Originally Posted by
pinniped
(1) Zero percent chance I'm haggling with a Hampton Inn clerk in East Podunk Nebraska over a hotel rate to try to save four bucks. I don't have time for that.
(2) If I'm using a 3rd party site, I'm usually comfortable enough that I'm close to the rock-bottom floor that I'm not losing sleep over it. Sometimes I'll take a peek at the forums that cover bidding...I'll figure out what sometimes wins and what usually wins. I'll bid what usually wins and call it good. I don't worry about a rebid strategy unless we're talking multiple rooms / multiple nights. For the one-night rural HIX, I often pad the bid by $3-5 to make *sure* it wins. If I'm mobile, I just want to get it done.
Pinniped, let's not start going to extremes rather than looking at things 'in general'. I haven't suggested anyone start 'haggling with a Hampton Inn clerk to save $4.'
On your second point, could I or you not equally say, if I am booking direct with the hotel, I'm usually comfortable enough that I'm close to the rock-bottom floor that I'm not losing sleep over it?