Comments on: Travel agencies want to charge you for a quote http://www.travel-rants.com/2009/09/22/travel-agencies-charge-give-quote/ Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:52:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Murray Harrold http://www.travel-rants.com/2009/09/22/travel-agencies-charge-give-quote/#comment-153193 Murray Harrold Sun, 04 Oct 2009 20:12:28 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=4919#comment-153193 Yes, well, AA, I fear that travel will lose many more like you - to the detriment of the travelling public. As I said, the public have not learnt yet how to use the new breed of travel agent. The trade will lose a lot of good, dedicated people. I am saddened to read your post. If you still want to stay in travel, just do business travel (like I do) - I am not interested in holidays at all - I still do them, if asked, for my business clients, but because of exactly what you experienced happening once to often to me, now Jo Public can get some other mug to do their work for them! Could go on - but - "enuf said" Yes, well, AA, I fear that travel will lose many more like you – to the detriment of the travelling public. As I said, the public have not learnt yet how to use the new breed of travel agent. The trade will lose a lot of good, dedicated people. I am saddened to read your post.

If you still want to stay in travel, just do business travel (like I do) – I am not interested in holidays at all – I still do them, if asked, for my business clients, but because of exactly what you experienced happening once to often to me, now Jo Public can get some other mug to do their work for them!

Could go on – but – “enuf said”

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]]> By: AA http://www.travel-rants.com/2009/09/22/travel-agencies-charge-give-quote/#comment-153182 AA Sun, 04 Oct 2009 17:02:58 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=4919#comment-153182 I have been working as a travel agent in this country for the past 7 years and I can't take this any more. I honestly hate my job now, it's extremely difficult to earn any commission. I too had sometimes worked for days to build an itinerary for a client to have them go elsewhere after printing an email I had sent them and booking it with someone else so they could save 10 quid. Honestly, these people spend hours calling around to get the best deal but don't realise how much these phonce calls actually cost. And yes, you can book it online yourself and get a great deal, and then when an airline like XL goes bust and you're stranded at the airport for days, then you wish you had booked with a travel agent. Anyways, I'm changing my career, I want to get away from travel industry - I have had enough. And I actually wanted to charge some of the clients for quotes too, there's too many timewasters who don't know what they want calling around.... I have been working as a travel agent in this country for the past 7 years and I can’t take this any more. I honestly hate my job now, it’s extremely difficult to earn any commission. I too had sometimes worked for days to build an itinerary for a client to have them go elsewhere after printing an email I had sent them and booking it with someone else so they could save 10 quid. Honestly, these people spend hours calling around to get the best deal but don’t realise how much these phonce calls actually cost.
And yes, you can book it online yourself and get a great deal, and then when an airline like XL goes bust and you’re stranded at the airport for days, then you wish you had booked with a travel agent.
Anyways, I’m changing my career, I want to get away from travel industry – I have had enough. And I actually wanted to charge some of the clients for quotes too, there’s too many timewasters who don’t know what they want calling around….

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]]> By: Murray Harrold http://www.travel-rants.com/2009/09/22/travel-agencies-charge-give-quote/#comment-152649 Murray Harrold Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:46:23 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=4919#comment-152649 I agree totally with Johnathan Hansen and Deborah. This is not about agents, it's about the general public learning how to use agents. Travel agents have changed (those that haven't have either gone or are going) - the general public does not seem to realise this. Often, simple stuff people should do online - if someone asks me for a low cost airline flight I ask them why on earth are they calling me (though I still do some of these as some of my clients just do not have the time or inclination to do it themselves) - go and book it online. I cannot "add value" to the booking. Simple bucket and spade holidays are DIY as well. What I will say, is that part of the knack (for an agent) is knowing time wasters and what many talk about as being "poor service" often translates as people getting ignored because our agent's sixth sense tells us that what you are going to ask for, is hours of work and then take great pride in telling us that you have found the same thing for £10 cheaper on ripyouoffholidays -dot- com. If you read carefully what J Hansen says, this epitomises what the modern agent should be - someone committed to their client as much as the client is committed to the agent. each knows what the other wants and expects. A good agent is someone to whom a time poor person (and that's not always a rich one!) can simply say "Get me a holiday for next week" in the full knowledge that what will be arranged will be what they want - or that if say two options are offered, both will be relevant. Fine, if you enjoy doing your own thing, that's good as well. Agents are not demanding that you book with them. As long as people recognise that agents are not a sort of travel "RAC" service or a booking resource to be viewed as just another (though human) internet resource page. It is pleasing to see that many find planning a trip or adventure just as exciting as enjoying the travel experience. That's exactly as it should be - as it has always been. Please remember, though, that just because information appears online, does not mean that it is correct or even relevant. Good, modern agents are very, very hard to find these days and their numbers are diminishing rapidly so if you need one and can find one, nurture them. If you are happy doing things yourself, that's good as well. Agents are fully aware that the General Public do not owe them a living and most have grasped that, adapted and moved on. The issue seems to be that the average holidaymaker does not seem to have advanced quite as quickly! I agree totally with Johnathan Hansen and Deborah. This is not about agents, it’s about the general public learning how to use agents. Travel agents have changed (those that haven’t have either gone or are going) – the general public does not seem to realise this. Often, simple stuff people should do online – if someone asks me for a low cost airline flight I ask them why on earth are they calling me (though I still do some of these as some of my clients just do not have the time or inclination to do it themselves) – go and book it online. I cannot “add value” to the booking. Simple bucket and spade holidays are DIY as well. What I will say, is that part of the knack (for an agent) is knowing time wasters and what many talk about as being “poor service” often translates as people getting ignored because our agent’s sixth sense tells us that what you are going to ask for, is hours of work and then take great pride in telling us that you have found the same thing for £10 cheaper on ripyouoffholidays -dot- com.

If you read carefully what J Hansen says, this epitomises what the modern agent should be – someone committed to their client as much as the client is committed to the agent. each knows what the other wants and expects. A good agent is someone to whom a time poor person (and that’s not always a rich one!) can simply say “Get me a holiday for next week” in the full knowledge that what will be arranged will be what they want – or that if say two options are offered, both will be relevant.

Fine, if you enjoy doing your own thing, that’s good as well. Agents are not demanding that you book with them. As long as people recognise that agents are not a sort of travel “RAC” service or a booking resource to be viewed as just another (though human) internet resource page. It is pleasing to see that many find planning a trip or adventure just as exciting as enjoying the travel experience. That’s exactly as it should be – as it has always been. Please remember, though, that just because information appears online, does not mean that it is correct or even relevant.

Good, modern agents are very, very hard to find these days and their numbers are diminishing rapidly so if you need one and can find one, nurture them. If you are happy doing things yourself, that’s good as well. Agents are fully aware that the General Public do not owe them a living and most have grasped that, adapted and moved on. The issue seems to be that the average holidaymaker does not seem to have advanced quite as quickly!

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]]> By: Deborah http://www.travel-rants.com/2009/09/22/travel-agencies-charge-give-quote/#comment-152628 Deborah Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:39:37 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=4919#comment-152628 @ Gary If the above is what you think a travel agent is doing, than you have no clue. My expertise is from 15 years experience in the trade, holding my clients hand from point A to point B, and experiencing many of the place I sell first hand. It is not just a search on the computer? Not sure where you got that idea? @ Jodie Of course comparing is normal. But to call a travel agent because you have NO clue of the destination and pick thier brain to learn about the destination as them about the hotels they recommend and then go by it elsewhere is the situation travel agents are trying to avoid. I am so tired of someone that picked my brain, wants to buy it on the internet, but can not find answers on the internet and calls me to ask more questions because they know I have the "expertise", but are planning to buy it elsewhere? @ Caitlin A TRAVEL AGENT is providing a service and offering thier experience and knowledge, in my opinion it is NOT only a sale. It is building a relationship with a client to make sure they have a PERFECT trip and you know everything about them to make sure you pick the correct destination and all thier needs get met. If an agent thinks it is ONLY a sale then that in my opinion is not a good qualified travel agent. Providing Service and going the extra mile for every client is the key and why shouldn't a travel agent be paid a service fee for thier knowledge and professional opinion? Does a lawyer or doctor give thier professional opinion for free? @ Gary

If the above is what you think a travel agent is doing, than you have no clue. My expertise is from 15 years experience in the trade, holding my clients hand from point A to point B, and experiencing many of the place I sell first hand. It is not just a search on the computer? Not sure where you got that idea?

@ Jodie

Of course comparing is normal. But to call a travel agent because you have NO clue of the destination and pick thier brain to learn about the destination as them about the hotels they recommend and then go by it elsewhere is the situation travel agents are trying to avoid. I am so tired of someone that picked my brain, wants to buy it on the internet, but can not find answers on the internet and calls me to ask more questions because they know I have the “expertise”, but are planning to buy it elsewhere?

@ Caitlin

A TRAVEL AGENT is providing a service and offering thier experience and knowledge, in my opinion it is NOT only a sale. It is building a relationship with a client to make sure they have a PERFECT trip and you know everything about them to make sure you pick the correct destination and all thier needs get met. If an agent thinks it is ONLY a sale then that in my opinion is not a good qualified travel agent. Providing Service and going the extra mile for every client is the key and why shouldn’t a travel agent be paid a service fee for thier knowledge and professional opinion? Does a lawyer or doctor give thier professional opinion for free?

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]]> By: Jonathan Hansen http://www.travel-rants.com/2009/09/22/travel-agencies-charge-give-quote/#comment-152611 Jonathan Hansen Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:06:43 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=4919#comment-152611 If all your looking for is the cheapest 'quote' for your trip then of course you shouldn't be charged for that quote. The travel agents that your most likely to deal with would probably try and offer a competitive price in order to earn your business. However, please remember that this business is changing and has been ever since companies like Expedia and Travelocity went onto the web to sell their services. The all purpose, sell everything 'High Street' travel agent may be in direct competition with these companies, but not all travel agents are in the business of being the cheapest and competing on price. Price is just one way you can make your sales pitch, not the only way. If all your looking for is the cheapest quote then i'm almost certain than me charging a fee for a 'quote' makes no difference. I understand that that i'll lose the potential for the business because you won't want to pay for the quote but it's unlikely that you'll accept my quote anyway, since i'm almost certain that someone will offer a cheaper alternative. So in my mind i'm actually better off by not quoting you because i have saved the time it would have taken and have been able to spend it doing something more productive like working on my current clients or spending time with my kids. I'm not really keen on providing quotes anyway because if i do, there is no guarantee that when you come back 2,3 or even 7 days later the supplier price may have changed. Airfares can change overnight. So can hotel rates. Currency fluctuations mean that a price quoted in your currency might change tomorrow (not that i ever price an itinerary element in anything other than local currency supplier anyway). I'll happily give you the price of something when you call. 'Estimates Free" but i won't guarantee that price until it's booked and paid for. In my mind a quote is the final price. By holding a deposit from the client i am, in some cases, able to secure space, a bed or a seat or whatever and therefore be in a better position to secure that price. I'm not going to plan and prepare an itinerary without discussions with you. I'm not going to pick one hotel without finding out what you want from that hotel, perhaps in detail. Room types, facilities, location. Even then i probably will offer a choice. Preparing an itinerary is an ongoing process, constantly changing and being amended as information and detail grows. If you come to me and say i want to go here on this day. Stay here in this hotel and do this then i probably won't charge anything because it won't take more than few minutes. But if you want me to plan a journey. find the best flight choices, offer the right accommodation options. Find local guides and transfers that are good and reliable. Arrange other ancillary arrangements and then be available before and during travel to make changes answer questions and resolve any problems, then you need to pay for that. Even after departure my clients call me for changes as they travel. The itinerary continues to change and evolve. Maybe i'm picky, but let's not forget what this blog is called. I don't want my clients ranting i want them raving. If a supplier doesn't come up to scratch, doesn't do what is required or doesn't meet the expectations of my clients then that reflects on me. I need to be sure that a supplier i use will meet those standards and won't let me down. All this takes time and time, my friends, is money. If all your looking for is the cheapest ‘quote’ for your trip then of course you shouldn’t be charged for that quote. The travel agents that your most likely to deal with would probably try and offer a competitive price in order to earn your business. However, please remember that this business is changing and has been ever since companies like Expedia and Travelocity went onto the web to sell their services. The all purpose, sell everything ‘High Street’ travel agent may be in direct competition with these companies, but not all travel agents are in the business of being the cheapest and competing on price. Price is just one way you can make your sales pitch, not the only way.

If all your looking for is the cheapest quote then i’m almost certain than me charging a fee for a ‘quote’ makes no difference. I understand that that i’ll lose the potential for the business because you won’t want to pay for the quote but it’s unlikely that you’ll accept my quote anyway, since i’m almost certain that someone will offer a cheaper alternative. So in my mind i’m actually better off by not quoting you because i have saved the time it would have taken and have been able to spend it doing something more productive like working on my current clients or spending time with my kids.

I’m not really keen on providing quotes anyway because if i do, there is no guarantee that when you come back 2,3 or even 7 days later the supplier price may have changed. Airfares can change overnight. So can hotel rates. Currency fluctuations mean that a price quoted in your currency might change tomorrow (not that i ever price an itinerary element in anything other than local currency supplier anyway). I’ll happily give you the price of something when you call. ‘Estimates Free” but i won’t guarantee that price until it’s booked and paid for. In my mind a quote is the final price. By holding a deposit from the client i am, in some cases, able to secure space, a bed or a seat or whatever and therefore be in a better position to secure that price.

I’m not going to plan and prepare an itinerary without discussions with you. I’m not going to pick one hotel without finding out what you want from that hotel, perhaps in detail. Room types, facilities, location. Even then i probably will offer a choice. Preparing an itinerary is an ongoing process, constantly changing and being amended as information and detail grows.

If you come to me and say i want to go here on this day. Stay here in this hotel and do this then i probably won’t charge anything because it won’t take more than few minutes. But if you want me to plan a journey. find the best flight choices, offer the right accommodation options. Find local guides and transfers that are good and reliable. Arrange other ancillary arrangements and then be available before and during travel to make changes answer questions and resolve any problems, then you need to pay for that. Even after departure my clients call me for changes as they travel. The itinerary continues to change and evolve. Maybe i’m picky, but let’s not forget what this blog is called. I don’t want my clients ranting i want them raving. If a supplier doesn’t come up to scratch, doesn’t do what is required or doesn’t meet the expectations of my clients then that reflects on me. I need to be sure that a supplier i use will meet those standards and won’t let me down.

All this takes time and time, my friends, is money.

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