Why is everyone obsessed with OBC'S

[kayhold]

Good point, but if you're using it to pay gratuities, it's a one for one. :D

 

Yes, but if gou are going to buy the overpriced beer anyway, there is no difference. They don't charge you a different price for the beer because its paid with OBC.

 

Sent from Tapa-Talk. Please forgive my brevity and lack of punctuation.

[Quilting_Cruiser]

Yes, but if gou are going to buy the overpriced beer anyway, there is no difference. They don't charge you a different price for the beer because its paid with OBC.

 

Sent from Tapa-Talk. Please forgive my brevity and lack of punctuation.

 

 

True, but they make a sizeable profit on the beer so it isn't as straightforward as gratuities. $100 on beer costs Carnival only a small fraction of the $100 OBC, but $100 on gratuities is a dollar-for-dollar trade-off. :D

[Miller_KC]

Don't get me wrong....I am sure they are great, but I would much rather know that I was able to get the best price for my cruise.

 

So, my question is...(truly trying to understand)

Why are so many people obsessed with OBC'S as opposed to saving hundreds and hundreds of dollars by booking early? Thank you for any insight you may have.:)

 

I want to get the most out of my money and that starts with getting the best possible cruise fare.

 

Offering OBC is a way for Carnival to offer a higher perceived value to the customer without as much cost to them. You spend it at Retail, their cost (if any) is at Wholesale. So they offer OBC as different incentives; book early, book on a previous cruise, own CCL stock, etc. Collecting a few OBC lowers the total cost of our vacation so we take advantage of all of them that we can.

[GuitarPlayer]

True, but they make a sizeable profit on the beer so it isn't as straightforward as gratuities. $100 on beer costs Carnival only a small fraction of the $100 OBC, but $100 on gratuities is a dollar-for-dollar trade-off. :D

 

So they might make a sizeable profit on the beer, but they make zero profit on gratuities, so Carnival would be better off if you used them on gratuities, not beer.

 

GP

[GuitarPlayer]

Whether you were going to buy them or not, the comp to you might be $100....but the COST of the comp for the line is $12;)

 

Not sure what your point is.

 

$100 is $100 *if* you were going to spend it on the beer anyway. There's no difference to you if you pay via OBC or credit card (backing your S&S card).

 

GP

[USA41018]

When I book a cruise, I figure that I have to be happy with the price I pay. If I'm not I don't book and watch for a better price. So I feel that what I pay is a reasonable price for my cruise. Of course a decrease is welcomed but, you know, I have never gotten big price decreases, so apparently I catch the cruise price at a low price. OBC goes for tips since they are charged to your S&S card, casino money, since you can charge money to your S&S card, gift shop, shore excursions, a glass of wine or a beer and if you don't use it all you get it back at the end of the cruise. But I have been on over 20 cruises and I think the most I have ever gotten back as OBC has been about maybe $150, mostly before final payment which lowers the final payment,

[H82seaUgo]

Not sure what your point is.

 

$100 is $100 *if* you were going to spend it on the beer anyway. There's no difference to you if you pay via OBC or credit card (backing your S&S card).

 

GP

 

the point is they'd rather give you $100 obc than $100 cash.

 

makes no difference if you spend it on board. it just adds to their bottom line.

 

but $100 obc can get you 10 drinks on board. $100 cash can get you 20 in the ports.

[GuitarPlayer]

the point is they'd rather give you $100 obc than $100 cash.

 

makes no difference if you spend it on board. it just adds to their bottom line.

 

but $100 obc can get you 10 drinks on board. $100 cash can get you 20 in the ports.

 

Agree with all points made (except it doesn't add to their bottom line, if it's refundable OBC and you don't spend it).

 

However, my point was "If you were going to buy the beer anyway, it makes no difference."

 

I believe that still holds true.

 

Thanks,

 

GP

[pacarolinagirl]

I don't obsessed with the whole OBC thing but I pay attention when my roll call members start talking about sales & promos. Then I text DH to check it out for me & we'll send the form in. If we get it, we get it & if not, oh well. I don't check daily, etc. But hey, we ended up having our cruise price reduce a few times & then after we paid it off, we now have racked up $550 in OBC for our cruise next Sat. WORKS for me! :)

[elcuchio24]

Agree with all points made (except it doesn't add to their bottom line, if it's refundable OBC and you don't spend it).

 

However, my point was "If you were going to buy the beer anyway, it makes no difference."

 

I believe that still holds true.

 

Thanks,

 

GP

 

You're looking at it from the consumer point of view, I'm looking at it from the cruiselines. OBC is great because they really only 'give' you a percentage of the money you see in your account, the rest is taken care of by their profit margin. I guess you could call it a win/win in your scenario, but if people think the line is 'eating' $100 to give them OBC, that's just not true (in most cases).

[firefly333]

You're looking at it from the consumer point of view, I'm looking at it from the cruiselines. OBC is great because they really only 'give' you a percentage of the money you see in your account, the rest is taken care of by their profit margin. I guess you could call it a win/win in your scenario, but if people think the line is 'eating' $100 to give them OBC, that's just not true (in most cases).

 

My only caveat is most of the OBC that people talk about when they have larger amounts is from price drops, ES. That is refundable and if not spent, then they get it back as a check or cash at the end of the cruise. If you are only getting it from a FCC or stock, its gone on tips and no problem to spend.

 

I usually try and spend all my OBC but once I did not so I know you get it back for sure. I asked for cash the last night to be sure I got it.

[CRUISE4JANE]

So far I have $180 in OBC. Kind of confusing about the beers and gratuities. Would the gratuities be the first thing they add to my S&S card and would they apply my OBC first for it or would they charge my credit card? :confused:

[kayhold]

Talk about splitting hairs!

 

I wont spend more than normal because I have OBC. Cost/Profit, blah blah - its money that would normally leave my checking account and now won't and thats all I care about. We will likely end up getting a refund- we already paid tips and I can not fathom us spending $250 extra on board (our current OBC)

 

I'm not going to buy overpriced pictures when I have an expensive camera and a travel tripod.

I'm not going to gamble besides penny slots, because those are what I enjoy playing.

If may have a drink or 2, period.

My mother in law insists on paying for everything for my kid, no going to complain there.

We bring soda because endless bubbles aren't kept cold.

There really isn't anything else for us to spend money on.

[kayhold]

So far I have $180 in OBC. Kind of confusing about the beers and gratuities. Would the gratuities be the first thing they add to my S&S card and would they apply my OBC first for it or would they charge my credit card? :confused:

 

Your OBC is spent first. Tips are sometimes added first day but almost always by the second day.

 

If you wanted, just call and pre-pay them.

[coachpete]

I've got a solution for everyone. Buy beers with the OBC, and give them out as tips!