whats going on in cali

[pack]

what the h--- is going on in cali? the agency scene seems to be somewhat unstable right now . first the Villa shuts its doors after being in business only about 1 year , then just a couple of months later Latin Connection one of the oldest and largest agencies in cali files bankruptsy and closes down . next we hear that Latin Dreamgirls has closed . nowwe are hearing that Latin Love owner is looking to get out of the business . now the latest agency with problems is another old favorite thats been around for awhile Latin Encounters it seems the husband and wife team ricardo and margereth have split both marriage and business and everything is in limbo. my question is what the hay is going on ? are there just to many agencies ? is the economy the fault ? are there less gringos going to cali? personally this whole thing is making me nervous , im not going to invest any of my money  or time in any agency in cali until these agency people decide what they are going to do , are they in business or not?

[Villa in Cali]

... in response to whats going on in cali, posted by pack on Apr 21, 2001

Cali has too many agencies and not enough clients who are traveling to Cali.  Also with all of the competition the prices have fallen and continue to drop.  Which is good for the client.  Even with the closing of many agencies there are still some good agencies in Cali.  Do your homework and figure out which agency fits your needs.  The Villa in Cali was closed for a number of reasons, we did have good intentions with the Villa but after seeing this business from the inside we decided it wasn't for us.  

Pacino

[pack]

... in response to Re: whats going on in cali, posted by Villa in Cali on Apr 21, 2001

im sorry you guys closed because i had heard some good things about your place and i was planning to pay you guys a visit in the near future. i agree with what you said concerning the reasons why the cali agencies are going through these unstable times. i think cali can easily support 5 or 6 or even 7 agencies but when the competition starts reaching numbers of 12 15 and more agencies then the playing field starts getting a little crowded , and thats where it is right now. im just gonna sit back and let this mess work its self out and when all the dust settles ill pick a agency and go for it.

[Houndog]

... in response to whats going on in cali, posted by pack on Apr 21, 2001

Well some of this is really not very surprising to some of us that have been around for awhile. The real story is....only about 5-10% of the gringo's that make noise have ever gone in the first place. If one was to do the math on any agency it will give you an idea of how small the numbers really are, combined with the worsening perception of the safety of Colombia in general.

Take Latin Love for example..they have I think 9 rooms...so 100% capacity for a year is 468 gringo's....however how often has anyone ever been on a plane south with nine gringo's going to an agency...let alone the same agency ? In all my trips south the most I have seen has been 3-4 gringo's...(yea you can get a feel quite easy in the lines to check in). So if you guesstimate a little, based on observation and curiosity, you come up with a general average of say 3 gringo's per week . Even that is 208....which is probably on the high side of how many one agency books a year(my gut feeling says about 100)...for the last couple of years. And that is a Large Agency like Latin Love. So if you dilute any ones potential over and over with new agencies you can see that at some point the profit potential is so low as compared to the cost of running an agency, that it stops making good business sense.

Over the short term Colombia is on a down trend of Gringo travelers IMHO. And until the problems with the perception of violence deminishes it will be tuff sailing for agencies IMO. However for Gring's there is a somewhat Silver Lining to this Cloud....The Peso is at a Historic Low...Official Rate between Banks of 2330...the dollar will go a looooong way at this time, plus deminished copitition for new guys is at a low, meaning more women per men. So each guys choices and chances have numerically increased dramaticaly.

So guys...all the ODDS...are more in ones favor than they have ever been....it should be time for the fence sitters to ..."Spins the Wheel and Takes Yu Chances"...

Houndog

[pack]

... in response to Re: whats going on in cali, posted by Houndog on Apr 21, 2001

hound , as usual you have excellent response to questions and i agree with what you say. i guess whats really bothering me is this sudden unstable activity amongst the agencies , the recent and sudden openings and closings of agencies it just gives me a uneasy feeling . why should i invest time , money , travel when tomorrow the agency i have chosen can close its doors . some of the agencies are so new in the business ...do they really know what they are in for , do they know what they are dong ? look at latin connections how many years in business 15 , 16  , gone overnight! there are some real adjustments taking place in the agency industry right now i think gringos who travel to cali should keep their eyes and ears open  , pay attention to the industry , ask questions , and stay tuned to this board .

[Houndog]

... in response to Re: Re: whats going on in cali, posted by pack on Apr 21, 2001

Well I'll tell you. Little if anything has really changed between the two most interested parties....ie: The Men & The Women....agencies always were and always will be "only an aide" to introducing people. A convientient and safe, comfortable place for men and women to meet. A safe haven, so to speak. Nuetral Ground...with the additional comforts of translaters and helpful staff. However, other than being an intial aide...they can no more guaruntee someones success than I can. It really always has been up to the man for the most part to determine sincerity. Sure they could help to a degree, but in my own personal experience it still fell back to me to analyze the real and true sincerity index and compatibility of the women I was interested in.

Therefore except for the agency names, nothing has really changed IMO. You find an agency that has gained some credibility for "Trying on Your Behalf"...LL, Norm's,LE, you arrange your stay with them and try to meet one or several that you really like, can determine they like and want you back and you move forward to determine certian things that will lead to LT compatibility and happiness.

In my own case I stayed at LL my first trip south, met nice ladies, but more importantly...I FOUND OUT THEY WERE FOR ME....so even though I didn't find the one....I realized the one that I wanted to spend the rest pof my life with was there somewhere and all I had to do was put the effort into finding her. Additionaly, after my first trip, recon mission, I had gathered enough actual information about this venue and Colombia, that it allowed me to expand and modify my search paramiters. I made friends my first trip and layed all the ground work to continue looking until I was ultimately successful.

So truly IMO, all of the above is what that first trip was all about.....and I don't feel that one penny of my money was thrown away....simply invested.

Regards, Houndog  

[chao]

... in response to Re: Re: whats going on in cali, posted by pack on Apr 21, 2001

Agencies will come and agencies will go.

All the more reason - never buy a lifetime membership.

[Michael B]

... in response to All the more reason - never buy a lifeti..., posted by chao on Apr 21, 2001

What, I should need a lifetime membership? Whatever for? Isn't the idea to get married? Once I'm married, what do I want the agency for, even if they stay in business for the next 400 years?

[pack]

... in response to All the more reason - never buy a lifeti..., posted by chao on Apr 21, 2001

DITTO !

[Houndog]

... in response to All the more reason - never buy a lifeti..., posted by chao on Apr 21, 2001

Absolutely.....

Or pay Large Up Front Fees of Any type.....No Bueno...

Houndog

[pack]

... in response to Re: All the more reason - never buy a li..., posted by Houndog on Apr 21, 2001

now you tell me...DITTO AGAIN!