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I took a look the rejuvenation of the old Latinlove/ LE/ACG today. I had stayed there several times in 1999 as Bud and Adriana were my neighbors in Key West. I can see this guy Mike wants to go first class. What remains to be seen is how long can he spend money while waiting for the rich guys. It was my experience to watch Bud on the phone with timido's and whiners for fourteen hours a day. All of them were trying to beat the price down. In talking with him it was the main reason he sold the agency. The cheap gringoes.

This new fella advertises that he has the largest, longest running and most successful agency.I believe that LAI in Bogota or Latin Best in Cali have that time distinction. Luz Amparo was originally a partner with Ed Beckwith. He later tried the highend marketing stratagey with Aspiring Latin Models and went belly up almost immediately. I would be very interested in the basis of this claim.

For some of the guys who go to Colombia and use the services of an agency ,it seems like the agency business is a no brainer. Cheap rent, low salaries and all the girls you can poach. The guy that bought Latinlove paid $30,000.00 down and went belly up after trying to run it from the states by computor for four months. I was there when the owner came to collect the rent after waiting three months.

   Norman of Miss gringritoes had the cheapest rates available I think at one time it was $25.00 a night. He had trouble getting people as well and closed.  Ask Traveler or Pacino who owned the Villa, how easy it is to run a business with Colombian employees.I think the first rule of owning an agency is to remain on site and be a hands on manager. Having a stable full of Barbis is great for the ego until you see where your money went. I have the opportunity to open a business in Cartagena but have held back. I would have to see another option than a Internet site with false promises and guarantees. jimc

... in response to gee mom ,when I grow up, I want an agen..., posted by jim c on Aug 6, 2004

Jim,
I thought the $100 a night Bud initially charged,with no others fees was very fair.I think he pretty much put Ed Beckwith and Latin Connections out of business.Who wants to pay $1000 to walk through the door when you can njust pay for a room.I think Norm kind of undercut Bud,really dropping the price alot more although without anything like the house or the girls I don't think.
It looks like Mike is giving it a first class effort.
I think the way to deal with cheap guys is tell them,look,this is the price.You start negotiating it never ends.
I used to be in the car business.I beat everybody's prices in the San Francisco Bay area on european cars.What to I attract?The cheapest bunch of f--kers who want it for even less.I used to sell BMW's $3000 under wholesale book.They wanted it for less.Some ethnic types that think regardless of how good the price is with alot of whining they can get it cheaper.I have a list of the worst chislers,starting with east Indians.
I told my son who was my partner,we cost other dealers more money than we ever made by lowering the area market price.We advertised alot.If we were in Cali someone would have had us whacked.
So good luck Mike.I think you need to market to some relative virgins to this process.The veterans will probably not pay up.
I argee it needs to be very hands on.I think Ruby leaving was the begining of the end for Latin Love.There was really nobody there to run it and Bud or Adriana couldn't do that long distance.Also I think Bud should have taken the first robbery much more serious and really done something about security,even if only for show than just just try to say it was no big deal.Maybe that was the real begining of the end.John B used to stay there every month for about 10 days.He was at Diego's restaurant when the robbery happened.He never stayed there again.I missed the robbery by leaving 3 days before.Terrible PR on that one.
I think the one of the oldest agency thing Mike is reffering to Latin Encounters,which he has sort of a franchise relationship with.
I think Ed Beckwith was the only gringo who ever made any money on an agency in Cali.

Pete

... in response to Re:  gee mom ,when I grow up, I want an ..., posted by Pete E on Aug 6, 2004

Just my own opinion with a little experience mixed in.
It's just not going to work. I applaud the guy for going the full first class route, but economically speaking, it's just going to be a struggle month after month. I hope he's independently wealthy.
I can just imagine what the rent is on that place. I know what it was back in '99. (Course the peso was something like 1,890 pesos per dollar back then.) Second, this place is in a strata six neighborhood. High Utilities and phone (That place has lights all over the place). Pool matienance and landscaping. Internet service. You have to buy food for the customers. Then you have the staff.  
As Jim said, if he isn't there on a VERY frequent basis to manage things, he is going to get eaten up by little costs here and there. For example: Do you know if you have Telesat as your internet provider, you have to pay for every minute your phone is connected plus the monthly charge? Sure you might only be paying $15 a month base for Telesat, but after awhile, your wondering why your phone bill is $100. That's because your staff is using the internet. Not just that, they don't understand that it is much better to disconnect when your done. Therefore, you don't have a phone on 12 hours a day. Everyday. That did happen. Like I said experience.
As I said before, if he isn't there, how is the money being distributed for monthly expenses? The money that is sent alot of times does not end up going where it needs to go. For example: I sent money every month for the bills and payroll and whatever else was needed. When we finally packed it in, I found out that the utility bill was 3 months behind (and they were pretty high bills. People didn't understand about turning lights out and such). WTF! The "manager" was not paying the utility bill even though I was sending the money. Where'd the money go you might ask? To this day, I never got an explanation.
Another thing is if you as the owner are not there. Your "manager" may make side deals with walk in customers. As Pete said, if that's your price you have to stick with it. But, that kind of gets messed up when your manager is sitting there in the office and you are in California or even Florida. You don't know what is being done in your absence. Your manager or assistant manager might be sitting there and someone comes in and offers 100,000 pesos to meet one girl. Ok, the assistant manager pockets the 100,000 and the guy who walked in gets to meet the girl and everyone is happy. For the owner, ignorance is bliss. There are more than enough examples of this that it doesn't need to be expanded on.
You might say, well he probably has a manager he can trust. Ah, but didn't we all. Anyone who has tried this and tried to run the operation with a computer, phone and the occasional visit has all pretty much found out that if you leave a Colombian to their own devices, it generally doesn't work out. I am not being mean or anything, this comes from a ton of experience. For example: On a MUCH SMALLER scale. I told two people working for me NOT to use Muriatic Acid on the floor to clean it. Ususally you can use it for really stubborn stains when it comes to bars, but this floor is so old, I was afraid it might burn it up. I said it 10 times NOT to use the stuff. I left a note NOT to use it. I asked both guys if they understood. Both said yes. I gave them money to buy the cleaning supplies and told them NOT to buy Muriatic Acid. I left. I came back 5 hours later and the floor was fried. WTF! I said, "What did you do?!" Make a long story short, the cleaning lady came in and told them it would be easy to clean the floor with Muriantic acid and she told them to pick up a jug when they went to buy cleaning supplies. So, they did and they used it and basically ruined the floor. Both of them were gone after the end of the day and they didn't get paid. Even though they understood they screwed up, they didn't understand why they weren't getting paid. Even when I held up the note that explicitly NOT to buy Muriatic Acid, they still didn't understand.  Once again, I'm not trying to be insulting, but you run into this mentality a lot in Colombia.
Now as I read it, the pricing is somewhat confusing to me. "You pay a fee of $1000 USD for 5 to 7 six nights, where you get full access to all of the house's facilities, see all our catalogs and meet the girls. You will also have breakfast included for one person. Laundry and maid service included. Any additional charges will not be covered and will be paid at your expense."
Ok, is it $1000 for 5 nights or six nights or 7 nights? What if I only want to stay 4 nights? What is the nightly rate? Is it the same price for 5 nights as it is for 7 nights? What if I am only coming down for 5 niths and I agree to stay at your place for 5 niths, do I lose the other two nights? Am I S.O.L. or what?
The other option? "If you choose to stay at another facility:  You pay a fee of $700 USD for 5 to 7 days of introducctions. This means that you will be spending the night at a different facility. You get full access to all of the house's facilities, see all our catalogs and meet the girls. Breakfast, lunch and dinner not included." |
Bad choice here on their part. There is apparently not a daily rate. If I pay $700 for 5 to 7 days and I meet a girl the first day, what happens to that $700 I paid for 5 to 7 days? Do I get reimbursed? I mean that's $140 a day for 5 days and $100 a day for 7 days. That's a really high day rate in Cali, but hey it's his price, but you're telling me I have to pay $700 upfront to look through the catalogs and get a date. Think I'll run over to Latin Encounters or All Colombian Girls for a cheaper price and meet the same girls.
Back when Ruby was running the place there weren't all that many alternatives. Bud was getting pretty good business because he had the best place and the best prices. Now, the guy certainly has the best place, but not the best prices. Anyone who does a LITTLE homework can find a better deal. And, if they do do that homework they will run across Latin Encounters and All Colombian Girls and a potential customer will notice that Cali VIP has the same girls. Hmmmm.
I agree with Pete too that there aren't any real high rollers that go to Cali. When you go to South America you want to pay South American prices in pesos. I checked on a vacation package to Hawaii yesterday. Here is what I found:
The Sheraton Waikiki. 5 nights from $475 per person. Airfare: $569 from Fresno Air Terminal. Total:$1044.
If I go to Cali VIP: 5 nights $1000.
Airfare: $782 from Fresno Air Terminal. Total: $1782.
I mean, isn't some of the allure of South America is that it's cheaper to have goodtime there? You could probably do something like this: Go stay at the Versalles Plaza for about $52 a night. Then go to an agency and pay 100,000 pesos($40) and use their service for a day. For a grand total of $92. You meet a girl you realy like on your third day. Total: $276. Now you can spend the rest of your time spending whopping loads of cash on her and her family. LOL! If you go this route, you are way ahead of the game than if you stayed at Cali VIP.
True enough, Cali VIP is not geared toward a veteran Cali traveller. I agree that it is for the novice Cali Adventurer. In this case, I think Cali VIP is the best choice (though they do not have a reputation for service yet) for a newbie. High though it might be, it is great for the experience. (I stayed at the palace several times myself in the late '90's.) But, what happens when the novice now has some experience under his belt? He runs off to a cheaper but rather nice hotel. Like the Hotel Pension Stein(Self experience here). After I got to know the lay of the land a little better in Cali, I stayed at the Palace for a few days, got my hook ups, then went to the hotel. I got breakfast, a nice room with air conditioning, nice neighborhood and saved a bunch of money not having to take a taxi from the South all the way to North and back again. (Hotel Pension Stein is in the North West) You know what's funny? I never went out with an agency girl for more than one date. The two women I met that I really liked over the years have been introduced to me by friends. Anyway, when I started going out with Ana Lucia and we went back to my room at "The Stein" to watch TV or talk or whatever, there wasn't nervous staff hanging outside my room with nervous whiepers wondering why there was woman in my room. Everyone who stayed at the Palace back several years ago remember those signs on the doors and in the rooms stating that if you had a woman in your room you would be asked to leave. Not that I had a problem with that, it's just there was a point in my travels when I wanted some more private time (And that doesn't mean sex. Well, not totally) with the woman who had piqued my interest.
So, when the novices start figuring this out, they gradually start graviatating to a similar set up and leave the agency behind. Thereby, the agency loses a client to a hotel. My question is; Are there enough novices looking for a companion in Colombia to make the trip to Cali?  Then if the question is yes, what percentage will stay at your agency compared to your competitors?  How many will weigh the cost of the trip, the agency price, and then compare them with your competitors?
Don't get me wrong, I hope the guy makes it. I'm not putting him down. I'd love to see the guy make a dime. It was kind of my philosophy that in order to make a successful agecny, you need a hook and the Palace was a great hook. I personally think the prices are too high for it to be successful, but who am I really? (Hey, I'd stay there if the prices were a little cheaper and I have a nice apartment in Cali. LOL!) There are a lot of obstacles to get over, but I hope the guy can pull it out. Obviously, there will be growing pains as with any new business. I will watch with great interest and the guy has my well wishes.
Later Gators,
K

... in response to Re: Re:  gee mom ,when I grow up, I want..., posted by Traveller on Aug 6, 2004

Traveller

Interesting post.  I stayed at the Villa Princesa once and I overpaid (in my opinion).  I would've gone to ACG knowing what I know now.

However, I can't complain:

1 - The villa is a nice property and I enjoyed the experience.  I have fond memories.

2 - I met my wife there.  So in a way I didn't overpay.  She's worth much more than I paid.

Question:  Did you own an agency?  I don't know all of the history here, so I apologize for my ignorance.  I would like to know more about your agency experience, including where it was, what it was named, etc.

I do think an agency is a good starting point for someone who has never been to the country before.  I remember my first trip to Colombia.  I went to Bogota and stayed in an aprathotel type place.  The first night I was alone and felt very uncomfortable.  After 1 or 2 days I wanted to leave.  But then I met someone special and had a great vacation.

When I went to Cali 2 years ago, I stayed in the Villa Princesa my first night and felt much more comfortable.  After meeting someone, I think a gringo could be better off in a hotel.  But an agency is a great experience, especially if there are a few other gringos there.

Steve

... in response to My "mom" won't let me have an ..., posted by DallasSteve2 on Aug 6, 2004

My friend and I, who I met at the Palace, opened a place called The Villa in Cali. It was in Arboleda in the West of Cali. Nice place. It used to be the French Ambassador's residence.
One of the downfalls was that there wasn't one us American types there runing the place on a regular basis. We kind of got taken for a ride by the employees.
Secondly, the customers were kind of cheapskates. We charged less than some of the other places and they thought it was still too high. Or, we had a guy reserve a room for 10 days and he never showed up. Well, he did, but he was staying at the Inter.
When it was all said and done, we could have easily kept the place going because we both had very good paying jobs, but our next door neighbor was the guy in charge of signing land usage permits. He wouldn't renew ours because his wife didn't like having this agency next door to his place. They even called the cops on us and told them we were running a brothel. Well, they came and checked out all our paperwork and myself and the Sergeant talked shop and all the guys had something to drink and everything was cool. But, when our renewal came around the neighbor wouldn't sign it. No big deal to us. But, I do MISS that house.
Yeah, an agency is the way to go if it's your first trip down there. The guys I met were what made it fun. On my first trip, I met Hoda, Pacino, and few of the other frequent adventurers. I met John B. and went to his wedding (Giant Fruit Bat circling them and everything). I went to Joe. G's bachelor party. Went to H2O's house to return his car (What a long trip). Went to Hoda's wedding on the rooftops. And me a Pacino have a ton of experiences together. We stayed at CaliJames' apartment.
Yeah, the women are a huge part of why you go to Cali, but I had fun with the guys I met. Those guys helped the newbie, myself, and showed me the ropes. The entire package was complete. The Palace, the women, the parties, and the guys. If I didn't have fun that first time, I wouldn't probably go back. But, I did and 3 years later I moved there. I'm on hiatus for the moment, but I am going back this year to spend another few years. All because of an agency.

... in response to Re: My "mom" won't let me have..., posted by Traveller on Aug 6, 2004

Why would the French ambassador have a residence in Cali?

... in response to Now This Just Don't Add Up, posted by burbuja2 on Aug 6, 2004

Do you read? It used to be. There used to be a French consulate on 6th Av between 23rd and 22nd. I think it's a school of some sort now.
And if it wasn't, then I can tell you the real estate guy that told me it was.

... in response to Re: Now This Just Don't Add Up, posted by Traveller on Aug 6, 2004

Do you think there is a difference between an embassy and a consulate?

... in response to I Read Quite Well, posted by burbuja2 on Aug 6, 2004

Oh, So, I mis-spoke. Big deal. Consulate then. Happy. Geez! What's your point. I made it up? For what purpose? That's ok. You're right. I lied it wasn't the French Amabassdor's residence. Happy now that you got your way?

... in response to Now This Just Don't Add Up, posted by burbuja2 on Aug 6, 2004

Caleñas.

... in response to Re: My "mom" won't let me have..., posted by Traveller on Aug 6, 2004

You're right Traveller, the gals were why we went but half the fun was hanging out with the other newbies.  I remember my first trip, October 1999, I stayed at the Palace.  I was half scared to death as I got off the plane but there was Ruby and a beautiful 17 year old Calena and soon my fears were gone. That first trip was one hell of a rollercoaster ride, lots of citas, lots to think about.  I hooked up with my first Calena novia that trip, Jacqueline, you probably remember her.  About a year after we broke up she married a nice guy from the South.  I hope things worked out for her.

There were a lot of guys coming through the Palace in those days, 1999 and 2000.  I met at least a hundred of them I bet, guys like H2-OH, JimL, Throw, Calivet. I can't remember how I met Pacino, probably through Gabe, rest his soul.  What I always remember about you Traveller is that there was a ninety percent chance that if I went to Blues Brothers,  you'd be there too. lol

Well now that I'm married, I'm finding a lot harder to stay in contact with the old friends I made let alone make it back to Cali.  Those days were a lot of fun.