a lot of legitimate, long time, experienced TAs are charging fees for research, just not Disney TAs. The charges are generally proportional to what type of travel you are asking for info on. If you are asking for a specific package you saw advertised it may be a $20 fee but if you are wanting a custom FIT trip to Europe doing multiple countries, transportation etc. it may be $200. What most of them do is if you book with them, then the fee is refunded or applied to the cost of your vacation so you don't end up paying it if you book with them. If you don't then they have been paid for their time and expertise. If someone wants to charge above and beyond for a
commissionable trip, I'd keep looking for someone else! Air isn't always commissionable, some special offer rates at hotels aren't but Disney IS ALWAYS commissionable on rooms and packages. Agents started charging fees like this when they would put a couple of hours into researching different options, give that info to the client and then have the client go book it themselves online. That said, we (I am a TA) decided that was not something we wanted to do because I think it turns a lot of clients off. To some TAs it's a way to have people recognize that they are professionals and their time is worth something; they feel that weeds out the "shoppers" from the "buyers." We decided that time spent putting together a quote is a "cost of doing business" and that if nothing else, we gained experience and knowlege on that destination.
It's not as big of an issue when we're talking Disney. I don't have to do a ton of research when asked to compare WL and POR. I've been there...I know. If you ask me to compare 2 hotels in Scottland....I've got to go do some research for you! LOL This is a hotly debated topic on TA boards!
I know there was some discussion of research fees among some of the Disney specialists when the best rate came out because there is always that risk that someone without an AP who can not see the rates and/or availability will use a TA to find out what the rate would be and then order an AP and book it themself. I can't speak for everyone else but we decided that it wasn't right for us because it doesn't take us long to check that so it's not like we are putting a bunch of time in to it and we felt that it would turn too many people off. We are well aware that every quote request we get comes from people who more than likely requested quotes for 2, 3, 4 other agencies so what is the difference between time put in to that quote and time put in to a quote for someone with best rate? I have no problem with people "agent shopping."
It's important to find an agent you are comfortable with and how else are you going to do that than by checking around?
This just shows it's always a good idea to ask about fees before you work with any TA!
Most of the Disney specialists whose names are tossed around here do not charge any fees.
Just a thought!
