Do all travel agents include their friends/family in their customer database ?

My first instinctual answer … YES, of course !

Isn’t that how most of us begin our businesses anyway … Reaching out to family/friends ?

My take … Who wouldn’t I want to have “the best of the best” most, right ?  Family/friends !  I know when I first got in this business, I did it so "I" would know the in's and out's, but secondly, I did it for  … Family/friends !

Truly, not everyone in business feels this way !  Rather not have family/friends as customers.  Even among our Cruises Inc (CINC) agents !

For CINC agents who won’t book their family/friends … These folks have to … (1) Turn to the internet our Private Label Partners (Orbitz, Hotwire, Priceline, 98% of the airlines, our websites such as Cruises.com & others), to get our negotiated rates.

Yes, these internet outlets, will make available for these folks and many consumers, access to Cruises Inc’s “lowest negotiated rates” with the cruise lines, however, they receive NO CINC protection/backing, no CINC expertise, guidance, nor advice, NO access to CINC’s trip cancellation insurance for pre-existing medical, weather if you never get to go, nor bankruptcy of a carrier, & more. Or … (2) These folks can buy from the cruise line, receiving no industry protection, no lower negotiated rates, no additional insurance coverage, etc.

 

HOW WOULD THIS MAKE YOU FEEL … Knowing that you wouldn't be asked to book at the agency where a family member or friend worked at ?  Knowing you wouldn't be asked to book through directly through Cruises Inc versus the "net".

 

I’ve often asked why you’re anti-family/friends as customers ?  Few responses have been  … Family/friends  …

·         Usually more demanding

·         Think rules don’t apply to them

·         Can call you at home

·         Expect you to be on duty all hours

·         Will text or email you rather than call the work phone line

·         Expecting lower rates than your other customers

·         Have been known to think the favor that is being done, is them allowing you to serve them

·         May dangle in front of you, that they are thinking of doing business elsewhere, as if this is more hurt to you than them (Oh yes, there are folks who call themselves friends, who think there’s nothing wrong with such dangling of your feelings !)

 

My thought on this … Set boundaries !  I personally don’t do differently with family/friends, other than my mother !  Whatever rules are set in place with my company, with the cruise line, with the industry, or with other customers, are the same format for friends/family !  And if they can’t accept the boundaries, then “fire them” as your customer, as you would any person who asked you to "break a rule" for them !!

 

My take … It is a "gift" that Cruises Inc allows folks to book directly with them, and not forcing consumers to book only through their Private Label Partners ... "the net" !   I know I was excited 23 years ago when I discovered Cruises Inc !

So how would I personally feel if my family/friend, would not choose to make available to me, their expertise in this industry ?  Devastated that a stranger could have this opportunity, over me !

Personally, I want my family/friends to have the "best of the best", along with the backing of Cruises Inc ... It's the whole reason WHY I'm with Cruises Inc.