Priceline sends Shatner's Negotiator over a cliff
Jan 19, 2012, 9:48 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 33
Priceline sends Shatner's Negotiator over a cliff
This article by the Sacramento Bee seems to suggest that Priceline is dumping Shatner because they are shifting away from bidding toward the fixed price retail business.
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/19/419...egotiator.html
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/19/419...egotiator.html
Jan 21, 2012, 4:44 am
#2
Join Date: May 2003
Location: GEG
Programs: Motel 6 Club Avoir Le Cafard
Posts: 5,027
Some business school prof quoted in the SacBee and LAT articles thinks Name Your Own Price is going the way of the dinosaur. Certainly PL makes more money selling hotel rooms at rack rates. And a BetterBidding poster received the following less-than-encouraging response from PL:
Please note that we have not received any updates regarding any future
changes in the Name Your Own Price feature on our website. We are still
providing the Name Your Own Price reservations on our website.
Moreover, please continue to check back with us as we are constantly
improving our existing products and adding new ones.
Let's hope it's all hype, that Shatner the Negotiator miraculously survived being burnt to a crisp, and that nothing bad is going to happen to Name Your Own Price.
.
Please note that we have not received any updates regarding any future
changes in the Name Your Own Price feature on our website. We are still
providing the Name Your Own Price reservations on our website.
Moreover, please continue to check back with us as we are constantly
improving our existing products and adding new ones.
Let's hope it's all hype, that Shatner the Negotiator miraculously survived being burnt to a crisp, and that nothing bad is going to happen to Name Your Own Price.
.
Last edited by mbstone; Jan 21, 2012 at 4:52 am
Jan 21, 2012, 2:12 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: RDU
Programs: AA LT Gold, DL SM, HY Disc, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 12,507
Given that Priceline has been fiddling with their Rewards Visa, it's a possibility. My card gets me 5% cashback on NYOP bids, and since I'm an affiliate as well I get another couple of percent off.
But discounted rate hotels have been around for a long time - anybody remember 1-800-Hotels before they got bought by Expedia?
I think, however, that people don't think of PL as a place to buy rack rate stuff, and that hurts them. I know I always used to use Expedia when I wanted to just compare against a bunch of options, and then I'd go buy directly from the vendor.
But discounted rate hotels have been around for a long time - anybody remember 1-800-Hotels before they got bought by Expedia?
I think, however, that people don't think of PL as a place to buy rack rate stuff, and that hurts them. I know I always used to use Expedia when I wanted to just compare against a bunch of options, and then I'd go buy directly from the vendor.
Jan 23, 2012, 11:48 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 10,909
If PL decides to discontinue bidding, a competitor will hopefully take their place as hotels seem to be more than willing to unload their inventory for 25-50% of their normal rates.
I wonder if this is related to PL bidding patent expiration and other companies slowly moving into this field.
I wonder if this is related to PL bidding patent expiration and other companies slowly moving into this field.