LAI changes terms of Business

[pastilla100]

LAI has recently changed its terms of business.  It no longer offers a 1 year membership for around $400.  You now must purchase the expensive $900 plus "lifetime" membership.  Additionally, you use to be able to browse the full database for free.  No more.

[HappyIdiot]

... in response to LAI changes terms of Business, posted by pastilla100 on Nov 22, 2001

I think this is an agency that recently had its domain name stolen by an unethical competitor.  So you might want to make sure which agency you are actually dealing with.  The person that I believe is the actual agency posted in a thread below on how to get to the real site.

http://www.planet-love.com/wwwboard/latin/messages/23472.html

[NW Jim]

... in response to Re: LAI changes terms of Business, posted by HappyIdiot on Nov 22, 2001

Pastilla is correct that LAI has changed its terms of business over the past few months. I think Pastilla is making the point that raising fees and making access more difficult may not make good business sense in the long run.

Introduction Agencies are a tough business to be in, look at how many have failed in Colombia over the past 12 months and 9/11 didn't help things in a slowing US economy. Full service agencies, unlike address re-sellers have high overhead costs.  

As I understand it LAI needed help with marketing in USA and now has some link to latin-internet. The marketing companys wind up with a great amount influence over the client company strategy. I'm always skeptical about whether marketing companies add value anyway.

Perhaps Nelson can explain the whys and details.

[Nelson Grisales]

... in response to Re: Re: LAI changes terms of Business, posted by NW Jim on Nov 22, 2001

You really have to enjoy running an introduction service to be in this business; financially it is not the most rewarding business, by far... You can ask many of the agency owners that closed down this year.

Regarding the prices, we haven't really changed much... and what we offer is:

- monthly internet membership
- yearly internet membership
- *NEW* Tour membership which includes everyhting but airfare
- and the full blown membership.

We did previously offer free access to the Members Only Section while we got some exposure. We will have some promotional offers once in a while so you guys can log in and see what you are missing.  =)

LAI does need US and Europe marketing, but we have no ties with Latin-internet or any other agency. Latin-Internet does has ties with our direct competitor (who took away our domain name).

The only agencies we are involved with is Odee International in Bogota, with whom we are co-hosting our Group Tours and with Latin Best in Cali.

For our marketing efforts, we have regional distributorships. We currently have 3 regional distributors in Florida, Ohio and Texas.

Nelson Grisales
latin@cable.net.co