Buyer Beware

[panda24]

Just got of the Golden Princess on Saturday and I must admit I was prepared for the upsale with coke, coffee and such however I was a bit surprised at how much Princess actually has their fingers in everything you do.

 

So we got on the Golden on the 20th and the 21st was a sea day and of course they have all the wonderful information about what to do and enjoy. At first we had a nice little card about an information meeting that would talk about shopping opportunities at the various ports we would be visiting AND they promised free maps of each port. Now never being to any of these places, I thought a map might be useful. Well, we get reminder cards about this meeting, announcements and it's on tv. I should have started thinking hmmm at that point in time. So off to the meeting. Now these maps that they had were not general maps to each port but detailed maps of the shops that Princess suggested you visit b/c they were guaranteed and had the best prices. Are you going hmmm yet? So after 30 minutes (which I really was not expecting the whole thing to last over that time) they were still on places to shop and what to buy at the first port (Juneau). So I left and thought nothing else of it. Until they replayed the entire thing over and over and over on the Princess channel. Then had a follow-up meeting about it and were giving away free charms to come buy and visit the professional shoppers. Really, are you going hmmm yet?

 

Now being a girl I like to shop and truthfully have been sucessfully doing it for some time. So I popped into several jewelry stores just to see what they had. And surprise I found a ring I really did like. Well just so happened that the professional shopper from Golden was in there and looked at the ring after the salesman had made his "best" offer and assured me it was a good deal. Well I don't like to make hasty uniformed decisions, so what did I do while I was enjoying the port -I called my trusted hometown jeweler and told them the cut, carot - every detail that I had on this ring and it had been written down for me by the salesman. Funny thing was - the shops that Princess had been so pushing us to visit b/c they got the best deals (fewer middle men and such) was asking TWICE what it should have been. Then I started noticing that the shops that weren't Princess certified were the ones that had prices more along the lines of what they should have been.

 

So my suggestion here is that if you're planning on purchasing jewelry. Do your homework and be an informed shopper.

[mii]

I agree with you. I learned a long time ago about those shopping talks. I went once when I first started cruising and never again. And yes they do run those shopping talks over and over and over again. I just change the channel.

 

Marilyn

[Toto2Kansas]

Was this your first cruise? Reason I ask is this is typical on any sailing on any cruise ship/any cruise line. I don't even go into the shops recommended by the cruise line, and except for my first cruise, don't bother attending the shopping talks. A lesson learned, next time don't even bother. ;) Hope the rest of your cruise was satisfactory. ;)

[choochella]

When we were cruising newbies, we also went to the port shopping talks. What really got me was all the "FREE" stuff you can get when you visit these places. Gold charms, chains, etc. It was all junk. Don't be fooled. As the OP stated, do your homework first.

[Colo Cruiser]

Of course the shops that Princess steer.. you to get a cut as well as Princess. ;)

The deals are not near as good as years past in the Caribbean if at all. :rolleyes:

 

I don't make any big purchases on a cruise anymore unless I do my homework first.

[Kittycatwlv]

I assume Princess gets a percent of your sale so naturally the crap oh I mean stuff :) has to be marked up.

[paul929207]

If I go to a presentation and it is about where in port to buy stuff, I am out of there read quick.

[jhannah]

Toto is right. This is common practice across all cruise lines. You'll also find this arrangement with taxi drivers in lots of ports. (I once had to get very stern with a cab driver in Naples before he understood I did NOT want to stop at this "great" cameo factory store.) There are very few bargains to be had in any cruise port. Virtually everything can be obtained at home cheaper ... and with a warranty that is valid.

[rcacace]

Years back the "shop & port" talk was actually someplace to gather some useful information but in the past 10 years has morphed into the sales pitch you attended. It's a big & profitable business to steer you into their recommended shops in order to get their cut of the action.

 

I'm still amazed at the numbers of people that still attend the sales pitches and are reluctant to walk out. It hasn't taken you long to find out what some people never realize.

The only logical suggestion is to make your purchases at home from a local & reliable dealer who won't dazzle you with their fancy salesmanship. At least if you're unsatisfied after an independent appraisal you can bring the item back for a refund.

Try & get the cruise line to make them refund your money if you not satisfied. :D

[Putterdude]

I tend to walk around the jewlery stores and get an idea of the local pricing and then decide if I am a buyer or not. There is a huge mark-up in jewlery and I am not afraid to negotiate and if I can't get the price I want then I go on to the next store. I will say that DW and I did attend a very good talk re emeralds on the Coral this January and it was very educational when we went shopping for some earrings.

[gertz]

We just look at it as part of the cruising experience. Take it or leave it.

Jack

for the little

[chamima]

I've gotten so used to these "shopping" talks over the years that I've avoided ALL so called port talks. What an unexpected and pleasant surprise I got on our last Princess cruise to Hawaii on the Golden last year. All of the port talks were actually about the island we were visiting and NOTHING about stores to go to!

Just posting this for future Hawaii cruisers because I skipped the first talk and then regretted it.

Thanks CD Dave Cole for port talks that were really interesting info about Hawaii!!!!

[shellbeachjim]

I've gotten so used to these "shopping" talks over the years that I've avoided ALL so called port talks. What an unexpected and pleasant surprise I got on our last Princess cruise to Hawaii on the Golden last year. All of the port talks were actually about the island we were visiting and NOTHING about stores to go to!

Just posting this for future Hawaii cruisers because I skipped the first talk and then regretted it.

Thanks CD Dave Cole for port talks that were really interesting info about Hawaii!!!!

Joe May's port talks are also (thankfully) devoid of shopping "hints". Joe primarily is a port lecturer for South America, although we also had him once for a Holy Land cruise.

[Shogun]

Hi There,

 

On the Crown in Europe the port guide is an employee of Princess so you get good info,

 

however in Carib, they are employed by a n other or a commission agents

 

yours Shogun

[Sandytoes]

Funny thing was - the shops that Princess had been so pushing us to visit b/c they got the best deals (fewer middle men and such) was asking TWICE what it should have been. Then I started noticing that the shops that weren't Princess certified were the ones that had prices more along the lines of what they should have been.

 

If a cruise line steers into the direction of certain stores

you should put up your "Red Flag".

Princess gets a huge percentage from each purchased made.

Which means - inflated prices!!!!!

 

I have never gone to one of the shopping lectures on board,

I bet'cha Princess doesn't tell the passengers they're paid to plug certain port merchants. :rolleyes:

[BalconyGal]

Welcome to cruising! We hate all the upsell and junk mail etc. But we love to cruise so we just ignore it. The old adage is true....if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. :rolleyes:

[UtterCaro]

Now being a girl I like to shop

 

I'm a woman and I don't. (Didn't like it when I was a girl, either.) :)

 

Caro

[katisdale]

I am a female non-shopper and avoided the port talks until I met Joe May. He is a fabulous port lecturer. On our Holy Land cruise he was much better than the professor who gave lectures on Egyptian history.

[panda24]

It was our first cruise and definitely lesson learned in about 20 minutes. We tried to avoid anything related to cruise guidance after that. My favorite was the buy the special bonus for $25 and get all this stuff free - we only have 250 buy it now!! Anything that has to be purchased right then is always a clue that you should say NO!! Seriously, who would want to spend their entire vacation running from store to store picking things up. I wanted to see way more of Alaska than the stores. :)

[Woobstr112G]

We just look at it as part of the cruising experience. Take it or leave it.

 

Jack

for the little

 

Sorta like the hard sell when my DW goes to the spa......:)

 

Bob

[goldenrod]

Let's all try to remember this is a for profit industry, the art sales, the Casino, the shops, the Bingo, the photo's the Internet, the tour's, the specialty restaurants, it's all to improve the bottom line, no one is forcing anybody to do any of it. But those that do contribute to the bottom line which allows those of us who don't to enjoy big new ships and reasonable fares. It's just that way, if people did not gamble in Vegas the top places to stay would be a super 8 or motel 6 the cruise line industry is no different.:D

[HarrietKC]

We learned the hard way when we took our first cruise a few years ago. We bought the overpriced coupon book on a Disney ship, then let our daughter (who was 11) walk and get all the cheap junk they were giving away for "free" at each store. She thought it was a great treasure hunt, but as soon as the merchants decided we weren't purchasing, they grew very disinterested. We did buy (with the help of a consultant) some overpriced earrings. Decided it was within our tolerance and it was a great lesson learned.

 

Now we know to avoid the marketing hype. Same with spa stuff. We say "we'll think about it," to be polite and "voila!" it's on your bill - hundreds of dollars worth of spa items worth significantly less that you have to insist be taken off before you sign for the massage.

 

I think it's how the cruises make money - but I can think of better ways to do it, frankly. Fool me once - shame on you. Fool me twice? Don't think so.

 

Glad you were able to figure out the "system" early.

[Iamcruzin]

Of course the shops that Princess steer.. you to get a cut as well as Princess. ;)

The deals are not near as good as years past in the Caribbean if at all. :rolleyes:

 

I don't make any big purchases on a cruise anymore unless I do my homework first.

I have to agree with you. I was pricing cologne which used to be a deal in the Caribbean years ago. The type I use is was only about $5.00 cheaper on the ship and islands than it is at home in a department store. Now I just buy it online. It beats both the Caribbean and department store price. If I spend $60.00 or more they don't charge for shipping.

[Corinne Marie]

The spa is a huge rip-off. I always do my massage at home before I cruise. I pay 45.00 per hour and I would not spend the money that the ships want for a one hour massage. They are not the best massages either. They then start on all the sales pitches about how you should by their spa lotions, scrubs, and etc. I am on vacation and don't want to be bothered to listen to their sales pitch. I just stay out of the spa.

[Happy2Cruise4Fun]

At least they dont have advertising for these stores on the walls or your plates as dinner. Welcom Mr.PAX, you are checking into the XYZ stern gold and diamond section of the ship.

 

The shops pay Princess to advertise for them with a kick back on sales. No different then WalMart paying for time on TV and paying the station to broadcast the commercial.

 

As many have said just turn it off or ignore it.