Thomas Cook holiday query

judy2357

We received vouchers from TC today in the post, £50 off when you spend £1000, £75 off when you spend £1500 and £100 off when you spend £2000 (to be used in the shops) , so phoned TC asking for a quote on a holiday we have been looking at. Was told that the price would be the same as the internet price, but couldnt use the voucher or use the voucher and they cannot match the internet price. Either way the price is still the same, so even though we were sent this to thank us for our continued loyalty as we used them for this years holiday, we are still not better off.

Funnily enough this was much as I expected but still feel that if they send out vouchers like this there should be some benefit in using them. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Obviously_the_best

The reason shops are more expensive, is if your flights are canceeled, or changed, you have someone to talk to, whereas if you bookonline you're just told to deal with it yourself, plus the shops are nice because you don't ave to do anything other than bring passports and pay. I'd say it was great if using the voucher you could get the shop to give you the online price.

judy2357

Obviously_the_best wrote: »

The reason shops are more expensive, is if your flights are canceeled, or changed, you have someone to talk to, whereas if you bookonline you're just told to deal with it yourself, plus the shops are nice because you don't ave to do anything other than bring passports and pay. I'd say it was great if using the voucher you could get the shop to give you the online price.

The point that I was making is that the shop will match the online price anyway (they have been doing this for several years now) so sending the voucher to me for being a loyal customer is of no advantage, as Im getting the same price as everyone else if you see what I mean. Still there isnt much point in arguing the point because it is what it is. Thanks for replying to me.

pompeyrich

It's always disappointing when an offer isn't what it seems. I had a similar experience, they said they used the "brochure price" for voucher holders and wouldn't budge.

Maybe worth firing off an e mail asking their views, won't cost you anything and lets them know your not happy. Probably wont do any good but interesting to hear their excuses.

claire16c

£50 off a grand is pretty pathetic anyway especially when prices go up and down all the time anyway. Seems to be more of a marketing ploy than anything else

stephb34

judy2357 wrote: »

The point that I was making is that the shop will match the online price anyway (they have been doing this for several years now) so sending the voucher to me for being a loyal customer is of no advantage, as Im getting the same price as everyone else if you see what I mean. Still there isnt much point in arguing the point because it is what it is. Thanks for replying to me.

Not all Thomas cook shops match the internet its not guaranteed, its down to the managers discretion. Most shops will but its not a for gone conclusion. £50 off a £1000 is 5% discount if you also had the internet discount which is normally 6% it would make 11% how much profit do you think there is in a holiday nowadays.
If you've been having TC hols for years have you been getting the £50 voucher from the reps booklet as you can use these as well as the other discount.

photome

stephb34 wrote: »

Not all Thomas cook shops match the internet its not guaranteed, its down to the managers discretion. Most shops will but its not a for gone conclusion. £50 off a £1000 is 5% discount if you also had the internet discount which is normally 6% it would make 11% how much profit do you think there is in a holiday nowadays.
If you've been having TC hols for years have you been getting the £50 voucher from the reps booklet as you can use these as well as the other discount.

thats really not the point, we all know these discount vouchers are not worth the paper they are written on,thats what the OP is saying.

Anyone with a discount voucher should be able to ask the price and then say I have this voucher for a further discount!

I know thats not going to happen and so does the OP

judy2357

photome wrote: »

thats really not the point, we all know these discount vouchers are not worth the paper they are written on,thats what the OP is saying.

Anyone with a discount voucher should be able to ask the price and then say I have this voucher for a further discount!

I know thats not going to happen and so does the OP

Exactly, they say they would make a loss if they let me have the discount voucher too, but if they were not prepared for this they shouldnt have sent it. To be honest it was the voucher that almost persuaded me to book today, as we had our eyes on a couple of holidays one with TC and one with Thomson but am now undecided, I know it would only have been about £75 less but to us that makes all the difference. So yes in my case it was not worth the paper it was written on.

Enterprise_1701C

Personally I willl never book with Thomas Cook ever again!

Spend 2.5 hours on the tarmac waiting for hydraulics to be fixed, they took a part off another plane, then had to turn back nearly halfway into the flight (to Cuba) because of a hydraulics problem! Apparently we were dropping hydraulics fluid all over London and had smoking engines when we landed! Personally I do not rate their maintenance ofter that!

Billy_Boy

This issue has been discussed many times on the Thomas Cook community forum

http://customer-community.thomascook.com/thomascook/topics

stephb34

photome wrote: »

thats really not the point, we all know these discount vouchers are not worth the paper they are written on,thats what the OP is saying.

Anyone with a discount voucher should be able to ask the price and then say I have this voucher for a further discount!

I know thats not going to happen and so does the OP

It is the point though, all businesses are out to make a profit if not they go bust ie gills cruises, kosmar etc they just gave too large discounts.
Some vouchers are good ie the one in the guidebook the rep gives you whilst on holiday £50 off your next TC hol and you can use that with a discount in the shops they are for loyal customers. Those vouchers the op is talking about aren't the best but if your not savvy enough to ask for an internet pricematch then they are worth the paper they're written on.