Psst, Got A Nickel?

What a way to ring in the New Year!

Darren Miller -- Gone!

Darren Miller, Director, Coach's Corner Member and Sapphire Ring wearer was featured at the 2009 convention.

Now, just a few short months later, he too has tossed YTB to the curb and is now with ACN.

Corr & Jensen Leave YTB

Was I right? Late last summer, I heard that PJ Jensen had turned in his resignation to YTB. It was rumored that Coach had pur$uaded him to stay for the convention since the rumors were swirling around and it would look bad.  I suggested to wait a little and see what happened.

Well, it happened. PJ Jensen and Camaron Corr have indeed left YTB. Now the scramble begins to make sure that Juliet St. John and Rick Ricketts are happy and do not want to join the exodus. Likely there are negotiations taking place (as they did when Hoffmann left) to carve up the downline.

When Hoffmann left, several senior directors reportedly were paying $10,000 and $25,000 to pick and choose the Power Team Leaders to join their downline. When Hoffmann left, Jensen "inherited" his downline and it was more valuable to Jensen in pieces (sold to willing directors) than as a whole.

Now with Jensen and Corr gone, you can be sure that the remaining directors are frantically negotiating with Juliet St. John and Rick Ricketts to move the recruiting producers to their downline.

Juliet St. John is vulnerable. Rick Ricketts has reportedly said that this was his last MLM scheme and the next move is retirement.

This move also validates the huge sell offs of stock in December and will  likely affect the share price in the coming days as the news filters throughout the ranks!.

Stay Tuned--Blockbuster Announcement

I need to confirm a few details but there is a BLOCKBUSTER ANNOUNCEMENT coming soon. What can it be? Will it overshadow the big announcements coming from Las Vegas in a few weeks? Will it relate to the 4Q and 2009 year end financials?

Stay tuned!

Truth--Finally!

Directors Rick and Brenda Reese just sent out their Happy Holidays message--mind you it was sent out with a light yellow font on a white background!.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

It is Brenda and my pleasure to be in business with you.  We are dedicated and in it for the long run.  We are so impressed and privileged to be partnered with YTB and yourselves.  We truly are being postured to become the millionaires of this social media generation. 

2010 will prove to be a defining momment in all our lives.  Never, ever quit!  The announcements on January 11th are going to take your business to new level!  Hear it LIVE!  Be sure to log into the world's largest travel party from your back office on Monday, Jan 11th at 7 pm Central.

I am so proud of everyone who survived the tough times over the last few of years.  What do you expect when you are taking over the largest industry on the planet.  I love it!  We overcame all major challenges and are now uniquely poised to dominate online travel and e-commerce. 

I will be looking for your names to rise to the top in 2010.  Your family deserves.  2101 is your year!  What do you want?  Know that Brenda and I are totally committed to your success and are here to help you achieve your dreams.

Have a blessed Christmas and wonderful, prosperous New Year!

From our family to yours,
Directors Rick & Brenda Reese

Finally, a director who speaks the truth. 2101 just might be their year. It's a shame they are going to make you wait 91 years!

The YTB Gift Card Myth

Ever since YTB launched their new "Mall"--you know the same one that is available to any number of different companies--they have been pumping their fists harder than the guidos on the Jersey Shore about the fabulous restaurant certificates.

Yes, another no so exclusive YTB promotion went something like this:

But just recently the curtain was pulled back from these great deals.

The discount certificates come with strings attached; they aren't the same as giving someone a restaurant gift card or gift certificate.

Your recipient may have to spend several times more than you did just to use the present. And if they're unwilling or unable to do that, your gift will be worthless to them.

Restaurant.com's certificates do deliver what they advertise: a larger discount than the money you spend for them. But you might want to do the math before you give them as gifts.

Just like Brittney Spears--Oops They Did It Again.

Effective Marketing?

YTB 90-second Sizzle Call

24/7 at 800-985-1858

First of all, they lie to me right off the bat. This will only take 90 seconds. More like 160 seconds. But if you back off the intro and the exit, it is still 135 seconds. Why lie right away? Is it just to get people used to it?

120,000 square foot headquarters for 200 people. That is 600 square foot per person. To give you an idea, my retail location had 1,700 square feet for 13 people--130 square feet per person.

And honestly, for a brief minute assume you are interested in this program, what is the next step? What is the call to action? All they give you is the opportunity to listen to it again, or to dial another extension.

I don;t imagine there are too many sign ups for this fizzle call!

Travel, MLM and Tiger Woods?

Oh my!

As if the Tiger Woods' scandal was not enough, there appears to be a MLM and Travel connection. Two of his alleged mistresses, Jamie Jungers and Holly Sampson, were "independent business people" for Global Travel Network, Inc.

Michelle Braun (a Madame) has been charged and pleaded guilty to money laundering and sending a prostitute over state lines, claims that she used Global Travel Network as a front for her prostitution business.

She further claims that two of Tiger Wood's mistresses were paid for their services in 2009 and TMZ has obtained the 1099 forms to verify that charge.

So, a MLM travel firm is now thrust into the Tiger Woods scandal and it appears that prostitutes were paid by a MLM travel company.

Can someone tell me why MLM and travel IS a good mix?

Well, if nothing else, it appears that Global Travel Network pays a LOT better than YTB!

And Now, Back To Our Regularly Scheduled Program

Details Of the Big News Coming Soon

We obtained a sneak preview of the things to come in YTB. In the new year, YTB and the Coach's Corner are convening in Las Vegas to make some "blockbuster" announcements.  This is a memo from Duane Vancil the "Chief of Special Operations"

This will be like no other meeting that you've attended at YTB.  It is a leadership summit - a meeting for the leader's leader.  It is time for us to be proactive and retake our position as a dominant force in the Network Marketing Industry.  We've been working diligently on our future; fixing issues that have plagued us for far too long.  Some things are already visible while others will be unveiled in Las Vegas.

• You will see, firsthand, new searchable reports and hear from CEO Bob Van Patten as he explains recently enacted corporate processes that will improve our accuracy and exceed your expectations.
• You don't want to miss being the first to hear about the Pre-Launch of a new concept and be part of a live broadcast where Coach will announce this program to the rest of YTB.
• We will show you how the travel franchise will tie into the launch of new initiatives.
• You will hear updates on shopYTB and hear about new featured stores and products. 

This meeting will be remembered as the turning point; the time we stopped reacting to our circumstances and crystallized our vision for the future!  Make plans now to attend.

Duane

Duane Vancil, Chief of Special Operations

Please note that YTB is no longer referring to themselves as a "travel company" or in the "travel industry", but in the "Network Marketing Industry." And rather than being a focus of their business, YTB has now decided that travel will "tie in" to the other initiatives.

Who still doubts the direction and intention?

Where's Waldo Doug & Candy?

This update just in from the ranks. Here are the leaders in the latest Coach's Corner contest.

So you've heard there is Coach's Corner Contest, right?  If you haven't, the TOP 3 Coach's Corner Members in number of Qualifying Sales during the Contest Period will receive a 7 day, 6 night no-hassle trip for two to the location of winner's choice!  The Coach's Corner Members who are in the 4th through 25th positions in sales will receive $1,000 in cash!  So who are the leaders so far?

James Prewitt is currently in first place with Deborah Bradley just 12 sales behind. In the number 3 position is Donald Bradley who is 14 sales behind the leader.  Shedrick White, Tonya Mizelle and Trey Harris are all within 20 sales of the lead and Tinkey Miles and Fabulos Darley are tied for 7th place. Rounding out the top 10 in a tie for 9th place are Rita and Damon Walker, Keith Jones, Garland and Marsha Webb and Roland and Michelle Athouris.

Maybe the "TravelPros" ought to stick with their day jobs.

Recruiting Not So Good

Contrary to Scott's assertion that YYTB is here to stay, it seems that recruiting is STILL way off. There is dissension among the troops again and YTB has once again cut the threshold to get a bonus in half!

It seems that many people are unable to recruit 6 people. What happened to this being a "no brainer?": It seems that mass defections are having an impact.

This next announcement is a huge deal for you, our builders.  Some of our top leaders need more than 6 sales to earn a $1,000 Leadership Bonus because of fall off.  Now the $1,000 Leadership Bonus is no more than 6 sales away!  How? Reps that need more than 6 sales for their next bonus are being reset.  What that means is that no one will need more than 6 sales to receive your next $1,000 Leadership Bonus!  Anyone that is less than 6 sales away from your next $1,000 Leadership Bonus will remain the same.  Your most recent sales will count toward your next bonus.

If you think that is great, hold on!  Whenever you earn a Leadership Bonus, the sales associated with that Bonus will be locked away.  No longer will you have to replace the sales that fall off from any previous Bonus!  This will work exactly the same way as it currently does at 30 sales BUT NOW it happens at 6 sales!  And as extra incentive for you, the builder, all sales made after October 31st will count toward your next Bonus.  If a Site Owner makes a $99 payment and it is one of their first four payments, it will count as .25 toward the current bonus.  All sales made prior to November 1st will not count toward any Bonus unless they are one of the 6 that count for your current Bonus.  Those sales will count toward the $10,000 Bonus.  This program is good through, at least, the first quarter of 2010.

The Check Is NOT In The Mail

Aisle 19 has been around for a long time. And Shop YTB has been as well. We wondered why most of these transactions were never reflected on the balance sheets submitted to the SEC.  Perhaps this update may shed some light onto the situation.

It appears that in Shop YTB, there are only two stores that are indeed paying commissions--Body Slimwear (hence the emphasis on the girdle sales) and YTB Insurance. It also seems that the the "cash back when you shop" is having issues as well. So to all the YTBers who claim you received tons of cash back, I guess you were mistaken.

I wonder how the consumers who signed up feel. They were told that they wouldvget cash back and now it seems that too is delayed.  Hmm. All is not well in Shop YTB.

We are pleased to announce that on December 25th we will be paying shopYTB commissions to Site Owners on products for which we have received both sales data and money. Featured Stores that will be included in that payment are Body SlimWear Collection by Ghiada and YTB Insurance quotes.

We have not received everything we need from the Aisle19 Featured Stores, which include Digital Discounts, Xymetri and Makaila Morgan. Until we receive everything we need from Aisle 19, their Featured Stores and products cannot be included in commission or override payouts. We are working diligently with Aisle 19 to facilitate this process. 

Cash back checks will be sent this month to customers as long as they have earned a minimum of $2.00 cash back. Subsequent cash back checks will be sent to them when their account reaches a balance of $10.00.

We are working vigorously to pay your override commissions for shopYTB by December 11, 2009. In the event that we do not meet that goal they will be paid on January 11, 2010.