OurPlanet, a new travel site that describes itself as “trip advisor, but so much better!!!”, is launching a promotional travel tour that promises a few lucky travelers the trip of a lifetime.
The site is looking for “30 lucky people that get to travel the world for one year” to rate products and services in the travel industry. Sounds great, right?
Maybe not. There’s no salary, and the site doesn’t pay for food, accommodations, or outside activities. OurPlanet says that most of these things should be covered by sponsors looking to get exposure on the site, “Because the Our Planet platform is so much better than anything that currently exists on the market.” Of course, the site won’t actually launch for 3-6 months, which makes such bold statements a little hard to judge.
OurPlanet will pay for all flights for their “Nomads”, so at least you won’t have to worry about airfare while you travel the globe. Just remember to bring some cash for those basic necessities like food and shelter. You know, in case this TripAdvisor-killer doesn’t quite pan out.
Global Nomads from ourplanet on Vimeo.
Wow, that sounds like a post straight out of Valleywag.
30 lucky people… more like 30 suckers
Nomads (definition)
A member of a group of people who have no fixed home and move according to the seasons from place to place in search of food, water, and grazing land.
That got that right!
she looks nice
If they are trying to get non-biased reviews, then paying their airfare is counter-productive. I can not see how they could use this information in a way that would be better than employees traveling and reviewing places. I do see how this would be far cheaper thought. Are they sending people to specific resorts or are they asked to visit certain locations? I do not understand how this could be productive and standardized. As for the participants… is their return trip guaranteed if this company goes into the Dead Pool before their trip is up??
4-6 months to launch and then another 12 months for these nomads to do their magic and fill up the review database, that’s an awful long time to wait before the product is useful. With all the competition in the space, who knows what the market would be like in 18 months. I hope they have something else up their sleeves besides slaving these nomads.
Personally, I can’t wait to see a travel review site that’s “so much better” than tripadvisor
I can’t imagine a group of intelligent professionals sitting in a room mulling over this PR idea and everyone saying, Brilliant, lets go with it!!!
The girls really cute and thats about it. I feel bad they ended up on TC
Hisssss…..Vapourware
trip advisor design is pretty ugly – but they have users and it’s fairly functional – but to think someone could be better than trip advisor is not that ‘out there’ of an idea. its only a matter of time. this site probably not but someone at some point. no local sites have got it down – not even close. yelp..great ideas and functionality. Citysearch..(just puked in my mouth)…google local (look out…) its a wide open field.
really? this is a story?
I’ve got this site called bigggupz. We’re launching in 3 to 18 months. You get to give people bigggupz there. It’s like Facebook and Digg but so much better. Will you write a story about my bigggupz site? You can link to my blog. http://bigggupz.com. It’s not there yet, but it will be soon. Probably 2 to 6 weeks. I promise I’ll put up a video with an attractive woman in it.
Thanks!
Basically it sounds like they want people to work for free.
To the 30 “lucky” winners. Don’t sign any liability waivers what so ever. <– STAT
Im in ur planet, advising ur tripz.
Really cheap idea of catching eyeballs.
You simply are not going to trust advices from those with free flight tickets.
What kind of contest is this? You get to win a year of slavery… rating product and making reviews is a nice idea but it takes away from the entire experience BIG TIME!
You get to pay all expenses while you built-up my database which I can sell at a later date! This is the “wikipedia” of contests… except this one isn’t non-profit (which makes it that much worse)!
Cover all expenses and at a minimum, offer minimum wage on a 24 hour basis (I can’t punch-out after 5pm after all) and I would surely give this a go… as long as I have internet to read-up on TC and CG
Jon
http://woodmarvels.com – Create Unique Memories
“Maybe not. There’s no salary, and the site doesn’t pay for food, accommodations, or outside activities.”
http://ourplane...om/sponsorship/
“all 35 Nomads clothing”
I guess they “pay” for clothing
They also require that the “nomads” write blogs
“all 35 Blogs by the 35Nomads”
and have facebook accounts
“all Our Planet Face book applications”
Look at the spelling errors:
“mpany mentioned to all media (Press etc)”
“nted on 3 large sails”
“rious Television exposure”
I would GUESS. That a craigslist ad was placed for a cute girl in LA, and that the vimeo video was made. The idea seems vague and rushed, possibly based off of reruns of Amazing Race finally making it to the UK
alpha.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race12/
Since the clothing is part of all 3 sponsorships, I think that they REALLY want the free clothes, like bad.
i guess the twitter/friendfeed killer didn’t work out for zobzee so they created this website to kill tripadvisor instead…
I read http://ourplane...om/sponsorship/
They sure have some great vision and numbers but as many start-ups can attest to, what you “expect” an what you “get” are two completely different things.
They should launch this “contest” once they are established… right now, it seems like a heck of a “job” at your own expense! Imagine, traveling over to Rome for a few days and spending all your time writing, looking for sponsors and having to sign-up local companies. You have to cover your hotel (ei: hostel), food, drink and most likely, touristy things… if you have this kind of time and money… build a site of this kind on your own… at least then you will benefit from the results and build a following!
I fail to see what is attractive about any of this… I really hope they post something on this board to explain the details as flights are the cheapest part of any traveling. What about car rentals? Boat? Bus? Tours? Admissions… they really need to think this through!
Jon
http://woodmarvels.com – Create Unique Memories
The logo for urplanet isn’t even a websafe color, when you scroll past it (at least on my laptop) it keeps turning from that puke green to diarrhea brown then back to puke green when I stop scrolling.
I’m not joking either, anybody notice this scrolling past their little earth logo?
This isn’t even a company with a product and zero outside accreditation. Yall are slippin.
Actually, none of the top bar loads in my firefox at all – I had assumed it was “designed” that way as you can hover over the reversed pyramid marks at the top to navigate (shouldn’t there be icons under them?) but now that you bring that up Vincent… I realize this may not be so.
These guys took-up very valuable TC space that would many other startups would have killed for! I really look forward to their reply to the concerns and comments on this posting!
Jon
http://woodmarvels.com – Create Unique Memories
Looking at the site.
How much would it cost to travel the world for a year? If I was a backpacker, it would cost maybe $2,200 or so with STA Travel, Accomodation maybe $20 per night = $5,000+ Activities = Maybe 10k. As they already have staff doing things, ‘Sailing’ Shark Diving, was also mentioned.
Slamming them is pretty un founded.
Ok, I could understand if they had not done anything and it was just a good theory, but it looks like they are making ground.
33+ people to Travel the World – Air tickets = Almost $100,000. It’s not like they are simply just senidng anyone out to Travel.
But hey, they might crash and burn, who knows.
@21,
Mike’s word press publishes your website link, DOH, cue homer simpson.
“Slamming them is pretty un founded.”
I love the 3rd person comment though. It was exotic and exciting.
Well there are a lot of negative people in the world, and no doubt all dirty about being stuck behind a desk or simply at a job they dislike…
However think of it this way…If you were someone that was wanting to travel or already planning a year travelling/ backpacking and the opportunity arose whererby your flights costs were taken care of simply by you having to ’share’ your experiences (for which most travellers already write journals) maybe just weekly, wouldn’t you give it a real thought??? Oh and what about the free gear/ products and deals on activities that all people doing these things get. (For which this profect, I understand, will be no different)
Also just a comment on business….they have to start somewhere and some of the worlds most successful companies started out with grand ego’s and plans…. Go for it I say, and good on them…..It’s about time for something new in this industry…
You only have to try to read their sponsorship page to know this wasnt worth covering on TechCrunch:
http://ourplane...om/sponsorship/
@Mike
I suspect the activities are going to be more involved than writing a weekly journal. These people may get free gear and products, but it isn’t guaranteed, especially since the company is so young. What happens if they show up and they need to pay their own way for a year (while making no salary)?
@25, check the IP,
Better yet, Mike Arrington, YOU check the IP. I guarantee that @23, “Mike” is really the Sam from @21 who mistakenly left his company URL in the comment and also referred to his company in the 3rd person.
Game, set, match, tournament.
Chris
You’re right, it’s the same IP. I can’t really blame him…
And I really do wish him and the site the best. I just think the Nomads should have some realistic expectations.
The only expectation potential nomads should have going in is that their audition videos are probably the marketing strategy for getting this site noticed.
Sadly I believe that there are not thousands of potential sponsors out there who feel their brand would be enhanced by liberal application of comma’s, or any of the other benefits of associating themselves with a company that cannot project even the most rudimentary image of competency in public. So the only way this company is going to generate wealth is if someone gets the rights to make a fly on the wall documentary about the people behind this amazing dream.
I especially love the way they use the old ‘our staff would love to take up the travelling opportunity themselves but they are just too busy’ schtick.
“And I really do wish him and the site the best. I just think the Nomads should have some realistic expectations.”
Oh, I do too. I wish him the best with this idea. I hope he succeeds. I just think it’s funny how people in the startup business are so pressured to look bigger than they are. Especially in Europe.
A lot of techies in LA tell me it’s no big deal to lie for a job, but I don’t.
You have a set of people that are determined to be sexy and look it, then you have another set that don’t give a crap. I think Blaine from Twitter, and of course
http://www.tech...oes-a-bong-hit/
Jacob Lodwick
And others. I think most of the people at Google are also in group B as well. I mean, it’s just interesting to see. Techcrunch is almost like a survey or a science experiment based on startups and the people who surround them.
Great blog!
I meant to say Blaine, Jacob, Larry Page, and others are in the group. They used to say in the pre-dotcom era that the worse you looked the smarter they would think you are. I was at a new tech company on Wilshire in LA run by a Wall street banker, and I think that applies still.
Just look at Carl Sagan, the man was a genius.
all else aside, please just tell me you’re kidding and that their main url isn’t really http://www.ourp...PHENonline.com?!?!? you just decided to post a forwarding address, right?
Oh dear oh dear…
http://opretrea...-a-shareholder/
It’s Sam again,
I would like to say I am not the guy running the company. My IP must be different, unless if I understand IP’s, you might be able to have the same IP for a specific area, which would mean they are near me, but unless they use my computer at my home, it can not be the same IP.
It’s sad when someone does not jump on the ‘kill,kill’ band wagon, people turn on them.
This time I put http://www.google.com so it must mean, that I work for Google.
@26…..Chris, how much did you have on the ‘guarantee that @23, “Mike” is really the Sam from @21……..’ Because I wrote the @23, and this and that is all my friend.
I may not be some IT Tech dude but know what I did and did not write.
Well Mike and Sam, you still have the same IP. I’ll leave you two to figure that one out.
Are you sure?
Today was the day I left TC for good. This was the worst thing I have ever seen on here. If I wanted to read this crap I would find some random blogspot blog…
It’s a subdomain on wordpress.com… I mean… seriously?
Hey TC… I think there are some good Geocities sites out there that you might want to feature in the future…
Good idea to leave this site I think…Who was the original knob that put this on here to start with….?
Sam, I don’t think anybody here WANTS you to fail but to be honest, your entire proposal simply doesn’t make much sense.
I have backpacked – 20$ a night is a dorm with 10 other “people” at a youth hostel… sure it’s fun for a few nights but this is scary if you have a camera, laptop and other electronic devices. You go take a shower and come back with all your gear missing… that sure sounds fun doesn’t it! And no, most hostels DO NOT have a storage locker (if they do, it’s a like a buck or two an hour).
That being said, I would love to take you on your offer… I can run my businesses from anywhere in the world a few hours a day, have plenty of travel/blogging experience and am willing to try anything thrice
That being said, you have to:
1) PAY somebody to work for you, let’s say 9$/h net (over a 24 hour period) which would make 216$ a day in “net income”, with this, the traveler could cover hostel, admissions, food etc.
2) number of blog postings/photographs would have to be determined, for example, must provide 1 blog posting a day of 500 words minimum and 5 photographs (you get the idea)
3) YOU will have to work a few months ahead of time to establish a travel plan with the person you “hire” to get all the documents (ei: visas, security clearances etc.)
4) cut down your “35″ to “5″ and let them travel as a group for a year… that woman in the video should be included
This way you are producing QUALITY instead of QUANTITY and still within your means to find quality people. Airfare would be paid by your company as well.
5) profit-sharing scheme during the one year traveling period, if this thing booms, the travelers should be compensated accordingly but this can be on a degrading scale, meaning after a year (and each subsequent to that) it drops by a %.
So, let’s recap your budget
78K / person x 5 = 400K (wages not including gov and other taxes)
15K / person x 5 = 75K (airfare)
Total: 500K and I would easily double that for “surprise” expenses which WILL arise traveling around the world.
The above is being extremely conservative but I would see it being do-able. Note that the “wages” are spent on hostel, transportation (non-flight), food, drink and admissions to things which mean this isn’t rich living by any standards but do-able.
So you see Sam, your 100K for 35 people just doesn’t hold water. There is a heck of a lot that I have left out but this should give you some ideas to proceed with.
Jon
http://woodmarvels.com – Create Unique Memories
@Jon – Wood Marvels…sounds like something that happens in your pants (well maybe not your pants).
@40
I never heard nor have I ever thought of the site or name in that way, visit the site and you will see how very wrong you are. We are geared towards easy to build and fun woodcraft plans originally for kids but slowly diversifying into other markets… thanks for the plug anyways
I do like this “travel for a year” stint but it needs to be properly funded and sorted-out, it would be a heck of an adventure! I am already doing this NOW but on my own dime so I would have -0- transition to deal with.
Sadly, right now, it looks like “Sam” and/or “Mike” have a split personality so it goes without saying that the wages would have to be put in escrow ahead of time (if they are the owner-s) and managed by an independent third party for the year as a 6th requirement.
I am still eagerly awaiting a reply on this board to all the concerns raised by the “official” owners of Ourplanet – I don’t know why they aren’t here defending themselves!
Jon
ps: Jason, does IP #40 match the two from #35?
@39, agreed. Less people and more payment would lead to better reviews and much happier “nomads.”
The site makes it sound like it will be a breeze getting any place to cover your acommodations in return for publicity. The nomads will have to try and smooth talk their way into different activities by selling a product that doesn’t exist yet, promising that someday it will be worth a lot. Unless all the nomads have spent the past 10 years selling life insurance, I can guarantee they won’t have an easy time.
However, it doesn’t make sense to pay them for all 24 hours each day… They’re not working very hard when they’re asleep or out getting smashed at a bar. They should get a reasonable stipend, say $10,000 a person, to help with expenses.
And yes, the girl in the video should be included.
Hi Mikhail, then they need to double the hourly wage and pay for 12 hours… regardless… if you are responsible for all expenses other then airfare, you need about 200$ net a day to be “alright” yet still have enough money to actually go on adventures beyond the local pub. The internet isn’t cheap nor necessarily easy to find everywhere in this world (I have experienced both) so a satellite phone with internet would be essential etc…. could you make-due with half that? Absolutely, especially in poorer areas of this world but having something worth WRITING about with awesome pictures of it does take some $$$.
Besides, once the adventure is over, you need a little savings in order to survive on for a few months till new opportunities open-up.
Food / day = 20$ (kitchens aren’t guaranteed)
Hostel = 20-40$ / day (you will need a private room)
Bus / Ferry / Taxi = 20-40$ a day
So as you see, that 200$ a day makes for meager living, I haven’t even mentioned equipment rental, admissions etc… traveling, even by backpack, isn’t as romantic and cheap as it use to be. There is a BIG difference between traveling on your own dime vs somebody else’s regarding responsibilities and other issues. This would also be a whirlwind adventure, you aren’t sitting watching TV for days on end… everyday you have to visit something new (or a few places), take pictures, video, blog etc… this would be the toughest non-job out there
Jon
http://woodmarvels.com – Create Unique Memories
You thought having your dotbomb company run out of money and laying you off was bad, try getting the axe in the middle of Tanzania.
Oh, and the Mike/Sam culminating in #38: EPIC LULZ
Trip Advisor supposedly has 15,000,000+ traveler reviews. Even if it’s just 1 million, it will take OurPlanet decades to catch up. If you have 30 people doing 5 reviews a day for a year, that’s 55K reviews after 1 year.
I’d much rather see the “Wisdom of Crowds” data from Trip Advisor which often has 50 – 100 reviews on a single property stretching over many years than 30 people as the only eyes and ears of the site. Trip Advisor’s scale wins over these guys, easy.
I’ve never read anything of higher quality on TC than the Mike/Sam conversation.
Just goes to show that trying to start a company can drive you mad, like multiple personality mad!
Oh, and what kind of URL is http://ourplane....wordpress.com? Can’t even put it on a decent subdomain?
I’m not going to be stuck in another hemisphere when this bubble bursts!
Hell Everyone,
First check my IP, as I have not posted on here before.
Thank you Techcrunch for the post.
I am sorry if anyone is doubtful or thinks that we will have only 55k reviews, or even that you feel one company who has 100 reviews, does anything but waste your time, by reading 100 reviews (who does that).
Our Planet is very different to this.
I am not Sam or Mike.
What you see now on http://www.ourp...anet-online.com is our Global Nomads marketing site, this will change to something much more interesting later in the year.
I appreciate everyones interest, good or bad and look forward to showing everyone, what we come out with in a few months time.
Thanks for your time and attention.
I will not post anything else on here, this is my first and last post.
Happy crunching
Defines a new definition of business plan.
To many grey areas, would have been better to launch with your mouths shut and see where it goes.
@ Jon, that’s a good point. I was thinking purely of living expenses, which are manageable fairly cheap. But you are right; internet has to also be provided as well as extra money for transportation and activities, and that won’t be cheap.
Either way, if this Sam Mike character is really responsible for running the site, none of this matters because it will end up bombing faster than another Rob Schneider movie. I’m hoping that these comments are really a hoax being submitted by someone from tripadvisor. There’s no way someone that writes like that could figure out how to make a website.