certification travel agent.

Alamo Car Hire Uk
Certainly as for the aspects of having the conditions of being the passenger by keep going some where it is important for the long distances need a car hair so when the people used to go in happy mood they use Alamo car hire UK mostly and this is also important as well about the comfort.

Fashion jewelry
The trend of fashions and high quality jewelry is fantastic also and having the approved utilities taking the charming action on with helps exactly and make as fashionable. Jewelry fashion trends containing the favorite choices those are really amazing and having the certain attractive facilities for the good looks about the ladies and also concern with men selection. Men’s jewelry fashion brilliantly delivering the high value choices completely at a huge range that is fantastic as well and beautiful attractive choice is there as well and lovely also.

Food and Wine
High values food is attached then to create the approved solutions and the making of the food with the different taste.

All Mobile With Price

With the further favorites in chosen affections keeping the good clarities taking the abilities in suitable affections deeply involved with the affection of good conditions adopting the features.

Online Shopping
As we all known mostly the way of buying things from any store or shop is taken into the meaning of the shopping but the technical detail is that particularly purchasing the good or other kind of the items for daily use or for the assets kind use exactly

Florida Department of Insurance Agents Get Top Ranking For General Agents & Production



Almost everybody shouts "we're number one". If your product selling, marketing, or agent recruiting territory includes Florida consider yourself blessed. Target marketing experienced General Agents and insurance professionals in Florida with your opportunity is as good as it gets.

The immense Florida insurance database is scrutinized looking for trends, statistics, and numbers, and facts. Contributing analysis is compiled information on usage and lead results, and contracting figures. This comes from insurance company recruiting directors, regional recruiters, brokerage firms, wholesalers, independent marketing firms, and state managing general agents. Florida insurance agents were analyzed over and beyond normal boundaries in preparing this marketing report. For accuracy it is necessary to factor in economic, demographic, and educational data. Over 30 different factors contribute to the final determination.

For insurance agent recruiting, Florida is the number one state without any doubt. Here are two key reasons. The total number of Experienced Florida General Agents and insurance production compared to the total citizen population is on the low side when looking at figures of the other states. Secondly is the constant influx of new residents. The high middle income of senior citizens arriving the Midwestern states, sweeten the huge, yet constantly increasing potential client base. Studies have shown that for Midwestern states like Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, Florida attracts a higher percentage of retirees than any other state. New York and the Northeastern states, have Florida pegged as the number one retirement state also.

State population in 2004 was 17,397,000, an increase of 8.8% just from 2000.On top of this Florida ranks number one in the nation on the percentage of senior citizens. Over one of six residents are a retiree, plus numerous retires have well known senior-age card toting spouses. The senior retiree is ideal for investment annuity and financial planning, insuring that their savings last long enough. Not surprisingly, the need for quality long term care insurance is also a necessity.

Another key factor for the top ranking is also that Florida insurance agents deal with a base of younger than average work force, which is rarely unionized. The amount of employer paid health plans are sparse, making major medical and supplemental products a ready made market. Please keep in mind that often the spouse of a retiree may not be eligible yet for Medicare. This makes spouses prime targets for nice premium individual major medical polices.

Florida ranks sixth with its 52,000 total experienced brokers, yet rises up to third in marketing demand. The competition for recruiting experienced brokers is split among annuity marketing, life brokerage, and health and senior marketing recruiters. The insurance market in Florida remains ripe for so many different products. This diversification nullifies any major competition impact for the recruiting of Florida insurance agents. There are so many quality Florida insurance agents, why chance money on the wannabees?

Well published author, Don Yerke likes to concentrate on what you don't know or what no one else dares to print. Tell it like it is.

Watch for his new paperback book debuting on Amazon early this summer. It is loaded with great insurance marketing and recruiting information.

How Phone Recorders Are Boon For Your Business
Phone recorders are powerful tools that allow to capture voice in a digital file format and make it very easy to transfer it to a PC or laptop for archiving or transcription purposes. It is a discreet device that has become an integral part of the corporate repertoire. It is being widely used by many banks, financial institutions, credit card centers, insurance companies, call centers, and business agencies to record personal and business calls.

Phone recorders are an affordable recording solution that helps record voice of both parties without creating any disturbance or voice tear down. There are many phone voice recorders that are specially designed to cater to the need of organizations handling large volumes of calls. These devices are equipped with high-tech features that allow to collect comprehensive data related to phone calls like date/time information, call duration, transaction ID, who initiated the call, caller ID, campaign code, etc.

Advantages of Using Phone Recorders

* Helps in Calls Auditing and trainings: Answering and making phone calls is imperative in business processoutsourcing units. Umpteen phone calls are made and received everyday by customer care executives and agents. Phone recorders have become imperative in BPOs as they help to provide exact record of the calls for audit purposes. Telephone recordings also help to identify the areas that need improvement and calls of experienced sales person can be used during the training sessions.
* Monitor Staff & Improve customer services: Phone recorders provide call centers quality monitoring solution that helps them to efficiently monitor and manage calls taken by their agents everyday and keep a record of all sales and order calls. Telephone recordings help monitor the level and quality of customer services provided to the customer care staff and ensure they are in the best interest of the customers and the organization. Phone recorders provide 100% accurate record of all the incoming and outgoing calls without losing even a single chunk of information.
* Record Tele Interviews: Digital recorders are widely used by media professionals especially journalists to record tele-interviews and other important conversations. Since a digital phone recorder enable easy file transfer to a computer, you can easily send the audio file via e-mail as per the need.
* Resolve Disputes: Phone records provide an accurate record of the entire conversation and give the entire details what was said during each call. The audio footage can be used as evidence in case of disputes by providing an impartial record. Sometimes business agreements are made over the phone and many a times misinterpretation can result in misunderstanding. In such cases, audio recording done by phone recorders can be used to resolve the grievances and recall the conversation.
* Compliance with the standards: For certain organizations, it is mandatory to keep the record of all the telephone calls in order comply with standards set by the government in their province to safeguard the interest of the public.
* Loyal Employees: Phone recorders provide a true record of the employees' conversations and can be extremely beneficial in improving their productivity and profitability by manifolds. You can hear the recorded conversations of your employees to know how they feel about the management and the organization as a whole or if they are planning to leave. Always buy good quality phone recorders for best results!

Austin Texas Real Estate - Agent, Listings, Homes for Sale, Condos and Mortgages



There are many real estate agents in Austin Texas, in fact, I know several personally, folks I can vouch for, and I know many others who have nothing more than ten-gallon hats and the clothes to match. Oh sure, these others talk a good game, but isn't that how it always is. If you are considering buying a home in Austin TX the make sure you get a good name from someone who knows and can refer you to them.

There is no need to learn the hard way that you choose the wrong man for the job. Indeed, this is probably good advice for any one buying or selling a home in any city in the US, not just Austin TX. Most

Austin real estate agents, Realtors and real estate consultants that I have met who work with home buyers and home sellers in the great Austin area real estate market are okay and decent folks. There are only a handful of problematic real estate sales people that you have to be weary of, so I beg you just be careful out there, find someone you know you can trust.

You see, a real estate investment such as a home, is one of the largest investments that you will most likely ever make, you cannot afford to blow it. It could take you years to recover and overcome. Make smart decisions, do it right the first time, and be careful to hire the best real estate agent in the Greater Austin area you can find, including such suburbs and San Marcos or Round Rock TX. You see, it does not matter if you are buying a condo, home, business, looking for a competitive mortgage or even a vacation home, you need to do your due diligence in advance. Good luck in your search to find the perfect Austin TX residence for your family.

Why Would You Use An Estate Agent Buying A Property In Spain - Part 2


Last article we looked at UK estate agents and what they do. This article we will look at their Spanish counter parts.

What is different about Spanish Agents.

Generally they speak Spanish. I say generally but a lot of them didn't when I first arrived - but most these days have a rudimentary understanding which most potential buyers don't. .

Secondly most people buying a house in Spain don't know where they want to live, they may give generic info like - Costa Blanca but CB is a very big place. The catchment area here is a lot bigger than in the UK. For example we cover an area from Moraira to Valencia, - two hours drive from start to finish. And within that area are probably 100 times as many agents. Javea alone has 300 agents.

The process of buying in Spain is more complex than the UK. So agents have to be better informed than their UK counterparts (that's not to say they are). Typically after helping the client choose an area - which involves driving round the area pointing out important hospitals, schools etc, the agent will arrange to obtain their NIE number - and open a bank accounts for the client. There's about a day gone already.

In the UK most agents operate exclusively, meaning they have a certain time period to market the property. In Spain most sellers go to 4 or 5 agents at least. Do you think this improves your chances of selling a property? Possibly through more exposure? However do you really think the agent is going to push the boat out when he has a one in five chance or less of selling your property?

What about finding the clients? Clients don't just drive to an area and see a for sale sign. They are in contact with an agent well before they come out here. Some times they need to be picked up from the airport a round trip of 220 kms. Often they need accommodation arranging, airport transfers or car hire booking. Most do this themselves but not all.

When an agent in Spain sells a property they (should) do basic checks - is the seller of the house the actual owner, is the house what it states, etc. All things which a UK agent doesn't have to do. Where agents fall over here is allowing the client to decide the value of their property. Everyone thinks their property is worth more than it is. A good agent will give you a fair and realistic valuation of your property and explain to you the chances of selling it in the current market.

Agents often collaborate with other agents both locally and with agents in the UK - something which the UK market frowns upon let alone endorses. Also the norm in Spain is to use correodors - intermediaries, usually Spanish, who find the properties from locals that are for sale.

Once the sale is agreed the work starts. Agents organise the private contract and arrange a mortgage. The majority of buyers do not have pre arranged finance and it isn't as straightforward here as it is in the UK.

The contracts are translated into English and you have to have all documentation signed in Spanish, both the private contract so unless you speak Spanish you will need a translator and most agents provide this service. At the notary someone has to also translate -organised usually by the agent. And then there is the matter of transferring all the bills into your name - imagine a UK based agent doing that for you mmm mmmm.

Afterwards - well many agents tend to try and forget you once the ink dries and their commission is in the bank. But not all do. They will also help with such things as registering kids in schools, helping you register with local hospitals, obtaining residencia, and other such matters.

In the UK if you want to buy a car - you find the yellow pages go out and visit a few used car showrooms, buy a car and that's that. Not so simple here in Spain. It is completely different and the agent usually helps out here. Need a builder to do some remedial work - yep you got it Mr Agent is there for you. What about where to go for electrical goods - pop in and see friendly mr agent. Need to work and register for social security - you know where to go.

A decent agent will be with you for a long time and will probably be your friend for life. I know we are not alone in that concept - there are others out there with the same ideals. .So as you can see, to compare what a UK agent does with what a Spanish based agent does, is not quite as cut and dried as it seems.

Ok so we have painted a picture of nirvana, the ideal agent, but are all agents like this? - Sadly no.

Although most are hard working, honest people who have your interests at heart, many set up because it seems like the easiest way to make money. After all you only need to open an office, get a phone and a computer, put properties in the window and you're off. If only everything in life was that simple.

Whilst these types of agents mean no harm (I am sure) their lack of knowledge can cause damage later

The fact that they don't understand the escritura and how to interpret whether the property is legal or not, whether there is one seller or a whole family full, that some of the sellers may not be represented and can cause problems later, means they may tell you all is ok and genuinely believe it, but later you find you are not the legal owner, that the building isn't legal, or that your land is about to be expropriated to make way for a swanky new golf course, that somehow the agent neglected to tell you (or probably didn't know about). So it really is buyer beware.

One other thing I am sure nearly everyone has experienced. Black Money.

A person close to me recently sold their house through another agent (hey I am glad they sold it so quickly - cant always be first to the starting gun). When they went to sign the private contract the agent asked how much did they want to declare. They were met with derision when they said they wanted to declare everything.

Apart from the fact it is fraudulent - which means it is against the law, it is also being stamped on heavily by the hacienda who are currently issuing fines for people under declaring their property. Worse still most agencies (whether they realise it or not) are under investigation for money laundering due to the white whale fiasco - a money laundering fraud in the Costa Del Sol based exclusively around property sales. It may have been Marbella but it is naïve to think the government is concentrating its efforts solely there - where is the next big area outside CDS - oh yes the Costa Blanca. Especially when the EU has openly criticised Spain and threatened sanctions for its blatant disregard of EU money laundering law - of which this is flagrant fraud..

Agents have a responsibility to make sure their clients do not commit fraud - but unfortunately a lot don't really care. And who is left to pick up the pieces? Give you three guesses - if you need them.

So in summary then a Spanish based agent should do the following

1. Speak Spanish

2. Value your property (though seldom do) and Conduct basic checks (though seldom do)

3. Find clients through various means including collaborations, window displays, internet sites and advertising locally and in the UK, will probably maintain a list of clients looking and have a newsletter

4. Pick the buyers up from the airport, arrange accommodation car hire or many other services

5. Show buyers the area and point out various important factors

6. Arrange viewings for you

7. Assist in the negotiation

8. Organise private contract (though this should still be done or checked by your lawyer)

9. Arrange NIE numbers, Bank accounts and mortgages for the buyer

10. Translate contracts and/or offer translation services

11. Arrange the Notary signing and accompany you

12. Change the bills into your name (this could be done by your solicitor)

13. Assist in registration in schools, hospitals, residencia, padron and cars

14. Help you find builders, tradesmen, cars and any number of other things

15. Help if you are in trouble and generally look after you - not

16. Do all this for 3-6%

Next issue we will take a look at the very emotive subject of estate agents charges - do they push the price of your property out of reach of buyers.

Transportation Agent - Sales Growth



Asset based transportation sales forces are grossly inefficient. Totaling up salaries, health benefits, cars, training, and expenses then divided into the calls per day, $500 cost per call is the norm. Long call cycles to sale of 9-12 months are considered the norm in freight sales, putting the cost at +$5,000 for a transactional shipment rarely paying over $500. The slim margins of asset based transportation providers simply can not tolerate this practice. The independent transportation sales agent brings experience, superior skills and results to an otherwise ineffective/inefficient transportation sales marketplace.

The new trend is clear with transportation providers using cost effective independent sales agents that focus singularly on closing new business deals. Agents leverage their experience by avoiding asset based behaviors that kill sales such as ongoing reports, meetings for management, training without results, joint calls to satisfy organizational dotted lines, serving internal needs vs. client needs, sales contests, et al etc. Transportation agents understand the need to focus on market referral opportunities, vertical markets and shortened sales cycles as compensation is based on performance results. Sales agents know how to present offerings as measurably important to client needs, explaining within customer processes how a deal will work for them, with constant awareness of building justification to close the sale timely. Sales agents understand they are the catalyst to make a difference in creating new business. They must be convincing throughout the sales process to close deals...with the right targeted opportunity, the right decision makers, at the right time.

Professional sales agents focus their resources on activities that lead to closing more deals faster. Representing a portfolio of solutions of measurable value is a critical difference with sales agents in value creation for senior level contacts and their supply chain needs. Asset reps with limited value are relegated lower level influencers who are prone to decisions of convenience, and are simply unable to make business deals. Performance based compensation drives the right behaviors and therefore the right results with independent transportation agents.

The critical success factors that sales agents make happen every day are:

o Professionalism. No casual days, no branded shirts on calls, no cheapening of the product-services with goofy advertising specialties, no questionable entertainments. All business dress, always prepared to call objective, appointment efficiency, constantly dollarizing values for the client throughout process of making a deal. o Prequalified targets. No cold calls, no spray and pray. Every target is researched through various industry information sources for prospects with multiple shipments and the appropriate decision maker contacts for higher call productivity and close ratios. o Development of senior level contacts who understand measurable bottom line results. Referrals are leveraged for additional growth. Vertical marketing is implemented with every deal. The deal must be engineered to appeal to all influencers impacted by their supply chain of in and out goods. o Engaging clients. Senior level decision makers have no time for the unprepared or limited value door knockers of asset transportation providers...these are pushed to low level contacts who lack the authority or influence for change but who asset reps love to hang with as non threatening and makes an appearance of doing their job. Access to senior level leadership requires an experienced agent leveraging excellent presentation skills, an understanding of matching right product-services to prequalified needs, leveraging client processes to make the offering a big deal, explaining financial implications, operational impact of savings/growth opportunities with a bold call to action that appeals to decisiveness, and deliverable/measurable values. o Commitment. Every impression or action of a sales agent reflects their commitment to a deal, successful implementation and service support throughout the process/duration of the contract. Deals structured with visible win-win outcomes, accountability for both parties, ongoing reporting of performance value are required. Agents do not tolerate delay or indecision with influencers as these cause deals to unravel. Agents know how to keep senior players informed and part of the entire process. Lower level influencers often feel need to unravel deals to justify their positions and or maintain asset rep's pizza deliveries, specialty hand outs and unfortunately, sometimes much more. o Sales Focus. The sea of books on selling, CDs/tapes, seminars or online training are long on fluff, humor and procedurals but very short on performance results or personal accountability. Freight companies often feel training is relatively inexpensive way to educate and/or motivate...essentially to justify sales management existence without facing the reality of addressing true sales performance. Sales agents already have the skills and knowledge it takes to be successful as new deals drive their compensation. While salaried reps are languishing in meetings, training, making reports or calling on unqualified contacts, sales agents are out closing new business.

Transportation providers that believe their front line salaried sales personnel are effective are mistaken. Buyers of transportation services have no time to sift through all the various provider presentations of products, services, or technologies. Senior leaders are now more receptive to the integrity and value of an independent sales agent who can consistently look out for the collective best interests of supply chain efficiencies. Transportation sales agency is the future for asset providers who want to grow cost effectively so they can focus on servicing client operational needs.


Profit From Hiring Insurance Sales Assistants



To insurance agents, time is capital. To successful insurance agents, time is never enough.

On a busy day, an insurance agent may spend a few hours on the phone. The nature of the calls may vary from a simple enquiry to complicated requests. There are also probably hundreds of emails that need to be answered before the end of the day. As far as insurance agents are concerned, time is always a scarcity.

Insurance producers can look at other avenues to help them become more productive. One of the greatly untapped resources is sales assistants. Your insurance sales assistant is someone you can depend on to help you grow your business.

The role of sales assistant today involves a lot more than just answering phones and mailing correspondence, the job scope is very much expanded to meet the dynamic business needs and higher expectation of the customers.

Insurance sales assistants should not be confined to performing administrative functions but to step up to shoulder more responsibilities. Their ability to take on new and complex duties helps them acquire new skills and makes them appreciate them job much better.

An effective sales assistant can help an agent build profitable business by performing the following functions:

(a) Follow up

Sales assistants can help you compile and keep track of the clients' latest information such as weddings, divorces, child births, deaths, etc. Such information can translate into sales opportunities.

Serving as another pair of your eyes or ears, your sales assistant helps to make sure the information you have is accurate and most up-to-date. He or she can also be another pair of your arms or legs to juggle a number of tasks that may otherwise disrupt your concentration on sales generating activities.

(b) Paperwork

To insurance agents, sales happen in the field. The more they spend time meeting up with their customers, the more sales they generate. Sales assistants free up insurance agents' time so that the agents are not bogged down with mountains of paperwork.

It is an opportunity cost to you when the time you could have spent on prospecting and meeting up with your customers is used in sorting information or input account data. Your sales assistant can take these tasks off your plate.

(c) Better customer service

Sales assistants are the first contact point with the customers in the event you are not available to attend to customers' requests or complaints from the customers. With the help of sales assistants, your customers get prompt advice and services and this enhances your service quality.

An organized sales assistant is an integral part in your insurance business. While you are in the field working hard to bring in business, your sales assistant makes sure your customers' service needs are met. Your role and that of your sales assistant are mutually complementary and interdependent.

(d) Sales tools support

Sales assistants can also, with the advice from insurance agents, conduct research, develop prospecting materials and create sales presentation. This is a win-win arrangement where the sales assistants pick up new skills when working on the assignment and you perfect your sales presentation scripts.

With proper delegation, sales assistants will not view a new task an additional burden but an opportunity to better themselves. On the other hand, you can focus your energy to do things that you have been professionally trained to do such as preparing complicated estate planning or retirement planning for your clients.

(d) Improve persistency

Generally an insurance company sends policyholders reminder notice to inform them that their premium payments are due. A sales assistant can call the customers on personal level and this helps promote better business relations with the customers that lead to better persistency.

Sales assistants may be the first ones to receive complaints from customers. Having the first hand information regarding the customers' concerns, they are the first line of defense to defuse customers' complaints. You need good persistency to have profitable business.

Finally, competent sales assistants are valuable assets to your business. Their efforts and contributions should be appropriately recognized and rewarded. They should also be encouraged to go for professional development in correspondence with business or industrial changes. Investing in your sales assistants is investing in your business.

A Comprehensive List of Travel Agents

Travel - it is the most inevitable part in many people's life. Business travel and leisure travel are that two types of travel that is mostly prevalent. Whatever type of travel that you may need to undertake, it would definitely involve a certain degree of preparation from your part. However, there has been a sea change in the preparation scenario. Yes, gone are the days where you were required to make all your travel arrangements without adequate guidance.

Travel agents and efficient ones at that, are functioning across the globe. With many of them vying with each other to sign up a customer, there is a confusion that prevails among the travelers. Do I get the best deal? Am I dealing with a licensed travel agent? Will my tour be hassle free? These are some of the questions that are foremost in the minds of a traveler trying to book a travel agent.

All these questions will be satisfactorily resolved if you can get hold of a comprehensive travel agent guide. When you have comprehensive list of agents, you can check out each and everyone on the list by either calling them up or visiting their website to find out about the services rendered by them.

The World Wide Web is playing a very vital role in the life of every individual who has access to the internet. You can select a travel agent on the internet, check out their services, and book them online in a jiffy. And, interestingly you can do all this no matter in which part of the world you happen to live in.

If you have been planning to go on a tour along with family and friends, then you would want it to be comfortable. But in case the cost factor plays a pivotal role in your tour idea, it is important that you check out for travel agents that will work a plan that will be within your budget. Many agents do understand that affordability is an important factor in attracting clients and hence work a plan that would be suitable for one and all.

Apart from merely booking the flight, train,or bus tickets, an agent should also take care of your local transportation, sight seeing, book hotels or bed and breakfast, arrange for guides etc. All these additional services are very important for a traveler.

Therefore, choose the best one from a comprehensive list of travel agents and make your tour a grand success.

Use a Travel Agent to Book a Flight
If you're planning to fly out of Heathrow Airport, you have several options for booking your flight. You could rely on a travel agent to arrange your flight, book directly through an airline, or go through Internet booking sites. There are advantages to booking flights with each of these resources, and which one you choose will depend on your preferences and goals.

Booking Flights through Travel Agents

Prior to the development of the Internet travel industry, most people relied on travel agents to arrange their flights. People used to shop multiple travel agencies looking for a bargain, or they chose a travel agent based on service, reputation, or convenience of the agency's location.

The biggest advantage of booking your flight through a travel agent is convenience. If you are interested in purchasing a flight from Heathrow to Boston and back and your primary goal is saving money, a travel agent may not be your best bet. But if you need to book not only a flight to Boston, but hotel accommodations, too, plus multiple flights and accommodations in other cities in the U.S. as part of a sightseeing vacation, booking through a travel agent makes sense.

Travel agents are paid commissions by airlines when they sell flights, so it is not always in their best interest to net you the cheapest possible flight. Of course, they want your business, too, so most travel agents work hard to try to provide customers with competitive airfares. Generally speaking, you may pay slightly more for your Heathrow flight by booking through a travel agent. But if you are short on time or planning much more than a basic round trip flight, paying slightly more will be worthwhile.

There's another good reason to consider booking your flight with a travel agent when you're planning a vacation. Travel agents are in the know about deals on rental cars, combination hotel accommodation and flight packages and other discount offers that can save you money on your trip. Some travel agents can even provide discounts on admission to tourist attractions in the destinations you plan to visit.

Travel agents are also very familiar with airports around the world, as well as airlines. They are able to spot potential problems and help you avoid them, which can help ensure your flight goes smoothly.

When travelers book their flights themselves online, nobody is there to advise them against a one-hour layover in Airport X when traveling from Heathrow. In reality, it could well be impossible to pass through customs, collect your luggage and travel to your next terminal in only one hour - especially if your flight is delayed and you arrive even a few minutes late.

A good travel agent will take into consideration all the factors that could affect your travel, including the seasons, the airlines you're traveling and the airports you'll pass through in addition to Heathrow. Although there may be no guarantees, if your flights are cancelled or changed by your airline, a travel agent may be much more likely to be able to arrange a suitable alternate flight than you would be able to on your own - especially on short notice.

These are just some of the many advantages of booking your Heathrow flight through a travel agent. If you do decide to book your flight through a travel agency, allow yourself plenty of time to shop around. Read all the "fine print" terms and conditions before you make a commitment to any travel agent, and pay close attention to guarantees and refunds in case you need to change or cancel your flight.

Mark Farrell owns and runs MF Airport Parking for the best Heathrow Airport Parking please visit my site today and book online

Mark Farrell

Travel Agents - Are You Being Ripped Off?


Right up there with real estate agents and used car sales people, travel agents are subject to much suspicion when it comes to sales tactics and prices. But are you really being sized up and ripped off every time you walk into an agency or book a holiday?

The answer is yes, you will be sized up and yes, given half the chance many agents will overcharge, some by as much as they can get away with.

With the great resources available on the net most travellers will not walk into an agency until they feel they have a good handle on their destination and current prices. Yet no matter how savvy you are it's still worth knowing how agents work before you decide to use one.

There are two aspects to the way agents work in Australia that affect the service you are given. The first is the way agents are paid. Second is the pushing of particular agency 'preferred' products like tours (with high commission levels) onto the customer without disclosing this conflict of interest.

No real newsflash here: agents are paid on commission. But people might not realise that base pay rates are so low, agents need every dollar they can squeeze out of you. The pay structure generally works like this:

* The agent is paid a base amount, which is a paltry sum at best. The base amount is fairly consistent amongst the major agencies, and will go up slightly the longer the agent stays in the job.

* Extra income is based on commission paid against the revenue agents bring in. Different levels of revenue are made from every product they sell, from very little (say a hotel transfer) to up to 50% revenue for travel insurance. 'Preferred products' such as tours or flights will have higher levels of revenue.

* Of this total revenue, agents are paid a monthly percentage, usually on a sliding scale (the more the agents bring in the higher the percentage they get). This pay scale will depend on the agency and some are more generous than others. Without this commission the base amount is barely enough to live on (we are talking burger flipping rates).

* There is massive pressure on agents to hit monthly revenue targets (aside from actually making a living), and thus the job has a very high turnover rate (1-2 years is a fair stint as a travel agent or even store manager).

* But what about the perks? Agents fly all the time right? In short there is no particular savings on flights at present. Some agencies are better than others but the perks of the job are almost non-existent compared to how it used to be. Agents are not always travelling and when they do it's not as cheap as people think. For that you need a job, or your dad or mum needs a job, with Qantas.

* Some companies overseas pay differently so the focus is on customer service rather than sales. We are not so lucky.

The fact that the job is commission based seems to be missed by many customers who think agents are free to give advice all day as that's what they get paid for. The reality is that they make very little unless they actually sell you something; it's a sales job pure and simple.

This pressure on agents can lead to some very dubious practice.

So what could be loosely defined as a situation where somebody is being ripped off? There's a big difference between paying extra for the agents time and them overcharging you by hundreds, or even thousands, on your holiday.

Standard booking fees at most agencies are $50.00 - $100.00, depending on the product being sold (less for domestic travel). These fees can be waived at some agencies rather than losing a sale if you are price matching or bargaining hard with the agent.

These fees are not a huge price to pay for what might be hours of the agents time (and remember the agent only gets a small percentage of that fee - most goes to the agency), but if you are paying any more than the standard fees, you are paying too much.

The most likely chance you have of being ripped off is if you have failed to shop around, and get caught up in the agent's enthusiastic sales tactics (always beware the most upbeat and enthusiastic agent).

Agents will size up how much you know about your destination, the current price of flights and accommodation before quoting you a price. If you tell the agent "it's my first time away" your chances of paying way too much increase dramatically.

Travelling to an out of the way destination might fall into this category as well, or when navigating the maze of round the world tickets. While it's easy enough to book RTW trips on the net many people still stick with an agent, and leave themselves vulnerable to overcharging in the process.

Also, and unfortunately so, times of grief or any urgent need to get yourself on a flight are also seen by many agents as a time to cash in on vulnerable customers.

In terms of flights, agents will usually have minimum or net rates that they are free to add whatever extra they can get away with. This is where you can be overcharged if you haven't shopped around. There is only a minimum, not a standard or maximum price for flights.

Consider as well that some agents are better than others at finding cheap flights. A high quote might just be a lack of knowledge of the destination/airlines. Many agents will have spent less than a year in the job and it can take time to learn how to get the better deals for customers, especially on out of the way routes. Another reason to check online first.

Yet another area in which to be careful is with refunds. It is not uncommon for some angents to overcharge you to cancel flights or tours. This can be done simply by the agent changing the terms of the agreement between you and the agency when you first pay a deposit or in full (as you have no direct contact with the airline). So what might have been a $350.00 cancellation fee on flights can be easily be turned into a non refundable ticket without the knowledge of the airline or tour company. Importantly this is not a standard practice (some agancies have measures in place to stop this) but it does happen. Be really careful and check elsewhere before you commit to a non refundable airfare!

The second and perhaps most dodgy aspect of travel agency practice is the pushing of preferred products onto customers.

This is not technically a rip off, but if you're after unbiased product advice steer clear of most travel agents.
The major agencies will have certain tour companies and even airlines from which they will get higher commissions (which can be double that of other tour companies they might sell).

So you're booking a tour in South America and want some advice on a tour company? Chances are you will be pushed into using the agencies preferred supplier as they make more money out of you that way. As yet there is no legal requirement for agencies to declare this conflict of interest. Just look around the shelves of the major agencies and it will be clear from the uniform brochures who their preferred suppliers are.

This is not to say these companies are not a decent choice, just be aware any advice is not without considerable bias. You need to make sure the tour company suits your needs and don't rely solely on an agent's advice on this (contact the company direct if you have any queries).

This conflict of interest can be applied to many products they sell. The major agencies will have preferred hotels and car hire companies. For almost every product travel agent dirty tricks, travel agent rip offs, travel advice, travel tips there will be a preference they give you that makes them more money. Agents will themselves often have little goals in mind when selling you a holiday.

There are always incentives from different travel companies for agents to sell their product. The incentive might be 'sell five tours get one free' or something similar. This is another reason agents can give you highly biased advice.

Smaller more independent agencies are more likely to give you unbiased advice as they may not have the same deals with tour operators as the major players.

If you are unsure about the charges attached to any products, simply ask what exactly you are being charged for as agents should disclose any booking fees involved (sometimes these fees can be hidden). If you are suspicious don't fall for any pressure tactics, just walk away and check another agency or online before you book (there's always another agency close enough).

So the bottom line really is just to make yourself as aware as possible of current pricing before you see an agent. You can still get great deals through a good agent (booking online is not always cheaper) and there is no need to be ripped off if you are savvy about your planning. Advice from a good agent on your destination can be invaluable, just take product advice with a grain of salt.

I left the job in part due to the pressure to overcharge and BS on which company customers should travel with. Most people get into the job because they love to travel, but may end up finding, like I did, that the job is not worth the stress.