Originally Posted by
chokdee
Well I agree with you that we should not get into compensation culture with these mistake rates where the hotel has been prompt in advising it's unwillingness to honour but I do feel that there is an acceptable time frame that this should be done within.
Advising customers some 5-7 weeks later as in the case of the Fjord deal is not within that acceptable time frame particularly when the mistake had been corrected within a day or so of the mistake rate being published.
Ebookers issuing a small credit voucher was the very least they could do under the circumstances.
As far as hurting the ''small operators'' ..Oh come on we are all grown ups together aren't we ? Just like many of the big guys they can shut the deal down in an instant if they wish, there is no law against it, particularly it seems where the contract is concerned.
If the small poor guy ends up honouring the rate then perhaps he is not quite so poor after all ? Whatever, the final choice is his.
My advice is book everything and anything you want to but accept the
decision of the hotel where they have informed you within reasonable time that an error has been made.
If things get unreasonable such as in the case of the Hotel Guitart Monterrey , LLoret de Mar who cancelled after 8 months with just days to go then fight your corner.
As far as this deal goes I'm totally with Mileage Addict on this.
No deal suits all people. There is no need to knock this perfectly good hotel find . Remember that one mans poison is another mans cup of tea.
I'm pretty sure that more people are enjoying a good cup of tea over this than the rather uninviting alternative ! So thank you OP ^
As far as "time frame" is concerned, I do not know how the "E-booking company" communicates to the individual hotel, what rate was accepted....do you? For example, Booking.com takes a booking for hotel Italia for a rate of 3 Euros for 3 nights....it is a mistake rate and a few people on different websites become aware and are able to utilize the dates offered at the given rate. Now the individual has a booking and the hotel has a booking. The individual knows what he paid. Does the hotel or pension know what rate was accepted for their room for the given dates at the time of booking, in a clear and concise manner? Or, given some of the difficulties encountered, is the hotel advised at some later point of the rate that was charged for their accommodation (or is the hotel advised that a different rate was accepted at all). Because, the hotel might be under the impression that the room reserved for Mr/Mrs Chokdee is at the rate that they gave to Booking.com to charge for the room.....which was 125 Euros per night. I believe it is at the point that the hotel is advised of what rate was actually charged, that all the problems begin, albeit some months later in the cases you quote. Is it at all feasible that the trouble begins at the point the hotel actually becomes aware of the actual charged rate?
Now, if the hotel is just sloppy and is immediately e-mailed or internally advised via website secure mail as to what the charge was per night (1 Euro) and they chose to ignore it hoping to score a customer who will later be charged full price, then I would support your view. However, because I don't know how the hotel is advised and because I believe most people are not stupid or crazy, then why would they let the matter fester until it becomes an internet sensation and they have a bunch of unhappy non-customers?
As far as "small operators", I respectfully disagree with you. If my scenario above fits, or if the hotel/pension is not notified much before the actually check-in, the giving out rooms for 1 Euro does hurt them in the pocketbook.....and some small hotels do not do great.....what with the cost of room cleaning, linens and the rest of hotel expenses......and further that with a room that is now rented at 1 Euro, when it might go for the full price to another patron. Yes, I believe the small operator can get hurt by a bunch of heavily under priced bookings.
Then, let's look at these "mistake rates" from the customer point of view. Either it is holiday, business or leisure travel.......and you get to the front desk to be told that the 1 Euro rate is not being honoured. You say above "the final choice is his"......well, at that point this whole thing can ruin a perfectly good time what with the arguing and hard feelings that are going to prevail. In a small hotel, when you pay 1 Euro and then go down to breakfast, that is not going to be the warm welcomed breakfast you hoped for....especially if half the hotel is filled with others @ 1 Euro......who needs the bad karma from this? One man's poison is another man's cup of tea for sure, but why put yourself in a position to get a poisoned cup of tea when you only wanted tea without?
Unless you are dealing with a big chain/franchise (and the booking was done directly on their site and they handle the incident poorly), these "mistakes" can have results which were not anyone's intention.....and that usually ends bad.