The Costco rep I’m on the phone with is horrible

[olafLover]

.

 

[emmabelle]

what really bothered me was when he said "you'll have to call DCL to get the placeholder ressie number." After that I said "I wish I had never named Costco as the TA." I knew that DCL wouldn't talk to me and I told him that. He then said "I'll call them." If I had been someone who didn't follow the Disboards, I would have wasted more time calling DCL and they wouldn't have talked to me. Once he got DCL on the phone, he had my placeholder number within a minute. I wonder if he told anyone else that he couldn't get it for them either.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I know you didn't phone back because you said you'd already invested a lot of time in waiting for them to answer. I wonder if you could have asked to speak with a supervisor?

 

[Billinaz]

Yes. I wasn’t clear. If emmabelle had waited until she turned the placeholder into a cruise before trying to transfer it to Costco, it would have been too late.

Exactly correct. (assuming outside of the 30 day window from the date of the placeholder).

 

[Billinaz]

Unless Costco is different than other travel agents this wasn’t my experience. On our first cruise last month I booked a placeholder. When we got home I called Disney and put it on a specific cruise for next year. I later transferred that reservation to Dreams Unlimited. I did get the reduced OBC through DU because it was transferred but kept all the perks I got through DCL. I had not used a TA for my first cruise or named on when I booked my placeholder.

Because it was within 30 days. I dont know why DU reduces the OBC to half. Costco gives the same amount if you transfer to them.

 

[lanejudy]

Because it was within 30 days. I dont know why DU reduces the OBC to half. Costco gives the same amount if you transfer to them.

Costco seems to give full-value cash card for all reservations, transferred or booked directly through them. I don't know if they have a separate contract with DCL regarding commissions that differs from other TAs. Most TAs do not receive full commission on transferred reservations, DCL changed this commission structure a couple of years ago. Therefore, most TAs will reduce their OBC for transfers. Placeholders and OBBs are considered transfers.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[SueInBoston]

I've booked multiple cruises with Costco with great service. The only thing that I find annoying with them is that they can't see DCL inventory. I booked on 2nd day at 8am, and was told that no 5C was available on starboard so I booked a 4C. Today with general opening, I was able to see the staterooms and found multiple 5Cs so I called back and changed my stateroom.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I've booked multiple cruises with Costco with great service. The only thing that I find annoying with them is that they can't see DCL inventory. I booked on 2nd day at 8am, and was told that no 5C was available on starboard so I booked a 4C. Today with general opening, I was able to see the staterooms and found multiple 5Cs so I called back and changed my stateroom.

Definitely have them call if you have a stateroom in mind. If you'll notice, for some reason Costco never shows 4As on deck 9 of the Fantasy (don't know about the Dream), even when the DCL site shows availability. But they can certainly book those rooms, but I think they have to call DCL to do it.

 

[Billinaz]

Costco seems to give full-value cash card for all reservations, transferred or booked directly through them. I don't know if they have a separate contract with DCL regarding commissions that differs from other TAs. Most TAs do not receive full commission on transferred reservations, DCL changed this commission structure a couple of years ago. Therefore, most TAs will reduce their OBC for transfers. Placeholders and OBBs are considered transfers.

Enjoy your cruise!

I dont think anyone does. They all have to sell the cruise for the same price as DCL, but what they decide to do with the 10% (or so) commission they get is up to them.

 

[Billinaz]

I've booked multiple cruises with Costco with great service. The only thing that I find annoying with them is that they can't see DCL inventory. I booked on 2nd day at 8am, and was told that no 5C was available on starboard so I booked a 4C. Today with general opening, I was able to see the staterooms and found multiple 5Cs so I called back and changed my stateroom.

Ive had the same issue with the DCL website.

 

[lilsonicfan]

what really bothered me was when he said "you'll have to call DCL to get the placeholder ressie number." After that I said "I wish I had never named Costco as the TA." I knew that DCL wouldn't talk to me and I told him that. He then said "I'll call them." If I had been someone who didn't follow the Disboards, I would have wasted more time calling DCL and they wouldn't have talked to me. Once he got DCL on the phone, he had my placeholder number within a minute. I wonder if he told anyone else that he couldn't get it for them either.

So I haven't really worked with any other TA, but for my placeholder, I either didn't get or misplaced the email with the reservation #. I did call DCL directly, not Costco, a few days before release, and the DCL agent looked it up and gave me the number. There was no mention of needing to go through Costco. I just thought I'd mention that.

 

[DVC Doc]

Costco is great, but they are notoriously overwhelmed on new itinerary booking days.

I wish Costco did DCL the same way they do Adventures by Disney....when you call the Costco number it just connects you straight to Disney!

 

[Intr3pid]

Costco would want to be in the middle so they can sell you other things - but I think your experience with them is purely a function of the level of knowledge of the specific agent. Remember DCL comprises a small part of their cruise business - and you are indirectly training their agent by having them go through an issue for the first time.

OP: To be honest, I have these kinds of 'meh' conversations with my service providers all the time. If you think this is horrible, wait till you get on the phone with my cellphone company!

 

[bumbershoot]

Having been a cs rep I bet he’s gotten a lot of people who were unhappy with long waits. Or maybe he had to pee. I find nothing much wrong with him giving you clear expectations and a way out of you didn’t really want to wait.

Oh, and we didn't lose any control over the booking either.

You did. You just might not have come across it. Had you needed to make any changes to the booking, any room or date changes, you would have needed to call Costco travel during their hours, not dcl during their hours.

Because it was within 30 days. I dont know why DU reduces the OBC to half. Costco gives the same amount if you transfer to them.

A few years ago all agencies (with such incentives) gave the full
Amount. Then all BUT Costco stopped. Costco is the odd one here. Be glad.

 

[lilsonicfan]

[QUOTE="bumbershoot, post: 59268562, member: 141567”]

You did. You just might not have come across it. Had you needed to make any changes to the booking, any room or date changes, you would have needed to call Costco travel during their hours, not dcl during their hours.

[/QUOTE]

I suppose this is true, except that Costco Travel has longer opening hours than DCL. Monday to Friday 8am to 12am, and Sat/Sun 9am to 8:30pm, eastern time.

 

[Dug720]

I suppose this is true, except that Costco Travel has longer opening hours than DCL. Monday to Friday 8am to 12am, and Sat/Sun 9am to 8:30pm, eastern time.

They can still only deal with DCL during DCL's hours.

 

[Billinaz]

A few years ago all agencies (with such incentives) gave the full
Amount. Then all BUT Costco stopped. Costco is the odd one here. Be glad.

I know, then DCL changed the way they handle the commission to them.... thus the change.

I can only tell everyone how great the return is by using Costco.

The only hard time I get is from travel agents who try to give a bad review of Costco or try to minimize their Cash card amount by saying "they dont provide full personalized service"....and the funny thing is many travel agents who call themselves 'Disney experts' actually know nothing about DCL. They read the internet, and put together something and then get insulted when someone brings up the Costco card amount they get.

 

[Billinaz]

Costco would want to be in the middle so they can sell you other things - but I think your experience with them is purely a function of the level of knowledge of the specific agent. Remember DCL comprises a small part of their cruise business - and you are indirectly training their agent by having them go through an issue for the first time.

OP: To be honest, I have these kinds of 'meh' conversations with my service providers all the time. If you think this is horrible, wait till you get on the phone with my cellphone company!

Ive never had them try to sell me anything when booking a cruise with them. You really dont need to talk to their agents at all unless you are transferring a reservation or changing something. Booking and payments can be done on their website.

 

[Billinaz]

They can still only deal with DCL during DCL's hours.

I think the point was that if DCL is open, then Costco is open.

 

[lilsonicfan]

They can still only deal with DCL during DCL's hours.

Of course. But bumbershoot's post suggests that there is a chance Costco's hours might be more limited than DCL, ie, it's somewhat more limiting to work with a TA that has more limited hours than DCL, but my point, as billinaz noted above, was that Costco actually has longer hours than DCL, ergo, there is still really no issue for me in terms of having to contact Costco instead of DCL.