I am deling with a very reputable company in the USA. I have booked my safari. When I was pricing it, I was talking with the agent every day or every other day and got quotes back promptly. Now I am adding on a trip for some others that is a bit lower budget. I received a proposal after calling back upon waiting three business days. I then suggested some changes and our last conversation was on Wed. To date I have not received a new proposal. Should I be concerned about this or is this a normal amount of time to wait. Should it make me concerned for my own trip. Good things have been said on the board for this company. I don't want to call again so as not to be a pest. Thanks for any insight.

lrob
anything can happen at any time so your TA might have some difficulties especially in SA due to power shortcuts to get the requested availabilities, quotes etc. (i am not aware whether SA as a destination is involved)

mostly travel consultants (high-end) reply within 24/7/365.
it's amazing that you did not encounter delays as far as your trip was cóncerned but you are experiencing that now. but that might have several reasons beyond your TA power.

go ahead and contact your TA again and ask for the quotation and make clear that you would have expected prompt response to your second request. point out that your own trip is already booked and you would have expected the same service for the second.

don't be shy! not knowing which destination, venues and time you are focused on - space is selling quickly and waste of time has to be avoided!

div

Be pleasant but don't hesitate to call.

Even if it is low end, your tour operator should let you know why there is a delay. I don't think we can blame power cuts for everything.

For low end places, sometimes the lodges are slow to reply.

I would give them a call and perhaps state some urgency in booking.

Dear Lrob
Have you actually booked and paid for your safari with said reputable agent in the USA. The reason I am asking is because most reputable agents worldwide now tend to not deal with folks who post on Fodors as if you do do your reading you will find that most folks only have negative things to say about everything.
Also how many TA's did you email for the same quote?
What one does not realise is that all the enquiries sent via email eventually land up on the same desk here in Africa and we immediatly pick it up. In your case your TA got advised that you were dealing with someone else and decided you are not worth it.
Thats my opinion!

Interesting "first" post, wisemanafrica.

I very much doubt that wisemanafrica could name 1 agent, reputable or not, who would turn away a potential client because the client is a Fodor's participant.

Far more likely that "wisemanafrica" is a troll.

Ok, we have a wizard in our mists.
Page 877 of the Oxford dictionary.

<b>I very much doubt that wisemanafrica could name 1 agent, reputable or not, who would turn away a potential client because the client is a Fodor's participant.</b>

Well, I was told by a well-respected outfitter in East Africa that when he gets email from someone who says they read about his company on Fodors he puts them in a 'special' file and only replies when he has extra time, if he replies at all. Or he farms them off to one of the travel agents who work with him, letting them do the leg-work. So wiseman may be on to something.

Why would an agent do this? What I was told is that many times these folks are price-shoppers who are trolling for quotes from many companies, then posting on Fodors for comments or suggestions, which means only a small percent actually sign up and they often ask for changes (often multiple changes) to the initial itinerary, which means more work for the agent/owner.

He can book most of his schedule with repeats or people referred directly by happy clients, which he of course prefers doing.

<b>Far more likely that &quot;wisemanafrica&quot; is a troll.</b>

Maybe, maybe not. But I'm not a troll, just telling it like it is.

Bill

Has Lrob said he told the agent he posts on Fodor's? I don't think so, so I'm not sure why this is relevant.

Bill, you travel with Roy's in Tanzania, right? So I can surmise they <b>much</b> prefer repeat customers and don't want clients who make itinerary changes. Thanks for the info! It will save everyone a lot of time.

<b>Bill, you travel with Roy's in Tanzania, right?</b>

I've traveled with two different East Africa companies and talked with three others at length, so don't jump to too many conclusions

<b>... don't want clients who make itinerary changes.</b>

I'm sure most companies would prefer clients who aren't constantly tinkering with the itinerary since each change costs them time and money.

Bill

Bill_H
You hit the nail right smack bang on the head. Well Done!

frankly - i think bill posted some - let's put it that way - very isolated views! wherever them come from!
i have never spoken to a DMC or outfitter who by far stated that kind of statement! any employee by akorn or A+K would be fired imiediately for such a statement! for sure!

any agent in africa being it acorn, abercrombie+kent, asilia, nomad - they all appreciate NEW customers!
what bill said in view to &quot;repeating guests&quot; and guests who bring others due to their experiences: where is the difference to posting experiences on forors?

does anybody ask for quotations when it comes to pipeing, buildibng etc?
what is the difference to quotations in vew to safaris which might cost the same amount as e.g. building or refurbishing?

to me bill's posts are not a dime worth in content!

div

ps: i stick with what i have posted previously!

I still ask 'wisemanafrica' to name a single agent who prefers not to deal with potential clients who post on Fodor's.

I would also ask Bill_H to name the E. African agent to whom he referred. Bill_H, it would surely be in the best interests of that agent as well as the participants in this forum for you to name him/her. That way, the agent would not be bothered by Fodor-generated e-mails, and potential clients in this forum would not waste their time of sending inquiries to that agent.

rizzuto - despite not favouring the idea - i am with you on that one;-)

div

Dear Rizzuto and divine54
I think the point has been made so there is no need to push it further.
Do not become what you accused me of being. IE Trollers!
You are now being that. Leave it and accept it as that is the truth.
I do beleive Bill_H will agree with me.

Sorry for the slow response, I've been stuck in rainy, stormy rural Alaska with limited safe 'net access ...

<b>I would also ask Bill_H to name the E. African agent to whom he referred.</b>

rizzuto, next time I speak with this agent I'll ask if they mind if I name them.

<b>it would surely be in the best interests of that agent as well as the participants in this forum for you to name him/her</b>

I occasionally see reports from Fodorites who used this agent and had a good time, so I assume they still pursue the 'good' queries from people mentioning Fodors and just filter out the ones they think are too much trouble to deal with. So I'll let him/her decide what's &quot;in the best interests&quot; ...

Bill

Hi Bill
How was Alaska?
Personally I would not watse any time on these two. They are regular trouble-makers to say the least.

GOSH...........wise why are you insisting on to your point? any special interest or lack?

you are claiming being an insider.
that might be the case.......but niot for high-end tourism.

high-end DMC's or PGA's don't act like you describe! they are in their segment because of their style of doing business. and your desrciption doesn't fit into that segment. sure!

div

Div
How much have you had to drink?

Where is your buddy rissuto?