How Booking.com manipulates users • Hacker News Board

Re: How Booking.com manipulates users

#311

Post by zzmicier » Fri, Sep 22, 2017, 7:48 PM UTC

kayfox wrote: post #288

easychris wrote: post #177

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unfortunately directly booking with the hotel has drawbacks as well. 6 months ago I booked The Pullman Hotel in London directly (they had the same pricing as the online agencies). When I arrived late in the evening my room was not available: the (online, credit card backed) reservation I've made was "lost" and no more rooms available. There was no way to sort it out easily so I booked another Hotel (higher price, and…

If you booked with booking.com and the reservation was lost your pretty much SOL as well.

Booking actually helps in these situations, a friend of mine works as a customer service agent there and spends a fair share of his time resolving such issues. If I get it right, in such cases Booking should suggest the new property to a guest and reimburse the price from the first hotel.

Re: How Booking.com manipulates users

#312

Post by zzmicier » Fri, Sep 22, 2017, 7:51 PM UTC

gberger wrote: post #115

briandear wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Commissions vary depending on a lot of factors. My property in the south of France, we pay 10% and it’s well worth it. It’s incredible lead generation and saves us a ton on marketing and advertising. I’m happy to pay the commission because for small hotel owners, it’s much easier than having to spend continuously on marketing.

Right. But imagine you have your rooms listed for $220 in your own site, and for $200 on Booking. If someone books on Booking, you get $180. If someone calls and asks to book at the rate they see at Booking, but directly with you, you make $200.

If I understand this correctly, such deals should be forbidden by contracts with property aggregators.

Re: How Booking.com manipulates users

#313

Post by yellowapple » Fri, Sep 22, 2017, 8:10 PM UTC

"I am not aware of any other service with a comparable number of properties and reviews."

Trivago?

Re: How Booking.com manipulates users

#314

Post by jen729w » Sun, Sep 24, 2017, 9:18 AM UTC

aglavine wrote: post #308

jen729w wrote: post #97

I just spent 3 weeks travelling the USA and we used Booking.com to see what was around. But then we went directly to the hotel's site to make the booking and you know what? Same price, if not slightly cheaper in some (not all) instances.

The hotel's site may well be a facade and you're still buying through booking.com

Reference?

Re: How Booking.com manipulates users

#315

Post by jpl56 » Tue, Sep 26, 2017, 4:04 PM UTC

Yizahi wrote: post #265

I recently discovered (literally) an apart hotel that had bed linen excluded and could be added for 10 euro per bed. This was a first time on Booking with this trick (common on Airbnb) and they did notify me about it in they dark depths of popups and expand to see more.

That what I hate most about Booking : you expect an hotel room with private bathroom and they propose a rental flat or a bed in a dormitory.

I often visit the tourist-office website to find an hotel.

Re: How Booking.com manipulates users

#316

Post by michaelmwu » Thu, Sep 28, 2017, 11:43 PM UTC

lotsofpulp wrote: post #290

what_ever wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Except that hotel room bookings work a lot differently for lot of hotels than any other types of bookings. Hotels usually sell rooms in bulk to Priceline, Expedia and other OTAs and possibly keep some for their own funnel. So they may not have the same incentive to sell at that price you saw on Priceline.

That is not true for the chain hotels in the US. They also all have best price guarantees where if you see a lower publicly advertised price than the hotel’s own website, then you get a free night. But that never happens since it’s all updated in real time now, and the hotel’s systems will not allow reservations at a lower price.

Actually I've been able to use Best Price Guarantees many times. But it's not as easy to use as you say it is: each program has it's own set of complicated terms and conditions and often reject seemingly reasonable requests. Also, usually the chain needs to independently verify the rate, which can take up to 1-2 days, and by that time, the rate may have changed. Also, often you need to book the lowest rate for the guarantee, which could be a nonrefundable rate.

Easy/Lenient/Refundable: Starwood (20% off) Marriott (25% off)

Easy/Lenient/Nonrefundable: Hilton ($100 certificate)

Medium/Nonrefundable: Hyatt ($50 certificate)

Hard/Nonrefundable: IHG (1st night free)