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Title: Agencies Post by: TexasRob on November 14, 2001, 05:00:00 AM I have been considering doing the Cali trip for the past couple of years. Finally I decided to go. I read everything I could find on the web. I chose an agency they closed. I chose another agency and mailed my 200 dollar deposit and bought my airline tickets for December 1. This is a popular agency and I suppose the problem could be in part due to the language barrier, maybe I just totally misunderstood… but for whatever the reason the cost seems to have changed. My first impulse was to forget the entire thing, change my flight to Venezuela and go fishing for peacock bass.
It is not the money as much as feeling like a fool. I am a detail oriented person and I save all business related e-mail. I read and re-read all of them trying to figure out how I misunderstood this. I cooled off and I e-mailed Latin Love. I am going there for 10 days, December 1 – December 10. I have no idea what kind of agency it is, but I will say this, I have had every e-mail answered promptly. I fully understand what the cost is and I fully understand what services to expect. Adriana of Latin Love has been great to deal with. I will say more after I have been there. Title: Re: Agencies Post by: Pete E on November 14, 2001, 05:00:00 AM ... in response to Agencies, posted by TexasRob on Nov 14, 2001
If after a few days in Cali you have any more thoughts about Peacock Bass you need to get your hormones checked! Seriously you will love it.Go back and read the Cali reports for the last few months and don't be afraid to check out more than one agency.I met my wife at Latin Love 2 years ago and had a great time in the process.It is back to the original ownership but has moved to a different house.I went through the books last January just for fun and they had lots of girls. Pete Title: Re: Re: Agencies Post by: TexasRob on November 14, 2001, 05:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Agencies, posted by Pete E on Nov 14, 2001
Thanks Pete, I needed to hear that. I had read through all I could find in the archives. The agency I mentioned came highly recommended. It was very clear when I sent my deposit that a membership was not required if I paid 70 bucks a night and would book my stay for a minimum of 6 nights. Well I booked my stay for 9 nights. With time getting close I thought I should make sure I had not missed some hidden cost etc. I sent an e-mail asking for the total cost of my stay. The reply was that in addition to the room I could pay 399 bucks for an anual membership or pay by the contact. I do not have a bad temper but I was hot. At the moment fishing on the Amazon seemed like a perfect idea. :-) Yeah but you are right, I am sure the Cali trip will be good. Actually I was more upset with myself because I really thought I had done my homework and had asked all the right questions. I am going back with 4 friends in Feb or March. At least I should know the ropes by then. Title: Re: Re: Re: Agencies,which one Post by: Cali vet on November 14, 2001, 05:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Re: Agencies, posted by TexasRob on Nov 14, 2001
Hey TexasRob, Sounds like somebody must have mumbled the $399 part of the deal in fast Spanish. Not surprising but no way to do buisness either. Which agency was that anyway? It's maybe hard to do on your first trip to Cali but the best approach with the agencies is to negotiate price down there in person. Just go with a list of agencies in hand and if you run in to a stubborn one just move on. Title: Re: Re: Re: Re: Agencies,which one Post by: TexasRob on November 14, 2001, 05:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Re: Re: Agencies,which one, posted by Cali vet on Nov 14, 2001
I would rather not say just in case this was a misunderstanding on my part. In reading the e-mails I do not think that is the case, but in reading the posts on here that agency should not be one that would practice this sort of thing. My reason in posting this was to make new people such as myself to skip the hype and pretty faces on the website and ask pointed questions, and do not send any money in advance until you have the agreement in easy to understand language via email. He says that he will apply my 200 dollar deposit towards a membership if I want. I may stop by there while in Cali. I have not decided. Title: Re: Agencies,which one Post by: El Diablo on November 15, 2001, 05:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Agencies,which one, posted by TexasRob on Nov 14, 2001
After reading Cali Vets post above, I checked out Ricardo's agency (All Colombian Girls) with the URL he provided. You may be shy about mentioning the name but the pricing structure for this agency is very similar to what you described, $70 per nite, $395 yearly membership or pay by contact. If I'm wrong my apologies but it appears to me any way that we're taking about the same agency. If we are, in my opinion you have every right to be pissed!!! The agency offers a "Travellers Membership" when a person stays a minumum of 8 days at $70 per night and the price does not include an additional $395. This arrangement is clearly stated on the membership page. http://www.allcolombiangirls.com/membership.htm If this is in fact the agency you are referring to, then the owner may be playing games and taking advantage of a situation where you've already forwarded a deposit. I'm probably getting myself into trouble here but Colombian business practices are often times suspect at best. I have a lot of experience with being told one thing and then the reality being something entirely different. El Diablo Title: Re: Re: Agencies,which one, sounds more like Post by: Cali vet on November 15, 2001, 05:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Agencies,which one, posted by El Diablo on Nov 15, 2001
Actually those prices sound more like www.latin-internet.com to me though I couldn't swear to it. However I've used them a lot and they've always been completely frank, albeit strict about thier prices. Anyhow when Pack and I visited Ricardo some time back his cheapest price for his air-conditioned rooms with attached bathroom was $45 per night, no membership requiered. Now a few days ago he, Ricardo told me specificlly that his new rate is $50 per night, 5 night minimum and no membership requiered. Title: Re: Re: Re: Agencies,which one, sounds more like Post by: El Diablo on November 15, 2001, 05:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Re: Agencies,which one, sounds more ..., posted by Cali vet on Nov 15, 2001
Latin Internets membership is published at $375 and rooms are listed at $45 to $90. I don't believe there's mention on their web-page of pay be contact or a limited membership fee if you stay for a certain minimum. ACG on the other hand lists their room at $50 to $70 with a membership of $395. The $395 membership can skipped if you stay a minimum of 8 days at $70 per night. A pay by contact arrangement is mentioned as an alternative also. These are the published internet rates as of today. As you know if a person arrives in Cali (i.e. doesn't call and arrange things in the U.S. before arriving) they may very well be able to negotiate a better rate. Anyway, maybe TexasRob will reconsider and clear this little mystery up. I'm curious although I understand how he may not want to stir the pot anymore than he already has. El Diablo Title: Re: Re: Agencies,which one Post by: pack on November 15, 2001, 05:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Agencies,which one, posted by El Diablo on Nov 15, 2001
hmmmm..thats news to me...i paid $45. a night at All Colombian Girls , no membership fee , met a ton of pretty girls , and had a blast! maybe he has changed his program since i was there last? Title: Re: Re: Re: Demand vs Supply?? Post by: Tai on November 16, 2001, 05:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Re: Agencies,which one, posted by pack on Nov 15, 2001
It appears to me that Ricardo is nudging his prices upward little by little. There has been a lot of "buzz" about All Colombian Girls being the best new(er) agency, and I am sure this news has been relayed back to him some way. With a little more time and growth, he may become as inflexible on prices as Margareth of Latin Encounters. Human business nature is such that negotiating in person with CASH IN HAND always brings the best results...aside from that, G.I.I.W. -Get It In Writing. Title: Re: Re: Re: Re: Demand vs Supply?? Post by: pack on November 16, 2001, 05:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Re: Re: Demand vs Supply??, posted by Tai on Nov 16, 2001
he is as flexible as margereth if not more so plus his facility is far superior. Title: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Demand vs Supply?? Post by: Tai on November 17, 2001, 05:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Demand vs Supply??, posted by pack on Nov 16, 2001
Pack, I wasn't saying that Ricardo is inflexible now, but that as his agency grows and "prospers", his flexibility and willingness to "work with" guys may diminish. This often happens with many businesses. In the beginning as they are trying to get established, they bend over backwards. After they are established, there is less bending. As far as Margareth, if she is telling people that they have to buy a $400 membership(as has been reported) to use her agency, that doesn't sound like my idea of being flexible. just .02 Tai Title: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Demand vs Supply?? Post by: pack on November 17, 2001, 05:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Demand vs Supply??, posted by Tai on Nov 17, 2001
well you may have a point there, all im saying is the ricardo and margereth that i have known for years have always been flexible with memebership fees and lodging prices. if something has changed since my last trip then its news to me? Title: Re: Re: Re: Agencies,which one Post by: El Diablo on November 15, 2001, 05:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Re: Agencies,which one, posted by pack on Nov 15, 2001
In Colombia, everything is pretty much negotiable. I'm not surprised that different people pay different rates. This is to be expected and more or less business as usual. Only TexasRob knows for sure what agency is involved here, but if it is ACG, I think he has a legitimate beef as the Travellers Membership is clearly defined and does not include an additional $395. El Diablo Title: Re: Agencies Post by: JimSimon on November 14, 2001, 05:00:00 AM ... in response to Agencies, posted by TexasRob on Nov 14, 2001
TexasRob, There are lots more agencies than there are honest ones. Your second impulse, to call and get to know the people you'll be dealing with is the best way to have an even shot. Ask them what everything will cost, what you'll be getting for your money, why do some people succeed and some fail, anything you can think of. I went about a year ago and I used Latin Love. I'm not sure if this is the same one since this one changed ownership and then closed. It might have been sold and reopened. It was great a year ago but the people who run the agency make the difference and this isn't the same people. Best of luck. Jim Title: Re: Re: Agencies Post by: jim c on November 16, 2001, 05:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Agencies, posted by JimSimon on Nov 14, 2001
JIM S The original Latin Love " Mi media Naranja" was owned by Bud Hochberg and his wife Adriana. It was sold to a guy in Michigan who did not pay the rent and was taken back and closed by Adriana and her family. Needless to say the original draw was the palace. Presently the agency is re-opened at another location and being run by Adriana, her Brother and the family. JIM C |