Called for a rate - quoted higher than online

[imsayin]

I called Disney to see if I could use a AAA discount rate on a discounted room. I first asked the price without mentioning the AAA or any discount. The price that she gave me was a non-discounted price even though there is a discount available at that time. Online rate was $410, she quoted me $513. After I asked about the discount, she gave me that rate, but only because I asked. She said they always give non-discounted rates first. Wow, this seems a bit shady to me.

 

[mickeynut1]

I don't think it's shady, it's just the way Disney does things. If you call for a quote, it's usually quoted at rack rate if you don't mention a promo, even if there is a discount or promo going on for your dates. In order to be quoted with a discount, you have to tell the CM what it is you want quoted.

 

[Mousemommy1]

I don't think it's shady, it's just the way Disney does things. If you call for a quote, it's usually quoted at rack rate if you don't mention a promo, even if there is a discount or promo going on for your dates. In order to be quoted with a discount, you have to tell the CM what it is you want quoted.

Agreed. If I've got a discount, that's the first thing out of my mouth when calling for a quote! I want to make sure it's applied, and of course, some people don't do their research and will pay rack rate so why wouldn't Disney sell rooms at those rates???

 

[Rachaelt]

If a discount is available, we're supposed to offer it. We get counted off for it now. We used to have to wait for you to ask for a discount. We don't know if you're AAA unless you tell us though.

 

[imsayin]

If a discount is available, we're supposed to offer it. We get counted off for it now. We used to have to wait for you to ask for a discount. We don't know if you're AAA unless you tell us though.

I didn't mention AAA until after I got my quote. I wanted the current rate and then asked if there was a AAA discount. I think it is poor service to expect customers to have to ask for the best rate available. I think it should be given. Not everyone is as savvy as the disboard people, and they shouldn't be penalized for it. It felt like dealing with a car salesman.

 

[Gorechick]

Disney is notorious for this. They give as little information as possible and only respond to questions asked. They will not offer advice either.

 

[Rachaelt]

Which is why we're supposed to now proactively offer any available promotions. In the past, we were forbidden to though.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Which is why we're supposed to now proactively offer any available promotions. In the past, we were forbidden to though.

Well, that's good to know. I know from experience that wasn't always the way...

 

[mickeynut1]

I think it is poor service to expect customers to have to ask for the best rate available. I think it should be given. Not everyone is as savvy as the disboard people, and they shouldn't be penalized for it.

I don't agree with this. Everything can be researched without a specific forum. Our first few Disney vacations were taken before I ever heard of the Disboards and I managed to get discounts. It's all in the research a person does to obtain the best deal. This is no different than airlines that offer special fares if you book online. People who don't travel often or don't fly much might just pick up the phone and book their airfare and possibly pay more than they would have had they done some research and possibly found a better deal online. As the pp said, if Disney could sell rooms at rack rate, they will....just as any other hotel, airline, etc. would sell rooms or airline tickets higher than others who find discounts.

 

[imsayin]

As the pp said, if Disney could sell rooms at rack rate, they will....just as any other hotel, airline, etc. would sell rooms or airline tickets higher than others who find discounts.

But if you have a sale advertised, you should quote at the sale price. If Target has jeans on sale, when I go to the store, they are on a rack with the sale price advertised and that's how they ring up. I don't have to ask for the sale price to get it.

We can agree to disagree, because I still think it is a shady practice.

 

[Rachaelt]

We are supposed to quote the sale price. I'm sorry that the agent didn't.

 

[clanmcculloch]

In OP's situation, I don't think the CM at CRO did anything wrong. AAA is a discount that most people who call are not eligible for. These types of discounts where there is an eligibility requirement should not be offered without the guest saying that they are eligible. Should CMs at CRO tell people about AP discounts without knowing if the guest is an AP holder? What about Disney Visa discounts? People need to speak up with these types of things.

With a store analogy, this would be similar to a senior discount or store reward program; you have to tell the cashier that you're eligible or else you get the current ticket price.

Now if it was a general public discount then yes, the CM should have quoted that discounted price. I see that as being the current price.

 

[bobbigrl27]

I called and got a quote on Thursday. The CM said I had a pin attached to my name for room only discount. I had her give me a quote for the room, tickets and QS dining. After I got off the phone, I checked the quote on the website and it was coming out lower than what I was quoted. I called back yesterday to pay the deposit and I also had the tickets and dining removed. The room only quote was still higher than what I found online. I mentioned this to the CM and he said "oh, your pin must not be as good as the general public offer". I thought is was strange that they would use my pin when the GP offer was better. but no harm done because he switched it immediately.

 

[imsayin]

In OP's situation, I don't think the CM at CRO did anything wrong. AAA is a discount that most people who call are not eligible for. These types of discounts where there is an eligibility requirement should not be offered without the guest saying that they are eligible.

OP here...maybe my post was a bit confusing. I made no mention of AAA until after we discussed other rates. So, I was not given the current promo rate, that is advertised to the public, until I asked why the rate she gave me was higher than the internet rate.

After all that was discussed, I asked if there was a AAA rate that would be better than the current promo.

 

[ktlm]

I booked DL last year and a discount came out a couple of weeks after I booked. I pulled it up online and saw that the price difference was enough that I wanted to cancel and rebook if they would not just adjust my current reservation. When I called, they were willing to make the adjustment, but when they pulled up the price with the discount it was a couple hundred dollars higher than what I was showing on the screen right in front of me. The CM had me go through every option with her to see if there was any item in any way different, and there was not. The CM even contacted a supervisor. They could not figure out why the rate that was pulling up for me was different than what they were pulling up at their end. I can't recall if ultimately they stayed on the line while I booked on the computer and then cancelled my other reservation once my new online booking went through, or whether they were able to adjust/rebook the original reservation on their end with the price I was getting. I remember them discussing which one of those options they could do. I know I wound up with the cheaper price, I just don't remember how they did it (seems like I may have had to do it on my end). In any event, the CM clearly was not quoting me a higher price on purpose. For some reason, the prices weren't matching up. That's why I always check the prices online before booking by phone, even if I have a pin that you have to call in to use (I want to know the cheapest price I can get online to know if what they quote me with the pin is a good deal)