Chaotic Disjointed High Pressure Call Center - Could only take a few weeks - Sales Agent Railbookers Group Employee Review

1.0
13 Mar 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

* some very nice people who do what they can, but can't affect change.

Cons

* need a "hallway pass" to use the bathroom (welcome to high school) if the pass isn't available, you can't go and have to check with a "supervisor" if it's ok. * 30 minutes for lunch only. If it takes you 15 minutes to go and get something, you have 15 minutes to eat and better be done on time. If you are on a call at your scheduled lunch - tough - then you miss lunch. * a $12 an hour starting pay - they will also give you a "draw", but if you miss your weekly goal, you lose the draw. High expectations for under 25k a year. * You can make the same salary at Market Basket or Stop & Shop - have your lunch, use the facilities when you need to, and not have to deal with the politics of it all. If you have a family obligation - too bad, work comes first. If you have a Dr's appointment - too bad, work comes first. The culture here is a bad one, but they try to convince you it isn't. "Group" hiring done here with the expectation that they will lose more than half of the people once those who accepted figure out the real deal. With the "group" of 4-5 I was hired with, one left after the first week on the floor out of sheer frustration. I spoke with another agent who had been there about 7 months, and he quit a few days later - citing the same basic reasons. I lasted another week, as I tried, but couldn't really get the help I needed. Another gentleman who was hired as a new inside sales manager tried to help, and began instilling ideas on how to change the culture, - he spoke with me after I quit and was very professional trying to gain knowledge -then I found out they fired him a few days later - not surprised, as he had clear ideas that would have helped, but they don't want to change. I'm fortunate enough that I didn't really need the job as I had other options, and I'm happy I didn't need it because those who do are in a heap of trouble there.

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Railbookers Group Response
8y
While YLG did not end up being a fit, I am thankful that you took the time to share your perspective about your experience. As a fast-growing organization, we are committed to learning from every one of our team members, even if they only were only with us for a couple of weeks. While I am now a senior of director of the company, I actually began my journey here as a Vacation Consultant just like you. It is true that our environment is fast-paced and dynamic, and while many thrive in such a setting, it is not for everyone. Because we are a rapidly expanding organization, we are looking for several talented people to fill positions which are opening up, not just in our sales team but also in both new and existing roles. We’re hiring because we have more opportunities than ever before, which is something we’ve been able to do every year that I’ve been with the company. Many of us (myself included) have enjoyed great success as consultants as well as growing professionally with YLG; the majority of our staff, in fact, have been promoted from the sales team. It is a fun and competitive environment and we take great pride in seeing our consultants succeed personally and professionally with us. While the compensation numbers you quoted are much lower than any consultant actually earns, the mistake is understandable. After only a couple weeks with us, you would not have had a lot of opportunity to work with our guests long enough to experience the success that comes with our incentive program. Because we value customers so highly, we do need to be sure our staff is always available to assist them in answering their questions and helping them secure their dream vacation. For that reason, we do need our staff to observe their scheduled lunch times and let us know when they will be unavailable to customers for breaks. I am not sure if you have worked in a high-touch customer role prior to your time with us, but this is much like a restaurant in the sense of you can’t have all staff taking lunch or breaks at the same time when a customer is waiting to be seated or served. As a former consultant, I know from experience that making sure you leave and return within the lunch schedule is also very much appreciated by other team members looking forward to their lunch times as well. No one is ever denied a lunch break and consultants who can’t go at their regular time take their break once they are free. We are also very, very committed to work/life balance and time away for family and personal needs is not only permitted but actively encouraged, including using our generous travel benefits to allow everyone in our wider YLG family to enjoy what we do. I would be very happy to discuss your experience so that we can learn more about why your time with us what not more successful. No individual or organization is ever perfect and I would very much enjoy hearing how we could improve from your perspective. Please call me at 978-867-1122 and we can speak further. Yours, Andrew L. Channell Senior Director

Explore other reviews about Railbookers Group

5.0
11 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Employee FAM trip annually for customer-facing roles Healthy work culture and environment Best leadership ever Paid travel Great benefits and bonus potential Opportunities for advancement

Cons

Salary on the low end of most businesses development roles

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Railbookers Group Response
1mo
Thank you for sharing your experience and for recognizing the fantastic culture, great benefits, leadership, and opportunities at RBG. We’re thrilled to hear that the FAM trips, paid travel, growth opportunities, and supportive environment have made a meaningful impact on your time here. We’re grateful to have you on the team and appreciate the contributions you make every day. Best Regards, Ja’ Net McGhee Employee Engagement Manager
1.0
20 Feb 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Remote. Hourly + Commission. Health Benefits.

Cons

High performance metrics were not the primary factor in employment decisions. Leadership communication was inconsistent and lacked transparency. Policies prioritizing customer satisfaction leaves you feeling undervalued and used. Rapid operational changes occasionally impacted team stability. Goals and priorities were sometimes ambiguous and would change suddenly without explanation. Organizational changes created confusion and conflict to the work culture. Inconsistent enforcement of policies and standards. Constant increase to work load with no additional scheduled time to complete new assigned tasks. Management is mostly comprised of individuals who failed as successful Account Executives but got moved up to management. They impose unrealistic expectations that they themselves couldn't keep. You aren't just selling Rail Vacations you are teaching customers about how train travel works on the phone, this leads to very long phone calls and over time. Website pricing is misleading which leads to a lot of mad customers calling in taking it out of the people that answer the phones. Mandatory weekends, and monthly changes to schedule with only 2 weeks notice which leads to a bad work/life balance.

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Railbookers Group Response
4mo
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that your experience did not reflect the culture we strive to maintain. Our top priority is providing respectful, professional service to every guest we speak with, and we hold our team to clear expectations in how they represent our organization on the phone and in all interactions. When concerns are raised about behavior that does not align with those standards, we review them carefully and take appropriate action. Our decisions are always guided by our commitment to our guests and to maintaining a positive, respectful environment for both customers and employees. We remain dedicated to delivering a high level of service and appreciate feedback that helps us continue to improve. Thank you! Jesse Avalo Senior Sales Manager
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