A message to agents and colleagues in the traveller rip-off industry

I appreciate your desire to do business with me by recommending my services to your clients.

Based on my past experience, however, I insist people contact me direct, without go-betweens. I don't want to deal with out-of-the-black box people sent by agents. You CAN sent me your clients. You CANNOT conduct with me negotiations on behalf of you mysterious clients.

Second, don't you dare talking of commissions unless you've demonstrated your your ability to send quality clients. I will not engage into negotiation about sharing profits from hypothetical clients or other business ventures.  I've allowed myself to be dragged into negotiations with at least a dozen people in the past. The result was below zero.  

Same the other way. When I send you a client, making the crummy $10 off someone is a very minor constituent in my motivation mix. Kickback may be expected only if I regularly send you clients, and if everybody involved is happy. Please don't call me after every client suggesting that I collect $20 for my troubles. I care about regular cooperation. If I can help both the traveller and you by introducing the two parties, I am glad and I want nothing further. If that happens regularly, you may want and are welcomed to share with me the value created with my particupation.

Now let me reinforce my position with a bit of moralizing in response to some recent nonsense offers I've received and even verbal (so far) attacks.

First, money is a tool and a consequence, not an objective. Thus, anyone who approaches me with money issues before setting up and testing a business process risks being eaten. Alive. With hot and bitter Russian-style mustard. My normally vegetarian habits will not save you.

Second, competition does not apply to proper business. Business is about creating value, not biting a bigger and better piece of a fixed pie.

I certainly hope that those who prompted this diatribe recognize themselves and go far away.

pv