Mousesavers too big now?

[honeymom]

I discovered Mary Waring's mousesavers years ago, before it was very popular. Back then, if you discovered a deal that wasn't posted on her site, she would put it on and email you back personally.

Now that her site is big, she can't personally answer emails. I can understand that. But, I sent her information about the Costco package deal at Disneyland (just like the ones DL offers except no vmk codes, but they give your party a free character breakfast and an extra $20 gift card on top of whatever dl is giving) and she never posted it. I don't know if it is an oversight because they have grown so big - perhaps whoever screens her mail didn't realize that this is a really good deal) or if the site deliberately decided against posting it. Which then makes me wonder, are they mostly pushing their sponsors now - back when the site started, there weren't sponsors (or not that many of them) and the best deals got posted regardless of whether or not they were sponsors.

Mary used to post on the forums here and read them. Does anybody still see her here? I haven't for a while.

Just curious if anybody else has had the same observation about mousesavers as me.

 

[FoodLover]

honeymom, I continue to be an active participant here on the DIS Boards. I skim certain sections of the boards almost every day and I post pretty frequently.

The entire MouseSavers.com operation consists of me and a half-time administrative assistant, plus my husband who writes occasional articles. I receive hundreds of reader e-mails every day, which is why my "contact me" page says you may not receive a response to your e-mail.

By the way, I have never been able to respond to every e-mail I receive. Within a couple of months of starting the site in 2001, I was receiving far more mail than I could handle. If you got a response from me at any point in the past, it was because you sent me an exceptionally good offer or an especially nice e-mail.

In this particular case, I didn't post the offer you sent because I don't list membership-only vacation package offers (i.e. Costco or AAA). If you're a member, you can easily find out about those offers from the organization itself. This is not a change in policy -- I've always listed only publicly-available package offers.

Sorry this bothered you so much. I do my best to be responsive, but I'm not superhuman, and I reserve the right to pick and choose what I put on my site. As it is, I'm providing over 700 pages of FREE information about discounts. I can't list everything.

Mary
MouseSavers.com

 

[Allison]

No, sorry, I don't have that same observation. I love mousesavers. It has saved me a lot of money just for car rentals. Great site!!!!!

 

[sweetspicy]

Hi Mary! I didn't know you posted here! I love the Mousesavers newsletters and the all the discounts in them. So, thanks!

 

[honeymom]

Mary - It is nice to see that you are still here. I come and go from the boards (here when I'm Disney planning otherwise I take a break).

I was not trying to imply that you need to be superhuman. I even said that I didn't expect you to answer all of your email.

However, from a communication standpoint, I'm not sure that you have communicated your policy on not including membership packages. I cannot find it on your site. Plus, I go back to 2001 when you started (I didn't realize, but your site was 1 month old when I first used it). You used to post Disney Club discounts (required a membership), then Disney Visa discounts (required a membership). You do mention AAA although negatively in a warning to be careful that they don't always offer the best deal. And, you do mention So Cal City Pass/Dl Tix discounts at Costco. I have tried checking your mouseprint, big print, faq's, etc. and do not find any mention of your policy regarding membership clubs. Had I known it, I would not have wasted my time writing to you (I have 3 of my own businesses, raise children, and am expected to be superwoman, too!) I only took the time to send you the offer, because it was such a good one and I wanted to make sure that you had the opportunity to tell your subscribers about it.

I have sent many people to your site over the years. I will continue to do so as it is an excellent resource. However, I will let people know that you list a lot of discounts, but you exclude discounts for membership club packages and that there might be other discounts through those clubs that are better.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

I check Mousesavers when I'm planning a trip, and I thought I remembered seeing all sorts of membership information. Like Entertainment Book codes, Costco, BJ's, AAA, etc.

It's good to know that other membership info ISN'T listed, because I just took for granted that it was "one stop shopping" on Mousesavers. I have gotten some great info there tho!

 

[highland3]

Mousesavers rules!!!

Thanks for your efforts Mary. I too didn't realize you were an active DISer.

 

[lucas]

Hi Mary!! Nice to meet you!

Keep up the good work on Mousesavers.

 

[FoodLover]

I will let people know that you list a lot of discounts, but you exclude discounts for membership club packages and that there might be other discounts through those clubs that are better.

honeymom, this exclusion actually has only ever applied to vacation packages, and I have some well thought out reasons for that exclusion. I choose the offers I think are best for my site and frankly I don't feel I need to defend that. If you feel you have found better offers elsewhere, I am sincerely happy for you, and please tell your friends.

I have always listed many of the best membership-related discounts for rental cars, room-only reservations, tickets, meals, etc -- though I generally mention only that they exist, and refer people to the membership organization for details.

I don't pretend to list every single discount available, just the best ones I know about. Do you have ANY idea how many membership discounts must be available just for car rentals, to give one example? Thousands, and I'm not exaggerating.

Mary
MouseSavers.com

 

[MissMinnie]

Hi, Mary! Thank you for all the info and help I have received from you. I enjoy your newsletters too!! Happy Holidays!!

 

[FoodLover]

honeymom, I gave it some more thought and decided to put a short section about membership discounts on the pages that discuss vacation packages. I realized I wasn't being consistent with what I do on the rest of the site. I should at least mention they exist, even if I think they're usually not that great. If it helps someone, that's good. Thanks for bringing the issue to my attention.

Mary
MouseSavers.com

 

[honeymom]

I'm not asking you to defend anything. But, I do have every right to post a question on this board to try to better understand what is going on with your site. I'm just sorry that you took offense with it. Frankly, I would have written to you directly, but didn't expect to receive an answer.

I also think that you could add info to your disclaimer that is pertinent and part of your general policy (i.e. that you don't include packages from membership clubs). I've spent 20 years in marketing and put plenty of copy through lawyers. While your disclaimer provides against a warranty, if you have general policies it is often a good idea to include them. It is obvious from a previous poster that many of us perceive mousesavers.com to be one stop shopping. In many ways it is, but now we know that in some ways it is not.

So, thank you for answering. I'll just be sure not to send you and membership package related tips again (or car rental tips, but I've never sent you one of those). I'll post them on the boards here instead in the future.

It should be noted that in the past I have sent several tips to Mary that fell within her guidelines and were posted and I will continue to do so (although I don't scoop Mary on discounts now the way I did when she first started out). I feel that Mary provides a valuable service to her readers and I hope that others will send emails to Mary if they come across an especially good deal.

 

[The Mayor]

honeymom, I gave it some more thought and decided to put a short section about membership discounts on the pages that discuss vacation packages. I realized I wasn't being consistent with what I do on the rest of the site. I should at least mention they exist, even if I think they're usually not that great. If it helps someone, that's good. Thanks for bringing the issue to my attention.

Mary
MouseSavers.com

Mary....Awesome site...I refer everyone to it when they ask me about a trip to WDW...if you got a 10% cut of the money you saved people you'd be a very rich woman...thanks again for a great site

 

[Cantw8]

Hey, Mary just wanted to add my two cents about what a great site you have and appreciate all your efforts I love the newsletter

 

[honeymom]

honeymom, I gave it some more thought and decided to put a short section about membership discounts on the pages that discuss vacation packages. I realized I wasn't being consistent with what I do on the rest of the site. I should at least mention they exist, even if I think they're usually not that great. If it helps someone, that's good. Thanks for bringing the issue to my attention.

Mary
MouseSavers.com

Thanks Mary. For some reason this message did not show up before I made my last post. I had also already pm'd you regarding the notice you added. Please read it when you have the chance.

 

[RC Fan]

I very much enjoy my monthly newsletter from Mousesavers. I've been getting them for a couple of years now. They are a nice update on rehabs, etc.

 

[cheerful chickadee]

I don't have anything to add except to thank you for your site Mary, it has helped me and many others who I have referred to your site!!

 

[FoodLover]

Just wanted to say hi, happy holidays and thanks to everyone who jumped in on this thread to greet me! I'm glad you like my site.

Mary
MouseSavers.com

 

[noodleknitter]

I asked a question of her about a year ago, re. forwarding Mousesavers newsletters. She very sweetly replied personally.

Love the site, and know that time changes everything. Some complain that the Dis is too big, too.

 

[mtblujeans]

...In this particular case, I didn't post the offer you sent because I don't list membership-only vacation package offers (i.e. Costco or AAA). If you're a member, you can easily find out about those offers from the organization itself. This is not a change in policy -- I've always listed only publicly-available package offers....

Mary
MouseSavers.com

Good to know.