I am not sure how this can work even from IT pont of view.

Cleaned PC (cleared cookies, temp files, logs, saved info. cache - everything)

Opened up IE in one window and Chrome in another.

At marriott website, searched for properties in the same city for the same date.

Rates shown were different in Chrome vs IE (in most cases chrome was cheaper by 20% but for the two of the properties it was expensive by about 8-9%)

Never seen this on any website in any industry. (in my experience, that is)

Called up a friend in a different city (totally different ISP and of course different IP addresses), he was able to duplicate the scenario on the third attempt (on the first two attempts he got same prices on both browers)

Has anyone else ever notice this?

What were the names of the rates?

This without using any log-in (after cleaning all caches/cookies)

It says MEMBER RATE in both browsers. Shows properties in same sequence (sorted by distance)

Also noticed that show all properties on map feature works in Chrome but not in Internet Explorer (but that difference is explainable but not the price difference)

You are seeing member rates without being logged in, and one browser shows a lower member rate than another?

I'm not disagreeing with your experience, but multiple airlines have been shown to do precisely this at times. Frankly, I'm surprised it's taken hotels this long to get around to it.

And from an "IT perspective" it's not really all that hard. With every request (every time you click a link), your browser identifies itself (browser name, version, etc) to the server.

-mvitale

Thanks for the response.

Was not aware of airline practice about browser (was aware of practice based on country or even zip code (in amzon case))

While zip code or country based pricing make sense from business point of view, how does browser factor into pricing decisions?

While I understand your explanation about session identifying itself, I am surprised that suplier (airline or hotel) actually programs different pricing based on browser. What would be the business angle?

Seemed more like an IT glitch rather than intentional programming as results were changing. But cant figure out what kind of glitch will manifest in such behaviour. How does this affect LNF claims?

If customers using one brouwser were statistically more likely to be affluent or business travelers, they would be expected to have lower elasticities of demand than those with lower incomes/wealths who are planning leisure travel.

For example, it's claimed that Apple/Mac users have higher income/wealth and generally are of higher socioeconomic status that those using PCs.

Is Marriott taking more pointers from Delta? We've caught DL doing this with browser/cookie tracking where you get a different result in price from a different browser or computer.

I always love the Delta argument since about half the time my fare actually goes down from repeated browsing on the same browser etc.... The "cookie tracking" theory that "they raise prices when you look a lot" seems to have a flaw based on my experience.

My issues with Delta pricing were when I was logged into my SkyMiles account versus not logged in - higher prices when logged in. Not saying this is the same for Marriott, though, so I digress...

Sometimes when I'm checking on properties for the exec lounge sticky I'll pull up room type/rates & it shows member rates w/o logging in. It's more like (example) $169 will be grayed out/have line through it and below it will list $166 Member Rate in orange or something before continuing on to look at actual detailed rates. I assume that's Marriott's way of trying to pull in non-members to join MR.

Cheers.

Until I see it myself I'm goign to have a hard time believing this one. Dates and properties?

I can pull it up on multiple properties (w/o being logged in) with a variety of dates. Actually the first page says Member Rates in orange & when you click to the next page it shows the non-member rate grayed out & the member rate in orange & if you take it to the next page it then lists them all separately.

I think, however, we're talking two different things. I'm referring to member/non-member rate being readily visible when not logged in. I see that all the time. I am not doing comparisons of rates w/ two different browsers.

Cheers.

Yeah, it is member rates being different on different browsers I'm skeptical of.

I think you are right that they are using member rates as a marketing tool to get people to join.

Rates are set by each individual hotel. For this is situation to be anything other than a technical glitch, there would need to be separate data fields for different types of browsers within the hotel Property Management System.

Lots of folks would view this practice as unethical. With over 4,000 hotels worldwide, if this were actually happening, we'd certainly know about it. Someone would blow the whistle.