International Treks and Courses With OM

I was amazed when I came across the above mentioned page on this site:
http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/news/article/mps/UAN/3732/v/4/sp/

You would think that maybe, from the first paragraph these were trips being set up by OM for its members at great prices. Hence - ok a little rough at the edges - but nevertheless choice programmes at great prices. But then I see Morocco's Jebel Toubkal at £750??? What!!? I charge less than this (by about £300) and the price includes a western mountain leader and technical kit you can trust. Other questionable prices include the Everest Base Camp Trek - I do a comparable trek around the Annapurna Circuit for £950 - considerably cheaper than the OM offering.

So exactly what is being offered here? What is the motive? Is this altruistic or commercially driven? I ask myself - is this yet another prime example of the big players charging any price they like? Consumers beware - check out the smaller companies and ask them what they offer and for how much? You may just be pleasantly surprised what great offerings exist in terms of itinarary, service and price!

Will Legon
will4adventure.com

Will

You should have approached Dave/Jon directly (and discretely!) and offered your services.

Then you may have been able to help bring the cost down, now I fear you may have blown it.

Yes maybe - but then that said they do have a website full of providers such as (and including) myself ... all one click away. I won't lose too much sleep over this if it makes people think a bit more about their purchasing decisions.

Hi Will, as we're not going ahead with the treks programme anyway, it's something of a moot point.

But for info, the thinking behind the proposed programme was to both provide good value using ecologically sound ground operators and, in some cases, to produce something a bit different and at a better price than major operators.

In the end we've taken the decision not to go ahead with the programme primarily because what we're good at is producing community web sites, not running treks in the same way presumably that you're good at running treks rather than community web sites.

I'm not quite sure why you seem so eager to have a pop at us, we're not exactly a big operator, or indeed an operator at all, it was an idea with good intentions that we chose not to pursue.

Hope that makes sense

Jon - site editor and not a trek leader :-)

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OutdoorsMagic Editor | jon@outdoorsmagic.com 

Hi Jon,

Fair one - and didn't want it to sound as if I was having a pop at you - and clearly the perception that you are a big player is a sign of your success.

I guess what I was doing however was raising the issue of the extortionate prices some operators charge and I'm afraid that when I saw your page I decided it was time to let off steam on what is afterall a soap box.

No offence meant - though I stick to the core issue of my argument.

Will

No offence taken Will, I do agree that there's a big variation in prices between different operators with the larger companies often being at the top of the tree and it's often hard to see what, if anything, you get for you money.

In some ways I'm in a poor position to comment as I've always trekked independently, which is a lot cheaper than using any operator.

What I am aware of is that there are often big mark-ups between what the local ground operator charges to the trekking company and what the customer ends up paying. Some of that is down to reasonably profit and overheads like marketing, paying staff and so on, but sometimes it seems like a very big cut.

Ultimately trekking operators are in business and I guess if the market will stand it then they will charge a rate which generates maximum profit for them. I'd always urge people to shop around and look at smaller companies if they do want an organised trek.

Do smaller operators have lower overheads and margins, or are they just less greedy?

What do you make of the charity trekking business from the point of view of a small company?

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OutdoorsMagic Editor | jon@outdoorsmagic.com 

Hi Will,

Obviously Jon got here first lol.

When the original plans were made the prices were researched through over a dozen providers. Price can depend on many factors and it's not always easy to compare. For example some prices include flights, some don't. We also wanted a number of specific features including additional days beyond the normal trek length, slightly different routes/options, exclusivity to OM members. They were, therefore, custom treks as opposed to the standard "off the shelf" treks.




It's certainly wasn't a case of " the big players charging any price they like". The choices last time were almost exclusively small companies rather than the big well know ones. The prices OM got from them at the time were very competitive and below their normal rates. Yes a percentage was added on to cover advertising the treks on here, setting up online booking and payment, admin etc - but that still kept the price below the market price for the specific treks and itineraries we wanted.

I hope this clears it up but I totally agree "check out the smaller companies and ask them what they offer and for how much? You may just be pleasantly surprised what great offerings exist in terms of itinarary, service and price!" and remember that a trek is a once in a lifetime opportunity so get it exactly how you want it.

To answer your questions Jon:

Do smaller operators have lower overheads and margins, or are they just less greedy?

What do you make of the charity trekking business from the point of view of a small company?

First off - I don't know. On the one hand we don't have a big head office to run etc - but on the other we don't have the bulk buying capacity. But I would hope that I am less greedy - offering a good service at a fair price is how we operate with both our clients and our suppliers - hence often we will gladly pay over the going price if it means the locals get a fair wage.

Secondly as for charity trekking challenges - don't get me started!! I know that these "challenges" raise important funds for these charities but also I think they need to be a little more transparent about the profit margin that they are earning for themselves.

Further, if there is a group out there that wants to raise money for a charity - come and see me and I will do it profit free! I will charge a wage - but it will be clearly stated - and Will4Adventure will earn nothing. Now there's an offer.

And, as you know we run Challenge4Charity each year - which is entirely free of charge as far as my or Will4Adventure's services are concerned.

Blimey ... told you not to get me started!

Will

And get a bit of free advertising in the bargain??


;-)

aww - so cynical

Will :-)

cynical? on this website - never

Well I hope you all looked at the Will4Adventure website after all that!

What, you have a web site?

;-)

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OutdoorsMagic Editor | jon@outdoorsmagic.com 

ok ok ok - I reckon we must all have work to do now

nope not me,
what was the website you have I didn't catch it?