Biddingfortravel.com problems :(

[Lewisc]

Ya know I would have to think that if you are reading all these posts about you (and we know she does here and on other boards) that maybe you would start thinking maybe it IS me and maybe I DO have a problem..why wouldnt you get that?

She is proud of the fact that her board has a very high signal to noise ratio. The information is accurate and well organized. Off topic posts aren't discouraged, they're deleted and the poster is flogged if not banned.

Boards like this is very conversational with many long threads on things like mugs and when will SW's fares be released. Sometimes I wonder why this board allows some threads to continue. How many threads on pool hopping do we need to have?

Something in the middle might be better.

 

[DianeV]

Yes thats probably true however her board is her living and why would you turn away money? And that IS her sole purpose anymore or she wouldnt be pushing her link so much

What I see happening is less posts on her board.

 

[DianeV]

Oh and going back to the other post about stupid questions and research etc. ..if I owned a store and a customer was asking me questions that are clearly posted do you think I would tell them "you shouldnt ask such stupid questions, its all posted right there..go away and you are never allowed to come in my store anymore"???

Think about that

 

[Vivianne]

You are braver then I am. I will NOT post on her site. And I refuse to use her "links" to bid. I will look to see what others say they have gotten but that is about it. She is a mean, nasty women.

I did the same thing last year. My impression of her was unfavorable too. I got a decent bid directly from Priceline for an airport hotel. I wonder if others do the same to avoid her.

 

[CarolA]

It doesnt pay to ignore her use the links emails because she has a way to know if you bid and dont use them and if you do then she bans you

So I have heard.... I have been ignoring her for several years and I am still there.

Now I don't post often so maybe that's it.

I don't have the PM feature on so that slows her WAY down.

 

[CarolA]

It doesnt pay to ignore her use the links emails because she has a way to know if you bid and dont use them and if you do then she bans you

So I have heard.... I have been ignoring her for several years and I am still there.

Now I don't post often so maybe that's it.

I don't have the PM feature on so that slows her WAY down.

 

[WDWorBUST]

I have used biddingfortravel multiple times and have never had anything but kind words from the moderators. It has been a while since I have - but in the past I have used it for 3 separate trips and was successful getting the flight prices I wanted. And I never used any "links" from there. I always posted my successes and always received kind words in return. I can't say anything about recently because I haven't posted lately but I don't think it's too much to ask for someone to read the FAQ's. As far as her making money at it.....I don't see how she ever made a penny off of me and I have always received a civil answer from her - even when I have made mistakes they have just been pointed out and I was directed to the appropriate process. Not to say things couldn't have changed or that some people haven't had bad experiences - but I was thrilled when I found the site and I know that I couldn't have gotten as good of prices on my own.

And No....I'm not Sheryl nor do I know her outside of the biddingfortravel board.

 

[DianeV]

The key is that its been a while since you posted...not many people get good airfares on priceline these days so that tells me it has been a while since you posted. Every post she has refers to her link and if she finds out you didnt use it she gets very upset..see that is part of where she is making her money now..

And by the way, yes you should read the FAQ but she also doesnt have to talk to people like their children and she doesnt have to be rude either and she is alot

I made the mistake of posting that I dont really think only guaranteeing one bed for 2 people is right because who knows if those 2 people want to sleep in the same bed..she took offense to that because I dared question the "rules" and banned me SERIOUSLY and then she deleted all my posts that pertained to that

 

[boucheresq]

i got yelled at for not using her link. so I just look and "don't touch" as my mother would tell me as a kid!

 

[mking624]

I alway's post my winning bids on Sheryl's site. I don't feel right about using her services and not putting something back for others. If you read the FAQs and not waste her time with stupid questions (and let's face it, alll she asks anyone to do is read the FAQs) she is quite civil.

As to the OP, I doubt you are banned, it is a softwear issue and is quite common. Try again on a different day and you will get in. Sheryl does not ban people for stupid questions or even for posting on topics that are outside the scope of the site (these topics are just removed). You will only be banned for repeated infractions of the rules, which are clearly posted and (usually) after a warning from Sheryl.

It's a nice sentiment, but not very true. She has been known to ban people on the very first MINOR offense. If she doesn't like it, you're outta there. Obviously it hasn't happened to you, but there are many many many many people who can rebut what you're saying. When she's getting business out of something (whether or not she's paid, this board still is a sort of "business"), it disgusts me she feels a need to come down harshly on others and ban them. I don't care what "stupid questions" people ask, it doesn't take more than a couple of seconds to say "check out the FAQ." It takes a MUCH shorter time to do that than to ban the person and block the PM. I should know, as I run an ezboard (the service her board is on). So in fact, she wastes her own time. I can't exactly call people "civil" when I've seen them treat people like dirt over and over and over again. They don't deserve the term civil.

 

[WDWorBUST]

I totally agree that it isn't acceptable to treat people like "children" or belittle them when you can politely say - "all your questions are in the FAQ - please check there first. I guess the site has greatly changed since I used it.....the last time I looked there didn't seem to be very much traffic. But I haven't requested bidding assistance since 2001 so you are right.....there has been more than enough time for things to change.

 

[lilsonicfan]

I don't think I'm just experiencing a software issue - I tried to send a message to Sheryl and got the message "user is ignoring you"... I tried to send one to another moderator and got no response.

I don't think she's particularly mean, but honestly, what's the point of banning people, especially without warning? I really have no idea.

Thanks for all of the help, folks - I appreciate it. Betterbidding sounds like the right place anyway!

 

[2infinityandbeyond]

The guy who runs betterbidding.com is very nice, very helpful. I'm really turned off by the attitude of the biddingfortravel queen bee.

 

[TedO]

Totally agree with all who have posted here regarding that nasty troll, Sheryl. I have posted on her site several times in the past and somehow have managed to escape her scorn, but after reading many rude replies to her from others I will no longer post or even look there for info. That is unfortunate because there is a lot of useful info there when she isn't criticizing someone.

In any case, I would urge others to try the www.betterbidding.com website which is a much more user-friendly (pleasant) site in more ways than one (and no, I am not in any way affiliated with it). It is not quite as popular and does not yet have as much info as that other site but it is growing and does have better Hotwire bidding info. Hopefully, threads like this one can get the word out here to get people to start using the BetterBidding site instead of patronizing such an unfriendly one!

 

[CarolA]

You know as I read back over this it occured to me.....

Talking nasty about her may be just as bad as what we say she does......

 

[DianeV]

NOPE I dont think so!

 

[BethR]

You know as I read back over this it occured to me.....

Talking nasty about her may be just as bad as what we say she does......

You know Carol, I have been following this thread and I have been kind of feeling that way too. I am not entirely certain, but I think that Sheryl can no longer post here and so is unable to defend herself.

I am going to ask for the guidance of my fellow moderators and WMs regarding this thread... (as usual . )

 

[DianeV]

Can I give you something to think about? Even if she could post here there is no way she would "defend herself"..

She never does and never has - she only gets rid of the problem so I highly doubt you would ever see her confront anyone who has posted on here. Now if she could get ahold of their emails she would ban them again though

 

[Lewisc]

You know Carol, I have been following this thread and I have been kind of feeling that way too. I am not entirely certain, but I think that Sheryl can no longer post here and so is unable to defend herself.

I am going to ask for the guidance of my fellow moderators and WMs regarding this thread... (as usual . )

Beth--The fact that Sheryl is officially, or at least unofficially, banned from DISBOARDS says a lot. Pete is a lot more tolerant of posters than Sheryl is.

This thread started because OP was concerned that he/she said something wrong to get banned. Most of us posting just wanted assure the OP that many people get banned from BFT and don't take it personally.

You can lock the thread if you think the point has been made but I don't think I, or anyone else, posted anything wrong.

 

[BethR]

Please don't misunderstand me. I don't think that ANYONE is doing anything wrong.