what gift do you like best from TA

[MomC]

I am running an informal survey of gifts you have most appreciated from your TA. Realizing that the agency makes a profit of about 10-14% of the base price, gifts vary acc. to the cost of the trip (days, category booked, etc), with that in mind, what gift do you most appreciate or prefer?

 

Thanks,

 

Mom C

[drfun48]

I am running an informal survey of gifts you have most appreciated from your TA. Realizing that the agency makes a profit of about 10-14% of the base price, gifts vary acc. to the cost of the trip (days, category booked, etc), with that in mind, what gift do you most appreciate or prefer?

 

Thanks,

 

Mom C

That they do their job correctly. The extras are nice,I always get a shipboard cash credit,but that they keep their eyes and ears open is all I really want.

[LJAM]

That they do their job correctly. The extras are nice,I always get a shipboard cash credit,but that they keep their eyes and ears open is all I really want.

 

I agree wholeheartedly. But that said on my last cruise I took my whole family and the three bottles of Champagne, two bottles of wine and the three top of the line terry robes were very nice surprises in each cabin.

 

I have a great travel agent.

[newmexicoNita]

AS a TA, let me clarify something: first of all I do always give a gift of some sort, but that being said: 10-16% seems like a nice commission and it is: now, take off what the agency gets and what we, as agents actually receive isn't all that much. I just did one for someone sailing tomorrow that by the time all the discounts were thrown in (they had about 3) and they were on a cheap cruise, I sent a gift and ended up making $15 on the entire transaction. This is unusual.

 

I do like to know what the guest prefer; usually I send wine, a fruit basket, OBC, Casino credit and for one today, I sent a champagne breakfast for two and the cruise line cook book.

 

As a customer you can look at the $1200 per person you paid for your cruise, but take off the $250 port charges and the $60 taxes (just an example) now figure what the commission actually is.

 

I am not complaining, I love my job and wouldn't consider anything else, but anything a TA gives you is a bonus. On occassions I have paid the insurance. NMnita

[Gypsea]

I don't send gifts but try to book my clients in groups where they have OBC's, free photos or wine with dinner. l also discount the fare whenever I can. The last cruise I sold was discounted by over $700 for the cabin. This client asked about another agency offering a $200 spa credit which is when I pointed out how much of a discount I gave instead. I didn't have to do that but obviously this was an expensive cruise and I value repeat business over all else. I have not heard that they would like to cancel and rebook elsewhere. Why would they? With their savings they can do whatever they like. Bottom line price is most peoples first concern.

 

Thank you Nita for pointing out just how much is commissionable. I also love my job but there are many quotes given before one sale is made. Any agent will tell you that. It's not for everyone but it is a business with great perks.

 

Cheers,

Rita

[j!m]

as a frequent traveller i would quite frankly prefer no gift. instead, i would like to receive the best price and excellent service. i was quite frankly annoyed when i picked up our tix last week and was advised our ta was "giving" us shipboard credits of $400. my immediate thought was that i must have over paid by a lot if she is "giving" me $400 as a "gift".

 

when i spend $10-20k for a trip, i just want to be treated fairly by a knowledgeable person and receive good service. if i do then, they earned their commish and can keep it.

[uktog]

UK TAs do not give gifts _ I am always a little jealous when all the rest of the table are signing for bottles of wine on the first night. However, as a previous poster said, for me I want the TA to get the whole thing right and deliver at the right price

[donnajo]

j!m -

You didn't over pay. The reason you got a shipboard credit on that sailing was because the TA was not allowed to discount the price.

That was the only way the TA could give you some of the commission back.

Donna

[DrKoob]

This thread deserves my favorite bit of wisdom. It goes like this--the average American knows the price of everything and the value of nothing--don't be average.

 

Expect great service from your TA, pay them well and anything they would like to do for you should be a gift. Gifts are never expected.

 

Would there ever be a thread about "What is my favorite thing to get from my spouse for Christmas?" I think not.

[lucky white heather]

UK TAs do not give gifts _ I am always a little jealous when all the rest of the table are signing for bottles of wine on the first night. However, as a previous poster said, for me I want the TA to get the whole thing right and deliver at the right price

 

ditto to the above...we have NEVER had any gift on any cruise from any travel agency we've booked through and have noticed how mostly US cruisers almost inevitably get "gifts" from their respective TA's.....obviously we need to book with US TA's if they would handle our booking .Anyone recommend one please?

[caviargal]

AS a TA, let me clarify something: first of all I do always give a gift of some sort, but that being said: 10-16% seems like a nice commission and it is: now, take off what the agency gets and what we, as agents actually receive isn't all that much. I just did one for someone sailing tomorrow that by the time all the discounts were thrown in (they had about 3) and they were on a cheap cruise, I sent a gift and ended up making $15 on the entire transaction. This is unusual.

 

I am not complaining, I love my job and wouldn't consider anything else, but anything a TA gives you is a bonus. On occassions I have paid the insurance. NMnita

 

Nita is correct that commissions are not so straightforward. Just this week I finalized payment on two Deluxe OV cabins for a 5 cruise night for a good client. With the discounts I was able to find for him, he saved several hundred dollars off the group rate he had orginally been quoted.

 

After paying my host agency their fee, and my own agency their % and then sending an onboard gift, my take home commission was $48.

 

I also lost a sale on a group of 12 cabins to Alaska recently after working with the clients for six months. It was time consuming as I did a full comparison of all ships so they could make an educated decision, recommended shore excursions, provided detailed hotel recommendations for pre and post cruise. They made their decision, loved all of my recommendations, and someone esle in the party had a "friend" that saved them $100 pp so they booked with them. There are cruise lines that "favor" their preferred agencies with special incentives that the rest of us have to come out of pocket to offer. I do not discount as I know that I provide great service and always go the extra mile for my clients. I answer emails and return calls on weekends and my good clients call me on cell when they need something quickly.

 

As a consumer, I shop where I get the best service not just the best price so that is how I handle my business.

[bigreckster]

We cruise two or three times a year and have dealt with the same excellent TA for years. She knows we really don't expect gifts but also that the fruit basket or bottle of wine at the cruise line's inflated prices isn't for us. She will give us a shipboard credit (always appreciated) or for our upcoming cruise, pay for the limo to/from the airport. Here in NJ, the parking at Newark or Phila. is ridiculous and the limo rates just keep spiraling so this thoughtful gesture on her part is really great! We never expect any gift but her attention to detail and great service as well as these little niceties have made us loyal customers for years to come.

[Sow There]

That they do their job correctly. The extras are nice,I always get a shipboard cash credit,but that they keep their eyes and ears open is all I really want.

Correct.

 

The greatest "gift" I have received from my TA is that she was very diligent when a flight delay occurred on our way to Ft Lauderdale and we were likely to miss a connection in Chicago.

 

She worked with United and arranged for a backup on another airline while we were on the first plane sweating out the possibilities.

 

Right after we were parked at the gate, the gate agent boarded paged us and asked us to see him as we deplaned. He told us about the arrangements and how we should proceed. We made it to the ship on time and were dazzled by the great service by our TA and by United.

 

That's what I call a great gift.

 

By the way, she got a nice gift from us when we returned home and a big hug from my wife.

[NEARING 100 CRUISES]

My doctor does not gift me. My lawyer doesn't gift me. My cpa doesn't gift me. My banker doesn't gift me. My barber doesn't gift me. My clergy doesn't gift why. My grocer doesn't gift me. Why should my travel agent gift me?

[newmexicoNita]

as a frequent traveller i would quite frankly prefer no gift. instead, i would like to receive the best price and excellent service. i was quite frankly annoyed when i picked up our tix last week and was advised our ta was "giving" us shipboard credits of $400. my immediate thought was that i must have over paid by a lot if she is "giving" me $400 as a "gift".

 

when i spend $10-20k for a trip, i just want to be treated fairly by a knowledgeable person and receive good service. if i do then, they earned their commish and can keep it.

Jim, have you ever thought, some of us do both; give you the very best deal we can and still like to find a way to say Thank you!!!! You are right, service, of course is number one. No bottles of $25 wine can make up for bad service. NMNita

[newmexicoNita]

Nita is correct that commissions are not so straightforward. Just this week I finalized payment on two Deluxe OV cabins for a 5 cruise night for a good client. With the discounts I was able to find for him, he saved several hundred dollars off the group rate he had orginally been quoted.

 

After paying my host agency their fee, and my own agency their % and then sending an onboard gift, my take home commission was $48.

 

I also lost a sale on a group of 12 cabins to Alaska recently after working with the clients for six months. It was time consuming as I did a full comparison of all ships so they could make an educated decision, recommended shore excursions, provided detailed hotel recommendations for pre and post cruise. They made their decision, loved all of my recommendations, and someone esle in the party had a "friend" that saved them $100 pp so they booked with them. There are cruise lines that "favor" their preferred agencies with special incentives that the rest of us have to come out of pocket to offer. I do not discount as I know that I provide great service and always go the extra mile for my clients. I answer emails and return calls on weekends and my good clients call me on cell when they need something quickly.

 

As a consumer, I shop where I get the best service not just the best price so that is how I handle my business.

you know when we do put so much work into something, just to lose out you can almost understand why some companies are now charging a fee. Our company gives us an option: my home office and myself choose not to add the service charge, as it is only charged if the person books, but it does get frustrating sometimes: Sounds like your last one was about like mine: $48.00; As I said, i actually made less than that: the saving grace was the sister booked a single cabin so the commission was a little better: at least I covered the gifts plus a few dollars.

 

Gypsea, I think what you try to do is great and I don't think any agent should feel obligated to give gifts. The reason I do stems from the days when we first started cruising: like someone mentioned: we sould sit at the table and watch everyone get wine from their TAs, we never got anything, even when we booked 3 and 4 cabins while traveling with the grandkids or whatever. I decided right then, I would give something to cliants when they cruised. NMnita

[Sky Sweet]

The best gift a travel agent can give me is to be knowledgeable, service oriented, and to return my calls in a timely manner. I would prefer to work with an excellent travel agent, who does his/her job well, than a mediocre one who gives me a present.

[stipmom]

in balcony cabins on RCCL. After final payment I noticed a price difference. Called the travel agent hoping for some ship board credit We were given $230 per cabin backfrom the cruise line

Cruise comes and no wine was sent.Told travel agent when we got back because I didn't want her to pay for something we didn't get. Told me she didn't send it because we were given a refund and her comission was less.

Within two months of that cruise one couple went on a 10 day trip to Europe and another took a cruise with another five cabins booked through her.I had taken one 6 weeks before with my family for three cabins..

I don't think it would have financially hurt her to send a bottle of wine and I don't even drink. On six cruises in the past I have booked with the cruise line and transfered the booking to her right before final payment. I have three more cruises booked and for my first cruise I didn't bother.She doesn't offer any service I can'tget from my certified vacation planner.

In fact, he offers better service than she does.

[TenerifeSharon]

We have just transferred our next 3 cruises from X to an agent that seems to be wonderful (I'll be sure after our first cruise with her), and I know a lot of you use her for your travel arrangements. She offered us an excellent OBC for each of the cruises and, thankfully, called it an amenity.

 

Do you realize that the word "gift" in german means poison?? So I laugh each time I read a post about "gift" from a ta.

[Sow There]

We have just transferred our next 3 cruises from X to an agent that seems to be wonderful (I'll be sure after our first cruise with her), and I know a lot of you use her for your travel arrangements. She offered us an excellent OBC for each of the cruises and, thankfully, called it an amenity.

 

Do you realize that the word "gift" in german means poison?? So I laugh each time I read a post about "gift" from a ta.

My thesaurus shows the word "kickback" in the list of synonyms for "gift."

 

Just like a new car rebate or any other "gift" from someone you buy something from (including frequent flier points), the customer always pays for it.

[ocngypz]

Some agents don't have to "bribe" prospective clients to book with them. And those are the best agents in the industry. Those who are desperate, have to "bribe". Those who are desperate give their commissions away in the form of obcs... or heavy discounts on those lines which still away discounting.

They are order takers and nothing more.

 

As a consumer, I would have to ask myself why????

 

Automakers give rebates because they can't sell their product. Popular vehicles don't have rebates.

 

Food for thought.