ShameOnExpedia.com -- An open letter to the Chairman.
Apr 20th, 2006, 01:28 PM
#81
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Yes, the full violation list is here:
http://tinyurl.com/oymns
Note, this is public record, including the certificate of occupancy. I'll ask Expedia once more: How come, with something this easy to check, you don't even verify that a property is properly licensed as a hotel?
http://tinyurl.com/oymns
Note, this is public record, including the certificate of occupancy. I'll ask Expedia once more: How come, with something this easy to check, you don't even verify that a property is properly licensed as a hotel?
Apr 25th, 2006, 06:47 AM
#82
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I had the misfortune of staying at another WooGo property in Manhattan over the weekend of April 14-15. I was feeling sort of sorry for myself until I read about what Kelly and his family have gone through.
I'm a little perplexed by the "blame the victim" mentality that I've seen displayed here and there on this forum. Clearly, these people booked their accommodations in good faith, and were treated shabbily by WooGo, the hotel staff and, later, by Expedia.
Yes, Expedia books customers into thousands of properties worldwide, and managing such a large portfolio of hotels is surely a challenge. But I would suggest that if Expedia is making money off of this portfolio, it has a duty to ensure that its paying customers are treated fairly. If Expedia can't manage to exercise a minimal level of quality assurance, then perhaps Expedia shouldn't be in business.
Anyway, if you're interested, here's a link to a review I wrote on TripAdvisor.com re: the WooGo property where I stayed earlier in April -- the Imperial Court Hotel:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR..._New_York.html
I'm a little perplexed by the "blame the victim" mentality that I've seen displayed here and there on this forum. Clearly, these people booked their accommodations in good faith, and were treated shabbily by WooGo, the hotel staff and, later, by Expedia.
Yes, Expedia books customers into thousands of properties worldwide, and managing such a large portfolio of hotels is surely a challenge. But I would suggest that if Expedia is making money off of this portfolio, it has a duty to ensure that its paying customers are treated fairly. If Expedia can't manage to exercise a minimal level of quality assurance, then perhaps Expedia shouldn't be in business.
Anyway, if you're interested, here's a link to a review I wrote on TripAdvisor.com re: the WooGo property where I stayed earlier in April -- the Imperial Court Hotel:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR..._New_York.html
Apr 27th, 2006, 05:40 PM
#86
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Yes, several people have already come to my aid, including FOX's Investigative Team, which went undercover into WooGo Lincoln Center along with the chief bldg. inspector. They interview several tenants and tourists, so I've heard. Independently, the new-reporter told me "you were right about it all". Safe to say, more is coming.
If you haven't noticed on the other thread, there is a sorrid history connected to WooGo -- I've updated www.WooGoSucks.com with some of the details.
If you haven't noticed on the other thread, there is a sorrid history connected to WooGo -- I've updated www.WooGoSucks.com with some of the details.
Apr 29th, 2006, 05:22 AM
#87
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Just and update: After sending the 2nd ShameOnExpedia.com letter to IAC Executives (and a separate apology note to any Expedia staff who has had to wrestle with me), Expedia has offered me additional travel vouchers as apology for our experience.
While my full desires for resolution on these circumstances remain open, I do appreciate the personal gesture from Expedia. I am trying to arrange for Expedia to donate these vouchers to some of the tenants in that building (like, Ivy, an eldery lady now being illegally evicted who has been there since 1969) -- these tenants have tried so hard to be heard, against seemingly insurmountable odds...
(I'm just a vacationer!)
While my full desires for resolution on these circumstances remain open, I do appreciate the personal gesture from Expedia. I am trying to arrange for Expedia to donate these vouchers to some of the tenants in that building (like, Ivy, an eldery lady now being illegally evicted who has been there since 1969) -- these tenants have tried so hard to be heard, against seemingly insurmountable odds...
(I'm just a vacationer!)
Apr 29th, 2006, 08:27 AM
#88
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I joined just so I could reply to this. What a horror story! So sorry to hear of your ruined vacation.
The hotel is available for booking on Orbitz.com right now -- I'm in their site, and could book Friday May 5 to Sunday May 7. It's not blacked out at all. And I don't see any reviews at all on Orbitz -- how on earth would one know whether this is a good hotel or not??? (By the way, it would be $483 if I was dumb enough to actually book this weekend trip from hell.)
I tried to "book" a room on Expedia, all the way up to the end of October -- no go. What I don't understand is why they won't take these properties off the site altogether. Why even bother offering them??
Sorry again about your horrid experience -- I've passed your website onto friends and family so they don't make the mistake of staying in any WooGo properties.
The hotel is available for booking on Orbitz.com right now -- I'm in their site, and could book Friday May 5 to Sunday May 7. It's not blacked out at all. And I don't see any reviews at all on Orbitz -- how on earth would one know whether this is a good hotel or not??? (By the way, it would be $483 if I was dumb enough to actually book this weekend trip from hell.)
I tried to "book" a room on Expedia, all the way up to the end of October -- no go. What I don't understand is why they won't take these properties off the site altogether. Why even bother offering them??
Sorry again about your horrid experience -- I've passed your website onto friends and family so they don't make the mistake of staying in any WooGo properties.
Apr 29th, 2006, 02:49 PM
#89
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I'm with another poster. I really like www.tripadvisor.com.
Apr 29th, 2006, 06:59 PM
#90
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Expedia is a business. It holds itself out to the public as an enterprise that has expertise in all things related to travel and which can be relied upon.
A reasonable person would, in fact, rely upon these representations and would expect any property listed by Expedia to be more or less as represented. They would not expect the property to be the subject of what is apparently many consumer complaints, bankruptcies and misrepresentations.
The OP has detrimentally relied upon the purported expertise and trustworthiness of Expedia and has thereby suffered a clear and quantifiable loss as a proximate cause of such reliance.
I would like to know how many such complaints Expedia recieved before it finally bestirred itself to act to prevent further injury to its customers.That would be something that would be interesting to pursue in discovery prior to trial. The case could easily become a class action.
If Expedia doesn't expect its customers to rely on its representations then it ought to advertise with the slogan "Expedia...its like playing Russian Roulette with your vacation."
May 8th, 2006, 02:09 PM
#92
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Kelly, have you posted anything on www.PlanetFeedback.com or www.Epinions.com ?
Both are heavily visited sites.
Both are heavily visited sites.
May 9th, 2006, 08:00 PM
#94
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Many cities (including mine) are filing or have filed suits against the big online travel agents for allegedly skimming hotel tax.
San Antonio just joined the list. They claim to have been shorted $10M in tax revenue since '99.
http://tinyurl.com/f88sv
San Antonio just joined the list. They claim to have been shorted $10M in tax revenue since '99.
http://tinyurl.com/f88sv
May 10th, 2006, 04:58 AM
#95
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You can bet they (Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity, hotels.com plus 12 others) will be pooling their legal resources to fight this. If they loose this battle their losses could be huge.
Expedia etc buys blocks of rooms from hotels then resells them at a higher rate to the consumer. As I understand the suit, the consumer is paying Expedia etc the hotel tax (bed tax which the hotel owes the city for every room sold) based on the higher rate they purchased, but the companies in question are paying the city based on the lower rate they purchased the block of rooms for, claiming the price difference is their service fee. I don't see how they have a leg to stand on if they collect the tax based on the rate the consumer paid them, but only pay the city the rate based on the wholesale price of the rooms, but that's what was described in our paper. We'll see... Other cities to have filed suit include San Diego, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Atlanta
Expedia etc buys blocks of rooms from hotels then resells them at a higher rate to the consumer. As I understand the suit, the consumer is paying Expedia etc the hotel tax (bed tax which the hotel owes the city for every room sold) based on the higher rate they purchased, but the companies in question are paying the city based on the lower rate they purchased the block of rooms for, claiming the price difference is their service fee. I don't see how they have a leg to stand on if they collect the tax based on the rate the consumer paid them, but only pay the city the rate based on the wholesale price of the rooms, but that's what was described in our paper. We'll see... Other cities to have filed suit include San Diego, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Atlanta
May 10th, 2006, 05:37 AM
#96
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Chicago and Rome, GA are other cities joining as well. I suspect you will see many other cities hitching to this post.
There is a good brief description on the suit from the Atlanta Business Journal.
http://tinyurl.com/jewz7
There is a good brief description on the suit from the Atlanta Business Journal.
http://tinyurl.com/jewz7
May 10th, 2006, 05:43 AM
#97
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This could mean an end to (Expedia's Chairman) Barry Diller's $454M stock option bonuses.
http://tinyurl.com/k4pqf
http://tinyurl.com/k4pqf
May 12th, 2006, 12:48 PM
#99
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Are we having an impact?
"Expedia shares nosedive"
-MarketWatch May 12, 2006
http://tinyurl.com/gzjfm
"Expedia shares nosedive"
-MarketWatch May 12, 2006
http://tinyurl.com/gzjfm
May 16th, 2006, 12:49 PM
#100
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Today, in one of the most flagrant displays of dispresct to travelers and the law. Expedia.com relisted WooGo Lincoln Center as an available hotel.
One lawyer I have spoken with is of the opinion it would be difficult to break the Expedia Terms of Service. Even though the "Expedia Promise" says "You can Rely on Our Information", when you agree to their terms of service, you absolve them of any responsibility whatsoever. It's a shield for them. They obviously don't care about the social costs, the law, nor their so-called "Promise".
One lawyer I have spoken with is of the opinion it would be difficult to break the Expedia Terms of Service. Even though the "Expedia Promise" says "You can Rely on Our Information", when you agree to their terms of service, you absolve them of any responsibility whatsoever. It's a shield for them. They obviously don't care about the social costs, the law, nor their so-called "Promise".
