Little things I like

[VPS]

When you are feeling a bit flat and you go to pick up your BWS order

 

[Pushka]

When after 18 months you finally work out how to properly fit screen door in your apartment so it closes and locks! (Was like it when we moved in). Thanks ChatGPT. Shoulda asked you earlier.

 

[DejaBrew]

Bit of a mix here of a WCMO, but has ended up being more of a LTIL...

DejaBrew+1 bought a not-so-cheap - albeit quite nice - personalised leather business card holder from a UK-based online business selling through their AU web store. The item arrives and it turns out that although the external dimensions match what is quoted on the product page, even when conservatively factoring in a reasonable amount of lost internal space due to stitching etc, the the usable (i.e. internal) dimensions of the product - which are not specified on the product page - are such that the holder cannot house a standard Australian-sized business card. Of course, whilst they offer 30 day risk-free returns, personalised items are excluded.

I helped draft and send a polite email explaining the situation and suggesting that the item was not fit for purpose and was therefore requesting either a full refund (including shipping), or if they believed the dimensions were wrong and therefore a manufacturing error, a replacement item.

Business responds explaining that as a UK company, they designed the item to fit standard UK-sized business cards, which they note are smaller. They advise internal dimensions will be smaller and it is therefore not a manufacturing error (i.e. we're not sending a replacement good). Being personalised, the item cannot be returned, however as a "gesture of good will", they'll accept the item being returned (at DejaBrew+1's expense) and provide a refund (minus a $63 re-stocking fee ).

I then draft and send a response suggesting it's an unacceptable solution. Their product page mentions nothing about internal dimensions. The photos are deceptive and a "reasonable" person would not assume such a large reduction in usable dimensions. Also, they're marketing and selling directly through an AU store, hence AU customers would reasonably expect the product to be suited to AU business cards, especially when there is no indication to the contrary. And the kicker? As an overseas-based online business selling directly to Australia, they're subject to Australian Consumer Law which would define their product as not being "fit for purpose".

Suffice it to say that a full refund (item + shipping cost) has been processed without the need to return the item. Naturally this is flagged as another "gesture of good will"

TL : DR - Invoking Australian Consumer Law is very useful (and a fun little trump card to play strategically )

 

[RooFlyer]

Sitting in my garden on a still 5:50 Friday evening, having a drink. Text from Travel Agent - check e-mail.

I check phone. A QR fare for a trip to Europe I've been planning has popped up pretty cheap (the TA has a corporate deal with QR). Previously TK was abt $3K cheaper, and I was going to go with that; now only $1K difference. That's worth it TK vs QR. Itinerary sent to me, with several options returning to ADL, MEL and SYD (ADL cheapest). Can only hold for 2 days.

Me - dash inside to computer, re-check itinerary with ADL return yep, good, give CC numbers (has them on file), and seat numbers wanted. Doha stopover cheap 5* hotel for a couple of days on the way over.

Settle back to drink in garden 10 mins later. Who doesn't like a Travel Agent?

 

[Quickstatus]

A QR fare for a trip to Europe I've been planning has popped up pretty cheap (the TA has a corporate deal with QR)

What were your instructions to TA prior to getting this email.

 

[RooFlyer]

What were your instructions to TA prior to getting this email.

I'd asked them to look at fares ex Australia for a trip I'm taking (cruise Athens to Malaga in November). Initial fares on TK ex MEL were looking good, QR a fair bit more expensive, Oman didn't have the network. (I've run out of points to position to Asia to commence the paid fare, unfortunately.)

TA and I have excellent relationship - I've used them for about 15 years now; they know my style of travel, so they just monitor things for what I may be OK with. QR have various levels of J seats, often with quite big price steps between them. Lower price return seat became available on one of my possible dates ex BCN AND they pointed out that Istanbul much cheaper to fly into outbound than Athens and knew I could get an Award seat between IST and ATH.

So TA just contacted me - at nearly 6pm on a Friday .

 

[Quickstatus]

TA and I have excellent relationship - I've used them for about 15 years now

So it's more about developing a relationship over time? Do you use them for flight and cruise ? How do you know the prices they give you are "good" (I understand you are buying a service not just price of a ticket)

This is a TA where you communicate face to face or electronically?

 

[RooFlyer]

So it's more about developing a relationship over time? Do you use them for flight and cruise ? How do you know the prices they give you are "good" (I understand you are buying a service not just price of a ticket)

This is a TA where you communicate face to face or electronically?

Very definitely about the relationship. If you consider the amount of time that a TA has to put into assembling an itinerary, trying to match up what an unknown person’s preferences and dislikes are in travel (and their changes of mind), and they only get paid if the person ends up going ahead with the booking, my TA knows that when I initiate something it’s not going to be budget and that they’re going to get a booking. They have a series of fees for various amounts or categories of bookings so I know pretty well I’m going to be charged on top. On a return business fare to Europe from Australia the fee will be in the order of .03% of the value of the fare. And that gets me all the follow-up required as well, including 24/7 emergency rearranging in case of cancellation etc.

Of course I think they do a good job for newbies as well , as I have referred a number of people here to them ( the agency) and I believe everyone’s been happy.

I research my itineraries I want first up, to get an idea of timings etc. And of course I look at the website prices then so I know roughly how much it’s going to be. But then as we refine things I might shift a flight or move a day or a destination so then the website price I have in my mind is probably not going to be the same. But they definitely can outdo any QR website price due to the corporate deal they have with them.

Sometimes they cannot beat a website price that I’ve found and those cases they know I’ll book it myself. These are nearly always just single legs within Europe or within the USA for instance.

I’ve met my TA a couple of times at their office over the years, but other than that it’s phone and email.

Yes, very definitely do cruises as well as flights. They are a cruise specialist and usually book me through Virtuoso if they can which will automatically get me about a €100 on board credit.

 

[drron]

We have been with our TA for about 20 years. The thing I value the most is the way they can fix things when they go pear shaped. Sometimes the first thing I know of a problem is the email from our TA with the new itinerary.

Also they arrange some special events for their clients. For example our October Crystal cruise they have a group of us on a wine cruise with Bruce Tyrrell and Stephen Henschke.

 

[Quickstatus]

Maybe I should re-look TA. Been many years since I used a TA

 

[RooFlyer]

The thing I value the most is the way they can fix things when they go pear shaped. Sometimes the first thing I know of a problem is the email from our TA with the new itinerary.

When I first joined AFF, I thought "Gee, all these people have so many problems and difficulties. I must be lucky."

Realised after a while that my TA constructed itineraries such that the common problems and questions didn't arise.

 

[AuSammy]

When I first joined AFF, I thought "Gee, all these people have so many problems and difficulties. I must be lucky."

I still think that, and I don’t use a TA.

Some of the “trials and tribulations“ posted on here have me shaking my head and thinking “that really happens?” or “touch wood that never happens to me”.

Then again, some (many) of them I put in my “storm in a teacup category” ️