Priceline.com a SCAM
Apr 2nd, 2008, 09:26 PM
#21
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 17,106
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mark: I'm sorry you had a bad experience with Priceline, but please calm down and listen to what the others are saying so that you can benefit from this service in the future.
I've used Priceline at least a hundred and maybe two hundred times for friends, family and myself and have NEVER paid the rack rate or even the discounted rate.
Except for New York City, I've never had to bid over $100 for a 4* hotel.
Using Priceline is not a matter of just throwing out a price and hoping that it'll be accepted.
You HAVE to do some checking in order to understand how to use Priceline. That's what the others are calling "research". Otherwise, if you don't do the research, how would you know what price to bid?
I'd suggest that you look at biddingfortravel.com first and see what we're trying to tell you. Really, we're all trying to help you.
There is a right way and a wrong way to use Priceline, so here's hoping that you will find out how to do it the right way and save yourself a lot of money in the future.
I've used Priceline at least a hundred and maybe two hundred times for friends, family and myself and have NEVER paid the rack rate or even the discounted rate.
Except for New York City, I've never had to bid over $100 for a 4* hotel.
Using Priceline is not a matter of just throwing out a price and hoping that it'll be accepted.
You HAVE to do some checking in order to understand how to use Priceline. That's what the others are calling "research". Otherwise, if you don't do the research, how would you know what price to bid?
I'd suggest that you look at biddingfortravel.com first and see what we're trying to tell you. Really, we're all trying to help you.
There is a right way and a wrong way to use Priceline, so here's hoping that you will find out how to do it the right way and save yourself a lot of money in the future.
Apr 2nd, 2008, 09:32 PM
#22
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,369
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mark, you made a mistake and you are blaming Priceline for your mistake. Sorry, you did not know what you were doing or how Priceline's "Name Your Own Price" works. It's like paying $35,000 for a new car that was "on sale" only to find out you could have gotten it for $30,000 any day of the week - because you hadn't done any research. And now that car dealer is a rip-off because of your own mistake.
I've used Priceline a couple of dozen times and have saved tons of money and/or gotten upgraded to nicer hotels for the same money. But, I did the research. If you don't want to do research, just pay the regular price and get over this one-time mistake. Obviously Priceline is not for you. Leave it to the rest of us who want great deals.
I've used Priceline a couple of dozen times and have saved tons of money and/or gotten upgraded to nicer hotels for the same money. But, I did the research. If you don't want to do research, just pay the regular price and get over this one-time mistake. Obviously Priceline is not for you. Leave it to the rest of us who want great deals.
Apr 2nd, 2008, 10:02 PM
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 355
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Good grief....Andrew is back again....I thought I fired you at work for your expense reports?
Well all of you that keep suggesting "research"....that must be the only word you use each day from preventing your brain to think!
Once again, in the hopes that I will trigger some tiny neuron deep within....Priceline claimed the hotel was $270$ per night. Nowhere can it be found to be listed for that price.
THEY HAVE OVER INFLATED THE MARKET VALUE OF THE HOTEL BY OVER 100$ PER NIGHT.
Now what would you like me to research?
I fully understand what a 4 star hotel is, and I fully understand what these hotels are worth, and that is supported by looking up any hotel aggregator and the hotel website itself.
In the interest of consumer advocacy I wish to present this information on this forum, so that others will know.
If you cannot see the logic in what I am saying, it is no wonder you try to hand in your expense reports the way you do.
This is not about research....this is about exposing Priceline as a big fat liar.
Speaking of which, I was just watching Shatner on the episode where the aliens are about to suck out his bone marrow...too bad he escaped!
But I do appreciate you helping me keep the thread alive and well!
Well all of you that keep suggesting "research"....that must be the only word you use each day from preventing your brain to think!
Once again, in the hopes that I will trigger some tiny neuron deep within....Priceline claimed the hotel was $270$ per night. Nowhere can it be found to be listed for that price.
THEY HAVE OVER INFLATED THE MARKET VALUE OF THE HOTEL BY OVER 100$ PER NIGHT.
Now what would you like me to research?
I fully understand what a 4 star hotel is, and I fully understand what these hotels are worth, and that is supported by looking up any hotel aggregator and the hotel website itself.
In the interest of consumer advocacy I wish to present this information on this forum, so that others will know.
If you cannot see the logic in what I am saying, it is no wonder you try to hand in your expense reports the way you do.
This is not about research....this is about exposing Priceline as a big fat liar.
Speaking of which, I was just watching Shatner on the episode where the aliens are about to suck out his bone marrow...too bad he escaped!
But I do appreciate you helping me keep the thread alive and well!
Apr 2nd, 2008, 10:25 PM
#26
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,818
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi mark,
I won't ask questions or give an opinion. Thanks for your input.
_______________
Author: mark99
Date: 01/23/2008, 02:15 am
Would recommend the Clift over the St. Regis.
Would NOT recommend the W...that and the W Waikiki are the ONLY W's I would never stay in again in the entire U.S.
Terrible service with attitude who have no interest in making your stay enjoyable.
_____________________
Author: mark99
Date: 01/09/2008, 12:05 am
OK this is getting off target but I can't help it.
Too Andrew and the other person...as a frequent flyer...if I found someone sitting in my assigned seats and they refused to move, I would rip out their eyeballs and toss it down the isle where they would get them all dirty rolling around on that filthy carpet.
I find it IMPOSSIBLE to believe that the air attendent would not move the person....I know this because I have seen it happen and I believe that it would violate some faa rule not to be in our assigned seat.
Though I detest SW, I do admire them for their on time, and they are absolutely my airline choice when you need a last minute ticket...but never would i fly with them on a regular basis. Thank you very much but I just love my 13F and you better not be sitting in it when I get there!
________________________
Author: mark99
Date: 06/27/2007, 10:55 pm
Oahu commercialized....whoa Nelly!!!!
Only Honolulu and that is a very small part of a very big beautiful Island.
We spent a few days in Maui on the last visit, and my wife and I were crawling the walls to get back to Oahu.
As someone mentioned, each Island has its own vibe.
I won't ask questions or give an opinion. Thanks for your input.
_______________
Author: mark99
Date: 01/23/2008, 02:15 am
Would recommend the Clift over the St. Regis.
Would NOT recommend the W...that and the W Waikiki are the ONLY W's I would never stay in again in the entire U.S.
Terrible service with attitude who have no interest in making your stay enjoyable.
_____________________
Author: mark99
Date: 01/09/2008, 12:05 am
OK this is getting off target but I can't help it.
Too Andrew and the other person...as a frequent flyer...if I found someone sitting in my assigned seats and they refused to move, I would rip out their eyeballs and toss it down the isle where they would get them all dirty rolling around on that filthy carpet.
I find it IMPOSSIBLE to believe that the air attendent would not move the person....I know this because I have seen it happen and I believe that it would violate some faa rule not to be in our assigned seat.
Though I detest SW, I do admire them for their on time, and they are absolutely my airline choice when you need a last minute ticket...but never would i fly with them on a regular basis. Thank you very much but I just love my 13F and you better not be sitting in it when I get there!
________________________
Author: mark99
Date: 06/27/2007, 10:55 pm
Oahu commercialized....whoa Nelly!!!!
Only Honolulu and that is a very small part of a very big beautiful Island.
We spent a few days in Maui on the last visit, and my wife and I were crawling the walls to get back to Oahu.
As someone mentioned, each Island has its own vibe.
Apr 2nd, 2008, 10:35 PM
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 355
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
...and neither will I Bear....
Author: bear900
Date: 04/01/2008, 01:54 pm
Side note:
Santa Maria was acclaimed nation's All-American city one year.
After a number of speeches and whatever else they do at the national convention, the SM mayor brought out his secret weapon:
An arsenal of Santa Maria style BBQ's and cooks. My neighbor was there. They BBQ'd a "top cut" however, which a notch up but cooked a lot like tri-tip.
......
mmmm just love to wade into dem BBQ ribs....perhaps I will check Pricline for a Super 8 special close to the grill!
Author: bear900
Date: 04/01/2008, 01:54 pm
Side note:
Santa Maria was acclaimed nation's All-American city one year.
After a number of speeches and whatever else they do at the national convention, the SM mayor brought out his secret weapon:
An arsenal of Santa Maria style BBQ's and cooks. My neighbor was there. They BBQ'd a "top cut" however, which a notch up but cooked a lot like tri-tip.
......
mmmm just love to wade into dem BBQ ribs....perhaps I will check Pricline for a Super 8 special close to the grill!
gt;
Apr 2nd, 2008, 10:49 PM
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 355
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I leave you all with this:
Mahatma Ghandi:
"through our travels we gain insight upon this wonderous cycle of life, that affects our notions, our challenges and our insight into life and spirit. Know where you go, and how you shall get there, and in doing so, you shall ensure a wealth that no one can diminish."
Mahatma Ghandi:
"through our travels we gain insight upon this wonderous cycle of life, that affects our notions, our challenges and our insight into life and spirit. Know where you go, and how you shall get there, and in doing so, you shall ensure a wealth that no one can diminish."
Apr 3rd, 2008, 12:13 AM
#31
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 23,115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I will meet you halfway - I have issues with Priceline and their Star ratings - they do seem inflated at times, but since I know that, I bid accordingly. Star ratings for them (and AAA, as a side note) have only to do with amenities like room service, pool - and not if the place has a upscale feeling.
But the price, I can't agree with you on that one. I am far from an expert on Priceline and have read some of the biddingfortravel and betterbidding info but not even all of that. What I do is first research hotels in the area I am visiting, getting a rough idea of price for what type and location I want. Then I set a limit, based on that price of what I would bid on Priceline.
Priceline is fine for some situations, rotten for others. My last bid was $50 for a Washington DC area hotel that when I researched cost on their website after my Priceline bid was accepted would have cost me over $200 for same dates - so I guess my bid made up for yours in Priceline's data. (Why was it so cheap - it was in Bethesda on a Saturday night at a hotel that would normally be occupied by business and government travelers - hotel was virtually empty and they were probably happy to have someone in a room)
But the price, I can't agree with you on that one. I am far from an expert on Priceline and have read some of the biddingfortravel and betterbidding info but not even all of that. What I do is first research hotels in the area I am visiting, getting a rough idea of price for what type and location I want. Then I set a limit, based on that price of what I would bid on Priceline.
Priceline is fine for some situations, rotten for others. My last bid was $50 for a Washington DC area hotel that when I researched cost on their website after my Priceline bid was accepted would have cost me over $200 for same dates - so I guess my bid made up for yours in Priceline's data. (Why was it so cheap - it was in Bethesda on a Saturday night at a hotel that would normally be occupied by business and government travelers - hotel was virtually empty and they were probably happy to have someone in a room)
Apr 3rd, 2008, 02:48 AM
#32
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,050
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Keeping this thread alive so others may learn from mark99's mistakes.
Mark, you can't just bid wildly and assume that your bid will be 40% of a room's going rate or rack rate. (BTW, PL says you will save UP TO 60%). I have used Priceline dozens of times in many cities, and would never dream of placing a bid that high.
Hotels in the US do not have a conventional star rating system. Although you might have your own clear idea of what a 4-star hotel is, other sources, such as AAA an Priceilne, have their own, too. As mentioned above, PL's ratings are based on hotels' own reports of their amenities; the PL site explains their rating system.
OK, if you won't reveal the name of the hotel will you at least check the hotel list from biddingfortravel? We're curious about whether a visit to that site (alas, the dreaded "r" word) might have alerted you to this possibility. Since you're apparently never used this resource, here's a link to the hotel list:
http://tinyurl.com/yr98a8
And of course if the hotel that you won is NOT yet on the list, then reporting your win on biddingfortravel would be a far more effective way to alert the world to your experience, compared to a fast-sinking thread here on Fodor's.
Mark, you can't just bid wildly and assume that your bid will be 40% of a room's going rate or rack rate. (BTW, PL says you will save UP TO 60%). I have used Priceline dozens of times in many cities, and would never dream of placing a bid that high.
Hotels in the US do not have a conventional star rating system. Although you might have your own clear idea of what a 4-star hotel is, other sources, such as AAA an Priceilne, have their own, too. As mentioned above, PL's ratings are based on hotels' own reports of their amenities; the PL site explains their rating system.
OK, if you won't reveal the name of the hotel will you at least check the hotel list from biddingfortravel? We're curious about whether a visit to that site (alas, the dreaded "r" word) might have alerted you to this possibility. Since you're apparently never used this resource, here's a link to the hotel list:
http://tinyurl.com/yr98a8
And of course if the hotel that you won is NOT yet on the list, then reporting your win on biddingfortravel would be a far more effective way to alert the world to your experience, compared to a fast-sinking thread here on Fodor's.
Apr 3rd, 2008, 04:56 AM
#34
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 695
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A couple things:
"So I first put in $175 for Miami Beach. It failed and asked me to adjust the parameteres if I wanted to try again, so I bumped up the price to $185 and kept the 4 star rating.
This time it worked, and it came back."
How could that happen? You can't just "up" your bid without changing other parameters...star level, area, etc....what ELSE did you change?
"Priceline claimed the hotel was $270 per night. Nowhere can it be found to be listed for that price."
Where does Priceline ever claim what a hotel is worth on your winning bid?...or are they simply pointing out that this hotel "at times" has had a rate of $270...
In any case, if you did half as much time researching hotel rates as you did complaining about Priceline, I think you'd be in a better place right now.
"So I first put in $175 for Miami Beach. It failed and asked me to adjust the parameteres if I wanted to try again, so I bumped up the price to $185 and kept the 4 star rating.
This time it worked, and it came back."
How could that happen? You can't just "up" your bid without changing other parameters...star level, area, etc....what ELSE did you change?
"Priceline claimed the hotel was $270 per night. Nowhere can it be found to be listed for that price."
Where does Priceline ever claim what a hotel is worth on your winning bid?...or are they simply pointing out that this hotel "at times" has had a rate of $270...
In any case, if you did half as much time researching hotel rates as you did complaining about Priceline, I think you'd be in a better place right now.
Apr 3rd, 2008, 05:01 AM
#35
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,881
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's not a scam when the company clearly outlines its process and business. You made a bad consumer decision. That's not Priceline's fault. Why would you ever bid that much money if you are so familiar with the market? Did you use the sources available to determine how Priceline ranks its hotels or even the criteria on Priceline's website?
This grief is self-inflicted.
This grief is self-inflicted.
Apr 3rd, 2008, 05:18 AM
#36
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 36,842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
mark, many will tell you that I'm not a huge fan of Priceline for a number of reasons, but your post borders on the hilarious.
You "stated" that you expected a reasonable discount? Huh? How? Did you type in somewhere, "please give me a discounted price"? Sorry, but your saying that you stated what you wanted makes NO sense at all.
You bid a certain amount, got it, and THEN looked up what it would normally be?
You never looked at Bidding for Travel to see the hotel list and the number of stars they were listed at?
Let's rephrase your entire post, OK?
"I went to Priceline without a clue of what I was doing. Without reviewing any of the information, I randomly selected an amount to pay for a hotel when I didn't have a clue what hotels they might offer or what they considered four star hotels. They accepted my too high bid for the type of hotel, and now I'm angry."
You have every right to be angry -- but only at yourself!!!
You "stated" that you expected a reasonable discount? Huh? How? Did you type in somewhere, "please give me a discounted price"? Sorry, but your saying that you stated what you wanted makes NO sense at all.
You bid a certain amount, got it, and THEN looked up what it would normally be?
You never looked at Bidding for Travel to see the hotel list and the number of stars they were listed at?
Let's rephrase your entire post, OK?
"I went to Priceline without a clue of what I was doing. Without reviewing any of the information, I randomly selected an amount to pay for a hotel when I didn't have a clue what hotels they might offer or what they considered four star hotels. They accepted my too high bid for the type of hotel, and now I'm angry."
You have every right to be angry -- but only at yourself!!!
Apr 3rd, 2008, 05:43 AM
#37
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 355
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We may as well close this post. I made my point. For those of you that continue to say I made an error, you obviously do not have any sense of logic.
Again and finally:
Priceline on its own site says the hotel is $270 a night. That is pure fiction..that price does not exists, so naturally when I am bidding 180 I dont expect to get a hotel that is 171 a night.
If you people cannot see the problem here then obviously there is no further point in debating facts with your emotional support of a rip off specialist.
To others out there, I hope that at least I have sent a small shiver down their spine, and that they will not use Priceline as a result of my story.
Again and finally:
Priceline on its own site says the hotel is $270 a night. That is pure fiction..that price does not exists, so naturally when I am bidding 180 I dont expect to get a hotel that is 171 a night.
If you people cannot see the problem here then obviously there is no further point in debating facts with your emotional support of a rip off specialist.
To others out there, I hope that at least I have sent a small shiver down their spine, and that they will not use Priceline as a result of my story.
Apr 3rd, 2008, 05:51 AM
#38
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 695
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
And AGAIN, without the name of the Hotel, we can't prove ANY of what you are even saying...perhaps you've realized the error of your ways, and THAT is why you would like this post closed...
Good luck drumming up interest in a class action suit based on your own negligence, and then trying to claim deception...
Good luck drumming up interest in a class action suit based on your own negligence, and then trying to claim deception...
Apr 3rd, 2008, 05:54 AM
#39
"... hope that at least I have sent a small shiver down their spine..."
Thanks for the laugh this morning, on a day that I really needed one!
Yep, keep us informed about that class action suit.
Oh, and would you videotape the transaction when you go to buy a car or another large purchase. I'd love to see THAT video
Thanks for the laugh this morning, on a day that I really needed one!
Yep, keep us informed about that class action suit.
Oh, and would you videotape the transaction when you go to buy a car or another large purchase. I'd love to see THAT video
Apr 3rd, 2008, 05:55 AM
#40
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,653
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
When you withhold part of the information, it makes your entire complaint a little bit suspect.
'
Obviously you won't name the hotel because we will see that it really IS a 4 star hotel, albeit one that gets poor reviews. You should have known that you might get this hotel by researching all the 4-star possibilities in Miami.
You have a legitimate complaint about finding a lower price elsewhere, but does Priceline have a "low price guarantee" like other websites have? If so, follow the procedures, rather than trying to make what happened sound worse than it really is by withholding details.
'
Obviously you won't name the hotel because we will see that it really IS a 4 star hotel, albeit one that gets poor reviews. You should have known that you might get this hotel by researching all the 4-star possibilities in Miami.
You have a legitimate complaint about finding a lower price elsewhere, but does Priceline have a "low price guarantee" like other websites have? If so, follow the procedures, rather than trying to make what happened sound worse than it really is by withholding details.
