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Help! Need an agent
Question:
> He was entirely willing to work with me again. I chose not to work > with him again because I was too embarrassed to ask questions or be > straightforward with what I needed after, in my own opinion, > inconveniencing him.
So you are looking fo a new travel agent because your last one was a good agent and you would rather have a bad agent. Makes no sense, your reward for good service is to find another agent. Your embarressed to use him but your not embarressed to post this here. You need something other than a travel agent. — Charles
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Something else that Naomi might consider is to offer paying a non-refundable >research fee to a travel agent, say $150. Then, if she makes the final >payment and the agent earns the commission, the non-refundable fee would be >credited toward the cost. That way, the agent will be assured of some >compensation if Naomi changes her plans. From what she posted, this >happened with the agent she preferred using, and he now won’t accept her as >a client. > Incorrect, as you would know if you read closely. He was entirely > willing to work with me again. I chose not to work with him again > because I was too embarrassed to ask questions or be straightforward > with what I needed after, in my own opinion, inconveniencing him. I > don’t know what his private opinion may have been; to me he insisted > that it was perfectly all right — and incidentally, the change of > plans in question entailed a bit more work for him but did *not* > deprive him of his commission; I went on the originally planned > cruise, and paid for it, with a friend rather than my husband, who was > forced to stay behind. > Nice try, but libel does not become you.
Naomi, I’m only trying to be helpful. After you’ve settled down and reread what I suggested, perhaps you’ll realize this. Perhaps you could go to the TA who was so good and helpful with a 5# box or Russel Stover’s Candy, something you baked or even a gift certificate as a "Thank you," for previous efforts, then pop the question about the future plans. It seems rather odd to punish a TA for past extra efforts by NOT returning for future travel. Tom
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Incorrect, as you would know if you read closely. He was entirely >willing to work with me again. I chose not to work with him again >because I was too embarrassed to ask questions or be straightforward >with what I needed after, in my own opinion, inconveniencing him. I >don’t know what his private opinion may have been; to me he insisted >that it was perfectly all right — and incidentally, the change of >plans in question entailed a bit more work for him but did *not* >deprive him of his commission; I went on the originally planned >cruise, and paid for it, with a friend rather than my husband, who was >forced to stay behind. >If that’s the case, sounds like you have a keeper. For the life of me >I can’t understand why you wouldn’t want to use him again. People >have to change their plans all the time. People in the sales business >learn to deal with it and the really good ones aren’t phased at all. >The TA didn’t lose a sale and probably went out of his way to ensure >he would keep you as a repeat customer (A real sales professional does >that you know). You not going back to him for your future business is >a real slap in the face and makes the effort he spent on your behalf a >waste of his time & energy. >I think you need to swallow your pride a tad and give the man the >follow-on business he worked for. But of course this is only my >opinion.
The problem is that I’ve done sales, and if you are doing your job well, the customer will never actually know whether you are working for their future business or being polite to them because it’s the professional thing to do, until you can get rid of them, and wishing all the while that they’d get out of your hair because they just weren’t worth the extra work they caused. I asked for some last-minute questions answered, then some last-minute changes; then the first set of fairly complex initial inquiries into when I wanted to cruise this next time proved not to have any available ships on those dates that reached the ports I wanted, so I had to abandon the research done on that and switch dates by a month. To me, this indicates that I have been way more work than the commissions on my relatively low-budget cruises could possibly be worth, and I wanted to avoid giving him future business, not to punish an excellent agent who’s been better to me than I deserve, but to get out of his way and stop bugging the poor man. At this point I’d better simply name him and ask his own opinion, because I *don’t* want to take business from the best agent I’e worked with if he wants it, but I don’t see how he could possibly still want mine, and would not burden someone who’s been nice to me with it if he’d rather I left him to clients who are a little less labor-intensive. So: Mr. Goldenberg, if my little occasional Caribbean cruises are not worth the headaches involved, please say so, here or privately, and I promise not to bother you anymore. If somehow (though I can’t see how) you still actually *want* my business for the try-again I’m doing in April instead of March this time, you have it; you’ve more than earned it. -Naomi
Response:
Naomi, I would personally drive a travel agent crazy on my own. So, instead, I do a lot of the research myself. I call the cruise lines and do 99% of the "figuring out". All the cruise line 1-800 telephone numbers are in Frommers/Fieldings. Just get a copy, or you can even e-mail me if you’d like a number. Start doing your own research, and then when you’re 80% there, you can bring in a TA to wrap things up and get the pricing reduced. I try to not drive my TA’s crazy, and to avoid that I do a lot of the leg work ahead of time. You might consider doing the same. –Tom – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->>Incorrect, as you would know if you read closely. He was entirely >>willing to work with me again. I chose not to work with him again >>because I was too embarrassed to ask questions or be straightforward >>with what I needed after, in my own opinion, inconveniencing him. I >>don’t know what his private opinion may have been; to me he insisted >>that it was perfectly all right — and incidentally, the change of >>plans in question entailed a bit more work for him but did *not* >>deprive him of his commission; I went on the originally planned >>cruise, and paid for it, with a friend rather than my husband, who was >>forced to stay behind. >If that’s the case, sounds like you have a keeper. For the life of me >I can’t understand why you wouldn’t want to use him again. People >have to change their plans all the time. People in the sales business >learn to deal with it and the really good ones aren’t phased at all. >The TA didn’t lose a sale and probably went out of his way to ensure >he would keep you as a repeat customer (A real sales professional does >that you know). You not going back to him for your future business is >a real slap in the face and makes the effort he spent on your behalf a >waste of his time & energy. >I think you need to swallow your pride a tad and give the man the >follow-on business he worked for. But of course this is only my >opinion. > The problem is that I’ve done sales, and if you are doing your job > well, the customer will never actually know whether you are working > for their future business or being polite to them because it’s the > professional thing to do, until you can get rid of them, and wishing > all the while that they’d get out of your hair because they just > weren’t worth the extra work they caused. I asked for some last-minute > questions answered, then some last-minute changes; then the first set > of fairly complex initial inquiries into when I wanted to cruise this > next time proved not to have any available ships on those dates that > reached the ports I wanted, so I had to abandon the research done on > that and switch dates by a month. To me, this indicates that I have > been way more work than the commissions on my relatively low-budget > cruises could possibly be worth, and I wanted to avoid giving him > future business, not to punish an excellent agent who’s been better to > me than I deserve, but to get out of his way and stop bugging the poor > man. At this point I’d better simply name him and ask his own opinion, > because I *don’t* want to take business from the best agent I’e worked > with if he wants it, but I don’t see how he could possibly still want > mine, and would not burden someone who’s been nice to me with it if > he’d rather I left him to clients who are a little less > labor-intensive. So: Mr. Goldenberg, if my little occasional Caribbean > cruises are not worth the headaches involved, please say so, here or > privately, and I promise not to bother you anymore. If somehow (though > I can’t see how) you still actually *want* my business for the > try-again I’m doing in April instead of March this time, you have it; > you’ve more than earned it. > -Naomi
Response:
>I try to not drive my TA’s crazy, and to avoid that I do a lot of the >leg work ahead of time. You might consider doing the same.
All that leg work I find enjoyable as thoughts of going permeate my mind throughout … In the Village …. I am not a number … I am a free man !!!!
Response:
I have to agree. I enjoy narrowing down the field, checking prices. itineraries, etc. Most of the time I basically need someone to take my booking and mediate on my behalf should something go wrong. Bill
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I try to not drive my TA’s crazy, and to avoid that I do a lot of the >leg work ahead of time. You might consider doing the same. > All that leg work I find enjoyable as thoughts of going permeate my mind > throughout … > In the Village …. > I am not a number … I am a free man !!!!
Response:
shouldn’t this have gone directly to Ray not posted on a newsgroup? — Sheree
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->>Incorrect, as you would know if you read closely. He was entirely >>willing to work with me again. I chose not to work with him again >>because I was too embarrassed to ask questions or be straightforward >>with what I needed after, in my own opinion, inconveniencing him. I >>don’t know what his private opinion may have been; to me he insisted >>that it was perfectly all right — and incidentally, the change of >>plans in question entailed a bit more work for him but did *not* >>deprive him of his commission; I went on the originally planned >>cruise, and paid for it, with a friend rather than my husband, who was >>forced to stay behind. >If that’s the case, sounds like you have a keeper. For the life of me >I can’t understand why you wouldn’t want to use him again. People >have to change their plans all the time. People in the sales business >learn to deal with it and the really good ones aren’t phased at all. >The TA didn’t lose a sale and probably went out of his way to ensure >he would keep you as a repeat customer (A real sales professional does >that you know). You not going back to him for your future business is >a real slap in the face and makes the effort he spent on your behalf a >waste of his time & energy. >I think you need to swallow your pride a tad and give the man the >follow-on business he worked for. But of course this is only my >opinion. > The problem is that I’ve done sales, and if you are doing your job > well, the customer will never actually know whether you are working > for their future business or being polite to them because it’s the > professional thing to do, until you can get rid of them, and wishing > all the while that they’d get out of your hair because they just > weren’t worth the extra work they caused. I asked for some last-minute > questions answered, then some last-minute changes; then the first set > of fairly complex initial inquiries into when I wanted to cruise this > next time proved not to have any available ships on those dates that > reached the ports I wanted, so I had to abandon the research done on > that and switch dates by a month. To me, this indicates that I have > been way more work than the commissions on my relatively low-budget > cruises could possibly be worth, and I wanted to avoid giving him > future business, not to punish an excellent agent who’s been better to > me than I deserve, but to get out of his way and stop bugging the poor > man. At this point I’d better simply name him and ask his own opinion, > because I *don’t* want to take business from the best agent I’e worked > with if he wants it, but I don’t see how he could possibly still want > mine, and would not burden someone who’s been nice to me with it if > he’d rather I left him to clients who are a little less > labor-intensive. So: Mr. Goldenberg, if my little occasional Caribbean > cruises are not worth the headaches involved, please say so, here or > privately, and I promise not to bother you anymore. If somehow (though > I can’t see how) you still actually *want* my business for the > try-again I’m doing in April instead of March this time, you have it; > you’ve more than earned it. > -Naomi
Response:
Why use an agent? You can do everything on your own nowadays. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->whoa! >cruises to fires? >actually he was trying to help! those companies are good for people who >know what they want and don’t want handholding > Okay, if I was mistaken I apologize. I’ve heard them used too often > here to mean "Go away to one of the huge agencies that will take > anyone; no individual human agent, like the ones we have here, would > soil their hands with *you*." I like individual human agents, which is > why I come here, so I hope that’s not correct. It makes a huge > difference to me that I work with a person I know at least a little, > not just whoever answers the phone at a megacorporation. Even if the > price is lower, and even if I do know what I want, I still prefer > specific people. > -Naomi
Response:
Why? Because you should be able to get a better price from a TA, that’s why. That isn’t the only reason but even if it was, that is a pretty darn good one IMHO! <G> The amount the TA has to do for you depends on your own personal knowledge about cruising and how smoothly the bookings go. For a more popular sailing a TA can be a God-send and will not only have your best interest in mind, (remember, he/she wants your repeat business), but they have better access to the cruiseline than you do. Additionally they will, (or should anyway), keep track of the pricing and if it goes down they should get you the lower rate. Jim PS I am not a TA and I know exactly what I want and where I am going when I book but I still use a TA, just a smart thing to do.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Why use an agent? You can do everything on your own nowadays. > >whoa! > >cruises to fires? > >actually he was trying to help! those companies are good for people who > >know what they want and don’t want handholding > Okay, if I was mistaken I apologize. I’ve heard them used too often > here to mean "Go away to one of the huge agencies that will take > anyone; no individual human agent, like the ones we have here, would > soil their hands with *you*." I like individual human agents, which is > why I come here, so I hope that’s not correct. It makes a huge > difference to me that I work with a person I know at least a little, > not just whoever answers the phone at a megacorporation. Even if the > price is lower, and even if I do know what I want, I still prefer > specific people. > -Naomi
Response:
All that leg work is half the fun of cruising – the other half of the fun is when you are on the cruise itself. sue – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I try to not drive my TA’s crazy, and to avoid that I do a lot of the >leg work ahead of time. You might consider doing the same. > All that leg work I find enjoyable as thoughts of going permeate my mind > throughout … > In the Village …. > I am not a number … I am a free man !!!!
Response:
>Yipe! I thought I knew enough good cruise agents to last me till I’m >sixty. Then I started trying to plan what, in its current incarnation >of the plans, should be a Caribbean cruise in April. I found that one >agent I’d used before, while extremely polite about it, I have managed >to put through so much for so little return that I am embarrassed and >terrified and would rather not make him deal with me again. Another, >whom I haven’t used, hasn’t returned my calls so far. A third directs >me to a web site which won’t come up when I try it, over a period of >several days. I find myself agentless. Can someone direct me to a good >one I might work with, or are any of the agents here willing to take >me on? (I don’t *usually* change plans and make lots of extra work, >really!) > -Naomi
Chicago is a large cities, I’m sure there are at least 10+ cruise agencies available there. I will see if I can contact my cousin from Chicago, who travel extensively. Not sure if he has any, but I can ask. BTW, my cousin received his MD degree from your school, Pritzker School of Medicine, I think. eric
Response:
I took some travel courses at a local community college. My intro to the travel industry the teacher said, one third of the fun of a trip is in planning it, one third in going on it, and one third in remembering it later. Julie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> All that leg work is half the fun of cruising – the other half of the > fun is when you are on the cruise itself. > sue > >I try to not drive my TA’s crazy, and to avoid that I do a lot of the > >leg work ahead of time. You might consider doing the same. > All that leg work I find enjoyable as thoughts of going permeate my mind > throughout … > In the Village …. > I am not a number … I am a free man !!!!
Response:
>y intro to the >travel industry the teacher said, one third of the fun of a trip is in >planning >it, one third in going on it, and one third in remembering it later. >Kevin and Sue > All that leg work is half the fun of cruising – the other half of the > fun is when you are on the cruise itself.
1/4 of the fun is planning it, 1/4 of the fun is going on it, 1/4 of the fun is when you are on the cruise itself and 1/4 is comparing your next cruise to the one you took … Anybody for fifths ??? or would that go with the liquor on board thread … In the Village …. I am not a number … I am a free man !!!!
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Something else that Naomi might consider is to offer paying a non-refundable >research fee to a travel agent, say $150. Then, if she makes the final >payment and the agent earns the commission, the non-refundable fee would be >credited toward the cost. That way, the agent will be assured of some >compensation if Naomi changes her plans. From what she posted, this >happened with the agent she preferred using, and he now won’t accept her as >a client. >Incorrect, as you would know if you read closely. He was entirely >willing to work with me again. I chose not to work with him again >because I was too embarrassed to ask questions or be straightforward >with what I needed after, in my own opinion, inconveniencing him. I >don’t know what his private opinion may have been; to me he insisted >that it was perfectly all right — and incidentally, the change of >plans in question entailed a bit more work for him but did *not* >deprive him of his commission; I went on the originally planned >cruise, and paid for it, with a friend rather than my husband, who was >forced to stay behind. >Nice try, but libel does not become you. > -Naomi
If that’s the case, sounds like you have a keeper. For the life of me I can’t understand why you wouldn’t want to use him again. People have to change their plans all the time. People in the sales business learn to deal with it and the really good ones aren’t phased at all. The TA didn’t lose a sale and probably went out of his way to ensure he would keep you as a repeat customer (A real sales professional does that you know). You not going back to him for your future business is a real slap in the face and makes the effort he spent on your behalf a waste of his time & energy. I think you need to swallow your pride a tad and give the man the follow-on business he worked for. But of course this is only my opinion. — ZombyWoof "If a frog had pockets, he’d carry a handgun." — Dan Rather
Response:
Yipe! I thought I knew enough good cruise agents to last me till I’m sixty. Then I started trying to plan what, in its current incarnation of the plans, should be a Caribbean cruise in April. I found that one agent I’d used before, while extremely polite about it, I have managed to put through so much for so little return that I am embarrassed and terrified and would rather not make him deal with me again. Another, whom I haven’t used, hasn’t returned my calls so far. A third directs me to a web site which won’t come up when I try it, over a period of several days. I find myself agentless. Can someone direct me to a good one I might work with, or are any of the agents here willing to take me on? (I don’t *usually* change plans and make lots of extra work, really!) -Naomi
Response:
> Yipe! I thought I knew enough good cruise agents to last me till I’m > sixty. Then I started trying to plan what, in its current incarnation > of the plans, should be a Caribbean cruise in April. I found that one > agent I’d used before, while extremely polite about it, I have managed > to put through so much for so little return that I am embarrassed and > terrified and would rather not make him deal with me again. Another, > whom I haven’t used, hasn’t returned my calls so far. A third directs > me to a web site which won’t come up when I try it, over a period of > several days. I find myself agentless. Can someone direct me to a good > one I might work with, or are any of the agents here willing to take > me on? (I don’t *usually* change plans and make lots of extra work, > really!)
Walmart? Sam’s Club? AAA? Tom
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Yipe! I thought I knew enough good cruise agents to last me till I’m > sixty. Then I started trying to plan what, in its current incarnation > of the plans, should be a Caribbean cruise in April. I found that one > agent I’d used before, while extremely polite about it, I have managed > to put through so much for so little return that I am embarrassed and > terrified and would rather not make him deal with me again. Another, > whom I haven’t used, hasn’t returned my calls so far. A third directs > me to a web site which won’t come up when I try it, over a period of > several days. I find myself agentless. Can someone direct me to a good > one I might work with, or are any of the agents here willing to take > me on? (I don’t *usually* change plans and make lots of extra work, > really!) >Walmart? Sam’s Club? AAA?
As a joke it’s cute, Tom, but please, for real life show a little human charity. I am aware that losing the agent I’ve been working with is my own fault, but it was my own fault in the sense that your fire was your fault — there was an unexpected domestic catastrophe that forced us to change plans. Since then, it’s always hard to find someone new. I’m not looking for Random Cheapo Agency and I am not generally a difficult or ignorant client. I go in with a fair idea what I want, rely on the agent to help me hone it to something precise, and always book with the one who helped me find it. Since there are more *good* agents here, rather than the cruise-only versions of what you’ve suggested above, which is what I find on web searches, than anywhere I know of, I asked here. I’m not the first to do so, and I don’t think it’s out of line. If you can’t in conscience help, for some odd reason, please at least let it alone. >Tom
-Naomi
Response:
whoa! cruises to fires? actually he was trying to help! those companies are good for people who know what they want and don’t want handholding I’m sure there are ta’s from this board that will solicit your business — Sheree
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->> Yipe! I thought I knew enough good cruise agents to last me till I’m >> sixty. Then I started trying to plan what, in its current incarnation >> of the plans, should be a Caribbean cruise in April. I found that one >> agent I’d used before, while extremely polite about it, I have managed >> to put through so much for so little return that I am embarrassed and >> terrified and would rather not make him deal with me again. Another, >> whom I haven’t used, hasn’t returned my calls so far. A third directs >> me to a web site which won’t come up when I try it, over a period of >> several days. I find myself agentless. Can someone direct me to a good >> one I might work with, or are any of the agents here willing to take >> me on? (I don’t *usually* change plans and make lots of extra work, >> really!) >Walmart? Sam’s Club? AAA? > As a joke it’s cute, Tom, but please, for real life show a little > human charity. I am aware that losing the agent I’ve been working with > is my own fault, but it was my own fault in the sense that your fire > was your fault — there was an unexpected domestic catastrophe that > forced us to change plans. Since then, it’s always hard to find > someone new. I’m not looking for Random Cheapo Agency and I am not > generally a difficult or ignorant client. I go in with a fair idea > what I want, rely on the agent to help me hone it to something > precise, and always book with the one who helped me find it. Since > there are more *good* agents here, rather than the cruise-only > versions of what you’ve suggested above, which is what I find on web > searches, than anywhere I know of, I asked here. I’m not the first to > do so, and I don’t think it’s out of line. If you can’t in conscience > help, for some odd reason, please at least let it alone. >Tom > -Naomi
Response:
>whoa! >cruises to fires? >actually he was trying to help! those companies are good for people who >know what they want and don’t want handholding
Okay, if I was mistaken I apologize. I’ve heard them used too often here to mean "Go away to one of the huge agencies that will take anyone; no individual human agent, like the ones we have here, would soil their hands with *you*." I like individual human agents, which is why I come here, so I hope that’s not correct. It makes a huge difference to me that I work with a person I know at least a little, not just whoever answers the phone at a megacorporation. Even if the price is lower, and even if I do know what I want, I still prefer specific people. -Naomi
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>Walmart? Sam’s Club? AAA? > If you can’t in conscience > help, for some odd reason, please at least let it alone.
Ok, then, how about John Szeto? Tom
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>> >Walmart? Sam’s Club? AAA? > If you can’t in conscience > help, for some odd reason, please at least let it alone. >Ok, then, how about John Szeto?
Evidently, you can’t leave it alone either. Tom, why in the world do you hate me so bitterly that you can’t even stick to nasty words on Usenet but have to try to mess up my and my husband’s real life? I don’t think I’ve ever hated anyone quite that much, and I am baffled at your capacity to do so on so little knowledge and with so little cause. -Naomi
Response:
boy, you are being paranoid. John was who I was going to say always solicits people from rtc so I’m sure you’ve heard from him. I noticed noone else has tried to help — Sheree
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->> >Walmart? Sam’s Club? AAA? >> If you can’t in conscience >> help, for some odd reason, please at least let it alone. >Ok, then, how about John Szeto? > Evidently, you can’t leave it alone either. Tom, why in the world do > you hate me so bitterly that you can’t even stick to nasty words on > Usenet but have to try to mess up my and my husband’s real life? I > don’t think I’ve ever hated anyone quite that much, and I am baffled > at your capacity to do so on so little knowledge and with so little > cause. > -Naomi
Response:
Something else that Naomi might consider is to offer paying a non-refundable research fee to a travel agent, say $150. Then, if she makes the final payment and the agent earns the commission, the non-refundable fee would be credited toward the cost. That way, the agent will be assured of some compensation if Naomi changes her plans. From what she posted, this happened with the agent she preferred using, and he now won’t accept her as a client. If she would make this person that kind of offer, perhaps he could be persuaded to work with her again, and at no real cost to her if she follows through with her plans. I suspect that John Szeto would be happy to do that for her on that basis, and I’m sure he’ll be contacting her by email if that’s the case. Tom
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> boy, you are being paranoid. John was who I was going to say always > solicits people from rtc so I’m sure you’ve heard from him. > I noticed noone else has tried to help > — > Sheree > >> >Walmart? Sam’s Club? AAA? > >> If you can’t in conscience > >> help, for some odd reason, please at least let it alone. > >Ok, then, how about John Szeto? > Evidently, you can’t leave it alone either. Tom, why in the world do > you hate me so bitterly that you can’t even stick to nasty words on > Usenet but have to try to mess up my and my husband’s real life? I > don’t think I’ve ever hated anyone quite that much, and I am baffled > at your capacity to do so on so little knowledge and with so little > cause. > -Naomi
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ROTFLMAO! Now Tom, I hold you responsible for cleaning the tea off my computer screen! Too much! <G> Jim
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> >Walmart? Sam’s Club? AAA? > If you can’t in conscience > help, for some odd reason, please at least let it alone. > Ok, then, how about John Szeto? > Tom
Response:
>Something else that Naomi might consider is to offer paying a non-refundable >research fee to a travel agent, say $150. Then, if she makes the final >payment and the agent earns the commission, the non-refundable fee would be >credited toward the cost. That way, the agent will be assured of some >compensation if Naomi changes her plans. From what she posted, this >happened with the agent she preferred using, and he now won’t accept her as >a client.
Incorrect, as you would know if you read closely. He was entirely willing to work with me again. I chose not to work with him again because I was too embarrassed to ask questions or be straightforward with what I needed after, in my own opinion, inconveniencing him. I don’t know what his private opinion may have been; to me he insisted that it was perfectly all right — and incidentally, the change of plans in question entailed a bit more work for him but did *not* deprive him of his commission; I went on the originally planned cruise, and paid for it, with a friend rather than my husband, who was forced to stay behind. Nice try, but libel does not become you. -Naomi
Response:
Yipe! I thought I knew enough good cruise agents to last me till I’m sixty. Then I started trying to plan what, in its current incarnation of the plans, should be a Caribbean cruise in April. I found that one agent I’d used before, while extremely polite about it, I have managed to put through so much for so little return that I am embarrassed and terrified and would rather not make him deal with me again. Another, whom I haven’t used, hasn’t returned my calls so far. A third directs me to a web site which won’t come up when I try it, over a period of several days. I find myself agentless. Can someone direct me to a good one I might work with, or are any of the agents here willing to take me on? (I don’t *usually* change plans and make lots of extra work, really!) -Naomi
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> Yipe! I thought I knew enough good cruise agents to last me till I’m > sixty. Then I started trying to plan what, in its current incarnation > of the plans, should be a Caribbean cruise in April. I found that one > agent I’d used before, while extremely polite about it, I have managed > to put through so much for so little return that I am embarrassed and > terrified and would rather not make him deal with me again. Another, > whom I haven’t used, hasn’t returned my calls so far. A third directs > me to a web site which won’t come up when I try it, over a period of > several days. I find myself agentless. Can someone direct me to a good > one I might work with, or are any of the agents here willing to take > me on? (I don’t *usually* change plans and make lots of extra work, > really!)
Walmart? Sam’s Club? AAA? Tom
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Yipe! I thought I knew enough good cruise agents to last me till I’m > sixty. Then I started trying to plan what, in its current incarnation > of the plans, should be a Caribbean cruise in April. I found that one > agent I’d used before, while extremely polite about it, I have managed > to put through so much for so little return that I am embarrassed and > terrified and would rather not make him deal with me again. Another, > whom I haven’t used, hasn’t returned my calls so far. A third directs > me to a web site which won’t come up when I try it, over a period of > several days. I find myself agentless. Can someone direct me to a good > one I might work with, or are any of the agents here willing to take > me on? (I don’t *usually* change plans and make lots of extra work, > really!) >Walmart? Sam’s Club? AAA?
As a joke it’s cute, Tom, but please, for real life show a little human charity. I am aware that losing the agent I’ve been working with is my own fault, but it was my own fault in the sense that your fire was your fault — there was an unexpected domestic catastrophe that forced us to change plans. Since then, it’s always hard to find someone new. I’m not looking for Random Cheapo Agency and I am not generally a difficult or ignorant client. I go in with a fair idea what I want, rely on the agent to help me hone it to something precise, and always book with the one who helped me find it. Since there are more *good* agents here, rather than the cruise-only versions of what you’ve suggested above, which is what I find on web searches, than anywhere I know of, I asked here. I’m not the first to do so, and I don’t think it’s out of line. If you can’t in conscience help, for some odd reason, please at least let it alone. >Tom
-Naomi
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whoa! cruises to fires? actually he was trying to help! those companies are good for people who know what they want and don’t want handholding I’m sure there are ta’s from this board that will solicit your business — Sheree
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->> Yipe! I thought I knew enough good cruise agents to last me till I’m >> sixty. Then I started trying to plan what, in its current incarnation >> of the plans, should be a Caribbean cruise in April. I found that one >> agent I’d used before, while extremely polite about it, I have managed >> to put through so much for so little return that I am embarrassed and >> terrified and would rather not make him deal with me again. Another, >> whom I haven’t used, hasn’t returned my calls so far. A third directs >> me to a web site which won’t come up when I try it, over a period of >> several days. I find myself agentless. Can someone direct me to a good >> one I might work with, or are any of the agents here willing to take >> me on? (I don’t *usually* change plans and make lots of extra work, >> really!) >Walmart? Sam’s Club? AAA? > As a joke it’s cute, Tom, but please, for real life show a little > human charity. I am aware that losing the agent I’ve been working with > is my own fault, but it was my own fault in the sense that your fire > was your fault — there was an unexpected domestic catastrophe that > forced us to change plans. Since then, it’s always hard to find > someone new. I’m not looking for Random Cheapo Agency and I am not > generally a difficult or ignorant client. I go in with a fair idea > what I want, rely on the agent to help me hone it to something > precise, and always book with the one who helped me find it. Since > there are more *good* agents here, rather than the cruise-only > versions of what you’ve suggested above, which is what I find on web > searches, than anywhere I know of, I asked here. I’m not the first to > do so, and I don’t think it’s out of line. If you can’t in conscience > help, for some odd reason, please at least let it alone. >Tom > -Naomi
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>whoa! >cruises to fires? >actually he was trying to help! those companies are good for people who >know what they want and don’t want handholding
Okay, if I was mistaken I apologize. I’ve heard them used too often here to mean "Go away to one of the huge agencies that will take anyone; no individual human agent, like the ones we have here, would soil their hands with *you*." I like individual human agents, which is why I come here, so I hope that’s not correct. It makes a huge difference to me that I work with a person I know at least a little, not just whoever answers the phone at a megacorporation. Even if the price is lower, and even if I do know what I want, I still prefer specific people. -Naomi
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>Walmart? Sam’s Club? AAA? > If you can’t in conscience > help, for some odd reason, please at least let it alone.
Ok, then, how about John Szeto? Tom
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>> >Walmart? Sam’s Club? AAA? > If you can’t in conscience > help, for some odd reason, please at least let it alone. >Ok, then, how about John Szeto?
Evidently, you can’t leave it alone either. Tom, why in the world do you hate me so bitterly that you can’t even stick to nasty words on Usenet but have to try to mess up my and my husband’s real life? I don’t think I’ve ever hated anyone quite that much, and I am baffled at your capacity to do so on so little knowledge and with so little cause. -Naomi
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boy, you are being paranoid. John was who I was going to say always solicits people from rtc so I’m sure you’ve heard from him. I noticed noone else has tried to help — Sheree
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->> >Walmart? Sam’s Club? AAA? >> If you can’t in conscience >> help, for some odd reason, please at least let it alone. >Ok, then, how about John Szeto? > Evidently, you can’t leave it alone either. Tom, why in the world do > you hate me so bitterly that you can’t even stick to nasty words on > Usenet but have to try to mess up my and my husband’s real life? I > don’t think I’ve ever hated anyone quite that much, and I am baffled > at your capacity to do so on so little knowledge and with so little > cause. > -Naomi
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Something else that Naomi might consider is to offer paying a non-refundable research fee to a travel agent, say $150. Then, if she makes the final payment and the agent earns the commission, the non-refundable fee would be credited toward the cost. That way, the agent will be assured of some compensation if Naomi changes her plans. From what she posted, this happened with the agent she preferred using, and he now won’t accept her as a client. If she would make this person that kind of offer, perhaps he could be persuaded to work with her again, and at no real cost to her if she follows through with her plans. I suspect that John Szeto would be happy to do that for her on that basis, and I’m sure he’ll be contacting her by email if that’s the case. Tom
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> boy, you are being paranoid. John was who I was going to say always > solicits people from rtc so I’m sure you’ve heard from him. > I noticed noone else has tried to help > — > Sheree > >> >Walmart? Sam’s Club? AAA? > >> If you can’t in conscience > >> help, for some odd reason, please at least let it alone. > >Ok, then, how about John Szeto? > Evidently, you can’t leave it alone either. Tom, why in the world do > you hate me so bitterly that you can’t even stick to nasty words on > Usenet but have to try to mess up my and my husband’s real life? I > don’t think I’ve ever hated anyone quite that much, and I am baffled > at your capacity to do so on so little knowledge and with so little > cause. > -Naomi
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ROTFLMAO! Now Tom, I hold you responsible for cleaning the tea off my computer screen! Too much! <G> Jim
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> >Walmart? Sam’s Club? AAA? > If you can’t in conscience > help, for some odd reason, please at least let it alone. > Ok, then, how about John Szeto? > Tom
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>Something else that Naomi might consider is to offer paying a non-refundable >research fee to a travel agent, say $150. Then, if she makes the final >payment and the agent earns the commission, the non-refundable fee would be >credited toward the cost. That way, the agent will be assured of some >compensation if Naomi changes her plans. From what she posted, this >happened with the agent she preferred using, and he now won’t accept her as >a client.
Incorrect, as you would know if you read closely. He was entirely willing to work with me again. I chose not to work with him again because I was too embarrassed to ask questions or be straightforward with what I needed after, in my own opinion, inconveniencing him. I don’t know what his private opinion may have been; to me he insisted that it was perfectly all right — and incidentally, the change of plans in question entailed a bit more work for him but did *not* deprive him of his commission; I went on the originally planned cruise, and paid for it, with a friend rather than my husband, who was forced to stay behind. Nice try, but libel does not become you. -Naomi
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Something else that Naomi might consider is to offer paying a non-refundable >research fee to a travel agent, say $150. Then, if she makes the final >payment and the agent earns the commission, the non-refundable fee would be >credited toward the cost. That way, the agent will be assured of some >compensation if Naomi changes her plans. From what she posted, this >happened with the agent she preferred using, and he now won’t accept her as >a client. >Incorrect, as you would know if you read closely. He was entirely >willing to work with me again. I chose not to work with him again >because I was too embarrassed to ask questions or be straightforward >with what I needed after, in my own opinion, inconveniencing him. I >don’t know what his private opinion may have been; to me he insisted >that it was perfectly all right — and incidentally, the change of >plans in question entailed a bit more work for him but did *not* >deprive him of his commission; I went on the originally planned >cruise, and paid for it, with a friend rather than my husband, who was >forced to stay behind. >Nice try, but libel does not become you. > -Naomi
If that’s the case, sounds like you have a keeper. For the life of me I can’t understand why you wouldn’t want to use him again. People have to change their plans all the time. People in the sales business learn to deal with it and the really good ones aren’t phased at all. The TA didn’t lose a sale and probably went out of his way to ensure he would keep you as a repeat customer (A real sales professional does that you know). You not going back to him for your future business is a real slap in the face and makes the effort he spent on your behalf a waste of his time & energy. I think you need to swallow your pride a tad and give the man the follow-on business he worked for. But of course this is only my opinion. — ZombyWoof "If a frog had pockets, he’d carry a handgun." — Dan Rather
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>Yipe! I thought I knew enough good cruise agents to last me till I’m >sixty. Then I started trying to plan what, in its current incarnation >of the plans, should be a Caribbean cruise in April. I found that one >agent I’d used before, while extremely polite about it, I have managed >to put through so much for so little return that I am embarrassed and >terrified and would rather not make him deal with me again. Another, >whom I haven’t used, hasn’t returned my calls so far. A third directs >me to a web site which won’t come up when I try it, over a period of >several days. I find myself agentless. Can someone direct me to a good >one I might work with, or are any of the agents here willing to take >me on? (I don’t *usually* change plans and make lots of extra work, >really!) > -Naomi
Chicago is a large cities, I’m sure there are at least 10+ cruise agencies available there. I will see if I can contact my cousin from Chicago, who travel extensively. Not sure if he has any, but I can ask. BTW, my cousin received his MD degree from your school, Pritzker School of Medicine, I think. eric
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> He was entirely willing to work with me again. I chose not to work > with him again because I was too embarrassed to ask questions or be > straightforward with what I needed after, in my own opinion, > inconveniencing him.
So you are looking fo a new travel agent because your last one was a good agent and you would rather have a bad agent. Makes no sense, your reward for good service is to find another agent. Your embarressed to use him but your not embarressed to post this here. You need something other than a travel agent. — Charles
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Something else that Naomi might consider is to offer paying a non-refundable >research fee to a travel agent, say $150. Then, if she makes the final >payment and the agent earns the commission, the non-refundable fee would be >credited toward the cost. That way, the agent will be assured of some >compensation if Naomi changes her plans. From what she posted, this >happened with the agent she preferred using, and he now won’t accept her as >a client. > Incorrect, as you would know if you read closely. He was entirely > willing to work with me again. I chose not to work with him again > because I was too embarrassed to ask questions or be straightforward > with what I needed after, in my own opinion, inconveniencing him. I > don’t know what his private opinion may have been; to me he insisted > that it was perfectly all right — and incidentally, the change of > plans in question entailed a bit more work for him but did *not* > deprive him of his commission; I went on the originally planned > cruise, and paid for it, with a friend rather than my husband, who was > forced to stay behind. > Nice try, but libel does not become you.
Naomi, I’m only trying to be helpful. After you’ve settled down and reread what I suggested, perhaps you’ll realize this. Perhaps you could go to the TA who was so good and helpful with a 5# box or Russel Stover’s Candy, something you baked or even a gift certificate as a "Thank you," for previous efforts, then pop the question about the future plans. It seems rather odd to punish a TA for past extra efforts by NOT returning for future travel. Tom
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Incorrect, as you would know if you read closely. He was entirely >willing to work with me again. I chose not to work with him again >because I was too embarrassed to ask questions or be straightforward >with what I needed after, in my own opinion, inconveniencing him. I >don’t know what his private opinion may have been; to me he insisted >that it was perfectly all right — and incidentally, the change of >plans in question entailed a bit more work for him but did *not* >deprive him of his commission; I went on the originally planned >cruise, and paid for it, with a friend rather than my husband, who was >forced to stay behind. >If that’s the case, sounds like you have a keeper. For the life of me >I can’t understand why you wouldn’t want to use him again. People >have to change their plans all the time. People in the sales business >learn to deal with it and the really good ones aren’t phased at all. >The TA didn’t lose a sale and probably went out of his way to ensure >he would keep you as a repeat customer (A real sales professional does >that you know). You not going back to him for your future business is >a real slap in the face and makes the effort he spent on your behalf a >waste of his time & energy. >I think you need to swallow your pride a tad and give the man the >follow-on business he worked for. But of course this is only my >opinion.
The problem is that I’ve done sales, and if you are doing your job well, the customer will never actually know whether you are working for their future business or being polite to them because it’s the professional thing to do, until you can get rid of them, and wishing all the while that they’d get out of your hair because they just weren’t worth the extra work they caused. I asked for some last-minute questions answered, then some last-minute changes; then the first set of fairly complex initial inquiries into when I wanted to cruise this next time proved not to have any available ships on those dates that reached the ports I wanted, so I had to abandon the research done on that and switch dates by a month. To me, this indicates that I have been way more work than the commissions on my relatively low-budget cruises could possibly be worth, and I wanted to avoid giving him future business, not to punish an excellent agent who’s been better to me than I deserve, but to get out of his way and stop bugging the poor man. At this point I’d better simply name him and ask his own opinion, because I *don’t* want to take business from the best agent I’e worked with if he wants it, but I don’t see how he could possibly still want mine, and would not burden someone who’s been nice to me with it if he’d rather I left him to clients who are a little less labor-intensive. So: Mr. Goldenberg, if my little occasional Caribbean cruises are not worth the headaches involved, please say so, here or privately, and I promise not to bother you anymore. If somehow (though I can’t see how) you still actually *want* my business for the try-again I’m doing in April instead of March this time, you have it; you’ve more than earned it. -Naomi
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Naomi, I would personally drive a travel agent crazy on my own. So, instead, I do a lot of the research myself. I call the cruise lines and do 99% of the "figuring out". All the cruise line 1-800 telephone numbers are in Frommers/Fieldings. Just get a copy, or you can even e-mail me if you’d like a number. Start doing your own research, and then when you’re 80% there, you can bring in a TA to wrap things up and get the pricing reduced. I try to not drive my TA’s crazy, and to avoid that I do a lot of the leg work ahead of time. You might consider doing the same. –Tom – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->>Incorrect, as you would know if you read closely. He was entirely >>willing to work with me again. I chose not to work with him again >>because I was too embarrassed to ask questions or be straightforward >>with what I needed after, in my own opinion, inconveniencing him. I >>don’t know what his private opinion may have been; to me he insisted >>that it was perfectly all right — and incidentally, the change of >>plans in question entailed a bit more work for him but did *not* >>deprive him of his commission; I went on the originally planned >>cruise, and paid for it, with a friend rather than my husband, who was >>forced to stay behind. >If that’s the case, sounds like you have a keeper. For the life of me >I can’t understand why you wouldn’t want to use him again. People >have to change their plans all the time. People in the sales business >learn to deal with it and the really good ones aren’t phased at all. >The TA didn’t lose a sale and probably went out of his way to ensure >he would keep you as a repeat customer (A real sales professional does >that you know). You not going back to him for your future business is >a real slap in the face and makes the effort he spent on your behalf a >waste of his time & energy. >I think you need to swallow your pride a tad and give the man the >follow-on business he worked for. But of course this is only my >opinion. > The problem is that I’ve done sales, and if you are doing your job > well, the customer will never actually know whether you are working > for their future business or being polite to them because it’s the > professional thing to do, until you can get rid of them, and wishing > all the while that they’d get out of your hair because they just > weren’t worth the extra work they caused. I asked for some last-minute > questions answered, then some last-minute changes; then the first set > of fairly complex initial inquiries into when I wanted to cruise this > next time proved not to have any available ships on those dates that > reached the ports I wanted, so I had to abandon the research done on > that and switch dates by a month. To me, this indicates that I have > been way more work than the commissions on my relatively low-budget > cruises could possibly be worth, and I wanted to avoid giving him > future business, not to punish an excellent agent who’s been better to > me than I deserve, but to get out of his way and stop bugging the poor > man. At this point I’d better simply name him and ask his own opinion, > because I *don’t* want to take business from the best agent I’e worked > with if he wants it, but I don’t see how he could possibly still want > mine, and would not burden someone who’s been nice to me with it if > he’d rather I left him to clients who are a little less > labor-intensive. So: Mr. Goldenberg, if my little occasional Caribbean > cruises are not worth the headaches involved, please say so, here or > privately, and I promise not to bother you anymore. If somehow (though > I can’t see how) you still actually *want* my business for the > try-again I’m doing in April instead of March this time, you have it; > you’ve more than earned it. > -Naomi
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>I try to not drive my TA’s crazy, and to avoid that I do a lot of the >leg work ahead of time. You might consider doing the same.
All that leg work I find enjoyable as thoughts of going permeate my mind throughout … In the Village …. I am not a number … I am a free man !!!!
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I have to agree. I enjoy narrowing down the field, checking prices. itineraries, etc. Most of the time I basically need someone to take my booking and mediate on my behalf should something go wrong. Bill
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I try to not drive my TA’s crazy, and to avoid that I do a lot of the >leg work ahead of time. You might consider doing the same. > All that leg work I find enjoyable as thoughts of going permeate my mind > throughout … > In the Village …. > I am not a number … I am a free man !!!!
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shouldn’t this have gone directly to Ray not posted on a newsgroup? — Sheree
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->>Incorrect, as you would know if you read closely. He was entirely >>willing to work with me again. I chose not to work with him again >>because I was too embarrassed to ask questions or be straightforward >>with what I needed after, in my own opinion, inconveniencing him. I >>don’t know what his private opinion may have been; to me he insisted >>that it was perfectly all right — and incidentally, the change of >>plans in question entailed a bit more work for him but did *not* >>deprive him of his commission; I went on the originally planned >>cruise, and paid for it, with a friend rather than my husband, who was >>forced to stay behind. >If that’s the case, sounds like you have a keeper. For the life of me >I can’t understand why you wouldn’t want to use him again. People >have to change their plans all the time. People in the sales business >learn to deal with it and the really good ones aren’t phased at all. >The TA didn’t lose a sale and probably went out of his way to ensure >he would keep you as a repeat customer (A real sales professional does >that you know). You not going back to him for your future business is >a real slap in the face and makes the effort he spent on your behalf a >waste of his time & energy. >I think you need to swallow your pride a tad and give the man the >follow-on business he worked for. But of course this is only my >opinion. > The problem is that I’ve done sales, and if you are doing your job > well, the customer will never actually know whether you are working > for their future business or being polite to them because it’s the > professional thing to do, until you can get rid of them, and wishing > all the while that they’d get out of your hair because they just > weren’t worth the extra work they caused. I asked for some last-minute > questions answered, then some last-minute changes; then the first set > of fairly complex initial inquiries into when I wanted to cruise this > next time proved not to have any available ships on those dates that > reached the ports I wanted, so I had to abandon the research done on > that and switch dates by a month. To me, this indicates that I have > been way more work than the commissions on my relatively low-budget > cruises could possibly be worth, and I wanted to avoid giving him > future business, not to punish an excellent agent who’s been better to > me than I deserve, but to get out of his way and stop bugging the poor > man. At this point I’d better simply name him and ask his own opinion, > because I *don’t* want to take business from the best agent I’e worked > with if he wants it, but I don’t see how he could possibly still want > mine, and would not burden someone who’s been nice to me with it if > he’d rather I left him to clients who are a little less > labor-intensive. So: Mr. Goldenberg, if my little occasional Caribbean > cruises are not worth the headaches involved, please say so, here or > privately, and I promise not to bother you anymore. If somehow (though > I can’t see how) you still actually *want* my business for the > try-again I’m doing in April instead of March this time, you have it; > you’ve more than earned it. > -Naomi
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Why use an agent? You can do everything on your own nowadays. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->whoa! >cruises to fires? >actually he was trying to help! those companies are good for people who >know what they want and don’t want handholding > Okay, if I was mistaken I apologize. I’ve heard them used too often > here to mean "Go away to one of the huge agencies that will take > anyone; no individual human agent, like the ones we have here, would > soil their hands with *you*." I like individual human agents, which is > why I come here, so I hope that’s not correct. It makes a huge > difference to me that I work with a person I know at least a little, > not just whoever answers the phone at a megacorporation. Even if the > price is lower, and even if I do know what I want, I still prefer > specific people. > -Naomi
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Why? Because you should be able to get a better price from a TA, that’s why. That isn’t the only reason but even if it was, that is a pretty darn good one IMHO! <G> The amount the TA has to do for you depends on your own personal knowledge about cruising and how smoothly the bookings go. For a more popular sailing a TA can be a God-send and will not only have your best interest in mind, (remember, he/she wants your repeat business), but they have better access to the cruiseline than you do. Additionally they will, (or should anyway), keep track of the pricing and if it goes down they should get you the lower rate. Jim PS I am not a TA and I know exactly what I want and where I am going when I book but I still use a TA, just a smart thing to do.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Why use an agent? You can do everything on your own nowadays. > >whoa! > >cruises to fires? > >actually he was trying to help! those companies are good for people who > >know what they want and don’t want handholding > Okay, if I was mistaken I apologize. I’ve heard them used too often > here to mean "Go away to one of the huge agencies that will take > anyone; no individual human agent, like the ones we have here, would > soil their hands with *you*." I like individual human agents, which is > why I come here, so I hope that’s not correct. It makes a huge > difference to me that I work with a person I know at least a little, > not just whoever answers the phone at a megacorporation. Even if the > price is lower, and even if I do know what I want, I still prefer > specific people. > -Naomi
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All that leg work is half the fun of cruising – the other half of the fun is when you are on the cruise itself. sue – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I try to not drive my TA’s crazy, and to avoid that I do a lot of the >leg work ahead of time. You might consider doing the same. > All that leg work I find enjoyable as thoughts of going permeate my mind > throughout … > In the Village …. > I am not a number … I am a free man !!!!
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I took some travel courses at a local community college. My intro to the travel industry the teacher said, one third of the fun of a trip is in planning it, one third in going on it, and one third in remembering it later. Julie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> All that leg work is half the fun of cruising – the other half of the > fun is when you are on the cruise itself. > sue > >I try to not drive my TA’s crazy, and to avoid that I do a lot of the > >leg work ahead of time. You might consider doing the same. > All that leg work I find enjoyable as thoughts of going permeate my mind > throughout … > In the Village …. > I am not a number … I am a free man !!!!
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>y intro to the >travel industry the teacher said, one third of the fun of a trip is in >planning >it, one third in going on it, and one third in remembering it later. >Kevin and Sue > All that leg work is half the fun of cruising – the other half of the > fun is when you are on the cruise itself.
1/4 of the fun is planning it, 1/4 of the fun is going on it, 1/4 of the fun is when you are on the cruise itself and 1/4 is comparing your next cruise to the one you took … Anybody for fifths ??? or would that go with the liquor on board thread … In the Village …. I am not a number … I am a free man !!!!