Priceline.com a SCAM
Apr 10th, 2008, 01:28 PM
#101
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I can't believe that this troll thread has been resurrected.
"The only place $270 a night appears for this hotel for a garden view was on Priceline....no where else...PERIOD."
mark, you are delusional. Priceline's "Name your own price" system simply does not describe rooms or their features that way. If you can't substantiate your claims, pleas go away.
"The only place $270 a night appears for this hotel for a garden view was on Priceline....no where else...PERIOD."
mark, you are delusional. Priceline's "Name your own price" system simply does not describe rooms or their features that way. If you can't substantiate your claims, pleas go away.
Apr 10th, 2008, 01:33 PM
#103
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And by the way...as one poster said...the customer service issue compounded this issue greatly. Despite 6 attempts, both via email and via telephone, I tried to explain the situation, including the issue of the hotel price listing at $270.00 but all they could do via the phone is read off scripts with broken english that clearly had nothing to do with my issue.
The email responses are identical "were sorry yada yada yada" never answering the specifics.
Very few companies go to this extend to keep you from resolving a problem or at least give you an opportunity to have intelligent dialogue between two parites to discuss the issues.
When you run into this sort of situation, all too often it is because the company builds policies and procedures to run you through a gauntlet until you simply tire out.
It is in my opinion purposeful deception.
As to you posters that continue to "bait" for hotel names...grow up.
The email responses are identical "were sorry yada yada yada" never answering the specifics.
Very few companies go to this extend to keep you from resolving a problem or at least give you an opportunity to have intelligent dialogue between two parites to discuss the issues.
When you run into this sort of situation, all too often it is because the company builds policies and procedures to run you through a gauntlet until you simply tire out.
It is in my opinion purposeful deception.
As to you posters that continue to "bait" for hotel names...grow up.
Apr 10th, 2008, 01:36 PM
#104
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So clearly Mark is not telling the truth, or had totally forgotten the exact circumstances of his bidding, since such things are NOT on the bidding. Meanwhile, he apparently doesn't even know what the term "rack rate" means.
He can't tell us the name of the hotel, because it would be very easy to find that no such hotel lists the prices for what he says they do, (along with the term "garden view room", and then he'd be shown to be making it all up!
Meanwhile if any of his story were true, why wouldn't he report it on Bidding for Travel where he could show what he overpaid for the hotel and make a much bigger impact with his claim? Oh yea, I remember, because he apparently doesn't even know what Bidding for Travel is!
Oh, and Mark, please don't complain about customer service and their broken English in this case. I'm sure if you kept insisting to them that the website listed garden view room which they know it didn't, and if you kept insisting that you had somehow inserted into the bid "I did state that I wanted a 4 STAR and that I expected a resoanble discount for that hotel..", they were probably just as confused about the whole thing as you were! No wonder, since half the things you were complaining about DON'T exist on their website!
He can't tell us the name of the hotel, because it would be very easy to find that no such hotel lists the prices for what he says they do, (along with the term "garden view room", and then he'd be shown to be making it all up!
Meanwhile if any of his story were true, why wouldn't he report it on Bidding for Travel where he could show what he overpaid for the hotel and make a much bigger impact with his claim? Oh yea, I remember, because he apparently doesn't even know what Bidding for Travel is!
Oh, and Mark, please don't complain about customer service and their broken English in this case. I'm sure if you kept insisting to them that the website listed garden view room which they know it didn't, and if you kept insisting that you had somehow inserted into the bid "I did state that I wanted a 4 STAR and that I expected a resoanble discount for that hotel..", they were probably just as confused about the whole thing as you were! No wonder, since half the things you were complaining about DON'T exist on their website!
Apr 10th, 2008, 01:38 PM
#105
I'll repeat - you have a lot of nerve complaining about the CS agent using broken English. That might have been an inconvenience, but I'd sure bet her English was easier to follow than yours. Almost nothing you've said makes sense . . . . . . . .
Apr 10th, 2008, 01:38 PM
#106
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Very few companies go to this extend to keep you from resolving a problem or at least give you an opportunity to have intelligent dialogue between two parites to discuss the issues.
Very few companies give you the savings that a reasonably intelligent and well-informed person will find on Priceline. If I want customer service, I book elsewhere. If I want a good deal, I go with Priceline, and don't kid myself about what I am getting into.
Priceline isn't for everyone, but you seem to have been done in by your own ignorance, not any sort of bait and switch. There is more than enough information on the internet, including here, such that the mistake you made could have been avoided.
Very few companies give you the savings that a reasonably intelligent and well-informed person will find on Priceline. If I want customer service, I book elsewhere. If I want a good deal, I go with Priceline, and don't kid myself about what I am getting into.
Priceline isn't for everyone, but you seem to have been done in by your own ignorance, not any sort of bait and switch. There is more than enough information on the internet, including here, such that the mistake you made could have been avoided.
Apr 10th, 2008, 01:39 PM
#107
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To call Andrew a "novice" is hilarious! Thanks for a good laugh.
Mark: You bid, you accepted the terms and conditions, your bid was accepted.
I can't imagine what you realistically expect Customer Service to do for you.
Mark: You bid, you accepted the terms and conditions, your bid was accepted.
I can't imagine what you realistically expect Customer Service to do for you.
Apr 10th, 2008, 01:46 PM
#109
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To Neo...perhaps I used the wrong name "rack" to describe the room.
The room was described as "Garden view" all 5 sites I checked including the actual hotel site, and they all listed it at $170 per night for the same nights. I also called the hotel and confirmed the price.
As for priceline and the bid process, of course I did not know the description until after my bid was accepted. But once accepted I was emailed the description which was "Garden View" and actual room is "up to the descretion of the hotel upon check in"
When I checked priceline regular booking...they listed the hotel - garden view room for those nights at $270 per night. They overinflacted the room price to a value that was over a $100 per night.
Now it would be rediculous to suggest that I go through every single Priceline listing to filter out any such descrepencies.
As a consumer buying a service which claims to give you "40% discount or more" this is simply deceptive.
I would have been quite content to obtain a $300 a night hotel for $185 or even a $250 a night room for $185 using there "blind" booking service....but I should NEVER have received a $171 a night room for $185. That is simply wrong and deceptive.
If I am going to "throw a dart into the dark" to pick a hotel listing, then I indeed deserve some sort of a discount as THEY claim I should.
The room was described as "Garden view" all 5 sites I checked including the actual hotel site, and they all listed it at $170 per night for the same nights. I also called the hotel and confirmed the price.
As for priceline and the bid process, of course I did not know the description until after my bid was accepted. But once accepted I was emailed the description which was "Garden View" and actual room is "up to the descretion of the hotel upon check in"
When I checked priceline regular booking...they listed the hotel - garden view room for those nights at $270 per night. They overinflacted the room price to a value that was over a $100 per night.
Now it would be rediculous to suggest that I go through every single Priceline listing to filter out any such descrepencies.
As a consumer buying a service which claims to give you "40% discount or more" this is simply deceptive.
I would have been quite content to obtain a $300 a night hotel for $185 or even a $250 a night room for $185 using there "blind" booking service....but I should NEVER have received a $171 a night room for $185. That is simply wrong and deceptive.
If I am going to "throw a dart into the dark" to pick a hotel listing, then I indeed deserve some sort of a discount as THEY claim I should.
Apr 10th, 2008, 01:50 PM
#110
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Ahh the point of the "broken english" statement was simply to convey the additional communications problem when trying to explain the problem.
I personally use outsourcing myself, but I don't use it as a way of further alienating my customers.
Got to go! Keep the post alive posters.
I personally use outsourcing myself, but I don't use it as a way of further alienating my customers.
Got to go! Keep the post alive posters.
Apr 10th, 2008, 01:53 PM
#112
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"Very few companies go to this extend to keep you from resolving a problem or at least give you an opportunity to have intelligent dialogue between two parites to discuss the issues."
Mark--you're having your intelligent dialogue here.
Mark--you're having your intelligent dialogue here.
Apr 10th, 2008, 02:01 PM
#115
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Mark99, that hole you're digging yourself into is getting deeper and deeper.
And I think it's funny that you want to keep a thread alive that is 99% people saying there is nothing wrong with Priceline if anyone takes the time to do it right. Why are you so thrilled about keeping a thread alive that is so clearly very positive towards Priceline, and clearly points you out to be the one in error? I've lost track, but in 117 posts has a single person agreed with you?
And I think it's funny that you want to keep a thread alive that is 99% people saying there is nothing wrong with Priceline if anyone takes the time to do it right. Why are you so thrilled about keeping a thread alive that is so clearly very positive towards Priceline, and clearly points you out to be the one in error? I've lost track, but in 117 posts has a single person agreed with you?
Apr 10th, 2008, 02:11 PM
#116
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Here's the bottom line on Priceline...
Depending on the location and date you are seeking, you may or may not be able to craft yourself a good deal.
You may've been seeking a room in Miami during a period when not many rooms were available, so good discounts weren't available either.
If there are conferences, sporting events, holidays, etc. happening in a city, there isn't the demand by the hotels to give their rooms away for discounts.
What hotels are willing to release a room for is certainly a negotiated rate and is dependent upon demand.
If hotel reps. make rooms available on Priceline starting at $100/night and that's also the rack rate posted on the website and you bid $105 on Priceline, the hotel gets you for the extra $5.
Generally speaking, you should always do better w/ Priceline. I've gotten some incredible rates from them greater than 40% discounted.
It's somewhat a luck of the draw, but you have to know what you are paying for, as well.
The other good thing about Priceline is that you'll never get booked at Earl and Irma's frontage road no tell motel...always reputable chains.
Priceline is no scam to me.
Depending on the location and date you are seeking, you may or may not be able to craft yourself a good deal.
You may've been seeking a room in Miami during a period when not many rooms were available, so good discounts weren't available either.
If there are conferences, sporting events, holidays, etc. happening in a city, there isn't the demand by the hotels to give their rooms away for discounts.
What hotels are willing to release a room for is certainly a negotiated rate and is dependent upon demand.
If hotel reps. make rooms available on Priceline starting at $100/night and that's also the rack rate posted on the website and you bid $105 on Priceline, the hotel gets you for the extra $5.
Generally speaking, you should always do better w/ Priceline. I've gotten some incredible rates from them greater than 40% discounted.
It's somewhat a luck of the draw, but you have to know what you are paying for, as well.
The other good thing about Priceline is that you'll never get booked at Earl and Irma's frontage road no tell motel...always reputable chains.
Priceline is no scam to me.
Apr 10th, 2008, 04:44 PM
#119
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mark99, I'm not going to get in the middle of the fist fight...
I just want to say that if you paid with a credit card, you should contact your card company and dispute the charge, stating that you believe you were defrauded. It's worth a shot.
I just want to say that if you paid with a credit card, you should contact your card company and dispute the charge, stating that you believe you were defrauded. It's worth a shot.
Apr 10th, 2008, 05:08 PM
#120
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Sarge, you've got to be kidding. A person contacts a company on his own and says, "I'll give you $175 a night for that hotel". They agree. And he wants to claim that he was defrauded? Huh? I'd stand back from the phone so I wasn't deafened by the sound of laughter.
