Priceline.com Consumer Fraud: Priceline misleading the consumers Internet
Priceline advertises best price guarantee you can save up to 60% when you name your own price on a hotel. When I saw the advertisement, I thought my dream would come true to save money on a trip. Then I submitted an initial bid $250 to bid a resort at Wailea area in Maui for 6 nights in August 2011. The median price at Wailea area is $569 per priceline.com. I found out that only 3 resorts available at Wailea area per priceline.com. These resorts are:
(1) Wailea Beach Marriott $249 per night.
(2) Grand Wailea, A Waldof Astoria Resort $569 per nigth.
(3) h*o'olei At Grand Wailea $1495 per night.
I thought my chance to get Grand Wailea was high if I submitted the bid higher than $249. If Grand Wailea could not accept my bid, priceline should give me a resort with retail price higher than $250.
The initial bid $250 was accepted without any counteroffer. Unbelievable that priceline gave me a resort, Wailea Beach Marriott, with retail price at $249. As a result, I am loosing money to bid a resort. I paid more than retail price. I had no choice to get what resort I wanted even though I paid more. If I book a resort at retail price, I have choice to choose which resort I want.
I called Priceline several times but they refused to cancel the bid. They could only able to refund $1 per night back to me. Also, they refused to refund the tax and fees for $1 x 6 nights. However, I paid the tax and fees for the amount of $250 x 6 nights.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Adolph
Homosassa,Florida,
USA
Not surprising,,,,,,,,,,
#2General Comment
Fri, July 22, 2011
Priceline is in business to make money. Any time a bid is tendered to Priceline, they're naturally going to shop for the lowest price THEY can get. They will provide the most profitable accomodations (cheapest to them, to wit: crummy) to fullfill any bids. A good way to get very poor quality reservations.
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Sadly, I'd guess the results you achieved would be reflected in much of their scheduling.
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One must take care to accurately schedule any accomodations with Priceline. If for some reason a person is unable to use that which they purchased, it WILL be paid for anyway.