Online Travel Booking and Bidding Agencies - Does priceline track static IP addresses?

Saturday I made a number of priceline bids for various zones in Southern California. All were rejected (I guess it is peak season and I refuse to overbid).

On Sunday, my girlfriend registered with priceline. New account, different last name, different credit card number, different email and street addresses. After placing her bids for the same zones, she received the "you have already submitted a bid for this zone, you must change something" message.

The only thing in common (besides the bid itself) was that both were placed from the same computer on the same DSL line. We cleared the cookies and tried again, but the result was the same.

I do not think I have a static IP address as earthlink charges an extra fee for that type of service. So what gives? :confused:

Saturday I made a number of priceline bids for various zones in Southern California. All were rejected (I guess it is peak season and I refuse to overbid).

On Sunday, my girlfriend registered with priceline. New account, different last name, different credit card number, different email and street addresses. After placing her bids for the same zones, she received the "you have already submitted a bid for this zone, you must change something" message.

The only thing in common (besides the bid itself) was that both were placed from the same computer on the same DSL line. We cleared the cookies and tried again, but the result was the same.

I do not think I have a static IP address as earthlink charges an extra fee for that type of service. So what gives? :confused:

Typically I just use different browser. They might track the billing address.

Typically I just use different browser. They might track the billing address.

I use Explorer for one bid & Netscape for another bid. No problems. Same PC.

My experience has been that when using an multiple different name & CC & email/billing address etc I have been rejected, HOWEVER if I clean out my cache and cookies I have not been rejected.

try to log on the computer using different user accounts

Saturday I made a number of priceline bids for various zones in Southern California. All were rejected (I guess it is peak season and I refuse to overbid).

On Sunday, my girlfriend registered with priceline. New account, different last name, different credit card number, different email and street addresses. After placing her bids for the same zones, she received the "you have already submitted a bid for this zone, you must change something" message.

The only thing in common (besides the bid itself) was that both were placed from the same computer on the same DSL line. We cleared the cookies and tried again, but the result was the same.

I do not think I have a static IP address as earthlink charges an extra fee for that type of service. So what gives? :confused:

I do not think I have a static IP address as earthlink charges an extra fee for that type of service. I think you'll find that Earthlink charges a fee to guarantee a static IP address, but with a DSL (or cable) connection it's not unusual to have the same IP address for an extended period. I think the default issue period is on the order of a week...

I think you'll find that Earthlink charges a fee to guarantee a static IP address, but with a DSL (or cable) connection it's not unusual to have the same IP address for an extended period. I think the default issue period is on the order of a week...


you can also go to the command prompt and do a ipcofig/release and then ipcofig/renew to get a new IP...I bet it is the cache as mentioned above

Although you may have done it: after you clear out the cookies, I suggest closing and then reopening the browser.

Although you may have done it: after you clear out the cookies, I suggest closing and then reopening the browser.

Exactly the case. Of course you don't have to clear all cookies just the priceline one (some cookies do save time).

Further follow-up:

In the original instance, I neglected to mention that I cleared out the cookies and temp internet files, and opened a new browser window. The follow-up bids under the other account were still rejected.

Yesterday we had no trouble submitting multiple bids for the same zones from different computers (and different ISP connections). Not that it mattered - there was no priceline availability at any of the historical prices for the locations we needed. :(

A reminder once again, that it is generally better to bid earlier, rather than last minute, with a few notable exceptions (e.g. Wyndham Bel Age in LA). :cool: