sunshine007

What about it? If these guys are as clean as they claim, then they should have no problem adding this to their posts.

sundowner

TA's are paid when someone hires them and they book that someone in a camp. The camp then pays a commission to the TA. I don't imagine that camps can afford to give kickbacks just because they have been recommended.


Just in case you haven't noticed, there is a wealth of information posted on Fodors by TA's and most of the information can be verified by first hand reports of tourists that have been to the same places. In my opinion, we are really lucky that several TA's post here on Fodors. Do you know of another Africa forum on the web that has as much first hand information posted by experienced Africa travellers?

Also, many of the camps described or recommended by TA's can be booked direct and you can avoid all of those horrible TA's altogether. I can assure you that if you use any company, agent or advisor to book a trip for you, they are getting a commission.

napamatt

How will they make a living?

kimburu

Here is the latest thread already open on this topic. For obvious reasons it's better to keep a discussion on a single thread
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34887434

sunshine007

Perhaps commissions is a better term.

I don't doubt that TA's make our lives easier when planning trips -- both on this board & when booking with them directly.

I think that we should be notified whether TA's are making money on their recommendations, that's all. Then all of us can make our own decisions on whether to use it.

cybor

Sunshine,
Your splitting hairs - what's the point.
If a TA can rec. 17 places in one location and receive approx. the same commission % or even higher for the 18th place, why would it matter if you are sent to one place over another.

I would guess that the TA's don't want 3am frantic phone calls and their reputations ruined by sending clients to the worst places on the list. Thus, they do have their favorites where they know their clients will be well taken care of. This is what any ethical professional would do.

As a business owner, I don't feel the need to justify or validate my fees - either you pay it or you move on - why should these guys be any different. Does your MD have to tell you that after paying SS, taxes, rent, employees etc. that he got $12.13 for himself. Would you opt out and then go to the guy who gets $10.26 - hair splitting, no?
Peace;
Sherry

cooncat3

I sure wish we could let this issue go. Pretty much everyone has made his or her opinion known. Let's get back to talking about Africa! Anyone else with me?

Cheers,

sundowner

<i>&quot;I think that we should be notified whether TA's are making money on their recommendations, that's all. Then all of us can make our own decisions on whether to use it.&quot;</i>


Do you work for free? TA's do. Luckily for us, they do a lot of work for free. They work up quotes for everyone that asks for quotes from 3-6 different agents and they don't get paid one cent for all that work. They answer hundreds of questions for people without knowing if they will get their business. They do not get paid for suggesting an itinerary, or writing up a quote, or checking on cheap airfare and they do not get paid for making recommendations of camps. They only get paid when someone hires them to book a trip.

I would also like for this witch hunt to end. I did respond to this thread again because someone believes that people are getting paid for recommending camps on this website. They don't.

thit_cho

PLEASE LET THIS POST DISAPPEAR BY NOT RESPONDING AND HAVING IT SINK ON ITS OWN ACCORD.

NO ONE SHOULD BEGRUDGE AN AGENT THEIR HARD-EARNED COMMISSION!! I AM AN ATTORNEY, AND (ASIDE FROM SELECTED PRO BONO MATTERS) MY TIME IS MY ASSET, AND I HAVE NO INTENTION OF RENDERING FREE SERVICES TO CLIENTS. WHY SHOULD YOU EXPECT TRAVEL AGENTS TO DO LIKEWISE? ONLY THE MOST UNINFORMED ARE UNAWARE THAT AGENT'S ARE NOT COMPENSATED BY HOTELS, LODGES, ETC.

Guenmai

I'm plain grateful for the wealth of information provided on this forum and others no matter who provides it. Bottom line, I don't know of a non-forum connected TA that would spend this much time giving advice and information which is one reason why three decades ago I started taking my travel plans into my own hands and doing reasearch for my own trips...way...pre forum days. I spend a lot of time answering people's questions...Asia forum mostly...in order to give back for all of the free advice/info others have taken the time to give. I hope the info keeps coming because most TAs that I know haven't traveled anywhere near as extensively as those of us non-TAs and TAs on fodors forum. I hope all of this gets resolved and SOON and all of the info keeps coming. Happy Travels!