Programs: UA 1P, WN A-List, AA GLD/MM, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Diamond, National EExecElite
Posts: 8,601
I do not post any more on any of the sites, not just BFT. And as some of you know, I was one of the earlier posters back in the day, before the bonus money dried up and it was a better long-term proposition for me to get status with a couple of hotel chains and cash in on free rooms in big urban power hotels such as the Conrad Hong Kong.
But now with the economy changing, I'm spending far more time back at PL - I've done two work stays using PL in the last two months, something I hadn't done for 3-4 years. [Just can't pay $250+tax when I can PL a Rennaisance for $80.] I've had access to an affiliate link for years, and I use it. I just won't do the research needed to get "advice" about something I've been doing for what, ten years, and I'm not willing to pay (e.g. give up my affiliate fee) for the honor of posting my success.
It does not take a rocket scientist today to get 4 credit cards and 4 email addresses, and to figure out what the Red Roof Inn or Econolodge is charging. Start at that price for a 4* (or 80% of that price for a 3*), go up in $3 increments, rotate PL profiles, and don't worry about it.
__________________
What would happen if Imagineers from Disney designed the security line? Why not let them try? - Seth Godin
Programs: AA: PLT MM, HA: Pualani Tinfoil, UA: 125 Grocery Miles at a time!
Posts: 16,733
Well, as anyone who has been paying attention knows, Bidding for Travel is not the only site (although the most notorious) that has moderators who are unfair. It happens.
This was posted on another thread but since many of us can't access BFT here is an update. It appears that betterbidding.com is ahead of BFT in online users.
Sheryl's health update - June 9, 2009
Posted at BFT - in case you're banned and can't read it and are worried about Sheryl's status: "While it appeared that my health was improving shortly after I posted the above message [Note: the message was that she was ill and would not be attending to the duties at BFT as we are accustomed], it turned out to be temporary. I am not in a position to return to administering BiddingForTravel.com at this time. I just wanted to give an update."
I'm a big fan of BetterBidding and contribute often in the GA and FL Hotwire sections, and occasionally in other regions or PriceLine areas. One thing I have noticed, however, is they're not too keen on commentary on the properties themselves... either commentary on what you won or on properties people are considering. I often give my opinions on properties people are considering and recommend other properties (always other Hotwire properties, I'm not taking away from their link revenue)... sometimes they delete my comments, sometimes not... but they seem to be very focused on identification and want to avoid commentary and revue of the properties that come up.
I've never had that experience at Betterbidding. Even when I've recommended a property that can't be booked through the links, my post still stays. Is it possible your post was moved (sometimes posts are retitled and moved to new categories)?
Note you can post hotel reviews too.
I checked the review forum and nothing was moved there... I also think it's much more useful to have property-related suggestions in the thread of the person asking for the ID. I REALLY hope they don't go the way of the search-police mentality present in some parts of FT (i.e. HHonors area). Forum mods so often forget these are places for conversation and discussion, not just the most logical organization of information.
Have you asked the moderator what happened? I don't know how many posts you are talking about. I didn't mean the post was moved to the review section, but that the thread may have been retitled or moved to a different category.
Have you asked the moderator what happened? I don't know how many posts you are talking about. I didn't mean the post was moved to the review section, but that the thread may have been retitled or moved to a different category.
In the most recent instance, I asked in the thread it was removed from earlier today but haven't heard back yet. I'm not speculating on disingenuous motives, just that I think there's a benefit to having property critiques, suggestions, and comments in the threads of folks asking for IDs or reporting wins... parsing threads down to just the data helps in organization, but kills discussion.
Moderator: Hilton HHonors, San Francisco and Only Randy Petersen
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: San Francisco CA
Programs: UA, Hilton, Starwood, Priceline
Posts: 5,179
I have no big axe to grind with BB or BFT
I admit I don't post to either one. But despite BB being more "friendly" etc I find the set up and posts very hard to read and track, much less useful information, and far fewer updates on hotels and lists etc.
I admit I don't post to either one. But despite BB being more "friendly" etc I find the set up and posts very hard to read and track, much less useful information, and far fewer updates on hotels and lists etc.
Other than my very minor complaint above, I can't say I've seen this issue with BB. If half the people who ask for IDs actually posted win reports, it would be 5 times better. Is there a specific region you're having issues with? I've had nothing but good luck with the list and win calendar for Atlanta, Orlando, Anaheim, Los Angeles, and New York.
I admit I don't post to either one. But despite BB being more "friendly" etc I find the set up and posts very hard to read and track, much less useful information, and far fewer updates on hotels and lists etc.
I'm not sure what you mean by set up and posts hard to read, but at BB, there is a consistant title format for posting wins, which cannot be said for BFT....it seems that anything goes. You can also "track" a topic that is of interest to you.
The tools at BB which include Advanced Search, Calendar of Wins, Priceline Maps (which show the location and recent prices paid for reported wins), are far and away easier to use and deliver the information that I need to make successful bids.
With regards to updates on hotels and lists, these are updated as new hotels are reported and when zones change.
I don't know what I've done to jinx myself, but now BB has put me on "moderator review" and none of my posts (ID requests, win reports, property critiques) are being allowed through and no moderator will respond to my requests for why. Does anyone have any experience like this with BB? Does anyone know a mod over there to contact other than the owner "thereuare" who does not respond to my PMs?
I REALLY hope they don't go the way of the search-police mentality present in some parts of FT (i.e. HHonors area). Forum mods so often forget these are places for conversation and discussion, not just the most logical organization of information.
What makes BFT and BB useful is information is presented with very little "noise"; what you call conversation and discussion. Sheryl was proud of a high signal to noise ratio.
Quote:
Originally Posted by IsleOfMan
I don't know what I've done to jinx myself, but now BB has put me on "moderator review" and none of my posts (ID requests, win reports, property critiques) are being allowed through and no moderator will respond to my requests for why. Does anyone have any experience like this with BB? Does anyone know a mod over there to contact other than the owner "thereuare" who does not respond to my PMs?
AFAIK thereauare is the only person you can talk to. I don't have any relationship with BB or with thereuare but you might start with an apology. The owner of the website sets the rules, if they want reviews in one spot post your reviews in that spot. Many board owners don't appreciate users who complain in other forums.
I bolded part of your post. I'll paraphrase, some users don't understand the site owner sets the rules. Posters who don't want to follow those rules shouldn't post. Many of us are looking for logical organization of information and appreciate a moderator who tries to reduce time wasting conversational posts.
AFAIK you're the first poster on BB to be banned. You need to decide if you're willing/able to post under the board guidelines. Debating BB posting standards on FT isn't a good way to win friends.
That's just it... I didn't break any posted rules. I ALWAYS posted wins and helped with IDs before making any commentary which is what was specifically asked by "theruare". I never made reccomendations of properties other than those appearing on the same Hotwire search. I also always used the BB links to Hotwire and Priceline, but I don't think that's really a contributing factor.
It was never a problem UNTIL I made a post in a win report about how I was seeing different prices depending on what browser I was using, if my cache/cookies was clear, and if I was logged in to my account before searching. After that part of the win report was deleted I asked why in the same thread and at that point was put on mod review. I was never told why any of the action was taken and thereuare will not respond to PMs. If I broke a rule that I'm not aware of, fine, tell me. Up until now, I've not been told of anything I did wrong and can't see any posted rules that I broke... unilateral action was taken with no explanation and no response to PMs asking why.
I've not been banned (IP or username) but my posts are now on mod review and none are getting through.
Complaining here is likely to be counter-productive. Wait a week or so then send another PM. Hotwire will only show the lowest priced property for that * level in that zone. I don't know if Hotwire follows PL policy and allows a property to list multiple rates. I'm not sure if there is any way to verify if the pricing differences is caused by another customer booking or if you're correct and the browser makes a difference. Maybe that part of your post was deleted because it's not clear if that information is correct.
Curious. Was the price difference significant? What browser gives the best rates? Better rates logged in?
Quote:
Originally Posted by IsleOfMan
That's just it... I didn't break any posted rules. I ALWAYS posted wins and helped with IDs before making any commentary which is what was specifically asked by "theruare". I never made reccomendations of properties other than those appearing on the same Hotwire search. I also always used the BB links to Hotwire and Priceline, but I don't think that's really a contributing factor.
It was never a problem UNTIL I made a post in a win report about how I was seeing different prices depending on what browser I was using, if my cache/cookies was clear, and if I was logged in to my account before searching. After that part of the win report was deleted I asked why in the same thread and at that point was put on mod review. I was never told why any of the action was taken and thereuare will not respond to PMs. If I broke a rule that I'm not aware of, fine, tell me. Up until now, I've not been told of anything I did wrong and can't see any posted rules that I broke... unilateral action was taken with no explanation and no response to PMs asking why.
I've not been banned (IP or username) but my posts are now on mod review and none are getting through.
