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Highlands John

Highlands John

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 16, 2010
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It started with bdc, when you're viewing a hotel page little messages come up saying someone has booked this hotel in the last x minutes. Then eb ay started, I'm just looking at car hire for our October vacation and that site is doing it too.
It's obviously designed to make people think the product/service they are looking at is likely to sell out and panic them into making a purchase, but do you think this is a device you would employ on your website?
 
It's interesting. Because on bdc it is also combined with a show of limited quantity. '4 people are looking at this property' and you see there are only 2 rooms.
It's going to get overused pretty quickly I think.
But, yes, it does cause panic.
 
Madeleine said:
It's interesting. Because on bdc it is also combined with a show of limited quantity. '4 people are looking at this property' and you see there are only 2 rooms.
It's going to get overused pretty quickly I think.
But, yes, it does cause panic..
Click to expand...
Well, you all know that as a B&B we do not use on-line booking. We have been a successful small B&B for a quarter of a century and have managed fine without it. But, since we are the exception, and since third party booking is rampant for hotels, we have recently personall had the displeasure of experiencing bdc and ex ped ia first hand as we scrambled to find last minute lodging in London.
It was not a pleasant experience. It seems that rates change minute to minute. Rooms are available...and then they are not. We finally ended up over paying for a room only to find upon arrival at 11pm that the hotel was sold out. It was NOT a pleasant experience. The very idea of using some of these pressure tactics to sell a room goes against all that we stand for. I would rather go door to door selling vacuum cleaners than to pressure a weary traveler into booking under false pretense.
By theway, we survived the ordeal...but just barely. At the moment we are watching our first snow fall as we sip morning coffee that someone else made! Cancelled flights, late nights in unplanned hotels and bad airport food are hopefully in our past!
 
Silverspoon said:
Madeleine said:
It's interesting. Because on bdc it is also combined with a show of limited quantity. '4 people are looking at this property' and you see there are only 2 rooms.
It's going to get overused pretty quickly I think.
But, yes, it does cause panic..
Click to expand...
Well, you all know that as a B&B we do not use on-line booking. We have been a successful small B&B for a quarter of a century and have managed fine without it. But, since we are the exception, and since third party booking is rampant for hotels, we have recently personall had the displeasure of experiencing bdc and ex ped ia first hand as we scrambled to find last minute lodging in London.
It was not a pleasant experience. It seems that rates change minute to minute. Rooms are available...and then they are not. We finally ended up over paying for a room only to find upon arrival at 11pm that the hotel was sold out. It was NOT a pleasant experience. The very idea of using some of these pressure tactics to sell a room goes against all that we stand for. I would rather go door to door selling vacuum cleaners than to pressure a weary traveler into booking under false pretense.
By theway, we survived the ordeal...but just barely. At the moment we are watching our first snow fall as we sip morning coffee that someone else made! Cancelled flights, late nights in unplanned hotels and bad airport food are hopefully in our past!
.
Click to expand...
that's London for you - demand is so high right now things literally change by the minute - for most normal places its a lot slower and more stable than that.
 
Silverspoon said:
Madeleine said:
It's interesting. Because on bdc it is also combined with a show of limited quantity. '4 people are looking at this property' and you see there are only 2 rooms.
It's going to get overused pretty quickly I think.
But, yes, it does cause panic..
Click to expand...
Well, you all know that as a B&B we do not use on-line booking. We have been a successful small B&B for a quarter of a century and have managed fine without it. But, since we are the exception, and since third party booking is rampant for hotels, we have recently personall had the displeasure of experiencing bdc and ex ped ia first hand as we scrambled to find last minute lodging in London.
It was not a pleasant experience. It seems that rates change minute to minute. Rooms are available...and then they are not. We finally ended up over paying for a room only to find upon arrival at 11pm that the hotel was sold out. It was NOT a pleasant experience. The very idea of using some of these pressure tactics to sell a room goes against all that we stand for. I would rather go door to door selling vacuum cleaners than to pressure a weary traveler into booking under false pretense.
By theway, we survived the ordeal...but just barely. At the moment we are watching our first snow fall as we sip morning coffee that someone else made! Cancelled flights, late nights in unplanned hotels and bad airport food are hopefully in our past!
.
Click to expand...
Glad you made it! Now, get off the computer and enjoy your precious time off!
 
Silverspoon said:
Madeleine said:
It's interesting. Because on bdc it is also combined with a show of limited quantity. '4 people are looking at this property' and you see there are only 2 rooms.
It's going to get overused pretty quickly I think.
But, yes, it does cause panic..
Click to expand...
Well, you all know that as a B&B we do not use on-line booking. We have been a successful small B&B for a quarter of a century and have managed fine without it. But, since we are the exception, and since third party booking is rampant for hotels, we have recently personall had the displeasure of experiencing bdc and ex ped ia first hand as we scrambled to find last minute lodging in London.
It was not a pleasant experience. It seems that rates change minute to minute. Rooms are available...and then they are not. We finally ended up over paying for a room only to find upon arrival at 11pm that the hotel was sold out. It was NOT a pleasant experience. The very idea of using some of these pressure tactics to sell a room goes against all that we stand for. I would rather go door to door selling vacuum cleaners than to pressure a weary traveler into booking under false pretense.
By theway, we survived the ordeal...but just barely. At the moment we are watching our first snow fall as we sip morning coffee that someone else made! Cancelled flights, late nights in unplanned hotels and bad airport food are hopefully in our past!
.
Click to expand...
There are certain dates around here where finding a room within 60 miles is almost impossible. Booking ahead of time is required. But there are still those who don't book ahead and I had DAYS of the phone calls looking for a room, any room. And what was available on BDC and XPDA was either there only early in the morning for a few minutes (as cancellations came in) or so overpriced! There are just places where last minute is never a good idea.
 
Sugar Bear said:
Silverspoon said:
Madeleine said:
It's interesting. Because on bdc it is also combined with a show of limited quantity. '4 people are looking at this property' and you see there are only 2 rooms.
It's going to get overused pretty quickly I think.
But, yes, it does cause panic..
Click to expand...
Well, you all know that as a B&B we do not use on-line booking. We have been a successful small B&B for a quarter of a century and have managed fine without it. But, since we are the exception, and since third party booking is rampant for hotels, we have recently personall had the displeasure of experiencing bdc and ex ped ia first hand as we scrambled to find last minute lodging in London.
It was not a pleasant experience. It seems that rates change minute to minute. Rooms are available...and then they are not. We finally ended up over paying for a room only to find upon arrival at 11pm that the hotel was sold out. It was NOT a pleasant experience. The very idea of using some of these pressure tactics to sell a room goes against all that we stand for. I would rather go door to door selling vacuum cleaners than to pressure a weary traveler into booking under false pretense.
By theway, we survived the ordeal...but just barely. At the moment we are watching our first snow fall as we sip morning coffee that someone else made! Cancelled flights, late nights in unplanned hotels and bad airport food are hopefully in our past!
.
Click to expand...
There are certain dates around here where finding a room within 60 miles is almost impossible. Booking ahead of time is required. But there are still those who don't book ahead and I had DAYS of the phone calls looking for a room, any room. And what was available on BDC and XPDA was either there only early in the morning for a few minutes (as cancellations came in) or so overpriced! There are just places where last minute is never a good idea.
.
Click to expand...
Sugar Bear said:
There are certain dates around here where finding a room within 60 miles is almost impossible. Booking ahead of time is required. But there are still those who don't book ahead and I had DAYS of the phone calls looking for a room, any room. And what was available on BDC and XPDA was either there only early in the morning for a few minutes (as cancellations came in) or so overpriced! There are just places where last minute is never a good idea.
Click to expand...
Same here. We have dates book up way in advance (up to a year in some cases). We get tons of last minute calls too. On those dates if we had 20 rooms we could fill them easily!
 
Sugar Bear said:
Silverspoon said:
Madeleine said:
It's interesting. Because on bdc it is also combined with a show of limited quantity. '4 people are looking at this property' and you see there are only 2 rooms.
It's going to get overused pretty quickly I think.
But, yes, it does cause panic..
Click to expand...
Well, you all know that as a B&B we do not use on-line booking. We have been a successful small B&B for a quarter of a century and have managed fine without it. But, since we are the exception, and since third party booking is rampant for hotels, we have recently personall had the displeasure of experiencing bdc and ex ped ia first hand as we scrambled to find last minute lodging in London.
It was not a pleasant experience. It seems that rates change minute to minute. Rooms are available...and then they are not. We finally ended up over paying for a room only to find upon arrival at 11pm that the hotel was sold out. It was NOT a pleasant experience. The very idea of using some of these pressure tactics to sell a room goes against all that we stand for. I would rather go door to door selling vacuum cleaners than to pressure a weary traveler into booking under false pretense.
By theway, we survived the ordeal...but just barely. At the moment we are watching our first snow fall as we sip morning coffee that someone else made! Cancelled flights, late nights in unplanned hotels and bad airport food are hopefully in our past!
.
Click to expand...
There are certain dates around here where finding a room within 60 miles is almost impossible. Booking ahead of time is required. But there are still those who don't book ahead and I had DAYS of the phone calls looking for a room, any room. And what was available on BDC and XPDA was either there only early in the morning for a few minutes (as cancellations came in) or so overpriced! There are just places where last minute is never a good idea.
.
Click to expand...
we have this the same - this weekend was a good example 34,000 people come for the autumn flower show + same dates 2,000 people come for the Pets and Aquatics show the saturday night is obviously a premium and most places have a 3 night minimum - we managed to get a few people sorted with last minute cancellations but its been a zoo
However what drives me mad is I will say - there is a room at X I would ring right now and book it - Guest "oh no we will keep on looking" and head off up the road where I have just told them every place up their is full
 
[email protected] said:
Sugar Bear said:
Silverspoon said:
Madeleine said:
It's interesting. Because on bdc it is also combined with a show of limited quantity. '4 people are looking at this property' and you see there are only 2 rooms.
It's going to get overused pretty quickly I think.
But, yes, it does cause panic..
Click to expand...
Well, you all know that as a B&B we do not use on-line booking. We have been a successful small B&B for a quarter of a century and have managed fine without it. But, since we are the exception, and since third party booking is rampant for hotels, we have recently personall had the displeasure of experiencing bdc and ex ped ia first hand as we scrambled to find last minute lodging in London.
It was not a pleasant experience. It seems that rates change minute to minute. Rooms are available...and then they are not. We finally ended up over paying for a room only to find upon arrival at 11pm that the hotel was sold out. It was NOT a pleasant experience. The very idea of using some of these pressure tactics to sell a room goes against all that we stand for. I would rather go door to door selling vacuum cleaners than to pressure a weary traveler into booking under false pretense.
By theway, we survived the ordeal...but just barely. At the moment we are watching our first snow fall as we sip morning coffee that someone else made! Cancelled flights, late nights in unplanned hotels and bad airport food are hopefully in our past!
.
Click to expand...
There are certain dates around here where finding a room within 60 miles is almost impossible. Booking ahead of time is required. But there are still those who don't book ahead and I had DAYS of the phone calls looking for a room, any room. And what was available on BDC and XPDA was either there only early in the morning for a few minutes (as cancellations came in) or so overpriced! There are just places where last minute is never a good idea.
.
Click to expand...
we have this the same - this weekend was a good example 34,000 people come for the autumn flower show + same dates 2,000 people come for the Pets and Aquatics show the saturday night is obviously a premium and most places have a 3 night minimum - we managed to get a few people sorted with last minute cancellations but its been a zoo
However what drives me mad is I will say - there is a room at X I would ring right now and book it - Guest "oh no we will keep on looking" and head off up the road where I have just told them every place up their is full
.
Click to expand...
[email protected] said:
However what drives me mad is I will say - there is a room at X I would ring right now and book it - Guest "oh no we will keep on looking" and head off up the road where I have just told them every place up their is full
Click to expand...
I do the same thing here. No rooms at most places and I will say, 'Here, let me call some other places so you don't have to wander around looking.'
Nope. They want to wander on their own.
 
Madeleine said:
[email protected] said:
Sugar Bear said:
Silverspoon said:
Madeleine said:
It's interesting. Because on bdc it is also combined with a show of limited quantity. '4 people are looking at this property' and you see there are only 2 rooms.
It's going to get overused pretty quickly I think.
But, yes, it does cause panic..
Click to expand...
Well, you all know that as a B&B we do not use on-line booking. We have been a successful small B&B for a quarter of a century and have managed fine without it. But, since we are the exception, and since third party booking is rampant for hotels, we have recently personall had the displeasure of experiencing bdc and ex ped ia first hand as we scrambled to find last minute lodging in London.
It was not a pleasant experience. It seems that rates change minute to minute. Rooms are available...and then they are not. We finally ended up over paying for a room only to find upon arrival at 11pm that the hotel was sold out. It was NOT a pleasant experience. The very idea of using some of these pressure tactics to sell a room goes against all that we stand for. I would rather go door to door selling vacuum cleaners than to pressure a weary traveler into booking under false pretense.
By theway, we survived the ordeal...but just barely. At the moment we are watching our first snow fall as we sip morning coffee that someone else made! Cancelled flights, late nights in unplanned hotels and bad airport food are hopefully in our past!
.
Click to expand...
There are certain dates around here where finding a room within 60 miles is almost impossible. Booking ahead of time is required. But there are still those who don't book ahead and I had DAYS of the phone calls looking for a room, any room. And what was available on BDC and XPDA was either there only early in the morning for a few minutes (as cancellations came in) or so overpriced! There are just places where last minute is never a good idea.
.
Click to expand...
we have this the same - this weekend was a good example 34,000 people come for the autumn flower show + same dates 2,000 people come for the Pets and Aquatics show the saturday night is obviously a premium and most places have a 3 night minimum - we managed to get a few people sorted with last minute cancellations but its been a zoo
However what drives me mad is I will say - there is a room at X I would ring right now and book it - Guest "oh no we will keep on looking" and head off up the road where I have just told them every place up their is full
.
Click to expand...
[email protected] said:
However what drives me mad is I will say - there is a room at X I would ring right now and book it - Guest "oh no we will keep on looking" and head off up the road where I have just told them every place up their is full
Click to expand...
I do the same thing here. No rooms at most places and I will say, 'Here, let me call some other places so you don't have to wander around looking.'
Nope. They want to wander on their own.
.
Click to expand...
You know what I'm going to say, don't you? Stop doing that! You have enough to do and it's their problem. Let them sort it out. Give them the phone numbers if they are handy, tell them they can book you online. And then let it go! You aren't responsible for the world. You really aren't.
 
[email protected] said:
Sugar Bear said:
Silverspoon said:
Madeleine said:
It's interesting. Because on bdc it is also combined with a show of limited quantity. '4 people are looking at this property' and you see there are only 2 rooms.
It's going to get overused pretty quickly I think.
But, yes, it does cause panic..
Click to expand...
Well, you all know that as a B&B we do not use on-line booking. We have been a successful small B&B for a quarter of a century and have managed fine without it. But, since we are the exception, and since third party booking is rampant for hotels, we have recently personall had the displeasure of experiencing bdc and ex ped ia first hand as we scrambled to find last minute lodging in London.
It was not a pleasant experience. It seems that rates change minute to minute. Rooms are available...and then they are not. We finally ended up over paying for a room only to find upon arrival at 11pm that the hotel was sold out. It was NOT a pleasant experience. The very idea of using some of these pressure tactics to sell a room goes against all that we stand for. I would rather go door to door selling vacuum cleaners than to pressure a weary traveler into booking under false pretense.
By theway, we survived the ordeal...but just barely. At the moment we are watching our first snow fall as we sip morning coffee that someone else made! Cancelled flights, late nights in unplanned hotels and bad airport food are hopefully in our past!
.
Click to expand...
There are certain dates around here where finding a room within 60 miles is almost impossible. Booking ahead of time is required. But there are still those who don't book ahead and I had DAYS of the phone calls looking for a room, any room. And what was available on BDC and XPDA was either there only early in the morning for a few minutes (as cancellations came in) or so overpriced! There are just places where last minute is never a good idea.
.
Click to expand...
we have this the same - this weekend was a good example 34,000 people come for the autumn flower show + same dates 2,000 people come for the Pets and Aquatics show the saturday night is obviously a premium and most places have a 3 night minimum - we managed to get a few people sorted with last minute cancellations but its been a zoo
However what drives me mad is I will say - there is a room at X I would ring right now and book it - Guest "oh no we will keep on looking" and head off up the road where I have just told them every place up their is full
.
Click to expand...
Yup. You just have to let it go. Give them the info and let them do the rest. They are looking for the elusive Golden Goose and you aren't offering it.
Makes you want to give them the address to the worst place in town, just so they can learn the lesson.
 
I could have booked out several times last Saturday and it was by no means an obvious weekend.
We can not do multiple night stays, there are only a few other options nearby and seems everybody has a smart phone.
I have a small restaurant so get more questions about food than accommodation. There used to be a greasy spoon I could send the odd askers to, now closed however.
What I like is how they stare at the information I clearly post by the door and still wander in expecting a different answer.
 
Sugar Bear said:
Silverspoon said:
Madeleine said:
It's interesting. Because on bdc it is also combined with a show of limited quantity. '4 people are looking at this property' and you see there are only 2 rooms.
It's going to get overused pretty quickly I think.
But, yes, it does cause panic..
Click to expand...
Well, you all know that as a B&B we do not use on-line booking. We have been a successful small B&B for a quarter of a century and have managed fine without it. But, since we are the exception, and since third party booking is rampant for hotels, we have recently personall had the displeasure of experiencing bdc and ex ped ia first hand as we scrambled to find last minute lodging in London.
It was not a pleasant experience. It seems that rates change minute to minute. Rooms are available...and then they are not. We finally ended up over paying for a room only to find upon arrival at 11pm that the hotel was sold out. It was NOT a pleasant experience. The very idea of using some of these pressure tactics to sell a room goes against all that we stand for. I would rather go door to door selling vacuum cleaners than to pressure a weary traveler into booking under false pretense.
By theway, we survived the ordeal...but just barely. At the moment we are watching our first snow fall as we sip morning coffee that someone else made! Cancelled flights, late nights in unplanned hotels and bad airport food are hopefully in our past!
.
Click to expand...
There are certain dates around here where finding a room within 60 miles is almost impossible. Booking ahead of time is required. But there are still those who don't book ahead and I had DAYS of the phone calls looking for a room, any room. And what was available on BDC and XPDA was either there only early in the morning for a few minutes (as cancellations came in) or so overpriced! There are just places where last minute is never a good idea.
.
Click to expand...
Oh, it was not last minute by choice...heavens no! We made reservations months in advance but because of a cancelled flight we lost our original booking and arrived in London 24 hours later than expected.....too late to catch a train to our next destination.
We did have a CONFIRMED last minute reservation, made on ex ped ia, but it was not honored at the hotel. That was the point of my last post. Normally I would call the hotel directly but I did feel pressured into making this reservation ....and it was not a pleasant experience.
 
Madeleine said:
Silverspoon said:
Madeleine said:
It's interesting. Because on bdc it is also combined with a show of limited quantity. '4 people are looking at this property' and you see there are only 2 rooms.
It's going to get overused pretty quickly I think.
But, yes, it does cause panic..
Click to expand...
Well, you all know that as a B&B we do not use on-line booking. We have been a successful small B&B for a quarter of a century and have managed fine without it. But, since we are the exception, and since third party booking is rampant for hotels, we have recently personall had the displeasure of experiencing bdc and ex ped ia first hand as we scrambled to find last minute lodging in London.
It was not a pleasant experience. It seems that rates change minute to minute. Rooms are available...and then they are not. We finally ended up over paying for a room only to find upon arrival at 11pm that the hotel was sold out. It was NOT a pleasant experience. The very idea of using some of these pressure tactics to sell a room goes against all that we stand for. I would rather go door to door selling vacuum cleaners than to pressure a weary traveler into booking under false pretense.
By theway, we survived the ordeal...but just barely. At the moment we are watching our first snow fall as we sip morning coffee that someone else made! Cancelled flights, late nights in unplanned hotels and bad airport food are hopefully in our past!
.
Click to expand...
Glad you made it! Now, get off the computer and enjoy your precious time off!
.
Click to expand...
regular_smile.gif
Done!
 
Silverspoon said:
Sugar Bear said:
Silverspoon said:
Madeleine said:
It's interesting. Because on bdc it is also combined with a show of limited quantity. '4 people are looking at this property' and you see there are only 2 rooms.
It's going to get overused pretty quickly I think.
But, yes, it does cause panic..
Click to expand...
Well, you all know that as a B&B we do not use on-line booking. We have been a successful small B&B for a quarter of a century and have managed fine without it. But, since we are the exception, and since third party booking is rampant for hotels, we have recently personall had the displeasure of experiencing bdc and ex ped ia first hand as we scrambled to find last minute lodging in London.
It was not a pleasant experience. It seems that rates change minute to minute. Rooms are available...and then they are not. We finally ended up over paying for a room only to find upon arrival at 11pm that the hotel was sold out. It was NOT a pleasant experience. The very idea of using some of these pressure tactics to sell a room goes against all that we stand for. I would rather go door to door selling vacuum cleaners than to pressure a weary traveler into booking under false pretense.
By theway, we survived the ordeal...but just barely. At the moment we are watching our first snow fall as we sip morning coffee that someone else made! Cancelled flights, late nights in unplanned hotels and bad airport food are hopefully in our past!
.
Click to expand...
There are certain dates around here where finding a room within 60 miles is almost impossible. Booking ahead of time is required. But there are still those who don't book ahead and I had DAYS of the phone calls looking for a room, any room. And what was available on BDC and XPDA was either there only early in the morning for a few minutes (as cancellations came in) or so overpriced! There are just places where last minute is never a good idea.
.
Click to expand...
Oh, it was not last minute by choice...heavens no! We made reservations months in advance but because of a cancelled flight we lost our original booking and arrived in London 24 hours later than expected.....too late to catch a train to our next destination.
We did have a CONFIRMED last minute reservation, made on ex ped ia, but it was not honored at the hotel. That was the point of my last post. Normally I would call the hotel directly but I did feel pressured into making this reservation ....and it was not a pleasant experience.
.
Click to expand...
Did you call Expedia? The contract that all hotels have with Expedia is that if they don't honour a booking, for whatever reason, they are legally obliged to find you like accommodations. It's actually clearly spelled out in the contract. Expedia would have called the hotel and asked them to honour the contract or would have found you other accommodations and at the same time known that this hotel is violating the contract.
 
Sugar Bear said:
Silverspoon said:
Sugar Bear said:
Silverspoon said:
Madeleine said:
It's interesting. Because on bdc it is also combined with a show of limited quantity. '4 people are looking at this property' and you see there are only 2 rooms.
It's going to get overused pretty quickly I think.
But, yes, it does cause panic..
Click to expand...
Well, you all know that as a B&B we do not use on-line booking. We have been a successful small B&B for a quarter of a century and have managed fine without it. But, since we are the exception, and since third party booking is rampant for hotels, we have recently personall had the displeasure of experiencing bdc and ex ped ia first hand as we scrambled to find last minute lodging in London.
It was not a pleasant experience. It seems that rates change minute to minute. Rooms are available...and then they are not. We finally ended up over paying for a room only to find upon arrival at 11pm that the hotel was sold out. It was NOT a pleasant experience. The very idea of using some of these pressure tactics to sell a room goes against all that we stand for. I would rather go door to door selling vacuum cleaners than to pressure a weary traveler into booking under false pretense.
By theway, we survived the ordeal...but just barely. At the moment we are watching our first snow fall as we sip morning coffee that someone else made! Cancelled flights, late nights in unplanned hotels and bad airport food are hopefully in our past!
.
Click to expand...
There are certain dates around here where finding a room within 60 miles is almost impossible. Booking ahead of time is required. But there are still those who don't book ahead and I had DAYS of the phone calls looking for a room, any room. And what was available on BDC and XPDA was either there only early in the morning for a few minutes (as cancellations came in) or so overpriced! There are just places where last minute is never a good idea.
.
Click to expand...
Oh, it was not last minute by choice...heavens no! We made reservations months in advance but because of a cancelled flight we lost our original booking and arrived in London 24 hours later than expected.....too late to catch a train to our next destination.
We did have a CONFIRMED last minute reservation, made on ex ped ia, but it was not honored at the hotel. That was the point of my last post. Normally I would call the hotel directly but I did feel pressured into making this reservation ....and it was not a pleasant experience.
.
Click to expand...
Did you call Expedia? The contract that all hotels have with Expedia is that if they don't honour a booking, for whatever reason, they are legally obliged to find you like accommodations. It's actually clearly spelled out in the contract. Expedia would have called the hotel and asked them to honour the contract or would have found you other accommodations and at the same time known that this hotel is violating the contract.
.
Click to expand...
If its a bdc booking either the hotel is supposed to find you alternative accommodation of the same star rating or above and if there's a price difference refund the guest the difference.
I know, I've been there (not as a guest).
would be surprised if expd doesn't have a similar rule to stop large hotels routinely overbooking.
 
Highlands John said:
Sugar Bear said:
Silverspoon said:
Sugar Bear said:
Silverspoon said:
Madeleine said:
It's interesting. Because on bdc it is also combined with a show of limited quantity. '4 people are looking at this property' and you see there are only 2 rooms.
It's going to get overused pretty quickly I think.
But, yes, it does cause panic..
Click to expand...
Well, you all know that as a B&B we do not use on-line booking. We have been a successful small B&B for a quarter of a century and have managed fine without it. But, since we are the exception, and since third party booking is rampant for hotels, we have recently personall had the displeasure of experiencing bdc and ex ped ia first hand as we scrambled to find last minute lodging in London.
It was not a pleasant experience. It seems that rates change minute to minute. Rooms are available...and then they are not. We finally ended up over paying for a room only to find upon arrival at 11pm that the hotel was sold out. It was NOT a pleasant experience. The very idea of using some of these pressure tactics to sell a room goes against all that we stand for. I would rather go door to door selling vacuum cleaners than to pressure a weary traveler into booking under false pretense.
By theway, we survived the ordeal...but just barely. At the moment we are watching our first snow fall as we sip morning coffee that someone else made! Cancelled flights, late nights in unplanned hotels and bad airport food are hopefully in our past!
.
Click to expand...
There are certain dates around here where finding a room within 60 miles is almost impossible. Booking ahead of time is required. But there are still those who don't book ahead and I had DAYS of the phone calls looking for a room, any room. And what was available on BDC and XPDA was either there only early in the morning for a few minutes (as cancellations came in) or so overpriced! There are just places where last minute is never a good idea.
.
Click to expand...
Oh, it was not last minute by choice...heavens no! We made reservations months in advance but because of a cancelled flight we lost our original booking and arrived in London 24 hours later than expected.....too late to catch a train to our next destination.
We did have a CONFIRMED last minute reservation, made on ex ped ia, but it was not honored at the hotel. That was the point of my last post. Normally I would call the hotel directly but I did feel pressured into making this reservation ....and it was not a pleasant experience.
.
Click to expand...
Did you call Expedia? The contract that all hotels have with Expedia is that if they don't honour a booking, for whatever reason, they are legally obliged to find you like accommodations. It's actually clearly spelled out in the contract. Expedia would have called the hotel and asked them to honour the contract or would have found you other accommodations and at the same time known that this hotel is violating the contract.
.
Click to expand...
If its a bdc booking either the hotel is supposed to find you alternative accommodation of the same star rating or above and if there's a price difference refund the guest the difference.
I know, I've been there (not as a guest).
would be surprised if expd doesn't have a similar rule to stop large hotels routinely overbooking.
.
Click to expand...
Expedia does have exactly the same rule. When we had a no-show and we wanted to resell the extra days we were warned that if the guest showed up for any of the days that we would have to pay to re-accommodate.
 
Sugar Bear said:
Highlands John said:
Sugar Bear said:
Silverspoon said:
Sugar Bear said:
Silverspoon said:
Madeleine said:
It's interesting. Because on bdc it is also combined with a show of limited quantity. '4 people are looking at this property' and you see there are only 2 rooms.
It's going to get overused pretty quickly I think.
But, yes, it does cause panic..
Click to expand...
Well, you all know that as a B&B we do not use on-line booking. We have been a successful small B&B for a quarter of a century and have managed fine without it. But, since we are the exception, and since third party booking is rampant for hotels, we have recently personall had the displeasure of experiencing bdc and ex ped ia first hand as we scrambled to find last minute lodging in London.
It was not a pleasant experience. It seems that rates change minute to minute. Rooms are available...and then they are not. We finally ended up over paying for a room only to find upon arrival at 11pm that the hotel was sold out. It was NOT a pleasant experience. The very idea of using some of these pressure tactics to sell a room goes against all that we stand for. I would rather go door to door selling vacuum cleaners than to pressure a weary traveler into booking under false pretense.
By theway, we survived the ordeal...but just barely. At the moment we are watching our first snow fall as we sip morning coffee that someone else made! Cancelled flights, late nights in unplanned hotels and bad airport food are hopefully in our past!
.
Click to expand...
There are certain dates around here where finding a room within 60 miles is almost impossible. Booking ahead of time is required. But there are still those who don't book ahead and I had DAYS of the phone calls looking for a room, any room. And what was available on BDC and XPDA was either there only early in the morning for a few minutes (as cancellations came in) or so overpriced! There are just places where last minute is never a good idea.
.
Click to expand...
Oh, it was not last minute by choice...heavens no! We made reservations months in advance but because of a cancelled flight we lost our original booking and arrived in London 24 hours later than expected.....too late to catch a train to our next destination.
We did have a CONFIRMED last minute reservation, made on ex ped ia, but it was not honored at the hotel. That was the point of my last post. Normally I would call the hotel directly but I did feel pressured into making this reservation ....and it was not a pleasant experience.
.
Click to expand...
Did you call Expedia? The contract that all hotels have with Expedia is that if they don't honour a booking, for whatever reason, they are legally obliged to find you like accommodations. It's actually clearly spelled out in the contract. Expedia would have called the hotel and asked them to honour the contract or would have found you other accommodations and at the same time known that this hotel is violating the contract.
.
Click to expand...
If its a bdc booking either the hotel is supposed to find you alternative accommodation of the same star rating or above and if there's a price difference refund the guest the difference.
I know, I've been there (not as a guest).
would be surprised if expd doesn't have a similar rule to stop large hotels routinely overbooking.
.
Click to expand...
Expedia does have exactly the same rule. When we had a no-show and we wanted to resell the extra days we were warned that if the guest showed up for any of the days that we would have to pay to re-accommodate.
.
Click to expand...
Sugar Bear said:
Expedia does have exactly the same rule. When we had a no-show and we wanted to resell the extra days we were warned that if the guest showed up for any of the days that we would have to pay to re-accommodate.
Click to expand...
Really??? That's not fair, unless the guest is expected to pay the full booking.
 
Highlands John said:
Sugar Bear said:
Highlands John said:
Sugar Bear said:
Silverspoon said:
Sugar Bear said:
Silverspoon said:
Madeleine said:
It's interesting. Because on bdc it is also combined with a show of limited quantity. '4 people are looking at this property' and you see there are only 2 rooms.
It's going to get overused pretty quickly I think.
But, yes, it does cause panic..
Click to expand...
Well, you all know that as a B&B we do not use on-line booking. We have been a successful small B&B for a quarter of a century and have managed fine without it. But, since we are the exception, and since third party booking is rampant for hotels, we have recently personall had the displeasure of experiencing bdc and ex ped ia first hand as we scrambled to find last minute lodging in London.
It was not a pleasant experience. It seems that rates change minute to minute. Rooms are available...and then they are not. We finally ended up over paying for a room only to find upon arrival at 11pm that the hotel was sold out. It was NOT a pleasant experience. The very idea of using some of these pressure tactics to sell a room goes against all that we stand for. I would rather go door to door selling vacuum cleaners than to pressure a weary traveler into booking under false pretense.
By theway, we survived the ordeal...but just barely. At the moment we are watching our first snow fall as we sip morning coffee that someone else made! Cancelled flights, late nights in unplanned hotels and bad airport food are hopefully in our past!
.
Click to expand...
There are certain dates around here where finding a room within 60 miles is almost impossible. Booking ahead of time is required. But there are still those who don't book ahead and I had DAYS of the phone calls looking for a room, any room. And what was available on BDC and XPDA was either there only early in the morning for a few minutes (as cancellations came in) or so overpriced! There are just places where last minute is never a good idea.
.
Click to expand...
Oh, it was not last minute by choice...heavens no! We made reservations months in advance but because of a cancelled flight we lost our original booking and arrived in London 24 hours later than expected.....too late to catch a train to our next destination.
We did have a CONFIRMED last minute reservation, made on ex ped ia, but it was not honored at the hotel. That was the point of my last post. Normally I would call the hotel directly but I did feel pressured into making this reservation ....and it was not a pleasant experience.
.
Click to expand...
Did you call Expedia? The contract that all hotels have with Expedia is that if they don't honour a booking, for whatever reason, they are legally obliged to find you like accommodations. It's actually clearly spelled out in the contract. Expedia would have called the hotel and asked them to honour the contract or would have found you other accommodations and at the same time known that this hotel is violating the contract.
.
Click to expand...
If its a bdc booking either the hotel is supposed to find you alternative accommodation of the same star rating or above and if there's a price difference refund the guest the difference.
I know, I've been there (not as a guest).
would be surprised if expd doesn't have a similar rule to stop large hotels routinely overbooking.
.
Click to expand...
Expedia does have exactly the same rule. When we had a no-show and we wanted to resell the extra days we were warned that if the guest showed up for any of the days that we would have to pay to re-accommodate.
.
Click to expand...
Sugar Bear said:
Expedia does have exactly the same rule. When we had a no-show and we wanted to resell the extra days we were warned that if the guest showed up for any of the days that we would have to pay to re-accommodate.
Click to expand...
Really??? That's not fair, unless the guest is expected to pay the full booking.
.
Click to expand...
The guest did and we collected every last cent for the full four day stay (minus commission). But we couldn't resell without having to re-accommodate if they showed up even for the last day, because of the contract.
 
Sugar Bear said:
[email protected] said:
Sugar Bear said:
Silverspoon said:
Madeleine said:
It's interesting. Because on bdc it is also combined with a show of limited quantity. '4 people are looking at this property' and you see there are only 2 rooms.
It's going to get overused pretty quickly I think.
But, yes, it does cause panic..
Click to expand...
Well, you all know that as a B&B we do not use on-line booking. We have been a successful small B&B for a quarter of a century and have managed fine without it. But, since we are the exception, and since third party booking is rampant for hotels, we have recently personall had the displeasure of experiencing bdc and ex ped ia first hand as we scrambled to find last minute lodging in London.
It was not a pleasant experience. It seems that rates change minute to minute. Rooms are available...and then they are not. We finally ended up over paying for a room only to find upon arrival at 11pm that the hotel was sold out. It was NOT a pleasant experience. The very idea of using some of these pressure tactics to sell a room goes against all that we stand for. I would rather go door to door selling vacuum cleaners than to pressure a weary traveler into booking under false pretense.
By theway, we survived the ordeal...but just barely. At the moment we are watching our first snow fall as we sip morning coffee that someone else made! Cancelled flights, late nights in unplanned hotels and bad airport food are hopefully in our past!
.
Click to expand...
There are certain dates around here where finding a room within 60 miles is almost impossible. Booking ahead of time is required. But there are still those who don't book ahead and I had DAYS of the phone calls looking for a room, any room. And what was available on BDC and XPDA was either there only early in the morning for a few minutes (as cancellations came in) or so overpriced! There are just places where last minute is never a good idea.
.
Click to expand...
we have this the same - this weekend was a good example 34,000 people come for the autumn flower show + same dates 2,000 people come for the Pets and Aquatics show the saturday night is obviously a premium and most places have a 3 night minimum - we managed to get a few people sorted with last minute cancellations but its been a zoo
However what drives me mad is I will say - there is a room at X I would ring right now and book it - Guest "oh no we will keep on looking" and head off up the road where I have just told them every place up their is full
.
Click to expand...
Yup. You just have to let it go. Give them the info and let them do the rest. They are looking for the elusive Golden Goose and you aren't offering it.
Makes you want to give them the address to the worst place in town, just so they can learn the lesson.
.
Click to expand...
It was the worst place that they had been told didn't have their reservation ha ha ha! the owner of the worst place rang me on Monday and told me she was about 4 rooms over booked and her wifi had gone bezerk and could I close out her online booking, tried (she has 4 properties) got 2 closed and not the other 2 so there was still rooms showing and selling even at that point! ruddy disaster zone!
 

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