I want the best deal

[vacation_rentals_suck]

Guest: yea Dave, I want to come down there but I want a good deal

Me: when are you looking for?

Guest: in the summer

Me: what dates?

Guest: I want the best deal

Me: I need to know your dates

Guest: I cant just tell you any week in the summer and you tell me the best deal

Me: the specials vary from week to week

Guest: how am I to know when the best deal is?

Me: well I need to know your dates

Guest: well I just cant narrow it down...all I know is I want a hot deal

Me: understood but I have no way of knowing without having dates to look it up

Guest: well you are very unhelpful Dave, when I call other places I tell them I want a deal and they can find me a deal. Why cant you do that?

Me: because I need to know your dates to check specials

Guest: you've said that 10 times already

Me: sorry ma'am

Guest: dont be sorry, just give me your best deal

Me: I know you dont want to hear this but I need to know your dates to do that

Guest: XYZ company gave me their best deal without me knowing my dates....so I guess you're telling me I need to go ahead and book with them. Hello? Dave? What have you got to say for yourself?

Me: nothing

Guest: so that's it then....you're just not interested in helping me? Hello? Did you suddenly forget how to speak English?

Me: Goodbye ma'am...........I didnt forget how to say that

She had me all riled up

[Akasa]

What a bitch. Here have a cookie.

[BookstoreEscapee]

I have cookies, too. I'll give you one if you give me the best deal you've got. I'm going on vacation sometime this year...

[Can I Help Your A$$?]

UGH! Those freakin' EW's you have! ARGH!

They don't deserve a "deal." Some of us have to choose between bills and groceries. Some of us have untreated diseases, and work our tails off in spite of them. I think maybe these guys need a "vacation" working 3 jobs for those 2 weeks. Hell, they can still drive their air-conditioned Behemoths back and forth to work, and I'm sure their savings will hold up for those 2 weeks. But I would SO love to see them in a stained red polo shirt...

[BaristaTrav]

Haha.. brings back so many unpleasant memories from the cruise booking industry...

SC: Trav, Find me the best deal

me: For what dates?

SC: Doesn't matter, I just want a good deal

me: o..k. I have a deal on an oceanview cabin 7 day to the Bahamas from 499 per person on august 12th

SC: Oh that won't work.. I have my dog's briss/wife's rhinoplasty/uncle's batmitzvah that week..

me: *headdesk*

[BethB]

Apparently looking at a calendar hurts. Checking work schedules and working a vacation in is excruciating. I think you need a vacation from stupid!

[marty]

Geez, how do you manage to get these people? It's like you have some sort of magnet. You have a much better temper than I, that's all I can say.

[Jester]

Dave, you attract EW's the way I seem to attract crazy women!

[Captain Trips]

Actually, I can understand that customer's point of view. She wants to schedule her vacation around her budget, which means she won't know what dates she'll be vacationing until she knows when she can get the best prices for it. (Hey, in this current economy, I can even sympathize with her.)

She just wasn't willing to accept that your reservation system doesn't work that way.

[One-Fang]

Yeah I agree. *When* I go isn't as important to me as getting the cheapest rate *sometime* over the entire period that's acceptable. Of course, were I in that situation, I'd say "Okay, let's start with June1-7 and we'll go through the whole summer. What's your best deal the first week of June?"

Would be an infuriating way to do it, but it's not VRS's fault the res system doesn't work in a more customer-friendly way.

[Rapscallion]

Dave, you attract EW's the way I seem to attract crazy women!

What, willingly?

Rapscallion

[Evil Queen]

*twitches*

*hands over a platter of cookies and milk*

[Alpha Strike]

Guest: so that's it then....you're just not interested in helping me? Hello? Did you suddenly forget how to speak English?

Me: Goodbye ma'am...........I didnt forget how to say that

Now THAT is a good way to end the call.

[zigcat]

So here's what happens when one wants a rate quote without an itinerary or at least an idea.

AGENT: Our best rate is $xx.xx. It requires a 21 day advance purchase and is based on availability. Travel must be done Thursday through Sunday with at least an overnight stay. All fares are subject to change without notice.

Of course all the customer hears is the rate so when they get their plans together and decide to book of course the rate is sold out/not available for their dates/times and they're quoted the rate they DO qualify for:

SC: What?! I was told the rate was $xx.xx!

Fell into THAT trap a lot working airline reservations

[Jester]

What, willingly?

Touche, mon frer, touche.


Though if that is the case, no, he does not attract EW's the way I attract crazy woman, because he does not do so as apparently willingly as I do.