Bidding for Travel

[tootsiemolly]

I have been reading the posts on this web page for about a year, and I have used it on occasion. Has any one else noticed how tempermental the site administrator Sheryl is? I swear sometimes I have needed to ask questions re. priceline bids, and I don't dare. I fear she will eat my lunch!!!!!!!! Has any one else noticed this? Today, I was reading a post in the Las Vegas section, and she let this one guy have it for wasting her time with his questions. I hate to tell her it is her Job!!! Chill out!! I hope she reads these boards

 

[Belle5]

Why don't you go to Sheryl directly about your problem with her? On her site you can click on "forum suggestions". That might be just the place to post your complaint. (This site is really not the appropriate place.)
Personally, I am forever grateful to Sheryl for her work. She's no nonsense and expects folks to thoroughly understand her FAQ section before asking questions or posting. She can't repeat herself 1,000 times and she can't do everyone's work for them.
You are not alone, however, as there were some complaints about Sheryl's manner when she used to visit us on the DIS years back. I must have a thicker skin, so to speak, because I have seen her in a different light.

 

[roadtripper]

I don't know if Sheryl is a volunteer or not-- I guess I assumed she was. If so, I don't blame her for telling people to read the FAQ rather than wasting her time. Her site has really helped me, but I know what you mean about not wanting to ask a question... I try to get my answers from previous posts. However, I kind of know how she feels, since I had been telling my sister to check biddingfortravel forever, but she blew it off and WAY overbid for a WDW 3 star. Ah well, it's her money...

 

[pw2pp]

I don't blame her at all. She puts alot of time into running that board. That board has been VERY helpful to me, in fact, as a result of a winning bid that someone posted on her board, I was able to place a similar bid and get THE DOLPHIN for only $72 per night!
If people would take the time to read the board, they wouldn't have to ask the same questions over and over.

 

[punkin]

I agree Sheryl can be rather short with people who don't do their hoomework, but can you blame her? She provides an invaluable service and people don't even take the time to read thru the info that's already there.

I think she's the best. Thanks to that site I stayed at the Dolphin over thanksgiving weekend for $75. For that kind of savings, she can be as mean as she likes to me (not that she's ever been anything but unfailingly polite)!!!

Yeah Sheryl!!!!

 

[Gillian]

Sheryl is a little intimidating. The site is not really geared for the Priceline newbie. The FAQ is complicated!

Still, it's not like someone is paying her to run the site. Well, I guess now it makes money, but it didn't when she first started it. It was strictly a volunteer thing. And she spent an awful lot of time helping people out. She has said in the past that she reads EVERY SINGLE POST on the boards!

Honestly, I appreciate the tight reins on the posts over there. It makes it very easy to find the information I need, without wading through a lot of off topic posts.

Luckily, there are helpful people here if you have basic questions.

 

[NancyIL]

I have saved a lot of money and learned a lot, thanks to Sheryl's board. I can't imagine how time-consuming it must be to keep up with the hotels in so many cities, not to mention airfare and car rentals. Thank you, Sheryl!

 

[tinaluis]

Another thank-you to Sheryl!!! Before I found her site I thought I was saving when I bid $40 for a 2* hotel at WDW. Now I know that same hotel can be had for about $18/nt. and I'm able to bid 2.5* or higher and stay within my budget. In fact, her site has allowed us to take MANY more vacations than we normally would. Her information is direct and to the point and you don't have to wade through a lot of useless information to find what you're looking for.

 

[tootsiemolly]

I agree that the bidding for travel site in helpful. I have also used it and have saved money. However, I also feel that the information can be difficult to understand for a novice. and I guess that the abrasive tone is sometimes intimidating for a novice like myself. I guess I have also been really spoiled by the dis. I have been a user of these boards since around 1999-2000. and I am so thankful and appreciative to ALL THE MEMBERS here, and their willingness to help me! Thanks to all of you! YOU ARE WONDERFUL!!!!!

 

[Gumball]

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[CarolA]

Keep in mind that is her board and she can do what she wants.

That said, I have never posted a winning bid over there since I feel certain I will get it wrong and get one of these nasty posts below mine. I do use her links so she does get revenue from me for providing the information. I think that is only fair.

 

[MCazer]

Can someone post a link to her site? I have no idea what site you are all talking about.

I have never actually won a bid that I placed on Priceline. Probably because I bid on hotels in NYC or Long Island, and they pretty much get what they want up here.

Thanks!

 

[DVC California]

Originally posted on tootsiemolly

... she let this one guy have it for wasting her time with his questions. I hate to tell her it is her Job!!! ...

Originally posted on CBS.com - 48 Hours interview with Sheryl Mexic

...an administrative assistant in Houston, Mexic spends nearly all of her free time dispensing online advice to prospective Priceline customers. As a hobby, she runs a Web site helping people with their travel plans.

"It's a hobby that I just enjoy immensely," she says.

According to Mexic, customers like name removed simply don't understand how the system works...

It's not her job.

As others have posted, I also want to publicly thank Sheryl for continuing BiddingForTravel.com . I have saved several hundred dollars on air and hotel thanks to the information posted on her website.

There was a time last April when she seriously considered folding the whole thing up because of the time commitment and expenses. Contrary to popular belief, she is not making a whole lot of money (if any) from the website. Any revenue that the board makes from its banner ads and partner links is typically plowed back into the operating costs of the website and EZBoards fees.

BiddingForTravel is a forum for Priceline users to share information. Sheryl moderates the messages and provides bidding advice when she is provided necessary information.

BiddingForTravel in not a web travel agency and Sheryl is not a travel agent. She does not have the time to develop personal bidding strategies with out some background information. All she asks is that bidders familiarize themselves by reading the FAQ's and that they do some of the "legwork" by researching current rates and fares.

Her "commission" for her advice is that she has helped someone either save some money on a trip, or possibly enabled them to afford better accommodations than their budget would have normally allowed.

If anyone asks for her a bidding strategy, and doesn't immediately follow up on it, Sheryl has lost 15-30 minutes of her life that she will never get back. As she often repeats, and correctly so, "Priceline's inventory and rates change on a daily basis." If a bidder does not follow up on Sheryl's advice, she has wasted her time.

Sorry if this came off preachy, I'll get off the soapbox.

My two cents, Steve

 

[Gillian]

Originally posted by MCazer
Can someone post a link to her site? I have no idea what site you are all talking about.

I have never actually won a bid that I placed on Priceline. Probably because I bid on hotels in NYC or Long Island, and they pretty much get what they want up here.

Thanks!

www.biddingfortravel.com

And the section on NYC is GREAT! You can easily see the trends there. Lots of active bidders/posters. You can get a room on priceline in NY, but they go for more than other cities, and there are some strategies that really help. My parents & aunt/uncle regularly use PL for NYC, and usually pay under $100 including fees. But the parking will get you!

 

[MCazer]

But the parking will get you!

Not if you take the LIRR !!!

Thanks for the link.. will check it out!

Margaret