Whether you read them or not, by accepting membership you agree to them.
Some members in some jurisdictions can't agree to them; and not all terms are universally applicable and enforceable. Of course, that's not applicable in the OP's case.
__________________
This game is not as much fun as it used to be: 2008/2009 Frequent Flyer Program Fleecing Award goes to Delta Airlines
Location: Primary: LAX Secondary: JFK and LHR Currently: LAX
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Admirals Club, TrueBlue, AF/KLM Flying Blue
Posts: 369
Quote:
Originally Posted by drbond
This is what I have hinted at. If someone starts a business with a mindset of how can I make the most profit no matter what it takes, then they are of the telemarketing, con artist nature IMHO. And anyone that does business on that premises should be shut down, paraded through the streets, put in stocks, have rotten fruit and vegetables thrown at them, locked up an have the key thrown away.
The OP needs to learn NOW at this very moment that the only good business is honest business. Spends some time learning before trying to sell knowledge stolen from other sources.
I must comment on this. Although TEAW no longer engages in the trade of vouchers any more, ANYONE who ever dealt with me was treated with the golden thumb. If a customer of mine EVER had a problem, they would be fully refunded and given more comps out of my pocket to keep them happy. I will utterly disagree with the accusation of me being a con-artist willing to do ANYTHING for a buck. If you can find an old customer of mine, you will quickly realize that you are very wrong. I treated my customers like gold, and believe it or not... what I miss most about operating this small business is coming home to find my e-mail box full of quiestions and problems from them seeking help.
I will allow everything else to fly, but I will not stand for "conning people." Indeed UA T&C were violated (not to belittle myself, but when I started this in the first place... I was very young and didn't know of any violations), but I NEVER would stand for a scam!
Just because they did it, you can do it?
Well they were shop lifting so it wasn't just me!
Officer I may have threw a rock through a window, but don't punish me, other people were doing it to!
So what did you clear up?
There was more than one crook on ebay that day?
I'm sorry we had the misconception that there was only one crook on there that day.
Location: Primary: LAX Secondary: JFK and LHR Currently: LAX
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Admirals Club, TrueBlue, AF/KLM Flying Blue
Posts: 369
Quote:
Originally Posted by drbond
Just because they did it, you can do it?
Well they were shop lifting so it wasn't just me!
Officer I may have threw a rock through a window, but don't punish me, other people were doing it to!
So what did you clear up?
There was more than one crook on ebay that day?
I'm sorry we had the misconception that there was only one crook on there that day.
You do make a valid point. I did feel it was important to clearify that I did not log onto eBay that day and list not only some extra AA certificates, but many others -- because that DID NOT happen. I feel that it could have been interperted as what happened based on how I phrased my sentence.
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, UA 1K, MR Plat, HH/SPG Gold
Posts: 17,812
Quote:
Originally Posted by drbond
"If the opportunity is there, people normally take it" I'll remember that the next time someone cuts me off in traffic, and I have my gun and he/she is an easy target. I wonder what that excuse would get me?
This could not have been a well thought out post. C'mon, that is like saying I understand why the employee took the money from the safe, it was there and no one was watching so I had an opportunity and took it.
The nerve of some people to take this attitude about things.
I interpreted the initial take to refer to legal opportunities. In other words, if there is a secondary market for a product, people will take advantage of it. Buying sports tickets on the streets outside the stadium, for example, is against city ordinances in many places - even for less than face value. Yet people do it everywhere. Law-abiding, ethical people. Cops generally don't get involved except in very high-demand cases where fraud or counterfeiting is more likely.
Same goes here with the people on Coupon Connection. Most trades that take place there are against the terms/conditions of the programs involved, yet as far as I can tell the airlines and hotels are perfectly fine with CC's existence as long as it isn't out of hand. (That is, airlines know it exists, airlines continue to maintain a healthy relationship with the company that maintains this board, and Coupon Connection still exists.)
My biggest problem with what the OP is doing is that he's attempting to run a business operation that doesn't present all of the facts to the customers. At least on CC, any swaps done there are 1-on-1 where both parties know exactly what the rules are.
Last edited by pinniped; Jan 2, 07 at 12:40 pm.
Reason: Had the wrong poster attributed to the initial take...
I must comment on this. Although TEAW no longer engages in the trade of vouchers any more, ANYONE who ever dealt with me was treated with the golden thumb. If a customer of mine EVER had a problem, they would be fully refunded and given more comps out of my pocket to keep them happy. I will utterly disagree with the accusation of me being a con-artist willing to do ANYTHING for a buck. If you can find an old customer of mine, you will quickly realize that you are very wrong. I treated my customers like gold, and believe it or not... what I miss most about operating this small business is coming home to find my e-mail box full of quiestions and problems from them seeking help.
I will allow everything else to fly, but I will not stand for "conning people." Indeed UA T&C were violated (not to belittle myself, but when I started this in the first place... I was very young and didn't know of any violations), but I NEVER would stand for a scam!
Thanks
Alex, I am glad to hear that. Now exactly how much older are you than 3.5 months ago. You state you were very young and didn't know of any violations! Well you knew it was a violation after it happened at UA for sure! You said you would NEVER do it again. Now it has only been 3.5 monts and you did it at AA. Are you going to use that for an excuse for every airline until they are all gone? You definetly know that the miles and certs are NOT yours now and did after the UA debacle.
I don't know what you personally did with your website or your customers but I can say that I would feel sorry for people seeking travel advice from the following:
1. Student
2. T&C violater
3. Someone that printed they "know everything about the airline industry"
4. Asks the questions that you have asked and threads that you have started.
These are just my personal observations and are my personal opinions. YMMV
You may disagree, but you did misrepresent yourself on your website. I hope you learn from your mistakes and drop the whole idea and concentrate on your education and become a great success.
Location: Primary: LAX Secondary: JFK and LHR Currently: LAX
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Admirals Club, TrueBlue, AF/KLM Flying Blue
Posts: 369
Quote:
Originally Posted by pinniped
My biggest problem with what the OP is doing is that he's attempting to run a business operation that doesn't present all of the facts to the customers. At least on CC, any swaps done there are 1-on-1 where both parties know exactly what the rules are.
I absolutely agree with what you are saying, and it is something that I came to realize not to long ago. Please, I can't stress this any further to everyone here, I no longer run a business that is based on selling airline perks, and I have not for quite some time!
In all honesty here, I sold a couple of vouchers on eBay that otherwise would have gone in the trash. I have two other real jobs, aside from being a full-time student. I work for JetBlue as a freelance marketing consultant for the youth market, and I work for a financial advising firm that is based in LA and NY as a long-term intern (they were old customers of mine).
I DO NOT run a business not based on airline voucher trades, and if you tried, there is NO WAY you could buy a voucher of any sort from my website. I sold UA vouchers ONLY on it in the past, and do so no longer.
I absolutely agree with what you are saying, and it is something that I came to realize not to long ago. Please, I can't stress this any further to everyone here, I no longer run a business that is based on selling airline perks, and I have not for quite some time!
In all honesty here, I sold a couple of vouchers on eBay that otherwise would have gone in the trash. I have two other real jobs, aside from being a full-time student. I work for JetBlue as a freelance marketing consultant for the youth market, and I work for a financial advising firm that is based in LA and NY as a long-term intern (they were old customers of mine).
I DO NOT run a business not based on airline voucher trades, and if you tried, there is NO WAY you could buy a voucher of any sort from my website. I sold UA vouchers ONLY on it in the past, and do so no longer.
Thanks
Great now read your website Mark you will find that it says You KNOW ALL the airlines offers.
It says you can answer ANY questions, if that is true then why have you posted all of these basic questions that most anyone would know or could read on any airline website?
Let us take care of all of your air-travel issues. We do it all. We just don't book seats for you! Because we're not Travel Agents... We are industry experts! We will help you get the most out of the airlines, while giving you intelligent, understandable people to speak to on the phone and via e-mail. Just tell us what you want, and you're golden!
If you are not a TA then how can you book seats? The same as any person books their own? I wouldn't want to give my information to a non-TA. And if you are "INDUSTRY EXPERTS" then why all of the beginner questions that people who have traveled on an airline before would probably know?
Location: Primary: LAX Secondary: JFK and LHR Currently: LAX
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Admirals Club, TrueBlue, AF/KLM Flying Blue
Posts: 369
Quote:
Originally Posted by drbond
It says you can answer ANY questions, if that is true then why have you posted all of these basic questions that most anyone would know or could read on any airline website?
There are two things I will say to respond to this.
First of all being one of my favorite sayings... It is impossible to find someone who knows EVERYTHING, but you can find people who have the access to immense knowledge. If someone asks me a question that I don't know, I will not tell them I don't know it... I will go out and learn it! I can come to FT and search the boards, I can call an airline, I can consult with some of my EXP, UGS etc acquaintances, I can go out and get some personal experience, and I can pick up a book and start searching...
Further, FT does not represent the average flyer by any means (I know this has been discussed heavily). I dealt more with normal travelers, and the questions really, for the most part, were not all that complex.
The Early Air Way is a travel company whose goal is to be the easiest an most cost effective way for airline passengers to upgrade fom coach to business class. Thanks to The Early Air Way, air passengers are able to upgrade for as little as $75.00; there are almost no companies that can offer such low luxury air-travel prices.
Sounds like you are still selling something and it looks like upgrades. IMHO
