Priceline no longer what it used to be?
Feb 1st, 2005, 08:37 AM
#41
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We use PRiceline whenever possible, but haven't used it recently. My nephew just used it for a visit to NYC and landed the Hilton NY for $100. The same dates are $200+ on Expedia so I'd say he got a good deal.
Feb 1st, 2005, 09:08 AM
#42
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I wish more people were posting on biddingfortravel. We all agree it is a great resource. I personally have never had any trouble with the hosts, and have instead been helped, but as the number of posts declines, it is harder to come up with a bidding strategy.
There ARE still deals to be had. I persevered with bidding on a 4-star in Coral Gables for a 4-night stay in April, which in years past was pretty available at under $60 and was almost always the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables. It took more work this year, but I got the Hyatt for $95, when the lowest rate on the hotel's website is $250, and requires prepayment and a cancellation penalty. To me that is definitely worth it! It is less than the local Holiday Inn charges and a much nicer property, though--to return to a point in my earlier post--I would not have wanted to bid ABOVE the Holiday Inn rate because I don't like the Omni that is also a possible 4-star winner in this location.
There ARE still deals to be had. I persevered with bidding on a 4-star in Coral Gables for a 4-night stay in April, which in years past was pretty available at under $60 and was almost always the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables. It took more work this year, but I got the Hyatt for $95, when the lowest rate on the hotel's website is $250, and requires prepayment and a cancellation penalty. To me that is definitely worth it! It is less than the local Holiday Inn charges and a much nicer property, though--to return to a point in my earlier post--I would not have wanted to bid ABOVE the Holiday Inn rate because I don't like the Omni that is also a possible 4-star winner in this location.
Feb 1st, 2005, 12:48 PM
#43
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I admit, I am one of those who used to use biddingfortravel but no longer posts on it as much because of the extremely sharp, bordering on nasty responses I'd get. Once after I went through the bidding help (and a nice moderator helping), I posted that I just couldn't find the rate I wanted and was going with a B&B. Another moderator followed up with a nasty retort insinuating that I hadn't done enough homework and she also gave a link to a relatively decent deal. Well, I had spent days searching everywhere I could and had not turned up anything nearly as good as she had posted. But she had made it seem that this type of deal was all over the place, I just hadn't looked very hard. It soured me on posting much in the future. For example, I tried to bid in Anchorage for this coming summer and failed, and was going to post, and thought, is it worth the trouble?
I guess I should reconsider: just like I enjoy seeing the posts on biddingfortravel, I should probably post and just ignore the sharp & uncalled-for responses. It sure would be nice if those types of responses would just stop, though!
I guess I should reconsider: just like I enjoy seeing the posts on biddingfortravel, I should probably post and just ignore the sharp & uncalled-for responses. It sure would be nice if those types of responses would just stop, though!
Feb 1st, 2005, 12:55 PM
#44
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I just posted my first question on biddingfortravel.com, made an honest mistake, and received a very nasty personal e-mail from one of the moderators. I was very taken aback, and won't be posting there again. I explain it in another post "How many nights in Oahu and Kauai" when a fellow Fodorite asked me why my post was deleted off of bft.
I am glad to see I am not the only one who has experience this rudeness!
I am glad to see I am not the only one who has experience this rudeness!
Feb 1st, 2005, 02:04 PM
#45
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I just looked up your other thread. It wasn't quite clear what you meant. Are you saying you posted your bidding results and but did not use the link (because it didn't work), and simply because you didn't use the Amazing Bargains link she deleted your post and emailed you saying she didn't want to be treated like a slave?
Andrew
Andrew
Feb 1st, 2005, 02:25 PM
#46
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Andrew: I posted my results (I got rejected) and did not say that I used the amazing bargains link because I couldn't open it, but I didn't mention it in my post, simply because I didn't think of it.
She asked me why I didn't say I used the link, then I remembered that it hadn't worked for me. This is part of the e-mail she sent me:
"I want you to know that I'm quite disappointed that it was only an
afterthought that you chose to let me know that the Amazing-Bargains.com link did not work for you. Did I not deserve the courtesy of knowing that at the time it happened?
I'm sure that you can appreciate that my time is best spent helping
those who support the free service that I provide 16-18 hours per day
and I am not a slave."
I posted a thread apologizing, and she deleted that. Oh well.
She asked me why I didn't say I used the link, then I remembered that it hadn't worked for me. This is part of the e-mail she sent me:
"I want you to know that I'm quite disappointed that it was only an
afterthought that you chose to let me know that the Amazing-Bargains.com link did not work for you. Did I not deserve the courtesy of knowing that at the time it happened?
I'm sure that you can appreciate that my time is best spent helping
those who support the free service that I provide 16-18 hours per day
and I am not a slave."
I posted a thread apologizing, and she deleted that. Oh well.
Feb 1st, 2005, 05:29 PM
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I have a fairly good relationship with Sheryl through the board, she's always helped me. It would be courteous and helpful to others if you post your winning bids there, especially if you use that site in order to figure out how to make your own bid
Feb 1st, 2005, 05:38 PM
#51
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It sounds like Sheryl was upset that the link was broken (if it was broken for you, think of how many others it is broken for = lost revenue for BFT). Perhaps she wasn't directing hostility at you in particular...
(shrug) I'm just used to Sheryl's attitude I guess and it doesn't bother me. She has had issues with me too before, but who cares? All I care about is getting info from BFT. I always post my results on the board, because I think that's fair (and if I feel I've gotten a great deal, I want to brag!).
I really encourage all of you out there to get past your apprehension about posting on BFT, for the benefit of all of the readers. After all, it's a great resource that's free. The more data you all post on there, the more info I have to help me save money - at least, that's how I see it!
Andrew
(shrug) I'm just used to Sheryl's attitude I guess and it doesn't bother me. She has had issues with me too before, but who cares? All I care about is getting info from BFT. I always post my results on the board, because I think that's fair (and if I feel I've gotten a great deal, I want to brag!).
I really encourage all of you out there to get past your apprehension about posting on BFT, for the benefit of all of the readers. After all, it's a great resource that's free. The more data you all post on there, the more info I have to help me save money - at least, that's how I see it!
Andrew
Feb 1st, 2005, 05:48 PM
#52
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Andrew: It was just my computer that wasn't opening the browser, not the link in general.
I agree with what you are saying in terms of the service bft provides. It is a great service, and extremely helpful for people who are not familiar with Priceline.
However, I do think Sheryl's attitude leaves much to be desired, and her comments are unnecessary. She seems to jump the gun a bit on her harsh comments towards people.
I think she would get a lot more posts if she lightened up a bit and didn't intimidate people. That kind of attitude is not what people go there for. I think many people probably lurk there and gather research rather than post because of that.
I agree with what you are saying in terms of the service bft provides. It is a great service, and extremely helpful for people who are not familiar with Priceline.
However, I do think Sheryl's attitude leaves much to be desired, and her comments are unnecessary. She seems to jump the gun a bit on her harsh comments towards people.
I think she would get a lot more posts if she lightened up a bit and didn't intimidate people. That kind of attitude is not what people go there for. I think many people probably lurk there and gather research rather than post because of that.
Feb 1st, 2005, 09:41 PM
#53
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I still use Priceline in certain markets and have had good results but I never use it other areas where I know I can get hotels that I don't want. I also never go below a certain * and never bid even close to the price I can pay on the hotel's websites. I do post all my winning bids and have not had a problem with the moderators. I don't ask them for advice tho - I just read the info and go from there. It has worked well in many cities.
Feb 1st, 2005, 09:57 PM
#54
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<<Biddingfortravel should have a "form" that you fill out which offers room only for winning bids, dates and locations, and it should allow for anonymous postings of such info. There could be a separate section for written reviews.>>
This is one fabulous recommendation! (There is a separate section for written reviews.) But a form where one could enter all pertinent information, for the benefit of others, not to mention Herself, would be magnificent.
As for myself, I've always consulted BFT before bidding and used to post all my winning/failed bids (I've never requested bidding assistance) - until one day when I received a long, long e-mail from herself lambasting me beyond reason for not using the "Amazing Bargains Link". To this day, I am uneasy about the fact that she could "tell". WELL, at any rate, I had no idea what that was, other than noticing all these pleas to those requesting bidding assistance to please read a private message in their "in box" before bidding. Worse, when I replied that I was complete unaware of the "A-B link" and there was no mention whatsoever of same even in the "support BFT" section, I received a response filled with additional, horrifying, vitriol.
For sure, "herself" is dedicated beyond normal to her endeaver, and is truly expert and helpful. And, I totally empathasize with her insistance that everyone read and follow the rules. But, her admonishments are cruel and unnecessarily insulting - especially to those doing their very best to comply. In my opinion, in the overall, she does more to discourage, rather than encourage, folks from participating.
I did continue to post my failed/winning bids, despite her prior e-mail admonitions - until she deleted one of my posts with a "e-mail the host for why". Well, at some point during the bidding process, Priceline kept rejecting my bid for "invalid security code" when, indeed it was valid. (A phone call to Priceline confirmed a programming problem...) "Herself" declared that my post had been deleted because "it is against Priceline T&C to use a fraudulent credit card number"?!?!?!?
These days, I do check BFT before bidding. For sure, there are way fewer winning bids posted.
<<I really encourage all of you out there to get past your apprehension about posting on BFT, for the benefit of all of the readers. After all, it's a great resource that's free. The more data you all post on there, the more info I have to help me save money - at least, that's how I see it!>>
Well, Andrew, while you may wish to brag and take advantage of the experiences of others, the rest of us just don't care to deal with the wrath of Herself. One would THINK that she'd endeavor to conduct herself in a more professional manner, particularly if she wishes to promote her A-B (which rumor has it results in a kickback to her) link and not totally convince everyone not to bother and just go away - or worse, "YOU have been blocked". She needs to consider that many are just not as bright or capable of following directions as she may hope, their first time out (but can be brought along on future endeavors) and will try their best to do better next time if they are not slammed unmercifully for a minor transgression. For sure, and she is obviously enormously articulate, she could encourage those not quite up to speed to endeavor do better without throwing them totally away with shockingly insulting remarks! One poor soul, recently, requested bidding assistance and was ignored, over and over again, with no explanation whatsoever...
Again, I would guess that there are many, many folks like myself who peruse BFT before bidding, but don't bother/dare to post the results.
Until Herself figures out that it would be so much more to her advantage to be kinder and gentler with her admonitions, participation at BFT is sure to continue to decline.
As for you, Patrick, if you have "specific needs", Priceline is just not for you.
I would note that I've been using Priceline for many years. The savings have been positively enormous and spectacular. You really can stay in a 4* property for 2* prices. We have never once received "attitude" from a front desk clerk, or what others report to be a "Priceline room". At the very least, the rate we've paid with Priceline has always more than covered parking and taxi fares (if the hotel was not as conveniently located as we could have booked otherwise). Even if the "savings are not quite as great", once in a while, as previously, they are still quite significant.
"Harsh" does not begin to describe Herself. She is vicious, ferocious, and malicous. Way beyond "intimidating" Truly.
As I stated previously, however, you can easily figure out your own bidding strategy if you've done your homework and peruse her recommended strategies for others, along with checking out the Priceline "packages".
This is one fabulous recommendation! (There is a separate section for written reviews.) But a form where one could enter all pertinent information, for the benefit of others, not to mention Herself, would be magnificent.
As for myself, I've always consulted BFT before bidding and used to post all my winning/failed bids (I've never requested bidding assistance) - until one day when I received a long, long e-mail from herself lambasting me beyond reason for not using the "Amazing Bargains Link". To this day, I am uneasy about the fact that she could "tell". WELL, at any rate, I had no idea what that was, other than noticing all these pleas to those requesting bidding assistance to please read a private message in their "in box" before bidding. Worse, when I replied that I was complete unaware of the "A-B link" and there was no mention whatsoever of same even in the "support BFT" section, I received a response filled with additional, horrifying, vitriol.
For sure, "herself" is dedicated beyond normal to her endeaver, and is truly expert and helpful. And, I totally empathasize with her insistance that everyone read and follow the rules. But, her admonishments are cruel and unnecessarily insulting - especially to those doing their very best to comply. In my opinion, in the overall, she does more to discourage, rather than encourage, folks from participating.
I did continue to post my failed/winning bids, despite her prior e-mail admonitions - until she deleted one of my posts with a "e-mail the host for why". Well, at some point during the bidding process, Priceline kept rejecting my bid for "invalid security code" when, indeed it was valid. (A phone call to Priceline confirmed a programming problem...) "Herself" declared that my post had been deleted because "it is against Priceline T&C to use a fraudulent credit card number"?!?!?!?
These days, I do check BFT before bidding. For sure, there are way fewer winning bids posted.
<<I really encourage all of you out there to get past your apprehension about posting on BFT, for the benefit of all of the readers. After all, it's a great resource that's free. The more data you all post on there, the more info I have to help me save money - at least, that's how I see it!>>
Well, Andrew, while you may wish to brag and take advantage of the experiences of others, the rest of us just don't care to deal with the wrath of Herself. One would THINK that she'd endeavor to conduct herself in a more professional manner, particularly if she wishes to promote her A-B (which rumor has it results in a kickback to her) link and not totally convince everyone not to bother and just go away - or worse, "YOU have been blocked". She needs to consider that many are just not as bright or capable of following directions as she may hope, their first time out (but can be brought along on future endeavors) and will try their best to do better next time if they are not slammed unmercifully for a minor transgression. For sure, and she is obviously enormously articulate, she could encourage those not quite up to speed to endeavor do better without throwing them totally away with shockingly insulting remarks! One poor soul, recently, requested bidding assistance and was ignored, over and over again, with no explanation whatsoever...
Again, I would guess that there are many, many folks like myself who peruse BFT before bidding, but don't bother/dare to post the results.
Until Herself figures out that it would be so much more to her advantage to be kinder and gentler with her admonitions, participation at BFT is sure to continue to decline.
As for you, Patrick, if you have "specific needs", Priceline is just not for you.
I would note that I've been using Priceline for many years. The savings have been positively enormous and spectacular. You really can stay in a 4* property for 2* prices. We have never once received "attitude" from a front desk clerk, or what others report to be a "Priceline room". At the very least, the rate we've paid with Priceline has always more than covered parking and taxi fares (if the hotel was not as conveniently located as we could have booked otherwise). Even if the "savings are not quite as great", once in a while, as previously, they are still quite significant.
"Harsh" does not begin to describe Herself. She is vicious, ferocious, and malicous. Way beyond "intimidating" Truly.
As I stated previously, however, you can easily figure out your own bidding strategy if you've done your homework and peruse her recommended strategies for others, along with checking out the Priceline "packages".
Feb 1st, 2005, 10:11 PM
#55
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Look, I'm not trying to keep on sticking up for Sheryl here but how can anyone verify that the posts of winning bids have gone down? It is also very easy to call someone names when they are not here to defend themself. As I've posted on another part of this message board, if you really feel that way about Sheryl perhaps you owe it to her to discuss your problems with her directly rather than continually talk about her behind her back.
Feb 1st, 2005, 10:54 PM
#56
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djkbooks, I don't think it's fair to use BFT but not post your winning bids. If you don't want to share your bids, great, but don't read the site. Use BetterBidding.com or another site instead.
Honestly, I don't even use the A-B link myself. The reason is I can never FIND it (where IS it???). If you click on the "keys" at the top of the BFT window, you get a message from 2003 stating that BFT has been requested not to use the A-B link anymore. But people keep talking about using the link - is it in some secret place? Seriously, is it just right in front of my face?
I would think the admins of BFT would be really dumb if they weren't getting kickbacks from links on BFT, including A-B if they could. They provide a free service - what's wrong with making money off of it? Would you spend hours a day maintaining a website for free? I hope Sheryl et al. are making good money off of it.
Andrew
Honestly, I don't even use the A-B link myself. The reason is I can never FIND it (where IS it???). If you click on the "keys" at the top of the BFT window, you get a message from 2003 stating that BFT has been requested not to use the A-B link anymore. But people keep talking about using the link - is it in some secret place? Seriously, is it just right in front of my face?
I would think the admins of BFT would be really dumb if they weren't getting kickbacks from links on BFT, including A-B if they could. They provide a free service - what's wrong with making money off of it? Would you spend hours a day maintaining a website for free? I hope Sheryl et al. are making good money off of it.
Andrew
Feb 2nd, 2005, 08:08 AM
#57
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This is interesting to me as I've been an avid Priceline user ever since I discovered it and therefore I've been having the Sheryl experience for quite some time, in solitude - so it's interesting to hear about other people and Sheryl.
1 - "kickback" - to me that suggests an under the table arrangement, but it's my impression that A-B is straightforwardly the financial suppport for BFT. Tho I don't think I understand the reason A-B isn't allowed to place an ad on the BFT site now I think of it.
2 - I agree with principle of posting winning bids on BFT if one uses it. Golden Rule thing anyhow, I want other people to do it.
3 - I haven't had run-ins with Sheryl but also have not asked for bidding advice. Oh: actually she did once reproach me for waiting till later to post a winning bid - but I saw she was right so I didn't really mind, stale info not very useful.
I must confess I have been more for her than against her when she gets irritated with people who want advice without having studied the guidelines - but I don't like her when she is nasty to people who don't do what she wants them to in other ways.
3 - I've done awfully well with Priceline in London and Los Angeles. I got a wonderful room in Nashville too in a fancy hotel for $100, though in that case when it got very close to my arrival time I think the hotel went down to $129.
1 - "kickback" - to me that suggests an under the table arrangement, but it's my impression that A-B is straightforwardly the financial suppport for BFT. Tho I don't think I understand the reason A-B isn't allowed to place an ad on the BFT site now I think of it.
2 - I agree with principle of posting winning bids on BFT if one uses it. Golden Rule thing anyhow, I want other people to do it.
3 - I haven't had run-ins with Sheryl but also have not asked for bidding advice. Oh: actually she did once reproach me for waiting till later to post a winning bid - but I saw she was right so I didn't really mind, stale info not very useful.
I must confess I have been more for her than against her when she gets irritated with people who want advice without having studied the guidelines - but I don't like her when she is nasty to people who don't do what she wants them to in other ways.
3 - I've done awfully well with Priceline in London and Los Angeles. I got a wonderful room in Nashville too in a fancy hotel for $100, though in that case when it got very close to my arrival time I think the hotel went down to $129.
Feb 2nd, 2005, 10:13 AM
#58
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For those of you just learning about the moderator over at BFT,you might be interested in knowing that she has been a topic of discussion for some time at another travel sight called FlyerTalk.
Here is a link to a thread that makes for interesting reading.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forumsfr.shtml
Scroll down to Travel Bidding and open the thread titled Bidding for travel?
Here is a link to a thread that makes for interesting reading.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forumsfr.shtml
Scroll down to Travel Bidding and open the thread titled Bidding for travel?
Feb 2nd, 2005, 11:14 AM
#59
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"As for you, Patrick, if you have "specific needs", Priceline is just not for you."
The only specific needs I was talking about in this case, was an ability to save more than $20 or so on a four star hotel. But yes, since it looks like I can't do that for a four star in Seattle, then I suppose you are right that Priceline isn't for me IN SEATTLE.
The only specific needs I was talking about in this case, was an ability to save more than $20 or so on a four star hotel. But yes, since it looks like I can't do that for a four star in Seattle, then I suppose you are right that Priceline isn't for me IN SEATTLE.
