How much was your OBC from your TA?

[ccletzgo]

One example would be every contractor in the building trades. When you are looking for someone to (for example) replace the siding on your house you call several people and usually take the lowest price. Where do you think that low price comes from??? His profits!!!

Even retail stores run sales with percentages off. Where do you think those percentages come from??? Their profits!!!

That's called the free market.

Do you get it now?

 

Building trades. Bad example. Not necessarily lower because of dipping into profit. The profit may be the same as the high bid. We are a building contractor. and believe me there are prices all over the board and its not because the lowest is willing to dip more deeply into there profit. Its inferior material. Cheaper labor, (less qualified) and cutting corners. Some get away with it and with some, taking the low bid comes back to bite the customer in the..:eek:. Is this person licensed and insured? Are they willing to cover all costs if there is a mistake made etc. I have nightmare stories from people taking the lowest bid when it comes to construction so that is a poor example.

 

The only way to compare is with the very same product going for the very same price. A cruise for example is a good comparison if you are talking product ONLY. when you add service, thats where the price is different which is understandable.

Some people are thinking too hard when it comes to comparing apples to oranges..:rolleyes:

[testifyoncruises]

The only way to compare is with the very same product going for the very same price. A cruise for example is a good comparison if you are talking product ONLY. when you add service, thats where the price is different which is understandable.

 

Some people are thinking too hard when it comes to comparing apples to oranges..:rolleyes:

And some people will pay triple the lowest quote when they find themselves dealing with a specialist for the same general service. Not everyone buys based on lowest price.

 

http://www.christopherspenn.com/2010/05/18/how-you-sold-me-at-triple-price/

 

I find it laughable when many will expect a profession to give them some kind of kickback because they "deserve" it, yet no one is willing to say what they do and how often they regularly give up their income and if they do how well they can service their clients.

[Oville]

I find it laughable when many will expect a profession to give them some kind of kickback because they "deserve" it, yet no one is willing to say what they do and how often they regularly give up their income and if they do how well they can service their clients.

 

What I find laughable is your not understanding why I(and others) book a cabin for a cruise and get a $400 obc from our long term online TA vs getting nothing by booking with a small, local firm.

 

Not sure anyone said they deserve it, but if it's out there why not take advantage of it?

[testifyoncruises]

What I find laughable is your not understanding why I(and others) book a cabin for a cruise and get a $400 obc from our long term online TA vs getting nothing by booking with a small, local firm.

Oh I perfectly understand it and even said so up thread.

 

Not sure anyone said they deserve it, but if it's out there why not take advantage of it?

Several in this thread have said they deserve it.

 

I just find it funny if were to ask those same people why I should do business with them, when I can save money by going to another source. In any service industry, you either can offer no service at a lower price and higher volume, or you can offer amazing service at a higher price and lower volume. You can never offer high service at low price or do it for very long.

[ljk76]

After 14 cruises we booked a Celebrity Cruise on the Summit through an online agent for the first time because of an onboard credit offer (I believe it was $225 on a $1999 cabin fare.) Through a major oversight on my part I neglected to order travel insurance - it was offered, I was going to consider options and never followed through.

 

The online agency cheerfully got us through 2 price drops, although the difference was to be as OBC. The travel agent OBC was reduced to $200 once the cabin price had been lowered $400 through price drops.(I did monitor the Celebrity site, and CC and request them.)

 

Most noteworthy, shortly before the cruise my father-in-law became very ill with a life threatening illness. Remarkably, even though we had neglected travel insurance, this online agency was able to get a future cruise credit with Celebrity for the full value of the amount the cancellation fees would have been - $799, or 50% of the cruise.

 

We ended up requiring a great deal of time and "handholding" despite being experienced cruisers, and an online agency worked out very well for us. Needless to say they have our loyalty and future bookings. (I give Celebrity credit for the refund as well. They only asked for a doctor's letter.)

 

(But don't forget your travel insurance! We were out airfare.) Best news, my father-in-law, after 51 days of hospitalization, wants to go on another cruise! Not just yet, we tell him!

[darsura]

Just booked 2 CC balcony rooms directly with Celebrity. Final payment due in afew days. Haven't cruised in 25 years, so know little about this, and learning much from this board.

 

Wonder if I can get OBC if I deal with a local or on-line TA? How does the transfer process work? Is this a common practice, and does Celebrity make it easy to do?

[TenerifeSharon]

Just booked 2 CC balcony rooms directly with Celebrity. Final payment due in afew days. Haven't cruised in 25 years, so know little about this, and learning much from this board.

 

Wonder if I can get OBC if I deal with a local or on-line TA? How does the transfer process work? Is this a common practice, and does Celebrity make it easy to do?

The transfer from Celebrity to a local OR online TA MUST be done before final payment. X will not allow the change to be made after that payment is due.

 

If you want to transfer your booking, you can download a transfer form from the Celebrity (X) website and fax it to them with the info for the new agency you are using.

 

Have a great cruise!

[darsura]

Thanks Sharon for that info!

[SeaCod]

In any service industry, you either can offer no service at a lower price and higher volume, or you can offer amazing service at a higher price and lower volume. You can never offer high service at low price or do it for very long.

 

Interestingly, our online TA has in fact offered lower pricing, read OBCs, and amazing service for many years.

[sunvalley cruisers]

We received a $451 obc when booking through our large warehouse club store over the phone. I wanted to book through another online last minute vacation site but they were only offering a $125 credit. It was a no brainer to go with my cost cutting warehouse. love it! and the credit was on my account on the Eclipse and we used it right up.

[testifyoncruises]

Interestingly, our online TA has in fact offered lower pricing, read OBCs, and amazing service for many years.

Just curious, I wonder how you (and) others define "Amazing" service.

[Cruise Junky]

Just curious, I wonder how you (and) others define "Amazing" service.

 

Would you just give it a rest? There's a lot of us who are perfectly happy with our TAs and unless she's going to come over and start cooking me dinner and washing my windows, she does everything I would expect my TA to do

[TenerifeSharon]

Would you just give it a rest? There's a lot of us who are perfectly happy with our TAs and unless she's going to come over and start cooking me dinner and washing my windows, she does everything I would expect my TA to do

Well said!! :D

[testifyoncruises]

Would you just give it a rest? There's a lot of us who are perfectly happy with our TAs and unless she's going to come over and start cooking me dinner and washing my windows, she does everything I would expect my TA to do

Thank you for proving my point so eloquently. Most posting in this thread have no clue just what constitutes amazing service.

[pacheco18]

LOL

 

I too get excellent service from a TA I found on line.

 

If I had booked through the brick and mortar agency near me (who would give me about 30% of the OBCs I get from the on line TA), it would still be a matter of picking up the phone or emailing if I had a question or an issue. She answers the phone and responds to emails - do I need anything more?

 

 

One OBC quote for a luxury cruise was $400 from the local agency and $1300 from my TA. For $900 in my pocket (instead of the agent's) I will even settle for a little less than amazing.

[labeachcomber]

Just curious, I wonder how you (and) others define "Amazing" service.

 

Would you just give it a rest? There's a lot of us who are perfectly happy with our TAs and unless she's going to come over and start cooking me dinner and washing my windows, she does everything I would expect my TA to do

 

Thank you for proving my point so eloquently. Most posting in this thread have no clue just what constitutes amazing service.

 

LOL, this thread has gone on for so long... The majority of us are on here celebrating the great online OBC deals that we have found. Yet there are some who continue to want to rain on our parade. That's fine, it's a free forum. The above poster is on a lot of forums on the internet and seems to have the same rosy view of pretty much anything. So I've learned to just smile at the response and read on.

 

Since it was brought up by the above poster, I'd be curious at how she defines "Amazing" service, since she seems to think she provides something that an online TA cannot. I'd be interested to read what the definition is and then I'll be able to decide for myself whether or not I think that type of service is worth it.

[Waterlily777]

The transfer from Celebrity to a local OR online TA MUST be done before final payment. X will not allow the change to be made after that payment is due.

 

If you want to transfer your booking, you can download a transfer form from the Celebrity (X) website and fax it to them with the info for the new agency you are using.

 

Have a great cruise!

 

Please note that the Celebrity department that handles transfers is only open Monday to Friday. They must receive your transfer request before final payment date. If your final payment date falls on a weekend you must be sure they receive the transfer request during the week before, or you will lose your opportunity to make the transfer.

 

Sadly, I speak from experience.

 

Lily

[pacheco18]

LOL, this thread has gone on for so long... The majority of us are on here celebrating the great online OBC deals that we have found. Yet there are some who continue to want to rain on our parade. That's fine, it's a free forum. The above poster is on a lot of forums on the internet and seems to have the same rosy view of pretty much anything. So I've learned to just smile at the response and read on.

 

Since it was brought up by the above poster, I'd be curious at how she defines "Amazing" service, since she seems to think she provides something that an online TA cannot. I'd be interested to read what the definition is and then I'll be able to decide for myself whether or not I think that type of service is worth it.

 

I don't care how amazing it is -- even if she packs for me and picks me up and takes me to the plane or cruise ship, I'll keep the $900!!!

[labeachcomber]

I don't care how amazing it is -- even if she packs for me and picks me up and takes me to the plane or cruise ship, I'll keep the $900!!!

 

Agreed, but I'm hoping she'll respond and let us know what we're all missing out on. For giving up $900, I'd expect my amazing TA to do my precruise shopping, pack my suitcase, wake me up in the morning, get me in the shower, have some Starbucks waiting for me, and take me to the airport in a limo. I'd then expect her to check in with me daily while on the ship to make sure that everything about my vacation is going well. I'd expect her to get me into sold-out excursions, to be first on the tenders, to have the prime 7:30 pm specialty reservations, and to arrange for me to have a front row reserved seat in the theater every night.

 

If an amazing TA can't provide the above, then I think I'll stick with my ho-hum average TA. As long as I get to the boat, I think the rest is up to me and the preparations that I make on my own.

[pacheco18]

Brilliantly stated!

[testifyoncruises]

One OBC quote for a luxury cruise was $400 from the local agency and $1300 from my TA. For $900 in my pocket (instead of the agent's) I will even settle for a little less than amazing.

 

Prove that you RECEIVED $1300 in OBC on your "luxury" cruise and may be you will earn some respect. A quote does not make it so.

 

You won't get what makes a full service TA worth giving up an OBC because no TA who is full service and who knows of this board wants a cruise critic poster as a client...ever.

 

Besides telling you what constitutes as a description of amazing service would be construed as a solicitation and is against the rules. Just know that those who are going for the OBC I don't blame at all, but you certainly are sacrificing service for that OBC and that is in fact BRILLIANTLY STATED and true!

[pacheco18]

I don't know if you suffer from sour grapes or something considerably worse.

 

PROVE??? - a quote from my TA is good as gold - always has been, always will be.

 

And my TA loves CC posters - she thinks we are the most savvy customers.

 

I think that you are just unhappy because you cannot beat the competition. YOu may be giving "amazing service" however you define it, but you display an attitude towards those of us on CC that leaves a lot to be desired.

 

As much as you would not want me, a CC poster, as your client --- let's just say the feeling is mutual.

[DivasDare]

At the time of booking I remember asking about OBC, and still nothing after payment. After reading here I see that I have been taken for her commission. :confused:

[bobbyleduck]

Prove that you RECEIVED $1300 in OBC on your "luxury" cruise and may be you will earn some respect. A quote does not make it so.

 

You won't get what makes a full service TA worth giving up an OBC because no TA who is full service and who knows of this board wants a cruise critic poster as a client...ever.

 

Besides telling you what constitutes as a description of amazing service would be construed as a solicitation and is against the rules. Just know that those who are going for the OBC I don't blame at all, but you certainly are sacrificing service for that OBC and that is in fact BRILLIANTLY STATED and true!

 

Why are you here? What's your point? Telling people what constitutes amazing service does not equate to solicitation or advertising. Answer the question. My Online TA got us a price that was a savings of more than $2,000 better than the best prices advertised for our B2B cruise this fall. There are eight of us (4 couples).

 

I contacted three local TAs, three Online TAs, and an Online service that provided quotes from many independent TAs. We were looking for a suite for each cruise, two verandah cabins for each cruise and an inside cabin for each cruise. Not one of the local TAs was willing to do better than the advertised price, and no OBC.

 

The facts were known by each. In the end, I went with the Online TA that was willing to beat each of the other "best" offers. That meant a savings of more than $2,000 off the best advertised price, and $1,000 of OBC for the eight of us.

 

Now, that is what I call amazing service. Because I've used this agency before, I know that they will take care of the needs of my family.

 

Not a single one of the local TAs could tell me what I would get from them that was worth more than $3,000.

 

Happy cruising to all!

 

Bob

[pacheco18]

Bob - she cannot answer the question.

No amount of "amazing service" is worth $3000.

Besides, you are on Cruise Critic and thus an undesirable client like the rest of us. LOL