Comments on: My love/hate relationship with Priceline.com http://www.diorex.com/my-lovehate-relationship-with-pricelinecom/ Random Musings about Internet Marketing Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:20:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Steve Schillinger http://www.diorex.com/my-lovehate-relationship-with-pricelinecom/comment-page-1/#comment-987 Steve Schillinger Tue, 30 Mar 2010 21:21:32 +0000 http://www.diorex.com/?p=193#comment-987 Priceline caution. Watch out when making a reservation through Priceline, and I'm not talking about a bidding price. When you include a car rental reservation to an airline reservation through Priceline. The car rental becomes no refundable. The supposedly 'best price' Priceline gave me a car rental that was twice the price of another rental car company and refuses to modify or refund the rental cost. Now I understand the government restrictions on airline reservations and their policies, but when does a reservation agent have a right to set such a policy. If you go to their sight to ask the question about rental car changes, it only addresses the reservations made with the best price bidding. No caution is printed on your confirmation about rental car policies, only airline restrictions. I couldn't even get a supervisor on the phone when I called to complain. They just sit on you and fall behind the "that's our policy". They have a contract page which I/you initial and there is a line that says same at the end of the paragraph talking about airline restrictions. I see the comments on the airlines and say, OK I know what this is about and I skim down thru the rest of the Important Message. Who ever heard about a car reservation being non-refundable or changeable 30 days before you are even going to use it? Priceline caution. Watch out when making a reservation through Priceline, and I’m not talking about a bidding price. When you include a car rental reservation to an airline reservation through Priceline. The car rental becomes no refundable. The supposedly ‘best price’ Priceline gave me a car rental that was twice the price of another rental car company and refuses to modify or refund the rental cost. Now I understand the government restrictions on airline reservations and their policies, but when does a reservation agent have a right to set such a policy. If you go to their sight to ask the question about rental car changes, it only addresses the reservations made with the best price bidding. No caution is printed on your confirmation about rental car policies, only airline restrictions. I couldn’t even get a supervisor on the phone when I called to complain. They just sit on you and fall behind the “that’s our policy”. They have a contract page which I/you initial and there is a line that says same at the end of the paragraph talking about airline restrictions. I see the comments on the airlines and say, OK I know what this is about and I skim down thru the rest of the Important Message. Who ever heard about a car reservation being non-refundable or changeable 30 days before you are even going to use it?

]]> By: Yosef http://www.diorex.com/my-lovehate-relationship-with-pricelinecom/comment-page-1/#comment-923 Yosef Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:21:18 +0000 http://www.diorex.com/?p=193#comment-923 I have only used Priceline twice, but have been very impressed with the results on both occasions - that said, I do my research first and try and see what the recent winning bids were. As a new user, I resisted the temptation for a long time, not wanting to get burned, but so far so good and I would use them (or perhaps try Hotwire) again. You do make many good points though, perhaps Priceline are listening. I have only used Priceline twice, but have been very impressed with the results on both occasions - that said, I do my research first and try and see what the recent winning bids were.

As a new user, I resisted the temptation for a long time, not wanting to get burned, but so far so good and I would use them (or perhaps try Hotwire) again.

You do make many good points though, perhaps Priceline are listening.

]]> By: Stefanie http://www.diorex.com/my-lovehate-relationship-with-pricelinecom/comment-page-1/#comment-871 Stefanie Sun, 19 Jul 2009 19:08:23 +0000 http://www.diorex.com/?p=193#comment-871 I don't know what you're paying with Priceline, but I've had MUCH better luck with Hotwire. I go to Chicago pretty frequently, too, and I can nearly always get a 4-5* place downtown for under $100/night. Hotwire shows you the amenities, but the real trick is to use a site that "decodes" the offering - like the one below: http://www.betterbidding.com/index.php?s=cf5006195a3954d37ae751c1fe8fdfbe&showforum=441 I've never had any surprises this way, and you'll usually get a chance to upgrade for $20-30/night at check-in if you want to avoid getting the smallest/noisiest/etc room in the house. In May/June this year, I managed to get the Hotel Felix for $90/night and the Palmer House Hilton for $84. The executive floor upgrade for the Palmer House was another $29/night and came with free breakfast, soft drinks, and nightly receptions with appetizers. At $115 or so, it was still WAAAY below their rate on every other site for that night. I don’t know what you’re paying with Priceline, but I’ve had MUCH better luck with Hotwire. I go to Chicago pretty frequently, too, and I can nearly always get a 4-5* place downtown for under $100/night. Hotwire shows you the amenities, but the real trick is to use a site that “decodes” the offering - like the one below:

http://www.betterbidding.com/index.php?s=cf5006195a3954d37ae751c1fe8fdfbe&showforum=441

I’ve never had any surprises this way, and you’ll usually get a chance to upgrade for $20-30/night at check-in if you want to avoid getting the smallest/noisiest/etc room in the house. In May/June this year, I managed to get the Hotel Felix for $90/night and the Palmer House Hilton for $84. The executive floor upgrade for the Palmer House was another $29/night and came with free breakfast, soft drinks, and nightly receptions with appetizers. At $115 or so, it was still WAAAY below their rate on every other site for that night.

]]> By: MLDina http://www.diorex.com/my-lovehate-relationship-with-pricelinecom/comment-page-1/#comment-865 MLDina Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:04:51 +0000 http://www.diorex.com/?p=193#comment-865 I think the reason Priceline is able to give such great rates is because they don't have any add-ons or incentives. Do you notice a trend (you get a better hotel in an off-season) to the rooms you book? It would be great if they could offer a few 'upgrades'- for instance, would you pay $5 extra/night to have your choice of wifi, bed, gym, etc? I think the reason Priceline is able to give such great rates is because they don’t have any add-ons or incentives. Do you notice a trend (you get a better hotel in an off-season) to the rooms you book?

It would be great if they could offer a few ‘upgrades’- for instance, would you pay $5 extra/night to have your choice of wifi, bed, gym, etc?

]]> By: Chase Bank http://www.diorex.com/my-lovehate-relationship-with-pricelinecom/comment-page-1/#comment-862 Chase Bank Tue, 23 Jun 2009 06:31:48 +0000 http://www.diorex.com/?p=193#comment-862 I have found the same thing every time I go to Boston. I thought I was just crazy, so it's good to see I'm not the only one... I have found the same thing every time I go to Boston. I thought I was just crazy, so it’s good to see I’m not the only one…

]]> By: Gab Goldenberg http://www.diorex.com/my-lovehate-relationship-with-pricelinecom/comment-page-1/#comment-848 Gab Goldenberg Sun, 31 May 2009 02:45:35 +0000 http://www.diorex.com/?p=193#comment-848 On a related travel note, if you're at SMX Advanced this week, I'd LOVE to meet you. You can find me at the keyword research artistry panel, day 1 - they were nice enough to give me a spot :). On a related travel note, if you’re at SMX Advanced this week, I’d LOVE to meet you. You can find me at the keyword research artistry panel, day 1 - they were nice enough to give me a spot :).

]]> By: Jack http://www.diorex.com/my-lovehate-relationship-with-pricelinecom/comment-page-1/#comment-839 Jack Sun, 17 May 2009 20:19:33 +0000 http://www.diorex.com/?p=193#comment-839 You are a retard man, I have been in the hotel business for 15 years - the only reason you are even getting a great rate like that is because you are willing to take whatever room they have available. Stop being such a cheap azz. You are a retard man, I have been in the hotel business for 15 years - the only reason you are even getting a great rate like that is because you are willing to take whatever room they have available. Stop being such a cheap azz.

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