Obitz is cheaper!

[thehippie777]

So so everyone knows, this is my final week as a guest slave. Next week I will be a banking slave. So, I have picked up on the attitude issue, cuz guest what? What are they gonna do, fire me? SC calls over the phone. This is the 2nd call of this type I have had this week. Only recently have we started dealing with travel sites that offer their customers discounts:

SC: Hi yeah I was wonder if you have indoor pool?
Me: Yes, we do.
SC: What are your rates?
Me: When would you be coming in? (our rates change monthly, as do many other hotels'.)
SC: April 20th
Me: Okay, and how many adults would there be?
SC: 2
Me: Okay, did you have any discounts like AAA?
SC: No, we don't.
Me: Okay, the rate will be 114+tax, which includes the breakfast buffet.
SC: Well, here on Orbitz I can get one for 88!
Me: (This is were my attitude chimes in.) Well, that is the purpose of Orbitz....
SC: Well, it's 88 on Orbitz...
Me: Orbitz is around to give discounts like that. (I had just suggested to some dumbass yesterday that it would be a better move for him to take the travel site rate if it's cheaper (duhhhh!)) They do have stipulations which might consist of not being able to cancel and having to pay anyway.
SC: Well, we already have the tickets.
Me: (Took me a second to realize she meant plane tickets.) Okay, well... best bet is Orbitz then. (lay on the you are a dumbass sarcasm)
SC: (SC now seems confused) Uh....okay....but you do have a pool right?
Me: Yes, we do have a pool.
SC: Okay, bye then.
Me: Bye


I don't mind people who are comparing and checking prices. But when you are being a dumbass about it. Gee! I wonder if this place has it cheaper....derrrr....should I make reservations through that instead??? derrrrr

The dumbass yesterday said he wanted the government rate, but joked about how he was going to be in town on a Saturday on bowling business *hyuck hyuck hyuck* and then I told him I couldn't offer the govt rate myself for him, could make the reservation and have him speak to Sales about it. Then he pulled the travel site bullshit....

[BaristaTrav]

You just brought back some horrific memories when I worked for a major cruise line. I booked cruises directly for people (we called outbound, people who had called us or visited the website). It was like 80% commission (not true commission, we didn't get a %, just a bonus based on # of cabins booked).. and this was circa 2000/2001, so this right when the Orbitz/Expedia/Travelocity market was booming. Needless to say I lost a ton of sales to crap like free mp3 players, free shore excursions and all kinds of other crap the online sites were giving away which I obviously could not. But way worse than my job, the big travel sites put a staggering # of the "mom and pop" travel agencies out of business. But.. it is what it is. I use these sites myself because it's easy and convenient. What can you do..

[earl colby pottinger]

Cruise Critic

You just brought back some horrific memories when I worked for a major cruise line.

Go to Cruise Critic's website, to this day there are people who still don't understand that online sites can offer such great prices because of the features/services that they LEAVE OUT.

One thread has someone complaining that the online site could not fly them out on their scheduled time from .......... Chile! Yes, on the day after the earthquake no less!

Others have pointed out that even a full travel agent would have trouble helping, but they would at-least burn up the phone lines trying to help. An online service? Ha, Ha, Ha.

Just tell them, READ THE TERMS OF SERVICE!

Opps, I forgot SCs don't read anything except "LOWEST PRICE" or "FREE", and sometimes they think the first means the same as the second. :{

[CloserToSane]

I don't mind our travel site rates as I can check what they are without having to open their web pages (genius software that I have) and I get so much joy of out saying no it's not on a daily basis. Or explaining that tax isn't included until the very end and going through the reservation process with them to point out that yes, we are in fact cheaper.

Of course then I have to talk them through a booking on our system. Maybe I'll just start telling them to shove it and booking with Orbitz etc.

Occasionally they run sales, and I always get asked to price match, so I do feel your pain, when I know they're right, but I'm also not allowed to match on a website specific sale.

[BaristaTrav]

Go to Cruise Critic's website, to this day there are people who still don't understand that online sites can offer such great prices because of the features/services that they LEAVE OUT.

:{

Oh believe me, I did post on that site.. frequently. I never revealed that I worked for a cruise line as that would have gotten me into big trouble, but I explained that again and again. Not just that, but in the old days they would advertise rates without taxes, without port charges (which sometimes can be like 40% of the entire ticket price), and booking fees that were unique to the sites. They've done away with most of that now. But I can't tell you how many times I would work a lead, sell them on the damn cruise, only to have them book it online to save a lousy $20 (no commission for me) then call me back because they couldn't get anyone on the phone at expedia or whatever to help them with their questions/changes/problems.

Ugh.. the bad old days.

[earl colby pottinger]

Carnival

I never revealed that I worked for a cruise line as that would have gotten me into big trouble

Why would you have trouble? The posters or some of the rules of Cruise Critic (which I don't like but do obey about cruise reps and naming travel agents)?


Do you work for Carnival? I could use a few pointers with a problem I have with them.


I would like to point out that my travel agent could not directly help me either, but she did give me some pointers which I am sure I would *never* get if I had used an online service.

[BaristaTrav]

Why would you have trouble? The posters or some of the rules of Cruise Critic (which I don't like but do obey about cruise reps and naming travel agents)?


Do you work for Carnival? I could use a few pointers with a problem I have with them.


I would like to point out take my travel agent could not directly help me either, but she did give me some pointers which I am sure I would *never* get if I had used an online service.

Used to.. a few years ago. You have a problem? Good luck.. their "guest relations" dept. is horrifically understaffed and has little power to do more than send you a "15% off your next cruise" voucher if you complain enough. At least, that's how it was as of early 2007..

[Peppergirl]

Ugh - I hate that.

When I get the "But Orbitz/Travelocity/hotels.com has it for x.xx", I take the wind RIGHT out of their sails and say something like:

"Wow! That's a good deal. You should really go back over there and snatch that up before someone else does. Don't forget you have to prepay and it's usually non-refundable, though. Have a great day!"

It usually results in indignant stammering or self-righteoous anger...but both are pretty fun.

[thehippie777]

Ugh - I hate that.

When I get the "But Orbitz/Travelocity/hotels.com has it for x.xx", I take the wind RIGHT out of their sails and say something like:

"Wow! That's a good deal. You should really go back over there and snatch that up before someone else does. Don't forget you have to prepay and it's usually non-refundable, though. Have a great day!"

It usually results in indignant stammering or self-righteoous anger...but both are pretty fun.

Yay! Yeah, I mean...if that is a better price go for it...but read the fine print!

[Rapscallion]

Heh - when a mate of mine and I went to Italy, we took a laptop with a wireless connection. Walk in the door of a hotel and get quoted the top rate for rooms. Find a Wifi spot (or make sure the hotel has wifi) and book your next day's accommodation.

Know what? It saved us shitloads of money, which was good because were were spending like it was going out of fashion.

Rapscallion

[AccountingDrone]

Go to Cruise Critic's website, to this day there are people who still don't understand that online sites can offer such great prices because of the features/services that they LEAVE OUT.

One thread has someone complaining that the online site could not fly them out on their scheduled time from .......... Chile! Yes, on the day after the earthquake no less!

Others have pointed out that even a full travel agent would have trouble helping, but they would at-least burn up the phone lines trying to help. An online service? Ha, Ha, Ha.

Just tell them, READ THE TERMS OF SERVICE!

Opps, I forgot SCs don't read anything except "LOWEST PRICE" or "FREE", and sometimes they think the first means the same as the second. :{

heh, I read Cruise Critics also =) though just for Royal Caribbean and Disabled =)

[taxguykarl]

When I get the "But Orbitz/Travelocity/hotels.com has it for x.xx", I take the wind RIGHT out of their sails and say something like:

"Wow! That's a good deal. You should really go back over there and snatch that up before someone else does. Don't forget you have to prepay and it's usually non-refundable, though. Have a great day!"

Not only that, but various other goodies (e.g. free breakfast, airport shuttle, etc.) are only available if you book directly with the hotel. Mrs. TGK and I speak from experience there: Long story short--our breakfast became hotels.com's commission.