agencies closing?

[pack]

is there anyone out there with the straight scoop on all these reports of more agencies closing? i have heard that 4 agencies have closed this year in cali. now after hearing rumors for months that Latin Love is closing another gringo who has just returned from cali says that yes L L is closing. he also claims that the word on the street in cali is that My Colombian Woman is closing. does anyone have the facts about these two agencies?

[Norm]

... in response to agencies closing?, posted by pack on Jul 2, 2001

We are not closing at MyLatinWomen / Mis Gringuitos. We are considering a move to a more central location, but if we do that it more than likely wont happen until Oct. and we will arrange it so the whole move takes place in one afternoon without disrupting even a single interview......Norm

[pack]

... in response to Re: agencies closing?, posted by Norm on Jul 2, 2001

thanks for the response norm.

[El Diablo]

... in response to agencies closing?, posted by pack on Jul 2, 2001

Pack,

I don't have the scoop on Latin Love but I can think of someone who does. Yes the owner Robert. Why don't you consider sending him an email or calling him yourself.  You'll find all the contact information necessary to solve this mystery of yours at www.latinlove.net.

Bueno Suerte, El Diablo

[pack]

... in response to Re: agencies closing?, posted by El Diablo on Jul 2, 2001

ah good idea. of course you have to remember none of the agencies that have closed so far have given any notice of their intentions they just closed.

[DallasTexas]

... in response to Re: agencies closing?, posted by El Diablo on Jul 2, 2001

I know this as I called this morning to have the photo of my new wife removed and the girl told me that no one works there anymore and that they will close the web site this week. We shall see if it happens.

[Pete E]

... in response to LatinLove.Net is closing, posted by DallasTexas on Jul 2, 2001

I'm sorry to hear that Latin Love is closing.I loved the place.I guess income was down or expenses were up.It looked like a cash cow to me if they could average about 4-5 guys a night.Lets see,if 4.5 average,x $80 average price,thats $360 a day,$10,800 a month.I heard the rent was $3200 a month,then dropped to$2800.Say 8 staff people at $225 a month =$2000.That still leaves $6000 profit - utilities,which could maybe be $2500,so there is still a $3500 profit.I think the problem here is the average guys were maybe down to 3 at maybe $70 a night,then it doesn't work.Utilities and other expenses could be higher also.
So it looks like they failed because they couldn't get enough guys.I think the Villa for awhile and then Norm's undercutt them.I personally would pay(and did)$100 a night for the class of place the Palace was,but $40 sounds better to some guys I guess.Also I think Norm is there himself all the time and has a better reputation for service.This long distance management of latin Love didn't work.Bud put alot of energy in to Latin Love when it first started,and then I think he just got burned out.The robberies probably hurt enough to cause the decline,and I don't think it was their fault really,just a bad set of circumstances.A guy I know who used to stay there switched to the Pacifico Royalle hotel just after the robberies.He stayed about 60 days last year so that was a huge loss to Latin Love.
Hell,I'm married(I met my wife at Latin Love).I wasn't going to stay there again anyway,but its sad to see them go.
I think good on site management would have saved them.

Pete

[pack]

... in response to LatinLove.Net is closing, posted by DallasTexas on Jul 2, 2001

talk on that other board is that Latin Love is closed down three or four guys who have just returned from cali say yes they are closed.whats that 5 agencies closed this year in cali?

[bret]

... in response to Re: LatinLove.Net is closing, posted by pack on Jul 3, 2001

so, have you thought about why these agencies might be  closing? maybe there are some legitimate reasons for the business failures?

there are actually other ways to meet latin women!

i'm not knocking agencies, but maybe they aren't necessarily they only avenue to find what you are looking for.

any recomndations?

[pack]

... in response to Re: Re: LatinLove.Net is closing, posted by bret on Jul 3, 2001

good question, i wonder myself why all the sudden (last 10 months) 5 or more agencies have closed their doors? i suppose it could be many reasons why this is happening and now.first i think there are just to many agencies more and more cutting into the pie. second the gringos traveling to colombia are getting smarter , they are more informed thanks to boards like this one. there are some real shake ups going on in the cali agency industry i think we will see even more agencies closing in the near future thats why i would never again join an agency that requires a membership fee.

[El Diablo]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: LatinLove.Net is closing, posted by pack on Jul 4, 2001

Pack,

These are the agencies I'm aware of that have closed:

1.  The Villa         (was only open a few months anyway)
2.  Latin Connections (replaced by model agency)
3.  Latin Dream girls (they weren't doing much business)

There may be some others but I think they were at most small players.  If Latin Love has in fact closed that makes four but I don't really think much has changed in Cali if you look at the big picture. I think a few agencies opened and a few agencies have closed.  It's just good old economics 101 as Junfan suggested.  With time an equilibrium will be established.  To be honest, the agency business as a business is a major pain in the arse and there is little if any profit in it.  

I'd like to see prices stabilize and allow for someone like Norm to stay in business and make a reasonable profit.  An agency costs money to run and my sense is that too many guys want to have their cake and eat it too. (In other words, they are cheap!!)  If guys keep demanding $30 a night fees, they will certainly drive out all the American owned agencies and what you'll be left with are only the Colombian ones.  

I think that would be a big mistake.

El Diablo

[pack]

... in response to LatinLove.Net is closing, posted by DallasTexas on Jul 2, 2001

sounds like closing to me, of course it may be that they are relocating or downsizing?

[JunFan68]

... in response to Re: LatinLove.Net is closing, posted by pack on Jul 2, 2001

The weak will leave the market, until the supply demand balance is restored.  The negative of this when this happens is if the balance swings to far to the demand side....meaning many gringos at a few agencies, could mean higher prices/fees, but higher prices will bring in new entrants into the agency business....ok...enough econ 101 for tonight.

Later
Mike

[pack]

... in response to Relax...it's only  Agency Darwinism, posted by JunFan68 on Jul 3, 2001

well you know what they're saying about Darwinism now they are saying that it could be incorrect. im not sure it has totally to do with the weak leaving the market, more like the ruthless taking control, orperhaps its the patient will inheirit cali? who knows? i do know im staying away from any agency that charges a membership fee and any agency that is showing even the slightest signs of having problems.