Agencie Stories.........

[Jake]

Since there is some talk about agencies lately I am going to add little spice to it . It comes from experience , when I was going to Cali on a regular basis , there was a time when Latin-internet , latin encounters, latin best , latin lovemates and a few others were all booked and you had to make resv. like months in advance ... So I have been there and no a little about what I am talking about.

Now my story ...... I was staying at a hotel and was returning back to the agency to meet another lady . I met a young man early 30's from Tenn . This was his first trip outside of his state in his life , he new no spanish and had very little money . He had paid for a membership to this one agenice for one year . And when he decided to come he sent the agencie money for the room fro him to stay . After he arrived in Cali and was picked up at the airport and came to the agencie he was in for a big surprise !!!!  the owner had told him that his menbership had expired by 2 days and if he wanted to stay at his place he would have to buy another year membership at this time .  Just think about this .... no english , no money , never been out of his state , and now alittle scared ... this was at a time when these agencies had so much business they could really do what ever they pleased and get away with it . I may add.... he also had printed off the website some the ladies he wanted to meet , he had 5-6 photos of ladies that he thought he was going to meet ..........  Now before I tell what you happen next , you may think  that this is some of his problems by not knowing when his membership was up .... yes maybe so but by 2 days , and this was his first time there............

Well , I was not going to let this guy stand out in the cold .. (per say ) we jumped in a taxi , I took him to my hotel and got him a room . ( he did refund me when he got back to the states) He gave me the girls numbers that we wanted to meet , i met 3-4 of them for him and explained that he was at this hotel and if they would go there and with me and meet them . 3 agreed and I left back to the states 2 days later . He had wrote to me once and when he sent the money  for the room and met a nice lady . ...
THIS IS REALLY ABOUT  THE AGENCIE ..... WHY COULD THEY NOT LET THIS GUY SLIDE FOR A FEW DAYS ? AND THEY HAD HIS MONEY FOR THE ROOM ...THEY SAID THAT TRANSACTION WAS DONE IN THE STATES AND WE HAVE NO RECORD OF THAT ..........IF YOU WONDER WHY MOST OF THE AGENCIES HAVE PROBLEMS HERE IS WHY ............HOPE YOU ENJOY  
       

[Pete E]

... in response to Agencie Stories........., posted by Jake on Apr 14, 2005

A real jewel that agency owner.Probably the same guy who said he never sold lifetime memberships that some of my friends still have their card for.Oh,it does say lifetime untill married.I guess that makes him not technically a liar?But there is a good chance he doesn't even remember what he did a few years ago.
Hell some adjacency owners have their own personal imagined version of something that happened a few weeks ago and they believe it.Be carefull when you start believing your own bullshit.

Pete

[Jamie]

... in response to Agencie Stories........., posted by Jake on Apr 14, 2005

“IF YOU WONDER WHY MOST OF THE AGENCIES HAVE PROBLEMS HERE IS WHY”

Sounds more like why customers have problems.

Nikkyo is correct customer service and contractual commitments for as little as there may be ends when payment is received. Screwing people to survive is considered a means of doing business here. One problem is you often can’t get anything done unless you pay something up front and then you have to wait till they run out of beer before they are motivated to start work for more beer money... Hey just like us

"Hay Days" of the agencies are gone because they screwed over some guys and got a bad reputation? That is probably true...” The answer is competition.

Engage the Exotic – Latin Women
http://International-Introductions.com

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: Agencies Stories........., posted by Jamie on Apr 15, 2005

Yup,the guys PT Barnum said were born every miniute are coming to Colombia less frequently now.But a wide eyed one does stumble off a plane every once in awhile.Like the French guy and the$1000 in gifts for a girl he just met.The generosity factor which might be appreciated somewhat can be overwhelmed in a colombianas mind with the thought this guy is a total idiot.

Pete

[Nikkyo]

... in response to Agencie Stories........., posted by Jake on Apr 14, 2005

My 2 Cents,
Treat the agencies as you would any business and come prepared.  I happen to own my own small business and when I have paid for services I always bring my paid confirmation receipts and or contracts, especially when doing business in South America.
I generally find that business in South America are short sighted, meaning that they want to make as much money here today and really do not put effort into gaining a long term customer.  Now this is not true for all business but as a general rule this is what I have experienced.
Therefore, treat everything as a serious business negotiation and come prepared to win any arguments with solid proof.  I have on several occasions had to prove that I paid in advance or that my membership was current.  I quickly showed the parties involved my confirmation receipt from the web site along with any PayPal receipts.  I also showed credit card statements proving that I had paid.  Once I showed proof and could easily justify my position things proceeded much more smoothly.
I think this is way business is done in South American countries, so always come prepared.  It is the general belief that all North Americans are "rich" so they will attempt to excise more money from you, if you expect this and come prepared you will have much fewer problems.
Also if you plan on buying any items have your girlfriend bargain for the price first so you can avoid the "gringo tax".  When the Colombians here your North American accent the price of the item will double.  I speak fairly good Spanish but I have a Brazilian or Carribean accent to my Spanish therefore I too often get "taxed" at a higher rate for some items.

Nikkyo

[OkieMan]

... in response to Agencie Stories........., posted by Jake on Apr 14, 2005

Jake,

Thanks for your story.  I guess what you are emphasizing is that the "Hay Days"  of the agencies are gone because they screwed over some guys and got a bad reputation?  That is probably true, but from what little I know about this, ( I admit I know only a little), there are probably some other factors too: 1)Everything is cyclical, 2)Sep 11 gave everything a strong kick in the pants, so the traffic is not as strong as it once was,  3) this message board and others are helping to educate many of us so that we are not taken advantage of so bad.
By the way, did  you stay in touch with that guy  to find out if he ever came back to Cali or anywhere else in LA?  Did he ever marry any of the girls?  Just curious.

                            OkieMan

[Jake]

... in response to Re: Agencie Stories........., posted by OkieMan on Apr 14, 2005

additional comments....

1. there is no doubt that 9-11 did not help . But that is only in the  travel industry  . As someone like myself , I have traveled to 17 countries , and can speak and understand 5 different languages there are a lot more other countries more dangerous than Colombia ...and I am not including the middle east in this . To me if you use your head and think about what you are doing Colombia is very safe ..

2. This message board is by far the best tool , if owners had thought about this it could have been used to there advantage . But it has worked against them . Even though there are different opinions . The famous lady from Latin Encounters got me for $400..for 2 days , said I could meet 6-8 ladies in 2 days ......... 2 showed up ... Lesson learned ... About another agencie in Peru , I have met Raul and his partner ... And they are very nice people and very good to do business with .

3. I have never heard from the guy from Tenn . in someways I was hoping he was on the board . If he reads this he will know its me .. I wish the best for him ...
Jake