that's quite the blanket condemnation.Quote:
Originally Posted by bklyn
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that's quite the blanket condemnation.Quote:
Originally Posted by bklyn
She was talking about adults skiing resorts, not taking someone up the Ferrari Rte. If you wouldn't pay someone $4k to show you around Vail or Whistler on a 5:1 ratio, why would you pay that for Cerro Catedral?Quote:
Originally Posted by covert
I don't know shit about SASS but just cruising through their site, they are selling bennies like experiencing different cultures and speaking a different language and eating incredible meals. And skiing mindblowing terrain. Why should anyone pay some third party for that? You don't need to be Eric Shipton, it's shit anyone with a passport and an ethernet connection can execute.
damnit man, she's been to the darkest corners of S. America without a guide! :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by covert
SASS's offerings = steaming pile of shit
other people out there are offering something for some people
Looks like fun to me even though it is guided...Quote:
Originally Posted by covert
[ame="http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58798"]Party like it's post 1999 - Teton Gravity Research Forums[/ame]
Covert, sensing a job opening, sucks a mean dick.:fm:Quote:
Originally Posted by covert
why not just post up your resume?:rolleyes2
hey travis, or whomever:
we'll be seeing you...here, there, everywhere..I personally can't wait to ask you these questions in the surf lineup at rye.:the_finge
i don't do much of that anymore. the pool of clients that can do what i like and pay what i want is too small. ignore obvious porn reference.Quote:
Originally Posted by My Pet Powder Goat
maybe i should have spent the summer pimping my shit here and the fall shit-talking about anyone who covered my room and board for the season.
lots of people don't need a guide. lots of people want a guide. lots of people don't want a guide but some guidance would undoubtedly curb their retarded behavior. trashing SASS is one thing. trashing guided skiing in south america is just ignorant.
I agree, Guides can be incredibly important, however I believe Bklyn and others were referring only to the experience these SASS type of companies supply.Quote:
Originally Posted by covert
Wasn't the guide in the avie associated with Silverton? I don't thnk SASS is really guiding maybe more like babysitting. Watching the video brings up something that bothers me. People who are guides in name only.
I'm sure you missed what I meant. You don't need a company to book accommodations and lifts for the popular destinations that I have been to. (Valle Nevado, Portillo, Lenas, Bariloche). You don't need a self proclaimed "insider" to find a good meal in these areas where good meals are plentiful. None of the companies I have looked into offer a significant savings to the traveler.Quote:
Originally Posted by covert
If one does research, they can find qualified guides without the bloat attached to booking your lodging and ferrying you to and from airports.
No, I've been to the popular areas and that's where SASS is taking their clients.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hugh Conway
It was fun, but please be aware that I joined two friends on a ski camp for a 40th birthday celebration the first week in Valle Nevado and then went to Buenos Aires, Portillo, and Lenas on my own for the next 2 1/2 weeks. No, I didn't need a tour company to do that.Quote:
Originally Posted by eug
The ski camp was fun, but they also seem to be out of business last summer. The rumor mill is ripe with reasons why, but since I have no firsthand facts I'll leave that out.
Hopefully you understand my distinctions here. Remember when I tried to book you for a week of guiding at Lenas? You were already booked, but it was nice to meet you, and I am confident we would have had a great time skiing with you.Quote:
Originally Posted by covert
I don't believe this is accurate - if I remember correctly from other threads. I think SASS went out an hired him and others after that episode. SASS had a chance to turn it around and it's obvious from this whole thread that they blew it. Too bad for all involved.Quote:
Originally Posted by BFD
Hey Guys,
Going to update this thread. There had bee some interesting developments in this since I last commented. I have been in contact with John Sang Wilbur about the situation and he has been cooperative in helping to come up with a solution. He had been hampered by the fact that the new SASS Global Travel had gotten ahold of and has been using all of the SASS assets. I called out Travis publicly in a post on Facebook in hopes that he would respond in the appropriate manner. As guessed, people on both sides spoke out, and Travis and John ended up commenting.
Travis's Public Response (Also copy and pasted into an email as a response to a prior email I sent him):
John, seeing what Travis had posted, also felt inclined to chime in:Quote:
What an awful situation we find ourselves in. First, let’s all agree that Facebook isn’t a productive or professional way to handle this situation. It inflames emotions and tensions, and doesn’t create any easier (or quicker) way to resolve a problem. After watching your thread spin out of control, I tried to call you, then wrote down a few points that might help us (and the greater Facebook world that’s now involved) see eye-to-eye. The successful resolution of many SASS employee issues (including yours) is my goal – and it should be yours too.
South America Snow Sessions was an amazing company that brought you to Argentina with a vision. But a combination of 40% inflation and other problems made it a financial failure in 2010. The notion that SASS or SGT (a separate company in every legal and operational way) “has money” at this point is totally false. We risk losing our home and office every month. So, with SASS financially insolvent, and SGT without operating money, where do we find ourselves? Who is most righteously owed non-existent money from an insolvent company?
*Is it the guides who were with SASS for 6+ years?
*Is it the coaches? All of whom deserve the money that they were promised?
*Is it Argentine contractors? What about the other sales people like Ryan?
*Is it my family – and my baby on the way?
If you can answer this question better than I can, let me know. Everyone has a right to a fair wage, but when a company goes bankrupt, this is what happens. I found out that I wasn’t ever an owner of SASS as I was promised – and I got screwed too. That’s the honest truth. There were two directions that I could go. One was to give up and take the easy way out, where nobody gets paid and we all just move on to other things. I was inclined to choose this option until I received an outpouring of support from employees and clients that loved the SASS program, some of whom posted on your thread. I put my heart and soul into this program and didn't forsee this happening.
This led to our chosen course of action: trying to run SGT (with myself, Ryan, David and Lucas) as a new start-up company with no financing, and examining ways to help SASS employees wherever possible. This is what I tried to imply by stating that we could work something out over time. Most former SASS employees understood that this will be a process, and won't be easy for any of us.
So, there are two courses of action. You can work with me, proactively, to be part of a group solution that takes everybody’s needs into account. I always answer phone calls and emails quickly during the day (not at 11PM), and I don’t shy away from conflict. Or you can continue to go online and defame a new, independent company that’s trying to resurrect a broken program to try and help everyone involved. But every time you post this stuff to the world, it eliminates a potential client, and anybody’s (John or myself) ability to pay you.
I hate knowing that you’re broke, but I’m truly sorry to say that I can’t consider your financial needs paramount over the many deserving people also owed money by SASS. I’m your friend and will remain so, regardless of how this goes. I hope we can see eye-to-eye and find a solution together. See you tonight!!
So thats where we are all at. John and I are talking about ways to make this work for all the people who are owed money, even if they aren't speaking up for themselves.Quote:
There are numerous errors in the information being posted here so allow me to retort...
During the span of 6 years South America Snow Sessions provided thousands of magnificent experiences for people looking to ski and snowboard in Argentina during the North American summer. Levels of development realized by clients include personal, athletic, educational and even spiritual. Any claims that SASS was a scam or dishonest are completely false. SASS had the best staff in the world and the company has always paid its debts. Although not 100% of clients had the best experience of their life - the vast majority experienced something special while at SASS.
2010 was a tough year for SASS. Economic conditions in the USA (shrunken GDP causing less spending on tourism) coupled by 25%-30% inflation in Argentina (NOT 40%) made it tremendously difficult to operate SASS. Additionally, SASS did not meet it's sales goals because the minimum number of sales needed was not reached and because close to $100,000 dollars in discounts were given. Adding to SASS' complications was a risk taken by the company to form a new branch called SASS Global Travel. This risk was taken to make the business less affected by seasonalities and to increase the viability of SASS as an entity. It seemed like our best strategy for survival, however operating capitol used to germinate the new brand (SGT) was drawn from SASS' revenue adding further strain to the company. Ultimately, SASS' expenses were far greater than its revenue and the company had negative income. The effect of this situation was widespread frustration and suffering to anybody financially dependent upon SASS - myself included.
That I "screwed" Travis Moore is an egregious claim. The truth is that Travis was offered to be partner numerous times and he either did not have the cash to buy his part of the company or he did not commit to accepting the terms offered to him. That said, the mistake was made of granting him the authority to act as an owner - which he did with irresponsibility by over promising and under-delivering. He was the Director of Sales at SASS who was not able to meet his sales goals and who gave away the discounts.
The claim that SGT is a different company from SASS seems strange when it is true that the "new SGT" is using SASS office supplies, SASS clients, SASS developed website, SASS developed trade name and logo, SASS developed business idea, SASS trade secrets and SASS business contacts. Let it be known that SASS has not received compensation for and has not authorized, sold or licensed the use of these assets to the "new SGT" or Travis Moore.
I love SASS. But, at the moment SASS is for sale so that financial obligations can be met. It is easily possible for another company to absorb SASS' assets and use them with great success. The fact is that Travis Moore, with his "new SGT" has appropriated SASS' assets, complicating my mission to sell the company.
I accept the fate of SASS and my responsibility in its downfall for I have made many errors. SASS and SGT are both quality brands that have good track records and a fair portion of market share. 2010 was a terrible year; nonetheless, the spirit and the brands live on. Anyone who has claims against the company, questions, comments or if you are interested in the brand you can email me directly at JOHN@SASNOW.COM
THANKS
Thanks for the support from those who have reached out. Hopefully, this will all work out.
Those guys are SO full of crap. Instead of typing out those long ass stories about why they're so bad off, why not just cut to the chase?
"sucks to be you."
Because that's what they're telling you. No respectable businessperson runs their business bankrupt, blows off the folks they owe money to, and then spits in their faces by creating a "new startup from nothing" utilizing basically the same client base and resources and operating in the exact same market sector as the last (failed) pursuit. That's weak sauce, and I feel for you, but I honestly don't think anybody has any intent on paying you much of anything. What a load.
i was searching to see if the South America 2011 thread had been started and saw this. can't say i always thought that SASS was sketchy but there were times...at the very least it seemed like quite a bit of money for what you got...people posting here are correct, you really don't need a guide for these types of areas in SA, i was in Bari for a month last year on my own and skied the same shit as the SASS guys.
curious to see if there has been any resolution to this, or what the status is
Oh hey there. Hadn't been on in a while.
I took down the blog 4 months ago before interviewing for a new job. Figured it was best practice and really was beyond it at that point. Travis had called and asked me to take it down, said they were trying to sell trips and get me some cash, but the negative stuff wasn't going to help that. I had already removed it, and told him I was done caring.
I have a new job as the Northeast Tech Rep for North Face. Travis has a new baby, and is still living in a 5500 sq foot house on Rye Beach. And I haven't seen a penny.
Like I mentioned, I have moved on. If Travis, Lucas, Ryan, and Dave (new owners of SGT) feel the desire to compensate me for what they know I am owed, then so be it. Until then, they are showing their true colors.
Clearly............Quote:
Originally Posted by japollner
The maggots have failed to get this man paid..... so far.
Plenty of broke-ass motherfuckers living in mansions on the beach. I really only see one solution, if you think he is sitting on a secret treasure he can use for your recompense. . .Quote:
Originally Posted by japollner
1. Kidnap
2. Ransom
3. ?????
4. Profit