I agree that many of the points Fake Rick Schindler raised are valid(I`ve said something along the same lines before….) but can`t understand the use of the Real Ricks` name and the reference to God…..why?

If it`s any comfort, they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Rick.(Please, allow me to put my own foot in my mouth, you would-be identity thieves!)

Nevermind the delivery, I reckon I know why I`m in the industry and am happy to keep my ideals alive. For some, however, the first step to solving a problem is admitting you have one. Some could definitely do with a reality check.

If you`re not striving to give our sensational backpackers the best possible Aussie adventure, with all that entails, then you shouldn`t be interested in this forum. Debate on these pages should avoid insults and personal enmity and concentrate on finding solutions to the,really, quite minor quibbles and conundrums that face our industry and, by extension, our guests.

Let common sense rule and permit our Aussie sense of fair play to conquer all.

There is no major problem, but there’s a few major idiots. Credibility might be restored to both of you if you were willing to stamp your credentials om your posts. Otherwise – zip-it.

Yes I know. A bit harsh.

Don’t worry. Some clear facts here

1. Its clear to all of us its not you.
2. Its clear the person who wrote this is out of happy pills
3. It clear their comments are as much use as a cock flavoured lollypop
4. Its clear they may have dyslexia because they misspelt DOG as GOD
4. Its clear that they aren’t clear about much at all

Yes, that’s what we think about anonymous vitriol.

Please refrain from posting comments under other people’s names.

Thanks

Martin – Thumbrella

I suggest if you want to say something have the balls to put your name to it.

Rick Schindler

1. Some companies in the backpacking(tourism industry) DO NOT HAVE ANY STANDARDS!!
2. MOST TRAVEL AGENTS in the backpacking industry have poorly trained employees recommending products they know nothing about.
3. MOST TRAVEL AGENTS just book the cheapest and easiest product to sell as they believe this is the only way to make a sale and believe that most backpackers do not have the required finances to pay for higher quality products.
4. Our industry is going through a massive change and some of you will not be here in a year or two…
5. …and some of us actually joined this industry for the right reasons NOT JUST TO SCREW EVERY CENT OUT OF A BACKPACKER!!!
6. SEE POINT 5. to appreciate why the industry is not the same as it was ten years ago!!
7. When was the last time that any of you actually talked to a Backpacker anyway!!!
8. Leave the govrnement out of all arguments because it is hard enough to make a dollar without including them in discussions so they can come up with more ways to make business impossible in this country…
9. Why don’t you all admit that your standards are below par and try and improve your products, ideas, staff morale and for gods sake come up with some new ideas and stop copying each other like little school children…

Backpacking GOD!!!

Yeah, the same guys who did it last week and the week before !!

(The rest of this post has been edited for legal reasons)

Jealosy is a terrible thing.

This is the wake up calls that other prominent members of our industry have been discussing in this forum. How has wicked managed to have so many vehicles on the roads in Queensland with so many defects? is pressure going to be placed on them nation wide to go through the same audit with all their vehicles? If the vehicles are un roadworthy are the insurance claims worth the paper they are written on? So many questions so little answers

I know I will be instigating two things immediately
NOT selling their product until we can get answers
DISCUSSIONS with local tourism bodies and government departments to find out if they are doing full audits on EVERY wicked vehicle that enters our State

If anyone was really listening to the story ACA gave the manager of Wicked a chance to comment on their story, he was overseas! my son was involved in an accident with a wicked van, on a straight strech of highway. the accident was horrific, his car is unrepairable, yet wicked have refused to pay. no one from Wicked has ever returned our calls, nor have they returned our emails, they contacted us through a soliicitor to tell us they were not paying for anything! so Mr Manager talk to me, let me know how that works? This happened on the 14th Feb 2009. You owe us and everyone else alot of answers, by the way how do you sleep at night? Mr manager?

Yes. The program that bought this to our (and the world’s) attention can be deemed as sensationalist and heavily weighted toward the consumer, however that is not to say that what it has uncovered was a beat up, set up etc. As we are all aware, it is nigh on impossible to ensure that EVERY vehicle you possess in your fleet is without a doubt, fully compliant or roadworthy all of the time. However, it is easy to reduce your exposure by incorporating safety into your company policy, preventative measures and putting them into action. And i’m more than aware that many operators already give this the attention it deserves.

It needs to be said that it is ignorant and condescending to use examples of trivial faults in responses, such as blown bulbs, inoperable windscreen washers or a broken exhaust rubber to justify your problem of having unroadworthy vehicles with major defects as shown in this program. Doing so just makes you (and everyone else) look bad.

I completely agree with Boyd’s statement, in that self-regulating could be the answer that helps create a better market and it makes sense that you could all start working together on this now, rather than have it imposed by a government agency-along with the red tape that would be associated with it. Seriously, do you owners want the cost of that? Some of you are probably well aware of the record keeping required of motor dealers, and the fines/penalties that go along with failure to keep such in good standing, you don’t want that to happen.

And it’s not just the vehicles that are the problem here. Deeper issues exist with driver training and education (think Fraser Island) and how to get that message across to those who do undertake a self-drive adventure…i’ve seen many a hirer come a cropper from sheer stupidity and ignorance on their part, no matter what you say to them before they take possession.

Looking forward, should you all begin to work together toward building an even better industry, will leave those with safety foremost still around to enjoy the success of their businesses in the coming years, rather than cowboys simply in it for a quick buck and a bit of fame.