Priceline vs Copycraigs

[kahlua]

What's the advantage of using copycraigs over Priceline? Usually copycraigs charges minimum $100 and with Priceline you can bid lower than that for 3+ stars hotel. Even though copycraigs doesn't ask you for personal information, but the hotel will still ask you. So at the end, you can't totally avoid using personal information. Plus Priceline right now have the same day booking as well as long as a room is available.

Anyone can share your experience and preferences?

 

[Ms.FemmeFatale]

I use priceline all the time, but I think that CC can still probably get me a better deal. After his fee though, it works out to about the same. However, I have been bidding on hotels for years, so I know a bit about what I am doing. He is still better at it then me even with my knowledge and if I was booking outside of Toronto, I would use him hands down as I won't know the area as well as he would. He books for everywhere.

Yes, Hotels ask for ID, but that is not the purpose of CC. It is not a system to completely hide who you are. Also, he has a way of avoiding statement items on your personal CC if you wanted those to be kept private. While a few hotels still require credit card deposits, most will still accept cash so it makes hobbying a little more discreet. You may have to show your DL at check-in but you would have to do that no matter what. Personally I say use your Passport for ID, it is perfectly legal and does not carry your address on it, so no major info can be retained by the hotel. Use CC for booking with his 3V system and you have a hotel that only knows your name and nothing else. No real address or credit card info.

The one advantage to using CC, you don't have to do the bidding on priceline yourself. CC has a huge knowledge base and give you an idea of the hotel he can get you. He also has deals with others hotels, so you don't even need to do a priceline style booking.

If you know hotwire, priceline and the ways to bid and auction for lower hotel rates, then great but a lot of people don't have the time, knowledge or energy and CC makes sure they still get a deal. I think his fees are $10-$15 per booking, so while you pay up front, it is for a 10 bookings or something. He offers more customer service then you get with priceline that is for sure. There are plenty of advantages to using CC and he has plenty of clients who love his service.

 

[kahlua]

Thanks. Anyone else?

 

[blueman]

Thanks. Anyone else?

I used CC a few times with a 50% success rate. I did not enjoy the "customer service" offered by CC

Today I use PriceLine where I know what I am getting. CC put me into an unacceptable hotel more than once with absolutely zero attempt to provide customer service when I voiced my concern about the hotel "the system" choose for me . . .

 

[kahlua]

I used CC a few times with a 50% success rate. I did not enjoy the "customer service" offered by CC

Today I use PriceLine where I know what I am getting. CC put me into an unacceptable hotel more than once with absolutely zero attempt to provide customer service when I voiced my concern about the hotel "the system" choose for me . . .

How's your experience with Priceline? Have you ever bid for same day booking? How fast you will know the outcome?
How much % in saving you normally get? Do you normally bid on 3 stars and above hotels?

 

[kahlua]

Bump

 

[kahlua]

Anyone else?

 

[Ridgeman08]

Lee always does right by me. Always gets me a good deal. And always treats me well.

I see no reason to go or try anyone or anything else.:thumb::thumb:

 

[kahlua]

Thanks. Anyone else?

 

[Noelle Frost]

I've been using them for ages and have had nothing but good experiences. I've always gotten great deals at really nice hotels, and they always keep my preferences in mind. The reason I use them is because I do not have a credit card. Copy Craigs purchases the room for you and then you transfer money to them; I use interac e-transfer. It's good if you don't want to leave a paper trail. I personally would rather hide the fact that I'm spending 1,200 monthly on hotels

Thanks. Anyone else?

 

[kahlua]

E-transfer will leave an electronic trail. Priceline seems able to give you a lower rate than copycraigs which usually charges $100 for downtown hotels.

 

[Celticman]

I use priceline all the time

Incalls Femme?

Who knew!

And to all posters......CopyCraigs supports the board with his business so why not deal with him..............?

 

[r_s426]

How far ahead are you booking? If it's same day, and you need the hotel for certain and still want a reduced rate, I'd go with CC. He's got the expertise to get you a room for sure.

If you bid on your own and go too low, you're locked out of bidding on that star level in that area for 24 hours. That might not be such a big deal if you are flexible on area and star level, or if that area has a wide range of star levels to choose from. I'm a fairly experience Priceline user, and I've still struck out on occasion though.

If you are booking in advance, there are lots of bidding advice sites out there that you can research. For example, last year I had to go to a wedding in Halifax and I got a room for $89 per night on Priceline when the best corporate rate they would offer was $189. The booking was 4 months in advance too.

My only complaint about Priceline is that I've never been allowed to check in early with a priceline booking. I've asked on a few occasions and have been refused, only to watch them turn around and allow full price guest to check in early. Other people have complained about getting the "priceline room." The one next to the loud elevator, or the one with the shitty view. This may, or may not, bother you depending on what you want the room for, and for how long.

I've never had any issues with privacy though. I have used the service a lot to meet long term gf's that weren't my wife. My credit card statement is electronic only, and the SO never sees it. Maybe not everyone has this luxury. At the hotels, I've never been given grief about not wanting to give my address. They simply need ID to match you up to the credit card. I've never even really had them bat an eyelash about me checking in short term. If you think about it, there's probably A LOT of people using hotels to facilitate extra marital activities. If you still feel weird about it, go to an airport area hotel. It's very common for people with long layovers to book a hotel for a few hours to have a proper bed to sleep in.

On another note, you can sometimes cut cash deals with the manager's of independent hotels for a short day time stay. $60 cash used to be enough to get me a room for a couple of hours. The manager would pocket the cash and the booking not recorded anywhere.

 

[GPIDEAL]

Anyone else?

CC (Lee) has always come thru for me. A younger dude who was assisting me in my office and who was computer savvy about this, couldn't do it better on his own. I use Lee cuz he's efficient and it still works out cheaper than booking the hotel directly. Sometimes, his choices are limited if there's a conference or major event in the city, but that would apply to anyone.

If you want a specific hotel, then best bet is to book it early because CC or Priceline can't guarantee which hotel you'll get in any bidding if you want a particular one.

 

[GPIDEAL]

How far ahead are you booking? If it's same day, and you need the hotel for certain and still want a reduced rate, I'd go with CC. He's got the expertise to get you a room for sure.

If you bid on your own and go too low, you're locked out of bidding on that star level in that area for 24 hours. That might not be such a big deal if you are flexible on area and star level, or if that area has a wide range of star levels to choose from. I'm a fairly experience Priceline user, and I've still struck out on occasion though.

If you are booking in advance, there are lots of bidding advice sites out there that you can research. For example, last year I had to go to a wedding in Halifax and I got a room for $89 per night on Priceline when the best corporate rate they would offer was $189. The booking was 4 months in advance too.

My only complaint about Priceline is that I've never been allowed to check in early with a priceline booking. I've asked on a few occasions and have been refused, only to watch them turn around and allow full price guest to check in early. Other people have complained about getting the "priceline room." The one next to the loud elevator, or the one with the shitty view. This may, or may not, bother you depending on what you want the room for, and for how long.

I've never had any issues with privacy though. I have used the service a lot to meet long term gf's that weren't my wife. My credit card statement is electronic only, and the SO never sees it. Maybe not everyone has this luxury. At the hotels, I've never been given grief about not wanting to give my address. They simply need ID to match you up to the credit card. I've never even really had them bat an eyelash about me checking in short term. If you think about it, there's probably A LOT of people using hotels to facilitate extra marital activities. If you still feel weird about it, go to an airport area hotel. It's very common for people with long layovers to book a hotel for a few hours to have a proper bed to sleep in.

On another note, you can sometimes cut cash deals with the manager's of independent hotels for a short day time stay. $60 cash used to be enough to get me a room for a couple of hours. The manager would pocket the cash and the booking not recorded anywhere.

I was lucky to check-in early with a CC booking even though it was a maybe. You still should try (like you did but guess it's not always available).