Bait and Switch

[lori450]

I have noticed that the last three times I have received an email from RCI offering a sale, the price of the cruise bumps up when I click on the link. for example, I just received an email for a sale for the Allure for $799. When I click on it, it jumps to $899. This has happened 3 times and I have to say, it is anger-provoking. I understand that prices are fluid and change all the time, but they should not send an email advertising a price and then raise the price within hours. It makes me feel that they are offering one cabin at that price and then bumping it up like the old bait and switch ads. If nothing else, it is a turn-off. When i see it happen, I delete the email and stop looking for a cruise.

Has anyone had this same reaction?

[cruisinfanatic]

I have noticed that the last three times I have received an email from RCI offering a sale, the price of the cruise bumps up when I click on the link. for example, I just received an email for a sale for the Allure for $799. When I click on it, it jumps to $899. This has happened 3 times and I have to say, it is anger-provoking. I understand that prices are fluid and change all the time, but they should not send an email advertising a price and then raise the price within hours. It makes me feel that they are offering one cabin at that price and then bumping it up like the old bait and switch ads. If nothing else, it is a turn-off. When i see it happen, I delete the email and stop looking for a cruise.

Has anyone had this same reaction?

Bait and Switch is a term used way too loosely

more than likely it says "from or starting at $799". It's not $799 for every cruise date

[negc]

Did you notice the word "from" in the ad mentioning the price and when you clicked on the link did you check all sailing dates? Frequently the low price mentioned is available on only one or two dates and if you are checking another date you will most likely find a different (higher) price. As long as they are actually offering a cruise for the price mentioned, it is not a case of "bait and switch".

[BillOh]

Bait and Switch is a term used way too loosely

more than likely it says "from or starting at $799". It's not $799 for every cruise date

 

Agreed, when I see those, if interested, I usually have to call Crown and Anchor to get more details. (Sometimes putting in your state in the search form will get you to those offers, but I hesitate to do that most times as it frequently screws up the search for other reasons.

[molly361]

Agreed, when I see those, if interested, I usually have to call Crown and Anchor to get more details. (Sometimes putting in your state in the search form will get you to those offers, but I hesitate to do that most times as it frequently screws up the search for other reasons.

 

 

I hear ya. They have the most un-user friendly website. When I put in Fort Lauderdale as a deparature port it automatically adds Miami. I DON'T want to see cruises from Miami. There used to be a button where you could not include nearby ports but I can't find it anymore. Ok I'm done venting Thanks for listening:p:eek::D

[lori450]

Bait and Switch is a term used way too loosely

more than likely it says "from or starting at $799". It's not $799 for every cruise date

 

No, you misunderstand. i understand about "from". This is a specific sailing date that they are advertising and the very lowest price when you click on the link is $899. There is no $799 for the date they are advertising. I'm sorry if I didn't say it clearly enough.

[lori450]

Did you notice the word "from" in the ad mentioning the price and when you clicked on the link did you check all sailing dates? Frequently the low price mentioned is available on only one or two dates and if you are checking another date you will most likely find a different (higher) price. As long as they are actually offering a cruise for the price mentioned, it is not a case of "bait and switch".

 

It is a link for one, specific sailing date, and when you click on it, the prices are actually "from" $899 not, $799. There is no option for $799 what-so-ever.

[midwife1021]

You sure it isn't like airfares where they may very well have had a cabin at that rate but it sold before you clicked the link? Airlines like to do that little trick of "fares as low as $79" but they don't tell you they've only allocated 2 seats on the plane for that fare.

[negc]

It is a link for one, specific sailing date, and when you click on it, the prices are actually "from" $899 not, $799. There is no option for $799 what-so-ever.

Seems that it may have been an editing error. RCI is notorious for its poor proofreading skills and this may be another example where they failed to change the lead when reusing a previous email for a new offer. If this is a frequent happening you might be justified in complaining to someone at RCI but it is likely not a purposeful thing intended to mislead anyone receiving the email.

[Cruising89143]

There are several sail dates for the Oasis starting at $799.00 per person. The dates are 3/21, 4/07 and 4/21.

 

There are a lot of dates for the Oasis and Allure starting at $749.00 per person. This is for Florida residents.

[lori450]

You sure it isn't like airfares where they may very well have had a cabin at that rate but it sold before you clicked the link? Airlines like to do that little trick of "fares as low as $79" but they don't tell you they've only allocated 2 seats on the plane for that fare.

 

I'm sure you're right. This is what I am saying. This was called 'Bait and Switch" (OK, I'm that old :rolleyes:). They put out an ad and only offer one or two of that item at that price, then it pops up to more money. In the meantime, they have gotten you to their "store". I had thought this was out-lawed. Ads now say (like on Thanksgiving sales) only 12 available at this price, etc. But the RCI email ad is VERY mis-leading. I think I just needed to vent my displeasure with this business practice. I feel that it is insulting and a waste of my time.

[lori450]

There are several sail dates for the Oasis starting at $799.00 per person. The dates are 3/21, 4/07 and 4/21.

 

There are a lot of dates for the Oasis and Allure starting at $749.00 per person. This is for Florida residents.

 

This was their ad. When you click on the link there is one date and one date only, 3/25 and the lowest price is $899. I understand that I could hunt for other prices, it's the method they are using that I find disturbing.

[lori450]

Seems that it may have been an editing error. RCI is notorious for its poor proofreading skills and this may be another example where they failed to change the lead when reusing a previous email for a new offer. If this is a frequent happening you might be justified in complaining to someone at RCI but it is likely not a purposeful thing intended to mislead anyone receiving the email.

 

I hear you. I didn't say anything the first two times it happened. But, this was the third time in a row. I don't think it's an editing issue. Just felt the need to say something.

[Mark_K]

This was their ad. When you click on the link there is one date and one date only, 3/25 and the lowest price is $899. I understand that I could hunt for other prices, it's the method they are using that I find disturbing.

Two weeks from sailing, no sale is going to last long. Do you expect them not to advertise it on that account?

 

Personally, I'm never surprised, whether it's a cruiseline or an airline, when by the time I check it, the price is no longer available on a "bargain" email I received.

[cruisinfanatic]

I'm sure you're right. This is what I am saying. This was called 'Bait and Switch" (OK, I'm that old :rolleyes:). They put out an ad and only offer one or two of that item at that price, then it pops up to more money. In the meantime, they have gotten you to their "store". I had thought this was out-lawed. Ads now say (like on Thanksgiving sales) only 12 available at this price, etc. But the RCI email ad is VERY mis-leading. I think I just needed to vent my displeasure with this business practice. I feel that it is insulting and a waste of my time.

You must really hate car adds in newspapers then. For example, one dealer in town advertises a brand new Silverado for $15499 with a sticker of $22999. Only catch is you have to be elegible for about 4 different things to get the total discount, which almost no one is.

[lori450]

You must really hate car adds in newspapers then. For example, one dealer in town advertises a brand new Silverado for $15499 with a sticker of $22999. Only catch is you have to be elegible for about 4 different things to get the total discount, which almost no one is.

 

:):)

You're right. It's interesting that I do understand that aspect, but am bothered by this one. Call me quirky :)

[joe6666]

I'm sure you're right. This is what I am saying. This was called 'Bait and Switch" (OK, I'm that old ). They put out an ad and only offer one or two of that item at that price, then it pops up to more money. In the meantime, they have gotten you to their "store". I had thought this was out-lawed. Ads now say (like on Thanksgiving sales) only 12 available at this price, etc. But the RCI email ad is VERY mis-leading. I think I just needed to vent my displeasure with this business practice. I feel that it is insulting and a waste of my time.

I agree, it's a trick. But it's so common these days that I'm not sensitive to it.

A car dealer's ad in the paper listing some car as, "Now only $45,999", I know that I won't actually be able to buy the car for that price. But I expect that kind of a trick, so it doesn't bother me anymore.

A cruise line offering,” As low as $799", is almost surely not going to be actually available to me. Or that cabin will be next door to the sewage treatment plant, and I expect that to be the case, so their trick advertising doesn’t bother me anymore.

Heck... Even the $799 itself is sort of a trick. Shouldn't they advertise $800 instead?

And gas for my car is $409 and 9/10. When gas was $.25 per gallon the extra 9/10 was, I guess, important to the bottom line of the gas station.

But today?, heck, I don't pick up pennies anymore, certainly not a penny that is only 9/10 there.

[lori450]

I agree, it's a trick. But it's so common these days that I'm not sensitive to it.

A car dealer's ad in the paper listing some car as, "Now only $45,999", I know that I won't actually be able to buy the car for that price. But I expect that kind of a trick, so it doesn't bother me anymore.

A cruise line offering,” As low as $799", is almost surely not going to be actually available to me. Or that cabin will be next door to the sewage treatment plant, and I expect that to be the case, so their trick advertising doesn’t bother me anymore.

Heck... Even the $799 itself is sort of a trick. Shouldn't they advertise $800 instead?

And gas for my car is $409 and 9/10. When gas was $.25 per gallon the extra 9/10 was, I guess, important to the bottom line of the gas station.

But today?, heck, I don't pick up pennies anymore, certainly not a penny that is only 9/10 there.

 

:) thanks for the smile

[mjldvlks]

If they advertise a product at a price that they either do not intend to honor in order to get you to pay a higher price, then that is classic bait and switch. If there are limits to the offer [only for first 5 or 10, etc.], they must be clearly stated in any advertisement or offer.

 

Have you specifically called and asked for them to honor the stated price?

[Cruzaholic41]

If they advertise a product at a price that they either do not intend to honor in order to get you to pay a higher price, then that is classic bait and switch. If there are limits to the offer [only for first 5 or 10, etc.], they must be clearly stated in any advertisement or offer.

 

You are absolutely correct. If a company advertises a price, baiting you to them, and you find out that advertised price is not available, that is precisely the definition of a bait and switch.

 

I'm sure they used some sort of fine print that frees them from this form of fraud, but it still isn't right. If they advertise that price on that sailing, there shouldn't be any fine print making it otherwise.

 

Unfortunatley, it is the norm these days. This one isn't nearly as bad as NCL's free upgrade advertisement.

[critterchick]

I'm sure you're right. This is what I am saying. This was called 'Bait and Switch" (OK, I'm that old :rolleyes:). They put out an ad and only offer one or two of that item at that price, then it pops up to more money. In the meantime, they have gotten you to their "store". I had thought this was out-lawed. Ads now say (like on Thanksgiving sales) only 12 available at this price, etc. But the RCI email ad is VERY mis-leading. I think I just needed to vent my displeasure with this business practice. I feel that it is insulting and a waste of my time.

 

Sort of like the $99 omega (the necklace, not the watch) that one of the jewelry stores in St. Maarten advertises. I go in just to make sure that they're still out of it.:rolleyes:

[cruisinfanatic]

This one isn't nearly as bad as NCL's free upgrade advertisement.

Agree, not even close

[Gilgo Surfer]

Agree, not even close

 

I liked your review of the Explorer 2010. I was on that same cruise. brought back a lot of memories, some good some bad. There were some grouchy people that first day!!!

 

Still don't understand the open seating on the first night. How difficult is it to escort you to your assigned table??

[joe6666]

One time, I thought I could get “Pre Paid Gratuities”, worth about $350 due to a TA ad on line.

Turned out, I couldn’t get the “Pre Paid Gratuities” unless the on screen listing showed a little character next to the price. That’s what they said when I called.

I looked, and none of the cabins available on the whole ship had that little character. Not just cabins I might want, none of what they had to sell at any price came with “Pre Paid Gratuities.”

Nothing that they had to sell.

But that didn’t stop them from advertising “Pre Paid Gratuities” in the banner over that particular cruise price list.

I went on the cruise anyway.

[clott]

I have received the same emails. I don't look at them anymore because there are never any for the price they state. And I have never noticed them saying a specific date. Not saying that it wasn't there but I didn't see them. I never look at royals website anymore. I hate it