Why don’t you summit your email address to find out the answers to your question to be better informed? Send your questions to me at belenmrls@yahoo.com and I’ll see what I can do to answer them.
Belen
Traveling Vineyard Expert Review by Brian Garvin and Jeff West
The Traveling Vineyard is the offspring of Geerlings and Wade, a company that has been in business since the mid-1980s. The Traveling Vineyard’s mission includes the sharing of enthusiasm for fine wine as well as the demystifying of the wine selection and tasting process.
The Traveling Vineyard’s Income Opportunity consists of becoming an independent Wine Consultant. The Wine Consultant technically owns his or her own business and can sell the Traveling Vineyard’s products through home tasting event. According to the Traveling Vineyard’s website, the Wine Consultants typically earn about one hundred dollars at a home tasting event. There are also opportunities to earn residual income through simple direct sales to repeat customers. This is one of the many “earn as much or as little money as you want” income opportunities.
Unfortunately, that is where the Traveling Vineyard Income Opportunity information ends. To learn any further information about the income opportunity you are required to enter in your personal information. The information they require you to enter consists of contact information which includes your name, address, and email address. A phone number is optional. The Traveling Vineyard also sometimes requires financial information that will most likely include credit card numbers (assuming you order business related materials).
The Traveling Vineyard‘s privacy policy states, in plain language, that sometimes they share “transactional” information with “carefully screened business partners.” They do not bother to define “transactional” or list their “carefully screened business partners.” Later in the privacy policy it states contact and order information is given out but that financial information is not.
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Never. Ever. Give out your contact information when you are not sure what you will get in return. The Traveling Vineyard does not give any information on what products you will be required to buy to start your wine tasting and selling business. They do not tell you how or how often commission is paid out to the Wine Consultants. They do not tell you if you are required to set up a down line or if that down line is a straight commission or a binary structure (which averages all commissions earned in the down line and then decides how much you get paid).
Another reason not to give The Traveling Vineyard any information is that it readily admits that it will give out your information. They say that the information is aggregated, but the problem with that is that your driver’s license is used as your account number. It all seems a little shady.
Never join a company that won’t tell you how it works up front. Joining a company that requires up front money is always a little risky, but a company that wants very personal information (that it admits to sharing) before disclosing its own information is never a good idea.
Bypass The Traveling Vineyard UNLESS you can find a good rep you can trust to fill you in on all the details. I still think this is a good company, but I’d approach it through the back door and partner with an active rep.
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17 comments - add yours
Belen
April 24, 2009
Marie
May 23, 2009
I inquired about becoming a Traveling Vineyard Ind. Consultant. I gave my email address and phone number. Someone returned my call and answered every single one of my questions, including cost, time involved, training, commission payouts, tax deduction info, monthy costs for websites, selling requirements, etc. They also emailed me a copy of the contract for review WITHOUT having to give them any info other than my phone number and email. I think you are completely reviewing this information just from their website.
Dawn
July 31, 2009
I CHOSE to join the Traveling Vineyard, I researched it, and then signed up.
I have never seen a more reputable company. They are always there for every question and make it easy to bring in extra income. I truly believe you have not fully investigate the company. It is what the consultant wants it to be, and that is what is important. I believe they even go above and beyond to make sure of security. The MLM structure is not a structure that is pushed onto anyone.
I love what I do, and the people I do Tastings for love it too.
Dana
August 5, 2009
I’m surious as to where your information came from? I joined The Traveling Vineyard in Feb. I sent my email address and was quickly contacted by my now director. They haven’t shared my information with anyone else. But if I didn’t reach out to get more information how was I going to learn about this company? Most of the information is clearly spelled out on their website. http://www.vineyardwine.net Cost commission everything.
Ellen
August 7, 2009
Obviously, everyone commenting below Brian and Jeff’s original article either works for the TTV pyramid scam OR have been drinking too much of the TTV bad wine, which, by the way they can’t even get into wine stores, reputable or otherwise. The wine is awful, you can learn more about wine by using Google than from any of their “trained and educated” hosts. The day of the pressure sale neighborhood, just stop by you don’t have to buy anything “in home” party is so yesterday. To anyone reading this, save the time and the money, I have been to these parties and had this wine, they only thing they forget to tell you is that you will need asprin the next day.
Ellen
ell6751@yahoo.com
Joan
September 24, 2009
Ellen is either a sommelier or works for PartyLite or Lia Sophia.
For one thing, a pyramid scheme would require you to have people work under you for you to make money. With TTV, you don’t HAVE to have people under you make money-you can just be in business for yourself. If you want a pyramid scheme, how about Ambit Energy?
Second, the thing that makes TTV unique is that their wines they market are not available in the general market-they are exclusive to TTV. If you think they suck, that’s fine. Have you had all 70+ they carry?
Third, you may think ‘in home’ parties are “so yesterday”, but people still go to them and they make people money somehow, so good for them.
Kiersten Ray-Kuhn
November 4, 2009
I have been with The Traveling Vineyard for 5 years and have seen this company grow and change consultant’s lives. We are a DSA company and there is no ‘scheme’. Our products are 100% guaranteed and the wines come from reputable wineries from around the world and win countless wine competitions. Make sure and talk to a consultant or the corporate office before you make any assumptions. Cheers!
Joanonymous
March 22, 2010
Well, if the company is not a scam, it’s not much longer for this world…the company is about to go belly-up, so this argument/thread is about to me moot. Let the lawsuits begin!
Bee from American Wineries
March 26, 2010
I have met a few people who have been involved in the Traveling Vineyard. I didn’t realize it was an MLM at the time. I think the concept is kind of interesting and a way to get the public more exposed to wines. I do wonder what the education process is like in terms of learning about wines and if you get enough education to become a somolier.
Mary
April 1, 2010
There is no education. You can never have one drop of wine, go to one of their partys and sign up … and be having parites within a week. That is the gotcha … they want you to think you will learn about wines and wine / food combination, but you don’t. The education part is up to you. They are just pushing their cheap and bad wines. I asked at a TTV party I attended in January, and there is not ONE somolier in the whole company (including the owner, marketing people etc.) … I agree with Joanonymous, they are headed for belly up. Everyone on this thread who says otherwise works for them.
Steve
April 6, 2010
Seriously, what happened to the Traveling Vineyard? Their web site has been down for days.
Billie
April 21, 2010
The company went bankrupt. I signed up and spent a lot of money and time on this and 3 weeks later I get an e-mail saying they are regretting to inform that they are closing. I was unable to contact anyone at the corporate office. It is just a recording saying they closed. I am sure they saw this coming for awhile and the fact that they continued to take new recruits and there money is rediculouse. They went out with a lot of angry people!!!
retta from cabernetvineyards
May 19, 2010
Glad I never signed up with this company! I love wine and want to continue learning, but not with these guys.
retta@cabernetvineyards´s last blog ..Hello world! 
care
August 12, 2010
WineShop At Home is a Napa Valley winery and a member of the Direct Sales Association. We produce our own wines and make them available through independent wine consultants exclusively. We are actively seeking consultants throughout the country.
Julie B.
August 12, 2010
Don’t want to be the bearer of bad news but look again … this company is giving it another go … re-opening for business in the fall of 2010 after the business failed miserably and they lost millions followed by filing Chapter 7. Come on! Hopefully the consultants and ignorant wine drinkers (the wine is awful!) won’t be fooled by this attempt at re-invention. Same people, same shady company, same bad wine.
KS
August 22, 2010
Julie B-
Funny thing you are the one who seems to be ignorant. Perhaps you should do some homework and find out what Chapter 7 is? The business did not fail and it did not lose millions. Victim of circumstance like many businesses in this economy. As far as bad wine? Who made you the wine expert. They have some very good wines for a great value.
Julie B.
September 2, 2010
Hey KS! Have another glass of wine and tell yourself that is the case …
Best of luck to you!!
