Online Travel Booking and Bidding Agencies - Another use for the 'Amex Open for Business' $10 Card (Priceline)

For those fortunate to get in on the $10 Amex "Open for Business" freebie (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=474594), save your cards. They are good on "probing the lines" for priceline bids (even if the value is zero) and can play a role in helping to determine if you're bidding too much.

Here what you do:

1. Bid on priceline using the "10 Point" card as your credit card.
2. If priceline comes back asking for another card, you now know your bid would have been successful.
3. You can then switch to a different browser, use a real card, and bid a lower amount.
4. If the lower amount is accepted, you've saved money (over your original "too high" bid).
5. If it is rejected use the 'free rebid' strategy, add another useless zone and increase your bid (up to where you know it will be accepted)
6. Repeat as necessary (until July, when the cards expire)

I think I may try this..........

Thanks for posting, skofarrell, this sounds like a great idea.

What if we do not have one of these free cards? Can you use any prepaid type card and do this?

Wow, that's a great idea! I have ~$1 left on that card, so I can def put it to good use...

What if we do not have one of these free cards? Can you use any prepaid type card and do this?

Any low value card should work. They key is to ensure the charge won't go through.

Interesting tip...

I would have NEVER thought of that. Thanks!

There is an easier way.

I've been using this trick for a while, but without using the amex card. Just simply put in your credit card's security code wrong, if the bid is rejected, its normal, if priceline asks you for the correct code, then your bid was accepted.

ooh la la ^

Good ideas. But I use a different one. I start my bidding lower so that my first bid is rarely if ever accepted. Then I use a concept called free rebidding or multiple immediate rebidding for the same zone(s) I want a hotel in without changing dates or compromising on the zone(s) I want. Works great too.

Your suggestion works especially good for last-minute bids when you must bid for same-day or next-day use, especially in smaller cities where there is only one or a couple of zones.

Thanks for all the good ideas,I never would of thought of them.

That's pretty slick, I used mine to reload my starbuck's card.... any try to use them on paypal?

Good ideas. But I use a different one. I start my bidding lower so that my first bid is rarely if ever accepted. Then I use a concept called free rebidding or multiple immediate rebidding for the same zone(s) I want a hotel in without changing dates or compromising on the zone(s) I want. Works great too.

That's risky, though, because you never know when a 2.5* has been upgraded to a 3* (or vice-versa). Or, you never know when a new hotel joins Priceline and hasn't been added to the list at BetterBidding or BFT. Free-rebids are great, but use carefully. :)

The wrong security code thing is a good idea. If it gives you the error, will it count your bid as a successful bid attempt and prevent you from bidding lower with the correct security code?

That's risky, though, because you never know when a 2.5* has been upgraded to a 3* (or vice-versa). Or, you never know when a new hotel joins Priceline and hasn't been added to the list at BetterBidding or BFT. Free-rebids are great, but use carefully. :)

The wrong security code thing is a good idea. If it gives you the error, will it count your bid as a successful bid attempt and prevent you from bidding lower with the correct security code?

I have been using various variations of this for years. If it would have accepted your bid, it asks for another CC...allowing you to enter a the right code. Another way is if you have an MBNA MC account, you can create a virtual card with whatever limit you please...as many times as you want.

it seems like i heard someone on FT talk about a site that helps you place bids on priceline.. is there such a thing that can tell you what hotels you may end up at with bidding a certain price? I am scared I am going to get stuck at a hotel from priceline that does not offer highspeed internet or something haha..

it seems like i heard someone on FT talk about a site that helps you place bids on priceline.. is there such a thing that can tell you what hotels you may end up at with bidding a certain price? I am scared I am going to get stuck at a hotel from priceline that does not offer highspeed internet or something haha..


http://www.betterbidding.com/


http://p070.ezboard.com/bpricelineandexpediabidding

There is an easier way.

I've been using this trick for a while, but without using the amex card. Just simply put in your credit card's security code wrong, if the bid is rejected, its normal, if priceline asks you for the correct code, then your bid was accepted.

This is how I've been doing it! I've also used old gift cards too - hopefully PL won't catch on!

Thanks OP!

Anyone who does this is committing credit card fraud.

Does FlyerTalk want to be an accessory to this crime?

Anyone who does this is committing credit card fraud.

Does FlyerTalk want to be an accessory to this crime?

What "fraud"? As long as they pay in the end, how is that fraud.
It's not like you are actually bidding in an real auction, as PL wants people to think. So, this gives you a better chance to see what PL's "real" acceptable price is and not pay any additional charge

What "fraud"? As long as they pay in the end, how is that fraud.
It's not like you are actually bidding in an real auction, as PL wants people to think. So, this gives you a better chance to see what PL's "real" acceptable price is and not pay any additional charge
IMHO, credit card fraud would be giving them a card number and not intending to pay. If I were to do this with old cards or cards without enough credit, I would still be obligated to pay the price and PL wouldn't give me a room without a valid card.

From Priceline's Terms & Conditions:

It is a violation of law to place a Request in a false name or with an invalid method of payment. Please be aware that even if you do not give us your real name, your web browser transmits a unique Internet address to us that can be used by law enforcement officials to identify you. Fraudulent users will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

I am moving this to travel bidding, since is moving off topic for SPAM.

Just because a company says its a violation of the law to do something, doesn't mean that it really is. And as for using DC's (debit card) - they are a valid method of payment - Now whether your balance on your DC is enough to cover your costs & bid price is another story...

PL says its illegal because it probably is. Its called Federal Wire Fraud.
Not that the US attorney is going to chase you down for it...but its probably illegal.

Wire fraud/mail fraud statutes are nasty and they will catch a lot of this shady online activity.

"Whoever, having devised or intending to devise any scheme or artifice to defraud, or for obtaining money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations or promises, transmits or causes to be transmitted by means of wire, radio, or television communication in interstate or foreign commerce, any writings, signs, signals, pictures, or sounds for the purpose of executing such scheme or artifice, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both. If the violation affects a financial institution, such person shall be fined not more than $1,000,000 or imprisoned not more than 30 years, or both."

18 USC 1343

I certainly don't have the time ,or inclination,to investigate whether this is in fact "wire fraud" or illegal. To answer Sheryl's accusation that FT,by allowing open discussion, is somehow an "accessory": I don't think so.
I think that two different opinions have been given. I believe that having open disussions is one reason FT is so popular and her site is losing its "fans".
I personally would not use an old AX card, but I'm not going to dictate what others should do.

From Priceline's Terms & Conditions:

A CC with only $10 is NOT an invalid method of payment, if a debit or credit card with not enough balance is considered a crime, then the police better start patrolling around the grocery store in case some poor schmuck tries to buy groceries without enough cash in their account...

Entering the wrong security code is also NOT an invalid method of payment, and Priceline will have a mighty hard time proving you entered the wrong code on purpose and not by mistake.

I think these tips are great, thanks Skofarrell!

The more I look at ,the more I agree with you Scott. All this seems to be is another way to "beat the PL system". BFT gives many suggestions that do the same, like "adding a zone that has only up to a lower quality level than you are bidding". Not exactly what PL wants everyone to know or do.

From Priceline's Terms & Conditions:

Since you know the URL to them, and seem to like to use them perhaps you'd like this part:


Acceptable Use

This Site is intended for personal, noncommercial use. The content and information on this Site (including, without limitation, price and availability of travel services), as well as the infrastructure used to provide such content and information, is proprietary to priceline.com or its suppliers and providers. Accordingly, as a condition of using this Site, you agree not to use this Site or its contents or information for any commercial or non-personal purpose (direct or indirect) or for any purpose that is unlawful or prohibited by this Agreement. While you may make limited copies of your travel itinerary (and related documents) for travel or services purchased through this Site, you agree not to modify, copy, distribute, transmit, display, perform, reproduce, publish, license, create derivative works from, transfer, or sell or re-sell any information, software, products, or services obtained from this Site.


Your site is a commercial site, and is full of people breaking the law making you and your site an accessory to this crime.

Your site is a commercial site, and is full of people breaking the law making you and your site an accessory to this crime.

Uh-oh, you're in for a Nastygram for writing this. And now because of you, every person named Scott that is a member of BFT is now going to be banned!!!! :eek:

Sheryl,

I think I mis-spoke, what I meant to say is that I get really flustered when bidding and have been known by accident to enter in the wrong security code, I may "by accident" do it again.

Thank you for your charm, grace and pleasantness in pointing out the error of my ways. I just wish I knew of a web site where I could bask in the radiant glow of your guiding light more than just in this thread, maybe you should post on betterbidding.com, I hope to see you there.

Mike

I just wish I knew of a web site where I could bask in the radiant glow of your guiding light more than just in this thread, maybe you should post on betterbidding.com, I hope to see you there.
:D

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

From Priceline's Terms & Conditions:

Fraud? What law is being broken?

Priceline's T&Cs may be 'law' to you dear, but since I don't make a living off of Priceline, they are not 'law' to me.

The more I look at ,the more I agree with you Scott. All this seems to be is another way to "beat the PL system". BFT gives many suggestions that do the same, like "adding a zone that has only up to a lower quality level than you are bidding". Not exactly what PL wants everyone to know or do.


^^^^^

This is as much breaking the law as running a site that's sole purpose is gathering information on winnning bids.

Since you know the URL to them, and seem to like to use them perhaps you'd like this part:




Your site is a commercial site, and is full of people breaking the law making you and your site an accessory to this crime.


:D

Anyone who does this is committing credit card fraud.

Does FlyerTalk want to be an accessory to this crime?

The really good news here, of course, is that you cannot edit this thread and/or ban anyone here on FT after proclaiming (incorrectly) that it's indeed a "crime."

The really good news here, of course, is that you cannot edit this thread and/or ban anyone here on FT after proclaiming (incorrectly) that it's indeed a "crime."

ClueByFour:
I agree 100% - But wait, you may get banned from BFT..... and I too :D

A CC with only $10 is NOT an invalid method of payment, if a debit or credit card with not enough balance is considered a crime, then the police better start patrolling around the grocery store in case some poor schmuck tries to buy groceries without enough cash in their account...

Entering the wrong security code is also NOT an invalid method of payment, and Priceline will have a mighty hard time proving you entered the wrong code on purpose and not by mistake.

I'm no PriceLine expert, but I've used it a few times and I'm pretty sure that their terms of service state that when you submit a bid/request/whatever you want to call it, you're agreeing to be bound to that purchase if your price is accepted. You can argue all you want that you weren't intended to defraud them by using a low-balance debit card or entering the wrong security code, but in the end, just because your method of payment wasn't accepted doesn't cancel your purchase. If PriceLine wanted to track you down and make you pay for the purchased, they probably have a legal right to do so. If at that point you tried to argue that it "didn't count" are that you didn't have to pay because your payment wasn't valid, they might have the beginnings of a fraud case.

Now on the practical side, I'll bet it's not worth their time & effort to pursue individual cases over a few hundred dollars. But just because you can "get away" with something doesn't make it ok; if you're violating the letter or the spirit of their service agreement, you're taking a risk, albeit, probably a very small one in practice.

What it really comes down to is this:

It doesn't matter at all what Sheryl thinks; all that counts it what PriceLine wants to do about it, and so far it doesn't seem like they've done much about these kinds of tactics. But that doesn't prevent them from doing something in the future.
IMO, it's more likely the PriceLine will simply start reading these boards (assuming they're not already) and update their system to prevent these types of bidding. For example, they could pre-authorize the credit card for the bid amount prior and/or validate the security code before giving you any feedback (directly or indiectly) on your bid. I'm surprised they're not doing this already, but if they see these kinds of bidding as a problem, I doubt it will be long before they take some sort of action.

From Priceline's Terms & Conditions:

Sheryl-

Priceline is not a judge or jury. They can claim whatever they like is a crime. It doesn't make it so.

I hate to agree with Sheryl here, but there's no question that what's being proposed here is "illegal." If you go around bouncing checks (which is essentially what is being done here except in digital form), you can be arrested for fraud. If you follow the strategy here, you are causing economic harm to Priceline because when you re-bid with a legit card, you're getting a lower price than the one you contractually agreed to previously. Doing this intentionally makes it fraud. Period. (or fullstop for the Brits here)

Now whether you would actually get caught is extremely doubtful. Whether it's morally correct is, of course, up to each person here.

I hate to agree with Sheryl here, but there's no question that what's being proposed here is "illegal." If you go around bouncing checks (which is essentially what is being done here except in digital form), you can be arrested for fraud. If you follow the strategy here, you are causing economic harm to Priceline because when you re-bid with a legit card, you're getting a lower price than the one you contractually agreed to previously. Doing this intentionally makes it fraud. Period. (or fullstop for the Brits here)

Now whether you would actually get caught is extremely doubtful. Whether it's morally correct is, of course, up to each person here.

Wrong.

Where your logic falls apart is that people using this strategy do not receive anything for their intentionally failed bids (except for information). They are not stealing rooms, cars, or tickets from Priceline. For this to be akin to bouncing a check, I'd have to land a winning bid, use the room/car/ticket, and somehow withhold payment to Priceline for said room/car/ticket.

People using this strategy can in theory reduce Priceline profits (by not allowing Priceline to take extra profit for overbids), but in the end there is no fraud.

Priceline can easily fix this loophole. Validate payment when the bid is made. But my guess is that the additional costs of payment validation is too high for them.

As far as morals are concerned: I don't feel using this strategy is any more or less moral than endusers sharing information about winning bids. Both are in the consumer's best interest. Both are likely not in Priceline's best interest. But in the end, Priceline still sells the room/car/ticket.

Where your logic falls apart is that people using this strategy do not receive anything for their intentionally failed bids (except for information).
Right. And information has zero value, right? Let's say I build a program that would periodically poll Priceline for every city/star combo available using randomly generated invalid credit card numbers (that would pass whatever initial number verification that Priceline performs). I would then post lowest permissible bids on some website. This is essentially the same as what you propose except for scale. Is this legal or illegal? (hint: if you try this, I'm pretty sure the FBI would be knocking on your door)

Before you compare this with BFT/BetterBidding, the difference with these sites is that the information was obtained in the manner it was intended (meaning both parties agreed to the contract, Priceline accepted the bid, user paid). In this case the user is entering into a contract which they know they have no intention of fulfilling in order to profit from the information they obtain.

Before you compare this with BFT/BetterBidding, the difference with these sites is that the information was obtained in the manner it was intended (meaning both parties agreed to the contract, Priceline accepted the bid, user paid). In this case the user is entering into a contract which they know they have no intention of fulfilling in order to profit from the information they obtain.
How exactly is the user "profiting" from this information? The only "profiting" that takes place is by Priceline. As long as a bid is accepted, Priceline makes money. It is of no concern of mine whether Priceline makes a $10 profit or a $20 profit per room. And what about when people grossly overbid because they don't know any better? Is it "moral" for Priceline to accept a bid of $200 on a room that costs them only $100? If Priceline were an oil company, I'm sure people would accuse them of "gouging" in a situation like that. :rolleyes:

And what about when Priceline gives you a "counteroffer?" How moral is that? Those are a huge ripoff. Just last night I bid on a hotel in London for $68. I was given a counteroffer of $98. I declined that "generous" offer, added another zone, and raised my bid to $70. It was accepted. Needless to say, I have no sympathy for Priceline if that is how they want to do business... :td:

IMO, it's more likely the PriceLine will simply start reading these boards (assuming they're not already) and update their system to prevent these types of bidding. For example, they could pre-authorize the credit card for the bid amount prior and/or validate the security code before giving you any feedback (directly or indiectly) on your bid. I'm surprised they're not doing this already, but if they see these kinds of bidding as a problem, I doubt it will be long before they take some sort of action.
[/list]

Priceline gets a fee for every successful bid accepted. (That fee is rolled into the taxes and fees applicable to a winning bid and is rolled into one line item to mask the lowest acceptable bid price.) Perhaps if the previously mentioned methods of "unmasking Priceline" were not available, then Priceline would see a decline in at least some users' bookings? Priceline is already concerned about losing ground as it suffers from an inventory squeeze and from increased competition from many of those very same inventory suppliers.

If Priceline wants to rock the boat, it'd revise its Ts&Cs and go after biddingfortravel and betterbidding first -- and specifically posters to those boards -- on the basis of revised Ts&Cs, whereby the revised Ts&Cs permitted Priceline to keep its booking fee and cancel the reservation if those Ts&Cs were violated. But then Priceline could find itself in small claims court rather often and with a lot of negative publicity. As things stand now -- with all these "unmasking" strategices -- Priceline has a few more users than it would otherwise have and gets a few more booking fees from those seeking hotel rooms .... all while the inventory suppliers reduce their supplying of Priceline AND are increasingly less likely to pay for the distribution channel services in the way they used to.

Right. And information has zero value, right? Let's say I build a program that would periodically poll Priceline for every city/star combo available using randomly generated invalid credit card numbers (that would pass whatever initial number verification that Priceline performs). I would then post lowest permissible bids on some website. This is essentially the same as what you propose except for scale. Is this legal or illegal? (hint: if you try this, I'm pretty sure the FBI would be knocking on your door)

Hell no. The info has a lot of value to me. That's why I'm letting people know about it. But when you state that there's fraud, this is where again, you're wrong.

Try this scenario: Use a stolen credit card to buy a Priceline room. Credit card owner reports card stolen. Credit card co charges Priceline back for the fraudulent change. Priceline already paid the hotel for the room. Room already used. Priceline out money for a room. FBI or Local PD tries to track you down. That's Fraud.

Someone using a $10 card once a week time to glean info about lowest possible rate? Exactly what law is being broken? Priceline can fix it, they have chosen not to. No FBI. No Fraud.

Before you compare this with BFT/BetterBidding, the difference with these sites is that the information was obtained in the manner it was intended (meaning both parties agreed to the contract, Priceline accepted the bid, user paid). In this case the user is entering into a contract which they know they have no intention of fulfilling in order to profit from the information they obtain

I find it interesting that Priceline disassociated itself from Biddingfortravel by revoking their affiliate status a few years back. They obviously don't like sites like BFT. Yet I don't see the FBI knocking on BFT's door. :D

What is amusing to me is that even after Priceline whacked BFT's affiliate status, the owner continues to make money by basically selling Priceline bid information via her site using the nudge-nudge wink-wink sekret amazing bargains link. The owner then has the gall to chastise those who also try to circumvent the Priceline's "rules" in a different manner.

Truly funny. :D

How exactly is the user "profiting" from this information? The only "profiting" that takes place is by Priceline. As long as a bid is accepted, Priceline makes money. It is of no concern of mine whether Priceline makes a $10 profit or a $20 profit per room. And what about when people grossly overbid because they don't know any better? Is it "moral" for Priceline to accept a bid of $200 on a room that costs them only $100? If Priceline were an oil company, I'm sure people would accuse them of "gouging" in a situation like that. :rolleyes:

And what about when Priceline gives you a "counteroffer?" How moral is that? Those are a huge ripoff. Just last night I bid on a hotel in London for $68. I was given a counteroffer of $98. I declined that "generous" offer, added another zone, and raised my bid to $70. It was accepted. Needless to say, I have no sympathy for Priceline if that is how they want to do business... :td:

As usual, spot on Morrissey. ^

Where your logic falls apart is that people using this strategy do not receive anything for their intentionally failed bids (except for information). They are not stealing rooms, cars, or tickets from Priceline.

True -- they're not stealing anything from Priceline, but they certainly are failing to uphold their end of a contract. Without using words like "illegal" or "fraud", which always seem to cause a debate as to the technical legal definitions :rolleyes: , that's certainly unfair behavior, and Priceline is losing the revenue that was agreed to in the contract.

As an example, if I have a contract to sell my house and the buyer backs out of it, they haven't stolen anything from me. But if after they cancel, the best offer I can get is for $5,000 less, then I have lost out on $5,000 that should have been mine according to the original contract.

Or for an even better example, what if Priceline turned it around and failed to honor a buyer's reservation? I'm sure that traveler would be pretty ticked off (and rightly so), but if Priceline canceled the reservation well before the trip and refunded the purchase price, how would that be different than when users employ these techniques on the Priceline site? It would be difficult for the buyer to show direct "damage", but IMO, they would certainly have a valid complaint.

In either of these examples, it's one thing if the party that ends of reneging doesn't plan to do so in advance. But if they do, I'd say there's another whole level of responsibility and consequences that may apply. How fair would it be if Priceline put out "fake acceptances" as a rule to see what people would pay, only to cancel those reservations after the fact and tell people that they could have the room for an additional $20 / night?

Priceline can easily fix this loophole. Validate payment when the bid is made. But my guess is that the additional costs of payment validation is too high for them.

This may well be the case, but just because one can find away to use the system to break the terms of their contract, doesn't mean that it's a) ok, or b) a good idea. Just ask the 119 Harvard Business School applicants who were rejected after tweaking a URL to get early access to their admissions status. Harvard considered it to be an attempt to gain unauthorized access to their computer systems, and as such, an offense worthy of summarily rejecting them.

As far as morals are concerned: I don't feel using this strategy is any more or less moral than endusers sharing information about winning bids. Both are in the consumer's best interest. Both are likely not in Priceline's best interest. But in the end, Priceline still sells the room/car/ticket.

But the big difference is that one tactic violates the terms of one's contract with Priceline and the other doesn't.

Don't get me wrong -- I'm not sympathizing with Priceline. I don't know anything about how they conduct their business or whether they "play fair" on their end. For all I know, they might use decptive or unfair tactics, too.
However, IMO, you can't pick and choose the terms you want to follow but expect the other side to all the terms of the agreement.

Someone using a $10 card once a week time to glean info about lowest possible rate? Exactly what law is being broken? Priceline can fix it, they have chosen not to. No FBI. No Fraud.

IANAL, but I'd guess that entering into a contract with the intention not to honor it would be considered fraud. It would be hard to show intent the first time you do it, but by the 10th, the pattern would be pretty convincing.

In reality, you're probably not protected by being on solid legal ground, but rather by the fact that you're not enough of problem for Priceline to want to do anything about it (or it would cost them more than it's worth).

I find it interesting that Priceline disassociated itself from Biddingfortravel by revoking their affiliate status a few years back. They obviously don't like sites like BFT. Yet I don't see the FBI knocking on BFT's door. :D

I'll be they would if BFT tried to use fake bids to elicit price information from the Priceline web site, and Priceline found out about it! :eek:

What is amusing to me is that even after Priceline whacked BFT's affiliate status, the owner continues to make money by basically selling Priceline bid information via her site using the nudge-nudge wink-wink sekret amazing bargains link. The owner then has the gall to chastise those who also try to circumvent the Priceline's "rules" in a different manner.

Truly funny. :D

I have to agree here. I don't put much stock in the self-interested statements of a business owner trying to protect own her market niche. And there's something fitting about her business being upstaged by people freely exchanging their own information.

Someone using a $10 card once a week time to glean info about lowest possible rate? Exactly what law is being broken? Priceline can fix it, they have chosen not to. No FBI. No Fraud.

What is amusing to me is that even after Priceline whacked BFT's affiliate status, the owner continues to make money by basically selling Priceline bid information via her site using the nudge-nudge wink-wink sekret amazing bargains link. The owner then has the gall to chastise those who also try to circumvent the Priceline's "rules" in a different manner.

Like I said, I definitely don't like to be on the same side as Sheryl here. And also like I said, if you only do it occasionally, this is so penny-ante that no one would come after you.

The argument you make above (about PL being able to fix it) is equivalent to having someone who doesn't lock their doors. You walk in at night and take their stereo. Is that theft? They easily could have done something to fix their security hole, right? Or what if Priceline has a server (with their price database) with an unpatched hole which I exploit to go in and obtain a copy of their price database? Is that theft? They could have easily fixed it, right?

Anyway, there's little point in arguing since I won't change your mind and you won't change my mind (because I'm right). :p

Anyway, there's little point in arguing since I won't change your mind and you won't change my mind (because I'm right). :p

You're right that you aren't going to change my mind.

You're still wrong that this theft (priceline sells rooms/cars/tickets, not information) or fraud.

There is an easier way.

I've been using this trick for a while, but without using the amex card. Just simply put in your credit card's security code wrong, if the bid is rejected, its normal, if priceline asks you for the correct code, then your bid was accepted.


This one does not appear to work. I tried it by accident yesterday. Bid did not process until I corrected security code and then was rejected.

The argument you make above (about PL being able to fix it) is equivalent to having someone who doesn't lock their doors. You walk in at night and take their stereo. Is that theft? They easily could have done something to fix their security hole, right? Or what if Priceline has a server (with their price database) with an unpatched hole which I exploit to go in and obtain a copy of their price database? Is that theft? They could have easily fixed it, right?


Leave your car running in the parking lot, with the doors unlocked, while you go shopping in the mall for an hour or two...then see if the insurance company pays out if your car gets stolen :cool:

True -- they're not stealing anything from Priceline, but they certainly are failing to uphold their end of a contract. Without using words like "illegal" or "fraud", which always seem to cause a debate as to the technical legal definitions :rolleyes: , that's certainly unfair behavior, and Priceline is losing the revenue that was agreed to in the contract.

As an example, if I have a contract to sell my house and the buyer backs out of it, they haven't stolen anything from me. But if after they cancel, the best offer I can get is for $5,000 less, then I have lost out on $5,000 that should have been mine according to the original contract.
...

Oooh, this is an easy one. If you are dumb enough to sign a contract of sale with no provision that you require a deposit from the buyer and that said deposit will be forfeited should the buyer renege (boilerplate language in a contract of sale BTW), then you are 100% responsible for your $5,000 loss in your example.