Problem with TA

[bazzaw]

We are supposed to pay the deposit for the "3 Queens package" today.

 

Having "verbally" told the TA to go ahead and book these 3 cruises - and flights, we now find that the Cunard website has some considerable savings available by booking direct through them (about $1500) -- so what do I do?? Just cancel with the TA ? ask the TA to sharpen their pencil??

 

I am a bit embarrassed that I got a bit carried away and booked this before looking at the Cunard website. The website shows these savings as "discounts for online booking" - so does this mean that Cunard is undercutting the TA?? In this day of the Internet, I do feel a bit sorry for TA's - but in a case such as this , there is really nothing that I can't do online myself even booking the hotels and car transfers ( which are a part of the package ) is no difficulty to me. $1500 buys a lot of lollipops onboard

 

Thanks for any thoughts

 

Barry

[bobhsv]

I would do what any other honest aussie would do.......ring the TA, explain the price difference, giving them a chance to match, and go for the cheapest option. At least this way, you are not upsetting anyone. A business is a business, and if they can't match or better it....then this is extra money in your pockets, and quite a bit too. Think of how much perfume you can buy with this for your DW....lol.

Jen

[MMDown Under]

I would do what any other honest aussie would do.......ring the TA, explain the price difference, giving them a chance to match, and go for the cheapest option. At least this way, you are not upsetting anyone. A business is a business, and if they can't match or better it....then this is extra money in your pockets, and quite a bit too. Think of how much perfume you can buy with this for your DW....lol.

Jen

 

Agree 100%.

[MMDown Under]

I am a bit embarrassed that I got a bit carried away and booked this before looking at the Cunard website. The website shows these savings as "discounts for online booking" - so does this mean that Cunard is undercutting the TA?? In this day of the Internet, I do feel a bit sorry for TA's - but in a case such as this , there is really nothing that I can't do online myself even booking the hotels and car transfers ( which are a part of the package ) is no difficulty to me. $1500 buys a lot of lollipops onboard

 

Thanks for any thoughts

 

Barry

 

Don't feel embarrassed, as your TA would have known about the Cunard website offer.

 

I think it is a sign of the times, with people happy to use the Internet.

 

I just received a short survey from Qantas asking me to rate the experience of making a direct internet booking, from 1 to 10.

[happycruiser3]

We are supposed to pay the deposit for the "3 Queens package" today.

 

Having "verbally" told the TA to go ahead and book these 3 cruises - and flights, we now find that the Cunard website has some considerable savings available by booking direct through them (about $1500) -- so what do I do?? Just cancel with the TA ? ask the TA to sharpen their pencil??

 

I am a bit embarrassed that I got a bit carried away and booked this before looking at the Cunard website. The website shows these savings as "discounts for online booking" - so does this mean that Cunard is undercutting the TA?? In this day of the Internet, I do feel a bit sorry for TA's - but in a case such as this , there is really nothing that I can't do online myself even booking the hotels and car transfers ( which are a part of the package ) is no difficulty to me. $1500 buys a lot of lollipops onboard

 

Thanks for any thoughts

 

Barry

 

 

Hello Barry, :)

 

You have prompted us to make enquiries regarding this cruise.

 

I am having trouble finding it on the Cunard site, can you point me in the right direction.

 

Regards,

Trish :)

[patseacruiser]

If that price is on Cunard's website then your TA should have the same pricing.

[rugbypopsie]

Another vote for talk to your T/A.:D I guess we all feel silly when we fall into a trap a timely reminder for us all that you always need to do your research...cars, boats, planes..travel insurance everything.

[bazzaw]

:o:o:o:o:o:o

 

I am old/experienced enough to know better. But somewhere deep down in my psyche, I identified a "package" as something where the sum of the parts was larger than the whole. In this case, it turned out that the sum of the parts was smaller than the whole - in other words, cheaper to book each individual bit than take the whole package.

 

Anyway, embarrassment aside - I got a reduction of $1100 on the "deal".

 

TRISH

 

This is not a single cruise - it is a "back to back" cruise whereby 3 cruises feed one another. Look for QV sailing 08 May, QE sailing 23 May and QM2 sailing 05 Jun. Extras needed are flights to/from London ( plenty of availability and reasonable airfares available right now) , hotel in London on arrival, one night hotel in Southampton, and transprt to/from Southampton/london.

 

it didn't really need a TA to put a package together - you can do it yourself for the same cost as the package.

 

However - as described in the package - it WAS/IS a very attractive "package" to us.

 

I suspect that the cause of the sum pof the individual components adding up to less than the package was because Cunard has dropped fares since the package was initially compiled - or something like that.

 

I have at least learned that I should check direct cruiseline websites before accepting TA specialist quote!!!

 

Barry

[icat2000]

Give the TA a chance to match but give them a deadline. You don't want to miss the web offer either while the TA is mucking around.

[happycruiser3]

I am old/experienced enough to know better. But somewhere deep down in my psyche, I identified a "package" as something where the sum of the parts was larger than the whole. In this case, it turned out that the sum of the parts was smaller than the whole - in other words, cheaper to book each individual bit than take the whole package.

 

 

:) Many thanks Barry, I suspected that I would have to look at the individual cruises, add the air and accom. and take it from there.

 

This will be my weekend project and I will see how it comes out against the package. We would be looking at a balcony so would have to see the prices of the different categories.

 

Thank you for taking the time to reply, you never know we might see you on board.

 

Best wishes,

Trish :)

[bazzaw]

Trish

 

One considerable cost to this "package" (whether you book the individual components yourself or not) is the cost of accommodation in London and Southampton and the cost of transport to/from London. Those two things depend largely on your requirements eg standard of hotel and whether a train ride or private car. For us the cost of those things amounted to 1/5 of the cost of the return airfares!!:eek:

 

Let me know if you decide to do this - I don't think there will be much of a roll call. BTW, the info provided by the TA said that we were going to KRISTIANSUND in Norway on QV. We are in fact going to KRISTIANSAND - both on the coast , but two entirely different places.

 

Barry

[Kinkacruiser]

Sounds like a great cruise, Barry. I have to empathise with TA's who must be finding it tough as they compete with the cruiseline's online bookings. Is there much commission involved?

[oysterfiend]

Trish

 

One considerable cost to this "package" (whether you book the individual components yourself or not) is the cost of accommodation in London and Southampton and the cost of transport to/from London. Those two things depend largely on your requirements eg standard of hotel and whether a train ride or private car. For us the cost of those things amounted to 1/5 of the cost of the return airfares!!:eek:

 

Let me know if you decide to do this - I don't think there will be much of a roll call. BTW, the info provided by the TA said that we were going to KRISTIANSUND in Norway on QV. We are in fact going to KRISTIANSAND - both on the coast , but two entirely different places.

 

Barry

 

Excuse my ignorance but were you better off staying with the TA or booking each component yourself. I am getting old and easily confused:confused::eek:

[bazzaw]

Anna

Is there much commission involved?

 

I have no idea

 

Oysterfiend

 

We still booked the package through the TA. She wasn't perturbed by it at all and said that "the package" came to them via a wholesaler. She just presented the situation to the wholesaler and they came back with another price for the package(which we accepted).

 

I think that in regard to TA's losing business to the Internet - undoubtedly they are BUT I have yet to see a TA in a shopping centre yet that doesn't have a great queue of people doing business with them. In fact, one of the reason I don't like doing business through a TA is because of the factory production line aspect they have.

 

Barry

[oysterfiend]

Excellent outcome-

everyone saves face and you have kept your relationship sweet with your TA,

who can in some cases can be very useful and worth the dosh in commissions.;)

[rkmw]

Sounds like a great cruise, Barry. I have to empathise with TA's who must be finding it tough as they compete with the cruiseline's online bookings. Is there much commission involved?

 

Anna, that online site i booked the Hawaii cruise first up is charging $2000 more than the Princess line....for that price i would book with Princess direct and thats what we did......pays to shop around

 

bob