Location: St. Cloud, Minnesota, Next: Isla Mujeres, Mx... Next: Los Angeles Next.. er hopefully somewhere in transit ;)
Programs: Korean Air Morning Calm (ST+), Lufthansa M&M, SPG , Guest Luxuries(Graves 601), United Mileage Plus
Posts: 742
WTH
I am not using any form of refresh tool or anything of the sorts i've read about using, but look what came up!
"Dear Sir or Madam:
You have been redirected to this page because your use of our Site, LastMinuteTravel.com, was in violation of the Site’s General User Terms and Conditions as well as the Terms and Conditions relating to our World for a $1 Campaign.
The World for a $1 Campaign was designed to give an equal opportunity to all individuals to make a booking during the Campaign, and therefore, the success of the Campaign requires that we forbid the use of automated devices and/or software.
You may attempt to make a booking the “old-fashioned” way – by watching our videos that contain hints, logging onto the site, and checking the clock. (EXACTLY AS I HAVE BEEN DOING)
The funny thing is when I got that error earlier this week I probably had not refreshed for a few minutes...and it actually wasn't a refresh either I had tried to do a new search....
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Location: St. Cloud, Minnesota, Next: Isla Mujeres, Mx... Next: Los Angeles Next.. er hopefully somewhere in transit ;)
Programs: Korean Air Morning Calm (ST+), Lufthansa M&M, SPG , Guest Luxuries(Graves 601), United Mileage Plus
Posts: 742
Haha.. thats funny, yet sad at the same time =.=
Quote:
Originally Posted by Berto
The funny thing is when I got that error earlier this week I probably had not refreshed for a few minutes...and it actually wasn't a refresh either I had tried to do a new search....
I got the vid late last night (maybe 1:30 MT) but after the vid the time said 00:00! Then I immediately searched again and got another vid. But afterwards I only had about 2:14 left, which wasn't quite enough time. I zipped through to final confirmation page but instead of a confirmation code I got a "Contest is off" message. The bugs in their system had caused me to fail 4 times already!
After 10 minutes I didn't get any more vids, so on a whim I decided to change my IP address. I don't know whether that helped, but almost immediately I got another vid. The clock showed 3:14 this time, which I knew was sufficient (having tried this so many times already), barring any further website glitches. I finally booked my $1 hotel stay!
A word of warning to anyone still trying. it seems that the room categories are sometimes listed in a different order during the $1 sale than during the regular booking periods. Sneaky, sneaky, LMT.
I got the vid late last night (maybe 1:30 MT) but after the vid the time said 00:00! Then I immediately searched again and got another vid. But afterwards I only had about 2:14 left, which wasn't quite enough time. I zipped through to final confirmation page but instead of a confirmation code I got a "Contest is off" message. The bugs in their system had caused me to fail 4 times already!
After 10 minutes I didn't get any more vids, so on a whim I decided to change my IP address. I don't know whether that helped, but almost immediately I got another vid. The clock showed 3:14 this time, which I knew was sufficient (having tried this so many times already), barring any further website glitches. I finally booked my $1 hotel stay!
A word of warning to anyone still trying. it seems that the room categories are sometimes listed in a different order during the $1 sale than during the regular booking periods. Sneaky, sneaky, LMT.
Soooooooo....I feel like I have to vent some frustration. So i ended up getting the video and clock 3 times with plenty of time. Tuesday afternoon, and both thursday and friday morning around 5 AM. All 3 times, after picking the hotel and entering the traveler's information...it would send me back to the login in page. And I couldnt get out of the login page to go to the billing page. The login page would just refresh when I clicked enter. I was using safari BTW.
After the 2nd time, I called customer service to see if there were any known web browser issues with their site. They said no....so i though, ok, just a fluke or a bug. Happened again the third time. So I just though it was a promotional bug in order for me not to be able to book a hotel.
It never occurred to me to try to book a room and try to pay for it. Same problem occurred! I downloaded firefox, tried to book a room, works like a charm.
I spent endless hours like many others on the site and I know everyone isnt supposed to win. I feel like such an ... because I genuinely had 3 opportunities to one and was impeded by a web browser.
I sent customer service an email with a video screen shot of me being unable to book a regular room using safari. Hopefully IT will fix it before their next promotion
After someone completes their hotel stay, would you kindly post regarding your "taxes and fees"? I actually called my hotel already to ask about it and was told that my reservation doesn't show what I paid ($0), so they would not be able to compute any "taxes and fees." Also, since the reservation was made through a booking agent (our beloved LMT), any charges would be made by the agent.
So, Moderator Person, should this be a separate thread or can I leave this here?
I wasn't sure if I had the heart to check back in on this blogspot, as you see, my news is not good.
As it stands, I will forever remain the "LMT Schmuck" posterchild for this campaign.
Not only did I not get a hotel stay anywhere, I continued to believe until the very last second, albeit naively, that I actually had a chance. Never was the case.
My better sense of judgement of getting out earlier, was clouded by my intense desire to slay the evil LMT dragon. I am sad to disappoint so many in my failed quest. You see, I truly believe that, for whatever reason, numerous people wanted to know that justice and fairplay would prevail. That somehow, my dedication and determination would be enough. They saw themselves in me, whether through this promo, or something else. Most everyone knows what is like to be the underdog.
As I reflected back on the past 2 weeks, I tried to gain a clue into my own motivation. And I came to terms, to some extent, with the "why" of my actions.
When I thought about it, it made sense...I grew up in an era of hope. I grew up when "The Dick VanDyke Show" and "Andy Griffith" were families and towns that felt like home. These (fictional) "people" you never met made an indellible impression on you. I grew up at a time where you did not have to worry about locking the front door of your home if you left the house. In fact, I remember hot summer days, leaving the front door agar and me and my siblings sleeping on the floor in the living room, as close as we could to that open door, in the hopes of catching a breeze of relief. (Our socioeconomic situation was less than modest and air conditioning was not possible)!
For a long time, for better or worse, those inflluences were the basis of how I thought the world worked. And, yes, I am all "growed up" now and I have lived a full life. I know better that those t.v. worlds are anything but a window into reality!
But the problem is, every now and then, I can't shake my roots. My nagging belief that things work out. That the good guy wins. I am a perennial sucker for a happy ending.
So, despite the incredible odds, I remained devoted to my cause to win a hotel room. Believe me, after the countless hours and sleepless nights, even if I had 'won', my time would have been at the value of pennies to the hour!
But, it became less and less about the hotel, and more and more about slaying the dragon. Much, much more. I hated the unfairness. I hated the misrepresentation. I hated the fraud of the whole thing. And, most undoubtedly, there was fraud. Of that, no one will ever convince me otherwise. Yes, there were winners. And, perhaps LMT's initial intent was honorable, but early on in the process they began to scramble to regain control. And, in that scramble, they lost the integrity of their corporate conscience.
Up until the very last minute on Friday, I believed I would 'win'. Truly. I was not there to lose. I was going to be an extraordinary example to my children (and husband, who by the way called it/me "ridiculous") that true stick-to-it-ness would always overcome. I did my homework. I had pre-typed their form on the website countless times in practice, in preparation.
And, like so many others, I watched the clock tick-tock-tick-tock past 11:59pm, eastern, February 6th, 2009...and nothing. Nothing happened. What should have been the feeling of going out with a bang, ended up with a wimper. I simply stared at my computer in utter disbelief. LMT had lied, again. Did not offer that one last chance that I, and everyone else, had clung to. I literally did not have a chance.
I sincerely hope each and every one of you who won a hotel room has the most memorable time. What a fabulous thing! ENJOY!!! For the rest of you who can relate to my failure all too well, chin up...in the words of some, it was just a contest! I know, after a while, it might not have felt that way to you. Believe me, I understand. I had written a funny story (see page 80 of this blogspot), where I had full intention of writing the sequel in your honor...
But, my humor escapes me, and, at least for now, the best I can do is hope one day you and I will think back in fond rememberance and say with a smile "Yep, for 2 weeks I was an absolutely perfect schmuck!"
So, I learned alot. I learned that, however misguided, I do have an incredible sense of fairplay. I learned that I have impressive bladder control! And, I learned that there are really good reasons why certain t.v. shows aren't around anymore.
But, I also learned that people you have never met, can still bring you the greatest sense of "family". For that, I thank you. Just knowing you guys are out there means I don't need my "Andy Griffith" moments from a tv screen. I got those same feelings of home by reading many messages of goodwill from a different kind of screen.
Until we "meet" again,
Ellenface
ps I know there are some out there who will read this and think this post a little "too" reflective. I just have one suggestion to you...let it be. Perhaps one day you'll be watching an old t.v. show that gives you just that feeling of nostalgia to get through your day, and then you will say, "oh, now I get what Ellenface was saying"...
After someone completes their hotel stay, would you kindly post regarding your "taxes and fees"?
+1. Especially for those of you new to FT, we all would benefit from hearing the experiences of those who complete their stays through this promotion. It's probably best to just continue posting in this thread.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ellenface
Hey ALL!
She's alive!!
You were a joy to have on this thread, ellenface. Once again, welcome to FT. I hope you won't be a stranger. You'll find the community spirit you encountered here in (just about) every forum. I really hope you'll become a regular contributor!
+1. Especially for those of you new to FT, we all would benefit from hearing the experiences of those who complete their stays through this promotion. It's probably best to just continue posting in this thread.
My vacation starts exactly two weeks from today. I'm wondering if anybody will be using their free hotel stays before me. Either way, by Monday evening,the 23rd, I will post my experience upon check-in. Either everything will run smoothly, or we'll be spending four nights in a cardboard box.
ELLENFACE, You rule. I love your posts and hope that someday you win something big, like the lottery.
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