Priceline.com a SCAM
Apr 10th, 2008, 04:25 PM
#124
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spirodog, you're kidding right? It's fine to be in agreement about the overall "value" of Priceline. But surely you aren't saying that you agree that although without any preparation or reading he blindly bid way too much for a hotel and got it, that he was somehow defrauded. You can't be saying that, can you?
Apr 10th, 2008, 04:40 PM
#126
spirobulldog: it makes perfect sense to me that you (who knows nothing about PL) agrees w/ mark99. The only people who could possibly see his point of view are those who - like you - don't understand how PL works.
sarge56: Disputing a charge w/ a credit card company is for when one does not get what they contracted for -- NOT for when someone voluntarily overpaid and has buyers remorse. Your suggestion is goofy (meant in the nicest possible way)
sarge56: Disputing a charge w/ a credit card company is for when one does not get what they contracted for -- NOT for when someone voluntarily overpaid and has buyers remorse. Your suggestion is goofy (meant in the nicest possible way)
Apr 10th, 2008, 05:18 PM
#127
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Can't believe this post is still alive. But it's good timing because I just bid on Priceline for my DD who is going to Seattle next week for an audition at the 5th Avenue Theater downtown.
I was watching Bidding For Travel and saw that the 3* Downtown were usually being won for around $60-75. Earlier in the week was rejected at up to $90 and I stopped and decided to wait a few days. Yesterday I got the Crowne Plaza 4 blocks from the Theater for $75. Their published rate is $228 and AAA rate is $219.
I was a little confused about mark's statement of Priceline's rack rate being $270 for the hotel he won. However he did clarify that by stating the $270 was for Priceline's regular booking price. I did the same pricecheck for the Seattle Crowne Plaza I just won, their price was $228-identical to the published rate on the hotel's website.
So obviously Priceline wasn't trying to SCAM me!! But if you ever read Bidding for Travel which is something obviously mark didn't do, it says right there to always check prices on the hotel's own website. It says not to use third parties such as Expedia, Orbitz or I guess Priceline. So again, if mark really used Priceline, he certainly didn't do his research first.
I was watching Bidding For Travel and saw that the 3* Downtown were usually being won for around $60-75. Earlier in the week was rejected at up to $90 and I stopped and decided to wait a few days. Yesterday I got the Crowne Plaza 4 blocks from the Theater for $75. Their published rate is $228 and AAA rate is $219.
I was a little confused about mark's statement of Priceline's rack rate being $270 for the hotel he won. However he did clarify that by stating the $270 was for Priceline's regular booking price. I did the same pricecheck for the Seattle Crowne Plaza I just won, their price was $228-identical to the published rate on the hotel's website.
So obviously Priceline wasn't trying to SCAM me!! But if you ever read Bidding for Travel which is something obviously mark didn't do, it says right there to always check prices on the hotel's own website. It says not to use third parties such as Expedia, Orbitz or I guess Priceline. So again, if mark really used Priceline, he certainly didn't do his research first.
Apr 10th, 2008, 05:48 PM
#129
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i agree with mark99 - it is a scam if they are claiming the hotel is a better quality than what it is. no matter what research was done (or not done) prior to bidding. i think i had a bad experience with their car rental a few years ago and decided not to do it again. i like the idea of it, but not knowing what you are really going to get and if it will be the quality you are paying for is not a good deal to me. good for you for people that it has worked for, but don't kick the poor guy while he is down and say he didn't do research. it is a matter of not getting what you are paying for. SCAM imo
Apr 10th, 2008, 06:20 PM
#130
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Wow...Mark's relatives are coming to his defense...
"it is a scam if they are claiming the hotel is a better quality than what it is."
He won't provide us the proof....
"i think i had a bad experience with their car rental a few years ago and decided not to do it again."
You think...???
Priceline uses Avis, Hertz, Dollar, National, Thrifty etc. and other national car rental places....any problem you encountered would most likely have occured whether you used Priceline or not....
And, if you did any research, you would have learned that Priceline is not always the best deal for car rentals....
"it is a scam if they are claiming the hotel is a better quality than what it is."
He won't provide us the proof....
"i think i had a bad experience with their car rental a few years ago and decided not to do it again."
You think...???
Priceline uses Avis, Hertz, Dollar, National, Thrifty etc. and other national car rental places....any problem you encountered would most likely have occured whether you used Priceline or not....
And, if you did any research, you would have learned that Priceline is not always the best deal for car rentals....
Apr 10th, 2008, 07:17 PM
#131
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"i agree with mark99 - it is a scam if they are claiming the hotel is a better quality than what it is. no matter what research was done (or not done) prior to bidding."
Wow! So every hotel ad in every travel magazine or newspaper is a scam.
Every guidebook description of hotels is a scam.
Have you ever looked at the hotel descriptions in brochures for package tours? Total scam!
Since when does ANY source NOT try to claim a hotel is really better quality than it is? Again, anyone who has ever even looked at Bidding for Travel is well aware that you have to take the rating system for Priceline with a giant grain of salt.
The funniest part of all this is that I'm often accused here of being totally anti-Priceline. It really has not worked well for me. But that has NOTHING to do with what we're talking about. Even I, a real novice at using Priceline, know that I'd be a total idiot for not checking out prices first, looking at the hotels that have won bids and for how much in the area, looked at the list of potential hotels to be "won", and NEVER bid $175 blindly! I may be a novice, but I am not STUPID. Sorry, but if that last shoe fits, then wear it proudly.
Wow! So every hotel ad in every travel magazine or newspaper is a scam.
Every guidebook description of hotels is a scam.
Have you ever looked at the hotel descriptions in brochures for package tours? Total scam!
Since when does ANY source NOT try to claim a hotel is really better quality than it is? Again, anyone who has ever even looked at Bidding for Travel is well aware that you have to take the rating system for Priceline with a giant grain of salt.
The funniest part of all this is that I'm often accused here of being totally anti-Priceline. It really has not worked well for me. But that has NOTHING to do with what we're talking about. Even I, a real novice at using Priceline, know that I'd be a total idiot for not checking out prices first, looking at the hotels that have won bids and for how much in the area, looked at the list of potential hotels to be "won", and NEVER bid $175 blindly! I may be a novice, but I am not STUPID. Sorry, but if that last shoe fits, then wear it proudly.
Apr 10th, 2008, 08:26 PM
#132
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<<sarge56: Disputing a charge w/ a credit card company is for when one does not get what they contracted for -- NOT for when someone voluntarily overpaid and has buyers remorse. Your suggestion is goofy (meant in the nicest possible way)>>
No offense taken. HOWEVER, my point was that Mark feels he was defrauded because he feels that Priceline did not live up to their "implied contract" to a)give him a 4* hotel and b)give him a rate guaranteed to be 40% lower than xx rate. I don't feel this is any different than purchasing an item from a vendor via website and not getting what was advertised. For instance, I order what is stated to be an "ABC 999 Camera" and when it arrives it is an "ABC 799 Camera". I did not get what was promised to me via the advertisement. I have every right to ask for a refund. If I don't get one, I'd consider that fraud.
Like I said, he can call and talk to his credit card company, because apparently the "vendor" is not addressing his concerns.
I stand by my suggestion- whether anyone else thinks it's foolish or not. It certainly cannot hurt the situation and it may help.
And, truthfully, if it is listed somewhere on the Priceline website that there are "no refunds whatsoever", then he is probably stuck. But, personally, I would never buy anything from a company that had that posted on it's website; this screams "slimy" to me.
Good luck, Mark. I'm outta here...
No offense taken. HOWEVER, my point was that Mark feels he was defrauded because he feels that Priceline did not live up to their "implied contract" to a)give him a 4* hotel and b)give him a rate guaranteed to be 40% lower than xx rate. I don't feel this is any different than purchasing an item from a vendor via website and not getting what was advertised. For instance, I order what is stated to be an "ABC 999 Camera" and when it arrives it is an "ABC 799 Camera". I did not get what was promised to me via the advertisement. I have every right to ask for a refund. If I don't get one, I'd consider that fraud.
Like I said, he can call and talk to his credit card company, because apparently the "vendor" is not addressing his concerns.
I stand by my suggestion- whether anyone else thinks it's foolish or not. It certainly cannot hurt the situation and it may help.
And, truthfully, if it is listed somewhere on the Priceline website that there are "no refunds whatsoever", then he is probably stuck. But, personally, I would never buy anything from a company that had that posted on it's website; this screams "slimy" to me.
Good luck, Mark. I'm outta here...
Apr 10th, 2008, 09:39 PM
#133
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Give it up, Mark - the name of the hotel and your date(s).
Although, you continue to insist that it's "not the hotel", but the price, even though you did "Name Your Own Price".
It could not be more apparent that you totally misunderstood Priceline and assumed that "up to 50% off" would guarantee you a room that goes for double your bid.
Everyone knows that "up to 50%" means just that - if you're really, really lucky. And, know what you're doing.
Although, you continue to insist that it's "not the hotel", but the price, even though you did "Name Your Own Price".
It could not be more apparent that you totally misunderstood Priceline and assumed that "up to 50% off" would guarantee you a room that goes for double your bid.
Everyone knows that "up to 50%" means just that - if you're really, really lucky. And, know what you're doing.
Apr 10th, 2008, 10:09 PM
#134
sarge56: "this screams "slimy" to me."
Since you don't use PL it is hard to explain -- but there is nothing at all slimy. It is just one of the rules - you buy it, it's yours. No refunds. But one knows that going in. (And PL has gone above and beyond when there has been a family death or some other emergency and made refunds even though they don't have to)
"up to xx% savings" is not a guarantee of any savings. Nowhere on the website does it guarantee a specific %. And anyway - how could they? What someone pays is TOTALLY up to the bidder. No one forces a bidder to pay a certain amount. But if someone wants to be crazy-stupid and bid some inflated $ amount - that is what they will pay.
If a ditz decides to open w/ a $185 bid, they will pay $185. That same person could just as easily bid $97 and might win the very same property. PL can't guarantee against incompetent bidders.
Besides - mark's story about raising his bid and keeping the same star level -- just doesn't work that way.
So - until you have actually tried PL - please believe the 90% of the posters on this thread. Mark's story doesn't pass the smell test, and the only folks defending him are those who don't know how Priceline works.
(you ought to try it some time
- getting a Hilton in London for $77 when the rack rate is $335 - now that is the kind of savings I can get used to)
Since you don't use PL it is hard to explain -- but there is nothing at all slimy. It is just one of the rules - you buy it, it's yours. No refunds. But one knows that going in. (And PL has gone above and beyond when there has been a family death or some other emergency and made refunds even though they don't have to)
"up to xx% savings" is not a guarantee of any savings. Nowhere on the website does it guarantee a specific %. And anyway - how could they? What someone pays is TOTALLY up to the bidder. No one forces a bidder to pay a certain amount. But if someone wants to be crazy-stupid and bid some inflated $ amount - that is what they will pay.
If a ditz decides to open w/ a $185 bid, they will pay $185. That same person could just as easily bid $97 and might win the very same property. PL can't guarantee against incompetent bidders.
Besides - mark's story about raising his bid and keeping the same star level -- just doesn't work that way.
So - until you have actually tried PL - please believe the 90% of the posters on this thread. Mark's story doesn't pass the smell test, and the only folks defending him are those who don't know how Priceline works.
(you ought to try it some time
- getting a Hilton in London for $77 when the rack rate is $335 - now that is the kind of savings I can get used to)
Apr 10th, 2008, 11:32 PM
#135
NAMBY-PAMBY!!! William Shatner's words in an ad that just aired.
Guy is STARTING his Name-your-own-price bid at $190 and WS calls him insults until he lowers his opening bid for a 4* in Vegas to $99.
He was going to START at $190 and WS talks him down to $99.
Obviously, I thought about this thread.
Guy is STARTING his Name-your-own-price bid at $190 and WS calls him insults until he lowers his opening bid for a 4* in Vegas to $99.
He was going to START at $190 and WS talks him down to $99.
Obviously, I thought about this thread.
Apr 11th, 2008, 03:55 AM
#137
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"And, truthfully, if it is listed somewhere on the Priceline website that there are "no refunds whatsoever", then he is probably stuck. But, personally, I would never buy anything from a company that had that posted on it's website; this screams "slimy" to me."
Really? So you've never been to a sale where it said, "all markdowns are final, no returns, no exchanges, no refunds"?
Or you've never gone for the specially priced plane ticket or hotel reservation that said, "prepaid only, no refunds given"?
Can you honestly imagine how Priceline could work if they did allow refunds and allowed people to change their minds after winning bids? People would be booking dozens of hotels and still be looking for a better deal right up to check-in day, cancelling all the other bids and causing total chaos!
Saying that a store gave you a different model of a camera is NOTHING like this case. Now if the store said "this is a five star camera -- one of the top brands" and you got it home and decided that it isn't as good as other cameras therefore it shouldn't be called a five star one -- that would be a similar comparison to mark's case. People saying the ratings of hotels or the number of stars it has been given not living up to their expectations is nothing new -- but since all of that is based purely on opinion and tastes, there is no way to argue it!
Really? So you've never been to a sale where it said, "all markdowns are final, no returns, no exchanges, no refunds"?
Or you've never gone for the specially priced plane ticket or hotel reservation that said, "prepaid only, no refunds given"?
Can you honestly imagine how Priceline could work if they did allow refunds and allowed people to change their minds after winning bids? People would be booking dozens of hotels and still be looking for a better deal right up to check-in day, cancelling all the other bids and causing total chaos!
Saying that a store gave you a different model of a camera is NOTHING like this case. Now if the store said "this is a five star camera -- one of the top brands" and you got it home and decided that it isn't as good as other cameras therefore it shouldn't be called a five star one -- that would be a similar comparison to mark's case. People saying the ratings of hotels or the number of stars it has been given not living up to their expectations is nothing new -- but since all of that is based purely on opinion and tastes, there is no way to argue it!
Apr 11th, 2008, 04:10 AM
#138
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And by the way, since mark made it clear he wasn't even going to use that bid, he sure can't say anything negative about the hotel trying to get his money back. Just saying "I know that hotel and don't like it" is hardly a reason for refusal to pay. So why on earth did he bid so much when the possibility was there to get that hotel he doesn't like? Oh yea. He never read the list of hotels, or their ratings. Never mind.
Apr 11th, 2008, 04:22 AM
#139
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But Priceline DID offer mark a refund! From the OP:
"So I called up Priceline, ... They could not answer any questions except to say they can cancel the reservation for me, but I will loose one night deposit plus a service charge."
"So I called up Priceline, ... They could not answer any questions except to say they can cancel the reservation for me, but I will loose one night deposit plus a service charge."
