MONEYBACK, which provides value-added tax returns of almost nine percent to travelers shopping in Mexico, is largely unknown in the U.S. But, with the help of the travel agent community, Danielle Van der Kwartel, the company's general director, is hoping that that will change, and soon.
"Currently, 96 percent of the U.S. population doesn't know about MONEYBACK," said Van der Kwartel, adding that she believes the very best way to generate awareness about the company is through U.S. agents who can recommend the company's services to their clients.
Agents can download the shopping incentive refund forms from the MONEYBACK Web site, filling them out with their names and the names of their travel agencies along with their clients' information. Then, they can simply include the forms with clients' other travel documents, Van der Kwartel said. She suggests that agents tell clients that the forms have already been filled out for them, and that all they have to do is save their shopping invoices and bring them, along with the forms, to MONEYBACK offices in Mexico in order to process refunds.
Agents will find all the information they need to expedite the process in the travel agent section of MONEYBACK's Web site, where they can also register their companies. The agent section also includes a Webinar that details the benefit of MONEYBACK's services, how and why it came to be and exactly how it works.
As an incentive for agents to promote MONEYBACK's services, the company is launching a travel agent raffle at the end of each month, starting in April, where a random winner will be selected from refund forms that include agent names. The more client refund forms MONEYBACK receives from agents, the better chances they have of winning the monthly raffles.
Promoting MONEYBACK to clients also provides agents with a competitive edge, by illustrating their value-added services, Van der Kwartel said. "If travel agents really want to retain valuable customers they have to go a little further with services that illustrate how they're looking out for their customers."
She highly recommends that agents promote MONEYBACK to cruise travelers, who she said spend three times more than other tourists. "They're really focused on purchasing jewelry and high-end watches because the prices in Mexico are really good," she said.
By year's end, MONEYBACK will have 60 locations throughout Mexico, with the debut of three locations in cruise terminals in Loreto, La Paz and Progreso, and three at airports in Queretaro, Leon (Bajio) and Toluca.
MONEYBACK offers 8.9 percent refunds of the total amount travelers spend at 6,000 affiliated stores. Travelers will receive refunds directly to their credit cards in 45 days or less.
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