to information about the YTB marketing opportunity on any site that links to your YTB travel site.

What ever happened to that Canadian outfit that was replacing the Travelocity/WCT engine? I guess that did not work out so well either.

But if YTB has not been paying commissions for WCT (at least) bookings on masked URLs, I guess that means that they really lost more money than they thought. Restatement here we come!

What A Difference A Year Makes

  

2009

2008

For the math challenged, that is a 91.36% drop. But, look at the bright side, the losses can be offset by the annual income from the two "opportunities. What are those earnings again? Oh yes, here it is, $175.00 for a Reps and $111.26 for the TSOs.

WalletPop And The DSA

There was an article on Wallet Pop (an AOL Company I believe) regarding the Direct Selling Association and exactly why any of their endorsements should ring very hollow for all consumers.

Their premise involved the recent settlement between California and YTB:

In September 2007, a year before the California Attorney General sued, YTB's application for membership into the Direct Selling Association was approved. The DSA describes its mission as "To protect, serve and promote the effectiveness of member companies and the independent business people they represent. To ensure that the marketing by member companies of products and/or the direct sales opportunity is conducted with the highest level of business ethics and service to consumers."

So the DSA would appear to have a pretty serious problem on its hands: A member that settled allegations that it was a massive pyramid scheme, surely a problem that doesn't mesh well with a commitment to "business ethics and service to consumers."

So how did DSA respond? Was YTB kicked out of the organization? Nope! Instead, the DSA issued a 497-word statement last month that says almost nothing.

Can't Teach An Old Dog New Tricks

Can't teach an old dog new tricks

NOTE: Since the original ad was quickly removed by YTB, if anyone is interested in the original source--and others like it, here is the link to the PhotoBucket album where they originate from.

What Round Is This?

UPDATE: Added a few more names!

The following directors have left YTB effective June 5, 2009. If YTB's disclosure is correct, there were 85 directors at the end of the year, or maybe that was at the time of printing. Hard to say because there are no level 5,6,or 7 directors listed and we know that Hoffmann left in April and was a level 5. So, let's day 85 at the time of printing. oops, there goes another 8%.

• Keith Hipp
• Anissa Bishop
• Kevin Boone
• Phylis Jones
• Kevin King
• Celetta/Randy Brown
  

They STILL Like Us!

Coach And Integrity?

Several months ago, a member of YTB sent me an audio clip of Coach and a bunch of the upper level directors yukking it up.

While YTB claims to operate morally, legally,ethically and with integrity, it appears that around 3:08 Coach comes clean and admits that integrity might not be on the top of the list any more. Listen carefully, because he is quickly shushed by the directors who quickly change the subject.

A Leopard Never Changes Its Spots

Wow--not even three days after the settlement was to take effect, and the Reps are back at it. How long till YTB is hauled back in court for contempt? Here is just a sample of the continued recruiting and combining of the "2" businesses and false claims. And this is only on Craigslist and only in a few of the major areas of California. I wonder what you find if you dig a little deeper?

I wonder if Jerry will mention this the next time he is at one of the "Opportunity Meetings"

• http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/trv/1204553403.html
• http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/trv/1203637455.html
• http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/trv/1203641535.html
• http://sacramento.craigslist.org/trv/1204906485.html
• http://sacramento.craigslist.org/trv/1202148466.html
• http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/trv/1201859634.html

Who's Running The Show

I was copied on an email* between a Rep and the YTB Compliance Department. The Rep was trying to ascertain if he was able to have a website that directed to his YTB sites.

June 3, 2009 10:37am
Okay for me to do one like it?
http://vernandvicky.itravelhq.com/booktravel.php

June 3, 2009 8:39am (guessing time difference)
This is a YTB Competitor and it is not okay to use this site.
Thank you,
Eran L. Distler,
Compliance Specialist

June 3, 2009 11:37am
But Eran - This is a YTB site. Is it no longer valid or something?

June 3, 2009 9:39am
This is not a YTB site that I am aware of. I will check with the Director of Marketing, James Tackett, to see if we have approved this site.
Thank you,
Eran L. Distler,
Compliance Specialist

June 3, 2009 01:00pm
This is not a YTB site and the Director of Marketing has never seen it before. This is a competitor’s site.
Thank you,
Eran L. Distler,
Compliance Specialist

Please visit the site in question and tell me what competitor this site belongs to? If they are a competitor, they seem to be using YTB's SOT numbers. And what is frightening, is that Scott Tomer just gave the YTB Home Office Team the MVP Award for being "the best and the brightest in our company". My guess is that they had a sale on 25 watt bulbs in Aisle 19!

But they really ought to let these people know that they are no longer involved with YTB--apparently they don't.

Hello XXXX XXXX,

I want to thank you for taking the time to receive more information about a company that is revolutionizing the travel industry. With a lot of "opportunities" out there, I want you to know I appreciate your time and I know you won't be disappointed!

Do you want more out of life? More time with your friends and family? More time for you? More money? Do you enjoy taking vacations?

Why not join an online travel agency with a home-based business plan that is publicly traded, partnered with Travelocity and ranked #11 in leisure travel in the world?

Think about these questions for a moment.

Do you book your travel and vacations online like most people? Would it make sense to book your travel and vacations online, pay a comparable price or less and get paid 60% of the commissions when you did? What if everyone that you told booked their vacation and travel online, paid a comparable price or less and you still received 60% of the commissions, would that make sense? This is just the tip of the iceberg!

Knowing what you know today, if you could go back in time when Bill Gates started Microsoft and he asked you if you would join him, would you? Of course!

Would you want to see more information about a company that is growing faster then Microsoft was when they started?

Your Travel Biz (YTB) can change your future!

If you are looking for just an extra $500.00 per month or a new career change, YTB and our automated marketing system can help you make it happen! You can have your own state of the art online travel agency!

Please review my website to learn all of the exciting details: Travel with us Vern and Vicky
Be sure to view our Video Presentations while you're there.

Bruce Shuell, opportunities in life don't go away, they just go to someone else that sees them and acts upon them. If you are willing to plug into our easy to use system and work hard, then this is the chance to be a part of the largest industry in the world, TRAVEL!!!

Thank you again for your time and interest. I look forward to speaking with you soon!

*Yes, I have the emails and yes the Rep with YTB reads this blog and yes he can confirm them.

The Mystery Of The Pinnacle: SOLVED

YTB is once again crowing that they won The Pinnacle Award from Carnival Cruise Lines. This time, they are claiming it was for the 4th year in a row. However, there was no such fanfare (or documentation) of them winning it last year.

Just before Vicki Freed left Carnival for Royal Caribbean, an agent approached her at a trade show and asked about the Pinnacle Award and YTB. She said she thought they had only won it once.

So, what is the real, legitimate story? According to the YTB site called The Facts About YTB, via a link, they appear to have won the award once.

And we all know the lengths that some of the Reps and RTAs will go to embellish the opportunity--can anyone say Dr. Seligman, over a billion sold in the first six months, etc.

So, I figured I would go to the source and ask Carnival. I sent an email to Ann Sedgwick, the BDM that handles the YTB account and asked her if YTB had won it and how many times. She sent back a surprising reply:

Good morning John,

Kirk Neal would be the appropriate contact for you. His e-mail address is: XXXX@XXXX.XXX

Regards,

Ann

Why doesn't Ann want to confirm or deny that YTB won the award or how many times they won it. Very strange indeed.

Well, I sent the same email to Kirk and did receive a response to my inquiry:

John,

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, I was out of office with my team for regional meetings.

In regards to your questions, yes, YTB has been a Pinnacle Award recipient for the past 4 years. It is a corporate award based on the recommendation from each local BDM, but has to meet certain production criteria.

Regards,

So there you have it from the horse's mouth. The Pinnacle Award is a corporate award given to an agency on the recommendation from each local BDM. It does make sense since Carnival is the largest supplier for YTB and undeniably they do move a decent amount of cruises as an entity. I am not sure there are too many agencies in that market that could compete! Sort of like giving a fishing tournament trophy to the trawler with the nets and letting the guy with the fishing rod and the worm settle for the runner up.

Congratulations to YTB.

The Poet Laureate Of MLM

Last week I received an email from a gentleman identified as Bob from NJ along with an ode he had written regarding YTB. Following is his email (with permission) and his Ode to YTB.

I am an accomplished professional and poet from NJ with a sister who is a YTBer. She has been involved in other pyramid-type companies in the past. So it was no surprise that after researching YTB (which included reading scam.com and your blog), that I concluded that YTB is a pyramid scheme. Unfortunately, there's no convincing my sister that her "awesome" company is a sham and her leader Coach Tomer is at best a delusional human being. As often happens with poets, they write to reveal and analyze their feelings, so I put together the Ode To YTB below. I think you'll enjoy it. You may copy it to your blog if you wish to share it with your readers. Thanks so much for continuing to be a defender of truth and fighting for what is right. Bob from NJ

An Ode To YTB
(With apologies to Joyce Kilmer who wrote the famous poem Trees )


Part 1

I think that I shall never see
A pyramid scheme like YTB;

A scheme whose lying mouths impress
The sheep who end up in this mess;

A scheme that mentions God all day
Yet lifts its thieving arms to pray;

A scheme that's masked in travel wear;
A nest of robbers in our hair;

A scheme of hope that turns to pain
And ultimately breeds disdain.

Schemes are made by fools like Coach,
But only God can forgive that roach.

Part 2

I'm sure that I will never see
An anagram for YTB
That adequately does explain
This scamming, economic bane.

YTB means You're Too Blind;
That describes the brainwashed mind,
The fully naive, the totally dense
Who don't possess real business sense.

YTB means YouTube Blasts;
Those videos with questionable casts
That lure the next inevitable sap;
YTB: Yup, Total Bullcrap.

YTB means You're To Blame
For joining in this pyramid game
Without reading scam-avoidance sites;
YTB: Yeah, That Bites.

YTB means You Took Bait
Believing in a Fairy Tale Fate
But losing money, eventually grievin';
YTB: Yet To Break-even.

YTB means Yachts To Buy,
But only for that Tomer guy
Whose commission plan really sucks;
YTB: Yippee! Two Bucks!

YTB means " Y Tu Brute' "
That's what friends and family say
When they realize they've been betrayed;
YTB: Your Travel Blade.

But most of all, YTB
Stands for the future destiny
Of Coach Tomer and his hub:
Yonder To Beelzebub.

Your's Truly, Bob
(Your Travel Bard)

YTB 2.0

Just to make sure that the 92,000 TSOs are crystal clear as to what keeps YTB out of a contempt of court hearing in California.  This is a bit dated, because YTB 2.0 launched yesterday!

Did anyone catch the part where they spoke about selling travel?

More focus.  More sales.
Focus your meetings—Be more effective!
Having a goal in mind when you present our business in an individual presentation or in a meeting to a group of prospects can help you to focus your efforts and be more effective.

In fact, before every presentation ask yourself this question, “What is my intent?” Will you focus on selling Internet Travel Centers or registering new Associates?  Is this a training session for existing Reps?  Decide your intent and focus your efforts on it.

YTB 2.0 Presentation Guidelines—
As a Rep, there are two types of presentations for your prospects—one is an overview of the Rep opportunity and the other features the Internet Travel Center opportunity.  These presentations must occur separately.

If your intent is to register new Associates, your focus is about them receiving $50 for each referral who purchases an Internet Travel Center. During the presentation the features of the Internet Travel Center and the benefits of being a TSO will be explained, but the purpose of the meeting is to get the prospect to register as an Associate. And the great news for them is you will be doing all the selling, and YTB will send them a $50 check for every referral that purchases.

If your intent is to sell Internet Travel Centers, the Associate program should never be mentioned. The focus of this meeting is to describe the features and benefits of buying an Internet Travel Center.

If you are a Travel Site Owner and a Rep, you may host a travel party to sell the various products and services on your Internet Travel Center.  When your party is finished, you can say, “If anyone is interested in having their own Internet Travel Center, please see me after the party.”  However, you must not mention the Associate program at this party.

Let’s get focused!
YTB 2.0 launches in 6 days!

Well Here's A Solid Sales Pitch: YTB's Disclosures

So, if you are average, you could have earned $111.26 in 2008. But you could expect to pay between $800 and $1700 for the opportunity to earn that $111. Last year, almost 50% of the website owners did not earn a dime. But in 2009, almost 80% have yet to earn a dime. 61% of the people who felt this was a great deal bailed out in 2008. And of the remaining ones, 25% realized it was a bum deal this year!

So, now if I can just get you to sign this form and give me your credit card, we will have your five websites up and running before you get home!  For the full disclosure click here.

• The average annual income for all TSOs in 2008 was $111.26. 
• In 2008, the median annual income for all TSOs was $41.86. 
• For the prior quarter, 1/1/2009-3/31/2009, the median income was $0.00. 
• In 2008, 43,670 (49%) of all TSOs received no income at all. 
• For the prior quarter, 1/1/2009-3/31/2009, 76,194 (77.66%) of all TSOs received no income at all. 
• In 2008, 87,708 (61.38%) of TSOs who were paying the required web site hosting fees at the beginning of 2008 cancelled their membership with YTB Travel Network during 2008. 
• For the prior quarter, 1/1/2009-3/31/2009, 23,943 (24.7%) of TSOs who were paying the required web site hosting fees at the beginning of the prior quarter cancelled their membership with YTB Travel Network. 
• In 2008, the typical cost incurred by a Travel Site Owner in their first 12 months is between $799.45 and $1,718.34.
  

Although I am not quite sure how the median income for the quarter can be zero unless 100% of the TSOs earned nothing, but they already said that 22.34% earned something. Is YTB now charging people to be TSOs? Or are they confused on the definition of median?