How do I find a good Canadian TA?

[CDNPolar]

42 minutes ago, declansdad said:

and is you are asking for more, you are asking for a share of their commission.

 

Assuming that the word above is IF not is, and I am not asking for more.

 

All of this is well and good and understood.  I am not asking any TA for anything.  I am working with TA's that publicly offer incentives to work with them.

 

I am not denying the fact that a TA earns or deserves a commission.  
 

I am making a choice of who I work with based on a very public offering of incentive.  If other TA's cannot do that, then it is a free market and I still have the right to work with who I choose.

 

I am not saying to any TA - offer me this or I will take my business elsewhere.  Never.

[Fouremco]

1 hour ago, declansdad said:

 

I know how TA's get paid and describing it as healthy commission is being generous. There are are also may factors that come into to play with that commission. It could be split between with the host agency they work for, they need to pay their expenses and it is likely their only source of income. The commission rate will also be different by cruise line and also dependent on the agreement they or their host agency has with the line

 

Would you ask for your lawyer, your plumber, your real estate agent, your hair stylist to give you back part of their pay/

 

1 hour ago, declansdad said:

 

Most TA's do not work for companies like this. In fact, the vast majority are independent. The incentives they give are usually because they are part of the promotion they are offering you and is you are asking for more, you are asking for a share of their commission.

Canadian cities were once filled with small, independent brick and mortar bookstores. Their numbers have dwindled over the past few decades, unable to compete with the large national and international chains that moved in, and unable to deal with the rise of internet sales. Today, online retailer Amazon in Canada probably sells more books in more formats than all of the remaining independent bookstores combined.

 

A while back, Amazon started offering a free monthly Kindle book to all of its Prime members. Some months, we get to choose two, and I made my October picks yesterday. I’ve enjoyed many of the books I’ve read since Amazon started this program, and I’m quite sure that this little perk has attracted many of its customers to purchase other books. Amazon isn’t stupid, and you can be sure that it has found the program to be a money maker.

 

When my big box travel agency was first established in Canada a few years ago, it immediately started offering perks to its customers. Canadian cities were filled with small, independent brick and mortar travel agencies, and this new kid on the block needed to provide an incentive to get travellers to switch allegiance. I don’t recall any hue and cry from the cruise community for them to give up part of their commission, it was simply a good, very effective marketing strategy on the part of the agency.

 

As a consumer, whether I’m buying the latest best seller or booking my next cruise, I’ll choose the best deal offered to me. The key word here is “offered”. I never asked Amazon for free Kindle books and I never asked my TA for part of its commission.  And to answer your question, no, I wouldn’t ask my lawyer, my plumber, my real estate agent, my barber to give me back part of their pay, but I would certainly accept a discount if they were to offer one.

 

I see that Shell is offering a 3 cent per litre discount to CAA members. And Petro-Canada has offered a similar discount for a few years to customers who pay with an RBC credit card. Again, simply good business sense on their part, and I accept the discount with absolutely no feeling of guilt for having cut into their corporate profits.

[broberts]

4 hours ago, declansdad said:

Would you ask for your lawyer, your plumber, your real estate agent, your hair stylist to give you back part of their pay/

 

I have no idea about hair stylists, but these other professionals are routinely asked to discount or rebate fees.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

21 minutes ago, broberts said:

 

I have no idea about hair stylists, but these other professionals are routinely asked to discount or rebate fees.

A lawyer discounting their fee , they probably double they dpfees if you ask for a discount 🤣

[declansdad]

3 hours ago, Fouremco said:

 

Canadian cities were once filled with small, independent brick and mortar bookstores. Their numbers have dwindled over the past few decades, unable to compete with the large national and international chains that moved in, and unable to deal with the rise of internet sales. Today, online retailer Amazon in Canada probably sells more books in more formats than all of the remaining independent bookstores combined.

 

A while back, Amazon started offering a free monthly Kindle book to all of its Prime members. Some months, we get to choose two, and I made my October picks yesterday. I’ve enjoyed many of the books I’ve read since Amazon started this program, and I’m quite sure that this little perk has attracted many of its customers to purchase other books. Amazon isn’t stupid, and you can be sure that it has found the program to be a money maker.

 

When my big box travel agency was first established in Canada a few years ago, it immediately started offering perks to its customers. Canadian cities were filled with small, independent brick and mortar travel agencies, and this new kid on the block needed to provide an incentive to get travellers to switch allegiance. I don’t recall any hue and cry from the cruise community for them to give up part of their commission, it was simply a good, very effective marketing strategy on the part of the agency.

 

As a consumer, whether I’m buying the latest best seller or booking my next cruise, I’ll choose the best deal offered to me. The key word here is “offered”. I never asked Amazon for free Kindle books and I never asked my TA for part of its commission.  And to answer your question, no, I wouldn’t ask my lawyer, my plumber, my real estate agent, my barber to give me back part of their pay, but I would certainly accept a discount if they were to offer one.

 

I see that Shell is offering a 3 cent per litre discount to CAA members. And Petro-Canada has offered a similar discount for a few years to customers who pay with an RBC credit card. Again, simply good business sense on their part, and I accept the discount with absolutely no feeling of guilt for having cut into their corporate profits.

 

You get what you pay for. Hopefully you never need help with some of these big box stores that offer travel.

[Fouremco]

56 minutes ago, declansdad said:

 

You get what you pay for. Hopefully you never need help with some of these big box stores that offer travel.

No need to worry. Ever since starting with my TA, and particularly during the first couple of years with COVID, there have been a small number of issues that I needed help with. They handled them all with speed, efficiency and to my complete satisfaction.

[CDNPolar]

15 hours ago, declansdad said:

 

You get what you pay for. Hopefully you never need help with some of these big box stores that offer travel.

 

 

Agree with Fouremco on this one, we have used the BIG well known TA's and had great service dealing with problems.  

 

Now, we typically book our own air, unless it is booked directly with the cruise line and the cruise line has a history and promise of dealing with any air issues rather than diverting that responsibility to the TA.

 

I am not saying that TA's cannot deal with the air issues at all, I am just saying that if the cruise air department does not have our back, I would rather be the one that is calling the airline to rebook or take care of an issue and not have a middle layer.  But then also we are openly accepting that responsibility which I know others don't necessarily want.

 

It can often be a trade off because I have also used TA's that you cannot reach directly on the phone, and when you email them 9 out of 10 times you get an out of office that directs you to call into their office and speak to anyone else that answers.  This is not service and these are the smaller supposedly more experienced and capable TA's.

 

I believe that everyone on CC has their reasons for using or not using a TA and whatever the reason, that is okay.

[lx200gps]

On 10/2/2023 at 10:01 AM, Fouremco said:

 

 

A while back, Amazon started offering a free monthly Kindle book to all of its Prime members. Some months, we get to choose two, and I made my October picks yesterday. I’ve enjoyed many of the books I’ve read since Amazon started this program, and I’m quite sure that this little perk has attracted many of its customers to purchase other books. Amazon isn’t stupid, and you can be sure that it has found the program to be a money maker.

 

 

Apologies for the hijack, but how does one take advantage of this? I'm a long-time and very busy Prime member, have just set up SWMBO's tablet with the app and have purchased and installed her first book. I can't find any mention of this program on their site. Thanks for the assistance  ;o)

[Fouremco]

37 minutes ago, lx200gps said:

Apologies for the hijack, but how does one take advantage of this? I'm a long-time and very busy Prime member, have just set up SWMBO's tablet with the app and have purchased and installed her first book. I can't find any mention of this program on their site. Thanks for the assistance  ;o)

Log into the Amazon.ca website, then Account & Lists > Your Prime Membership > See all of your Prime benefits > Reading > Learn more about the benefit. That will open the following:

 

 

And that's all I could find on the monthly free pick.

 

I became aware of it when, out of the blue, I received my first monthly pick email. No explanation at all that I can recall, just the invitation to pick a book, which I did. And have continued doing ever since. Until today, I never looked for details on the program, and with my lack of success this afternoon, can't provide a link.

 

I'm going to my grandson's hockey game tonight, and I think his mom gets the monthly book too. If she's there, I'll ask if she remembers how she got started. Maybe someone else here knows too. 

 

If all else fails, the fact that you installed the app on the boss's tablet, and purchased and installed a book, may trigger your inclusion in the monthly invitation mailing. You'll know on November 1st.

 

 

[Fouremco]

Update. I think I've found what. you are looking for. 

 

If you go to https://www.amazon.ca/kindle-dbs/firstreads?shoppingPortalEnabled=true, at the top of the page you'll find this invitation to subscribe to their First Reads newsletter. 

 

Join Amazon First Reads newsletter to discover new books every month.SUBSCRIBE

 

 

Further down the page you'll find this information under "Learn More":

 

 

Amazon First Reads is a program that offers customers early access to new books across popular genres. 

• This month, customers can choose two of the Kindle books selected by our editors for CDN$ 1.99 each, or CDN$ 0.00 for Prime members. 
• Amazon First Reads Kindle books can be read on any compatible Kindle device or free Kindle reading app and become part of customers’ permanent libraries.
• Joining is free with no purchase obligation. By joining, you receive a monthly e-mail announcing new Amazon First Reads picks. You can unsubscribe from the monthly e-mail at any time by visiting Amazon Delivers E-mail Subscriptions in Your Account. 

Please also note: 

• Amazon First Reads on Amazon.ca is available to Canada customers only.
• Kindle Unlimited subscribers can borrow Amazon First Reads books for CDN$ 0.00 when they are released. Learn more about Kindle Unlimited.

 

 

[lx200gps]

2 hours ago, Fouremco said:

Update. I think I've found what. you are looking for. 

 

If you go to https://www.amazon.ca/kindle-dbs/firstreads?shoppingPortalEnabled=true, at the top of the page you'll find this invitation to subscribe to their First Reads newsletter. 

 

Join Amazon First Reads newsletter to discover new books every month.SUBSCRIBE

 

 

Further down the page you'll find this information under "Learn More":

 

 

Amazon First Reads is a program that offers customers early access to new books across popular genres. 

• This month, customers can choose two of the Kindle books selected by our editors for CDN$ 1.99 each, or CDN$ 0.00 for Prime members. 
• Amazon First Reads Kindle books can be read on any compatible Kindle device or free Kindle reading app and become part of customers’ permanent libraries.
• Joining is free with no purchase obligation. By joining, you receive a monthly e-mail announcing new Amazon First Reads picks. You can unsubscribe from the monthly e-mail at any time by visiting Amazon Delivers E-mail Subscriptions in Your Account. 

Please also note: 

• Amazon First Reads on Amazon.ca is available to Canada customers only.
• Kindle Unlimited subscribers can borrow Amazon First Reads books for CDN$ 0.00 when they are released. Learn more about Kindle Unlimited.

 

 

Perfect, thanks so much, found it. As you advised, we'll watch for a new monthly offer in a few weeks, now that she has already downloaded her first selection.

[spethstation]

It does take some trial and error to find a good one. A lot of larger agencies have a list of agents with their particular specialties noted on the agency websites. You can try doing a search for 'X travel agency + cruise specialist' and see what you can find. Try locally first and branch off from there. 

[cmaleblanc]

We also have looked around for a Canadian TA to help us plan/cost a vacation. But even with the exchange rate, it's been cheaper in every case to book with a US TA, in USD. I will admit that I haven't found a difference in the TA's we've had good service with everyone we've used. So, all things being equal, giving me a larger perk for going with them, gets my business. We had been using a large online TA, that has a small $50 OBC + whatever is offered on the cruise site directly. But with a future cruise we have booked in 2025, we used another site to have TA's compete for our business and will be trying out someone new, who has great reviews, and offered a significant increase in OBC for the trip.  We also have a CC with no FX, so it helps with the exchange. I would love to find someone in Canada, and even more excited to find someone local here in NL. But service and the almighty dollar will still be a deciding factor, both my cost and the benefits I receive for using the service. 

[Fouremco]

1 hour ago, cmaleblanc said:

But even with the exchange rate, it's been cheaper in every case to book with a US TA, in USD.

When booking a cruise close to or past final payment date, changes to the exchange rate won't have much, if any, impact on the price comparison. But when it comes time for the final payment for your 2025 cruise, there could be quite a change in the exchange rate, and the (then) lower fare offered by the US TA when booking is now going to cost you more than had you booked with a Canadian TA in CAD. There is a certain peace of mind for me in knowing exactly what I'll pay a couple of years down the road, particularly with today's rocky economy.

 

Exchange rates aside, I'm very pleased with my Canadian big box TA, where the perks generally work out to about 10% of the booking price. I've compared numerous cruises with some of the better known US TA's and have seen no reason to book south of the border. The only drawback for some is that the TA doesn't handle all cruise lines, but that hasn't been an issue for us as we can book our three preferred lines.

[CDNPolar]

13 hours ago, Fouremco said:

Exchange rates aside, I'm very pleased with my Canadian big box TA, where the perks generally work out to about 10% of the booking price. I've compared numerous cruises with some of the better known US TA's and have seen no reason to book south of the border. The only drawback for some is that the TA doesn't handle all cruise lines, but that hasn't been an issue for us as we can book our three preferred lines.

 

Our preferred cruise line is not handled by this Canadian TA, so we have only used them once but agree, the benefit here is worth it.  This is having us start to look at trying other cruise lines for the savings.