Common sense test or not what amazes me is the way this is handled. Yes, I think most of us will agree that it doesn't make sense for a hotel to honor a $1.39 rate when it was suppose to be $139.99. But under the laws of merchantability (shades of business school days, for which I may get in trouble now) an offer made by someone who normally conducts business in this manner, and subsequently accepted is by all accounts a contract. Now, granted there are disclaimers throughout the Marriott web site, T&C, etc. But if nothing is addressed prior to one arriving at the property, then all bets are off on whether a judge will favor the merchant even taking the common sense test into account, because common sense would also imply that the hotel had weeks, if not months, to identifiy the issue and deal with it prior to arrival. But all that aside...

Throughout the travel industry, airlines, hotels, travel agents, travel web sites, etc. carry E&O (Errors and Omissions) insurance that covers this exact situation. The problem is that the inept front desk folks and the hotel managers aren't following procedures to file a claim. The onus also goes on Marriott corporate for not instructing the Hotels on proper procedure and/or the requirement that they carry E&O insurance to cover errors made during rate input at hotel's end. Not honoring mistake fares result in bad will at best and possibly a room that may well go unsold anyway.

Personally I would not book a $1.39/night room rate because of the uncertainty, but I have booked a $105/night room rate at a hotel where rooms normally go for $389/night. No special code, just happened to be offered on Marriott.com for about 3 weeks. The hotel cordially honored the rate and I frequent that property every year.

The biggest thing that irked me was the fact that the clerk did not say anything about changing the rate. He just asked for my credit/debit card. I asked him to confirm the rate then he called me a scammer for booking such a rate. A call the GM also had me accused as a scammer as well. I am a frequent quest of this location and I do have another stay coming up at this location as well. I did not like the fact that I was called a hacker and a scammer for using such codes.

I advised the GM that orginally obtained the code from an email from the Marriott.com sometime ago long before I found FT. I think I am going to forgo staying there and spend a few more nickels and stay at the FS.

FYI...Marriott like many like sized Fortune 500 companies is self insured....personally I have never heard of E&O insurance

Sure you have; it has a J.D. after its name

Seriously, typically, it's (E&O) something an accountant, engineer or lawyer has, for example. My dad had such insurance as an independent CPA.

Much as I might sympathize with the OP, a frontal approach is likely to be unfruitful. There are other ways.

Pat

What was the rate? Was it at the outside range of possibilities, e.g., $105 a night for hotel that might have other rooms at $389, or was it something clearly in error, e.g., $1.34 a night instead of $134?

I'm happy to push the $105 a night but don't think you can reasonably expect to get the $1.34 a night.

On the other hand, .... I suppose I do watch the airline mistake fares and might someday take advantage of it with the expectation that I will fly. The difference in expectations is that I have completed the purchase when I buy the airline ticket whereas I have only made a reservation at the Marriott.

Perhaps the other part of the expectation is that I don't expect to ever discuss airline pricing mistakes with an airline employee since I'll use electronic check-in.

The rate was using LLR Property Promotion $0.01.

Off-topic

But no. The law is generally construed that advertisements, publications, etc. are an invitation by the merchant to the public to make an offer. Thus when you go to the store and want to buy something, you, the customer, are actually offering the merchant the published price, which the merchant generally accepts and the sale occurs.

In reality this should be nonsense, but its the law.

There are, of course, some acceptions regarding fraudulent acts such as bait and switch.

Ah yes, "consideration" is the term if I remember correctly. And in the case of the $105 rate I referenced in a prior post at a hotel that normally offers rooms at $389 and up. The rate rules also required a 2 night non-refundable deposit 7 days after booking, and full payment 30 days before arrival. FWIW, the reservaiton was made 11+ months in advance. LSightly different situation than most of the mistake fare situations discussed here on FT.

got twice mistaken price, never honored, received two letter from the local hotel to say sorry, that is it

in one of the letter, ask me if would like to pay regular rate, upgrade to a suite. I turned down