DEMartin
Indian head,#2General Comment
Sun, November 13, 2011
I think it's very unfortunate and sad that you would not send your child on a People to People trip as a student ambassador based on other peoples comments.
And those who thought the trip was free because their child was "chosen" are living in a fantasy world. Remember the saying, "If it's too good to be true, then it's not true?" NO, the trip is not free, no matter how gifted your child is.
It IS a lot of money for the everyday family BUT it IS well worth it. We sent our daughter this past summer to Europe and she came back a changed person with eyes wide opened about the world outside the USA. Yes I was very nervous initially about sending her half way around the world with strangers, but my fears were quckly relieved through the Organization's thoroughness and knowledge of the areas and their relationship with the State Dept.
I was thankful that everythng was included in the cost ecept for spending money. That way, I knew my child was well taken care of and was able to participate in all group activities. When my daugher said she stood at the top of the Swiss Alps and could onlly think about what was ahead of them on the trip, it really touched me. She felt the world was at her fingertips! She has made friends across the world and thanks to technology they talk all the time. The leaders who accompanied the group of 40 kids (ratio of 10 to 1) were teachers and were great! My child is a drama queen, high maintenance, and survived the trip with the TLC she received from all the leaders!! This is truly a trip of a lifetime!!
Cath
Santa Rosa,#3Consumer Comment
Tue, November 08, 2011
I had the same experience with my son here in Santa Rosa CA and found the hard-sell off-putting. If the trips are so wonderful-- why do they present the programs like some multi-level marketing pitch?
They send these official-looking letters, but upon research, they are a for-profit organization with no real ties to Eisenhower that I can find anywhere. My 16-year-old son was very excited, and I too, was shocked when they wanted $400.00 up front to process an application right there on the spot.
The trip this year is 6,400.00 -- a crazy amount of money that the presenter (salesman) said could be made by babysitting -- on what planet? At 26 weeks away, he'd have to make 231.00 a week -- well actually more since the trip would need to be paid for 3 months prior to leaving -- so make that 462.00 a week babysitting. REALLY? Come on!
At the meeting I grew tired of all the hard-selling multi-media films one after another and I began to wonder how much this company spends on marketing over the amount they spend on the kid's trips. For 6400.00 what I saw in the pictures seemed like not much for the amount of money --- so they get to repel down a mountain.
I also kept wondering why they just couldn't talk to us -- and talk in a real way -- not this phony scripted selling talk like they rehersed the presentation in front of a Washington lobbyist. And the salesman kept stressing over and over about safety to the point that it made me wonder if something had happened to kids on their trips.
I also wondered if all the "Ambassadors" and people involved with People 2 people got commissions for how many bookings they get for a trip -- it just felt that way and would explain how expensive it is -- which is something they should be required to disclose.
Finally, I found how the lawsuit was just settled for the boy who died on the People to People trip and after reading his story, seeing the mother's comments on another Ripoff Report on this site, and the awful responses to her and the woman complaining from the kids in the P2P Ambassador program who are supposed to have learned to be these great leaders, I DON'T WANT MY SON TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS ORGANIZATION.
I am still troubled as to how they REALLY got my son's name and how they got access to Piner High School to hold the meeting and no one from the school or the school district was there monitoring what was happening and what was being said.
I've been thinking of complaining to the superintendent. Thank you for raising the same issues I have.
C