Quandary over perceived bait & switch

I doubt that it would come to that either but companies can certainly figure out who is posting what based on the details divulged in such postings. Who knows, Princess might be inclined to withdraw their generous offer based on OP's attempt to make them look bad (and accusing a company of using bait and switch tactics does that).

You are forgetting that this thread actually would work in the pax favor

The op made 1 post and clearly explained what happened

The subsequent posts were responses and opinions and suggestions

I read several suggestions implying that princess should honor the price not the other way around

However...if I were the judge...I might be inclined to admonish princess...

Judge to princess: are you saying a pax called in to confirm the price and your cs rep did in fact confirm it? Booked it for him? Offered to hold it for his friends? Then a few hours later you had the inconsideration to send him an email that increased the price by $1800? Not even a call from management but an email? You then agreed to $499 which reduced the price you wanted him to pay by $1300? Would it have been so difficult to reduce it another $400 thus giving the pax/plaintiff the price you booked him at via your cvs rep on the phone?

Judge: Judgement in favor of plaintiff. Princess cut him a check for an additional $400 plus court cost and attorney cost (if any) and an additional $5000 in punitive damages. Princess you could could have avoided this by just absorbing your mistake due to your error because the pax/plaintiff called to confirm price and was told it was correct

Case closed.

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Sorry… This is a little long.

 

 

 

Yesterday, I went online to Princess’ website to check out the last minute deals. Right in front of me there was a listing for a 7 night Alaska cruise for $90 for an inside cabin and $91 for a mini-suite. Not believing my eyes, I decided to check it out. On two different web pages it showed that price, but when I tried to book it, the screen kept getting hung up. I called their reservation line and got a wonderful agent who about fell over when she saw that pricing on her system as well and immediately told me that if I wanted to book it I should hurry and do it right then and there. So I did. We are Platinum Elite and also got a complimentary upgrade. After we were done with the booking (and paid for 100%), I made a comment that I was going to tell my friends we travel with to see if they wanted to come too.

 

 

 

The agent was so helpful, she immediately found my friendsin the loyalty program and also said this was a “Share the Savings” cruise, sothey could get the same rate we got! Amazing! So she made areservation for them under a courtesy hold for 24 hours.

 

 

 

Needless to say a few hours later a member of “management”left me a voice mail to say the pricing was wrong and they had re-priced itbecause a “zero fare” did not exist and they were very sorry. The price went from $91pp to $1939pp.

 

 

 

Long story short, I have been round and round with“management” and they have reduced the fare to $499pp. For a mini-suite. Now, I realize that is an extraordinary farefor a 7 night cruise in a mini-suite….don’t get me wrong; and I understand thatsometimes websites have incorrect pricing, but I did my due diligence bycalling into Princess directly to verify the fare. Their booking system had this fare in it andI paid for my cruise in full at the time of booking. To me they should honor what they sold me.

 

 

 

Am I looking a gift horse in the mouth? Should I just suck it up and take their offeror should I keep fighting for what I paid for? It’s a frustrating situation, especially considering how "helpful" their agent was to book the trip in the first place. :rolleyes:

This is an excellent post. You are correct

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I think we'd like to believe that but it is unlikely that any such connection will be made between a specific customer and some random person on the Internet.

With so many specifics posted as well as adding the friend. Not all that hard to identify iMO

OP said he made payment. That narrows the list.

You are forgetting that this thread actually would work in the pax favor

 

The op made 1 post and clearly explained what happened

 

The subsequent posts were responses and opinions and suggestions

 

I read several suggestions implying that princess should honor the price not the other way around

 

 

However...if I were the judge...I might be inclined to admonish princess...

 

 

Judge to princess: are you saying a pax called in to confirm the price and your cs rep did in fact confirm it? Booked it for him? Offered to hold it for his friends? Then a few hours later you had the inconsideration to send him an email that increased the price by $1800? Not even a call from management but an email? You then agreed to $499 which reduced the price you wanted him to pay by $1300? Would it have been so difficult to reduce it another $400 thus giving the pax/plaintiff the price you booked him at via your cvs rep on the phone?

 

Judge: Judgement in favor of plaintiff. Princess cut him a check for an additional $400 plus court cost and attorney cost (if any) and an additional $5000 in punitive damages. Princess you could could have avoided this by just absorbing your mistake due to your error because the pax/plaintiff called to confirm price and was told it was correct

 

Case closed.

 

 

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I don't think the law quite works that way and I was thinking more along the lines of Princess rescinding it's offer because of the negativity of OP's post than it ending up in court.

I don't think the law quite works that way and I was thinking more along the lines of Princess rescinding it's offer because of the negativity of OP's post than it ending up in court.

I believe you are correct. I very much doubt that any court would find that a company has only one chance to catch an error (which even the claimant saw as incredible) before so enriching the claimant - well beyond the extremely generous settlement the line did make.

More likely the court would remark to the claimant: "are you kidding?".

You are forgetting that this thread actually would work in the pax favor

There are enough details for Princess to make the connection.

 

And trust me, vendors CAN make the connection.

 

Years ago, I posted about a situation with a friend and a used car they had purchased that was having difficulties. The friend was a financial manager, so not someone you want upset at your company. They figured out who it was, and made it right. And there was not as much info as the OP has given.

I know for a f act, there are times ship's officers have identified cruisers name and cabin number despite them only providing their post name on the forums and not an abundance of info.

A high level ship's officer approached me while on a ship and asked if I WAS 'SAIL'? How did he know'" ? :D He was right and though I had posted some info, never my 'real name ', cabin number but clearly enough info he was able to play on hi s computer and maifest and we came to enjoy very lovely friendship for many years and many sailings. :)

And to a great extent, your post underscores why there is very little chance that any such connection between poster and passenger would ever be undertaken. Besides the implausibility and lack of legal merit, it is as likely as not to be pointless as well.

Sorry, I disagree, as real l life personal experience, has t aught me differently.

I don't think the law quite works that way and I was thinking more along the lines of Princess rescinding it's offer because of the negativity of OP's post than it ending up in court.

Did you not read...IF I were the judge. Lol

My post was not meant to be of any legal standing at all....but rather to stress.....the Princess is wrong here...be it their computer programmer...their cs rep...or the manager who sent the email..

But fwiw...the cs rep bears the brunt of the responsibility

AND

If princess could accept $499 from the pax when it originally wanted $1800 they most certainly SHOULD have honored the $99 price

It would have only cost $400 for princess to admit their mistake as they agreed to $499 after reneging on the website price that the cs rep booked for them

Cs rep probably could use some additional training too

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^^

I agree

Did you not read...IF I were the judge. Lol

 

 

My post was not meant to be of any legal standing at all....but rather to stress.....the Princess is wrong here...be it their computer programmer...their cs rep...or the manager who sent the email..

 

But fwiw...the cs rep bears the brunt of the responsibility

 

AND

 

If princess could accept $499 from the pax when it originally wanted $1800 they most certainly SHOULD have honored the $99 price

 

It would have only cost $400 for princess to admit their mistake as they agreed to $499 after reneging on the website price that the cs rep booked for them

 

Cs rep probably could use some additional training too

 

 

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Yes, I did see the "if" but you wouldn't have had the legal authority as a judge to render such a ruling because the law is on Princess's side. Princess is under no legal obligation to respect the incorrect price and I for one think they went above and beyond with the $499pp offer. They did say the price was wrong and did therefore admit it was a mistake. Yes, they could have honored the wrong price but I don't think badly of them for not doing so.

Yes, I did see the "if" but you wouldn't have had the legal authority as a judge to render such a ruling because the law is on Princess's side. Princess is under no legal obligation to respect the incorrect price and I for one think they went above and beyond with the $499pp offer. They did say the price was wrong and did therefore admit it was a mistake. Yes, they could have honored the wrong price but I don't think badly of them for not doing so.

Oh geez. Relax the post was meant to simply point out.....

Princess should have honored the $99

But if it makes you happy....yes...of course...$499 is excellent

The cs rep is incompent as is the programmer as well as the manager who thought an email was the way to respond.

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The cs rep is incompent as is the programmer as well as the manager who thought an email was the way to respond.

This message may have been entered via voice recognition. Please excuse any typos.

I think Princess might have a problem. If an advertiser makes an honest mistake in advertising they they are generally not bound to honor the error. However, the OP says that Princess did accept the booking at the low fare and accepted payment for the cruise. Once they accept payment ("consideration) there now exists a valid contract. If there are some lawyers out there, where am I going wrong.

Hank

I think Princess might have a problem. If an advertiser makes an honest mistake in advertising they they are generally not bound to honor the error. However, the OP says that Princess did accept the booking at the low fare and accepted payment for the cruise. Once they accept payment ("consideration) there now exists a valid contract. If there are some lawyers out there, where am I going wrong.

 

Hank

In accordance with Cornell Law, a valid contract involves: "mutual assent expressed by a valid offer and acceptance; adequate consideration; capacity and legality".

The adequacy of the "consideration" in this case is clearly questionable.

As I understand it Vermont law would also apply to an internet transaction such as this, although I'm not sure if the protection would be as great as what is afforded to California consumers. Many states have laws that protect their consumers in such a fashion.

 

 

 

With that said it sounds to me like it's a matter of an advertised price that is wrong and the "store clerk" didn't realize it. Merchants are not bound to honor a mistake in advertising and are allowed to correct it (and while the sale had been completed in this case it would be similar to a consumer ordering something at an incorrect price and the merchant realizing the error before delivery took place). Personally I would be happy with the reduced price for the mini-suite and call it a day.

I agree, It a win win situation.... Princess covers there cost for food and taxes if that. And you get a great deal..... We all forget at times that the more we try to get from the cruise lines or even airlines. Is just passed onto rest of the folks, Fares go up!!!!!!!

We all know it was mistake

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Is it probably going to cost you $400 to fight it, and probably not win? Very likely. Will you also lose that $499 deal along the way? Very likely. You can be right or you can be on a cheap cruise. Take your pick.

it appears to be a computer click... not bait and switch...

Is it probably going to cost you $400 to fight it, and probably not win? Very likely. Will you also lose that $499 deal along the way? Very likely. You can be right or you can be on a cheap cruise. Take your pick.

iI agree, For OP, it is a business decision, not who is right or wrong. Take the bargain and enjoy the cruise.

Hope the IRS is not watching this board. Just as in a Casino, you have won a lot of money by paying so little than the regular sale fare for your cabin. Even now it is a

$1500 win for you. $99 for a 7 day cruise is ridiculous price even for telemarketers who call about “Free cruises”.

Hope the IRS is not watching this board. Just as in a Casino, you have won a lot of money by paying so little than the regular sale fare for your cabin. Even now it is a

$1500 win for you. $99 for a 7 day cruise is ridiculous price even for telemarketers who call about “Free cruises”.

Interesting point - I'm sure the IRS would like the lucky cruiser to declare it, but this does look like the kind of benefit that would not be taxable - just a great purchase.

Hope the IRS is not watching this board. Just as in a Casino, you have won a lot of money by paying so little than the regular sale fare for your cabin. Even now it is a

 

$1500 win for you. $99 for a 7 day cruise is ridiculous price even for telemarketers who call about “Free cruises”.

Very good point....... but let’s drill on this [emoji51]

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Interesting point - I'm sure the IRS would like the lucky cruiser to declare it, but this does look like the kind of benefit that would not be taxable - just a great purchase.

You are right, this would not count as income, it's similar to buying something at 75% off or receiving a rebate on a car.

Hope the IRS is not watching this board. Just as in a Casino, you have won a lot of money by paying so little than the regular sale fare for your cabin. Even now it is a

 

$1500 win for you. $99 for a 7 day cruise is ridiculous price even for telemarketers who call about “Free cruises”.

Please dont tell me you file your own taxes. Based on your post just pay someone to do them ok

Disclaimer: I assume your post was an attempt at levity

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