HadesNL

Just logged in to see my post become a thread!


As per my orginal post my perspective was actually in the scope of:
- a professional business has to abide to rules, ethics and law of a country
- consumer organisations usually investigate or asses if there are practices which caused complaints or are streching the limits of good conduct
- goverment / law enforcement acts and forces / fines / prohibits practices

It surprised me that all bloggers can easily write off any expenses as travel related, put guest bloggers on payroll for the occasional write up, evade taxes on gifts/comps, not being transparant about ownership / conglomo backing and travel in/out with out any alert of tax/customs/immigration authorities.

If in the Netherlands this would instantly be grounds for a bust by our "belastingdienst & douane and marchaussee " (national tax office, customs and border control) or even a review by "consumentenbond" (consumer welfare). We are even known for border patrol to hold travellers who didnt't pay their EU parking fines and must pay them on the spot if they wish to leave the EU or to publicly shame companies who have dubious policies / activities.

oliver2002

In the US, the IRS is rather relaxed about expenses, as they cannot be be written off 100% like in western Europe.

For example when I entertained customers in the US using my company credit card, the CC receipt was sufficient for entertainment below a certain limit. Here in Germany I have to get an invoice from the restaurant with my companies details on it and fill up a A4 page with all sorts of details, including filling a table showing which part was charged at 19% VAT and which at 9%

dhammer53

I'm angry too Rick. I'm angry that people with good credit, and people that know how to manage their finances, still get sucked in to the dreams that the bloggers (pimpers) dangle in front of us. Lots of people with marginal credit can and do qualify for credit cards. Those people would never think something bad could happen to them. Just read some of the tales of woe that are out there on the internet. Lots of people are stuck with various gift cards from MS. The travel bloggers are ultimately responsible for giving people the tools from their high perch, knowing all the while that the everyday guy/gal would have a problem down the road.

Guys like you were in the game early enough to provide a real service. That was in the days before pimping. Those were the good old informative days. Today, April 1, 2016, the travel bloggers are looking out for #1 (as Archie Bunker once said), and I'm (they're) #1.

The spinoff that Randy created (I miss him here), caused so much (unintentional) damage.

dh

gpapadop

What? What? You mean, you should not get 5 Alaska Airlines credit cards in one day? (MMS). Or does it mean that you run a "tool" on your website that is supposed to recommend to you one cash back credit card but instead recommends 7 travel rewards credit cards and then urges you to apply for all of them in one day (FTG). Or does it mean not having a CSP card means you are not worthy of anything at all (TPG). I could go on....and on.

When you are confronted with reality, you deflect with the "angries" and personal responsibility copouts. We know the drill...

Our hobby started a long tortuous descent into oblivion when the first blogger cashed his first commission check from credit cards.

Now please excuse me while I go get hit with a "Top credit card offer to get NOW, Hurry, LAST chance" all over the blogosphere.

We'll talk about this stuff over pizza soon

Never angry, just pissed off with the devaluations, shutdowns and relentless rampant pimping of weapons of mass destruction sold to people who probably end up getting really hurt because, you know, Americans are so good with their money, cough.

We whine but we never leave #addicts

ingy

What a said state of affairs we are in when some actually believe that

"personal accountability is a cop out"

My how perceptions of the world have changed. The hell with the miles and points game, devaluations, shutdowns, and oh God forbid, pimping of credit cards. We are left with:

"personal accountability is a cop out" ???????

That is the sad state of affairs

Adam1222

So angry!

I agree. It is sad that none of the bloggers are taking personal responsibility for how their actions are to blame for the Alaska Airlines devaluation.

TMM1982

I'm more concerned with the personal responsibility of the people taking out the credit cards and buying miles at various programs. Consumers always look to blame someone when their plan fails.

dhammer53

Just like the cigarette company isn't responsible for people getting cancer. @:-)

Adam1222

Replace "consumers" with "everyone". In reality, it seems bloggers and airlines are trying to foist responsibility on consumers, and not accepting their own culpability in perpetuating unsustainable practices.

ingy

Don't smoke or quit if you are smoking. That is your choice and responsibility, not the cigarette companies.

This battle will go on for years and is not going away. For some it is always easier to blame somebody or something else for your woes and troubles. For others they can accept the consequences of their actions. It just depends on which group you are more comfortable in.

Dan , Good to hear from you. How's the grandpa business going?

dhammer53

^

I may even let him ride on BRT (Brooklyn Reality Tour) one of these days.
For those 1 or 2 of you that don't know, check out the Community forum for the current thread. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/commu...11-2016-a.html

BRT has had Randy and Ingy ride with us over the years. And this year, TravelBloggerBuzz joins that elite group. Insert your own smiley face here.

Thanks for asking.

dh

kokonutz

I disagree. It has already gone away for some as credit card companies limit churn to once a year and/or once a lifetime.

The points and miles game is constantly evolving, but right now the trend is a far smaller pool of miles with a far larger crowd trying to claim them.

RFDMinnesota

People make mistakes. We are human after all.

gpapadop

Sorry you guys I was using the FGT "tool" and was so happy I can achieve my goals of getting not just one cash back credit card I asked for but SEVEN travel rewards credit cards! And get this....the "Tool" told me to get them all in ONE day. Of course it is my own irresponsibility to trust these nice folks who are so called experts (Avios anyone?) to advise me responsibly.

Breathe, breathe...

In other news, is this BRT gluten free I hope, right?

LPDAL

I have no problem with "pimping credit cards." Just come right out and say you're trying to sell credit cards instead of pretending to be a travel expert to earn commission. [And, by "come out", I don't mean put some legalese in italic size 0.00000001 font at any point in the entry.]

Yeah, I know it will never happen, as making an honest living is much too difficult, and in addition, doesn't allow you to fly Cathay Pacific First Class and stay in Ritz Carlton locations for months on end for "free."

I'm pretty sure if the IRS did a deep investigation of all of these bloggers, most of them would be in deep trouble.

-LPDAL