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SamMalone 
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Post subject: Q. Are we being ripped off or what? A. What.
 Posted: Dec 03, 2009 - 08:37 AM
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First post: Dec 03, 2007
Total posts: 366
Location: DD2
Status: Offline
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I’ve spoken about some of this on another thread, but I can’t seem to find it to link it to this:
Anyway, are we being ripped off or is this the way it works with airport transfers?
We go to Tignes from Dec 13th – 20th (flying EDI-GVA)
We booked our flights back in July, to get them as cheap as we could. We booked our chalet mid September and about 4 days before we booked, I had a long conversation with one of the co-owners of the chalet. During this conversation, he told me the cost of a transfer for 2008/09 was 450 euros per 8 seater bus and that we’d be roundabout that price divided by 8.
As it worked out, we were the only guests flying into GVA and due to our flight times we couldn’t use Alpi/Alti bus or get the train and we wouldn’t consider hiring a car. The chalet co-owner organised transfers with Cool Bus and he initially quoted us 550 euros split between the 4 of us, this then came down to 500, which the co owner declared a “good deal” and that “it wasn’t that cheap for season 2008-09” (he forgot he’d told me it 450 for 2008-09)
We resigned our selves, to paying the 500 and paid a 30% deposit. On Tuesday, the co owner phoned me and said they had another 3 people wanting to share our bus, but we’d have to wait an hour in GVA for them. To which, I said OK, assuming that it’ll now be 500/7, to which the chalet co-owner replied it would be more like 550/7. At which we said “no way, we’ve got an invoice from Cool Bus for 500 euros, that’s the agreed price”
He forwarded the new request to Cool Bus (without attaching our comments), asking them if it was OK to pick up one hour later at GVA. Cool Bus replied yesterday saying it wouldn’t be a problem and that the new price for the bus is 700 euros and that as my group had paid 500 euros (they took the outstanding balance before they replied) we’d get a refund of 29 euros each (which might be enough for a round of beers and a packet of crisps, whilst we wait for the other 3 to arrive at GVA)
Some of our group think “yes, we’re being ripped off, but what can you do” and others think, “fcuk them, we won’t wait for the extra hour for the sake of 29 euros and we’ll just keep it at 500 euros and have the 8 seater to ourselves, so we can stretch out, rather than wait for an hour for the other 3”, that way Cool Bus need to send another bus and the other 3 can pay whatever they get charged divided by 3.
Anyone else been in this kinda situation before? |
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Rob_Quads
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Post subject: RE: Are we being ripped off or what?
Posted: Dec 03, 2009 - 11:04 AM
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First post: Oct 11, 2004
Total posts: 266
Location: Southampton
Status: Offline
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| Personally for the sake of £25 I would go with the first setup - more sapce less waiting around which is the last thing you want to do once you have arrived. |
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HandD
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Post subject: RE: Are we being ripped off or what?
Posted: Dec 03, 2009 - 11:19 AM
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First post: Feb 09, 2005
Total posts: 1764
Location: Medway
Status: Offline
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| any reason why you can't phone around yourself and arrange something |
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mini.
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Post subject: RE: Are we being ripped off or what?
Posted: Dec 03, 2009 - 11:34 AM
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First post: Jun 16, 2008
Total posts: 1681
Location: a world of my own, but mostly sheffield.
Status: Offline
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Walk into Avis and hire a car. you will spend less plus have all the convenience of having a car.
a weeks hire for a 2lt vectra is only £247 quid.
for 4 people travelling a hire car should be a real consideration (unless you plan on being wasted when you get off the plane!) |
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www.skicourchevel.net
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nickmotture
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Post subject: RE: Are we being ripped off or what?
Posted: Dec 03, 2009 - 11:43 AM
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First post: Jan 09, 2006
Total posts: 10414
Location: Washington DC USA
Status: Offline
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nickmotture
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Post subject: RE: Are we being ripped off or what?
Posted: Dec 03, 2009 - 11:47 AM
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First post: Jan 09, 2006
Total posts: 10414
Location: Washington DC USA
Status: Offline
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cantridepete
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Post subject: RE: Are we being ripped off or what?
Posted: Dec 03, 2009 - 12:03 PM
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First post: Oct 28, 2008
Total posts: 2328
Location: Haute Savoie
Status: Offline
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i'd have a phone around some of the other companies and see what else is available, just to compare it really. Its difficult to know if your being ripped off without having anything to compare it too.
if you look on the coolbus website the cost on your day for 7 people from geneva is 672.00 RETURN... |
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SamMalone
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Post subject: Re: RE: Are we being ripped off or what?
Posted: Dec 03, 2009 - 12:19 PM
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First post: Dec 03, 2007
Total posts: 366
Location: DD2
Status: Offline
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Can’t arrange something else as no one would pick up us as early as we need for the return flight (plus Cool Bus have got our 500 euros).
Car hire is out, as we do intend being wasted when e get on/off the plane and we’ll each have our own boardbags as well.
It’s not the 29 euros refund, the agreed/invoiced price was 500 not 700, the price should be 500/7, not 700/7. Cool Bus told us that it was a private transfer and the bus was “ours” when we agreed to the 500 euros. They’ve now bumped up the price to 700 when they were offered more punters. This morning, I’ve been copied into emails from the chalet to Cool Bus and the chalet say the price now quoted is “very disappointing” and Cool Bus have replied to the chalet saying “not to worry” and basically “tough sh1t” and we should think ourselves lucky as Cool Bus have waived their “usual admin fee”
…and I am one of our party who think fcuk them, purely because it gives Cool Bus and the chalet grief, it’s nothing to do with the 3 skiers arriving into GVA an hour later. I’m also with Rob Quads in thinking, it’s a long transfer, so max space to stretch out and enjoy the beers (plus one of our group suffers from travel sickness, so surely it’s better to be puking amongst friends rather than 3 complete strangers…. |
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nickmotture
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Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Are we being ripped off or what?
Posted: Dec 03, 2009 - 12:34 PM
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First post: Jan 09, 2006
Total posts: 10414
Location: Washington DC USA
Status: Offline
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| to be honest when you book a transfer you are often in with other people, thats often how it works. If they are taking more people they charge more money, if not what is the point in them picking up more people, what in it for them as a company? If you want a private transfer then you pay more for it, which you are doing. As for not wanting another three complete strangers in the bus with you despite it being cheaper for you, well i hope the shoes i on the other foot sometime. You're basically saying screw those other people they can pay for another transfer between them an hour later. How would you feel if that was you and hour later, they are going to have to pay hundreds more because you wont wait a little while despite this meaning it will actually be cheaper for you. Remember theses are people may well be sharing your accomodation and may well have become mates, dont expect them to speak to you all week! |
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joe_edd
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Post subject: Re: Are we being ripped off or what?
Posted: Dec 03, 2009 - 12:50 PM
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First post: Sep 02, 2009
Total posts: 69
Status: Offline
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SamMalone wrote:
Some of our group think “yes, we’re being ripped off, but what can you do” and others think, “fcuk them, we won’t wait for the extra hour for the sake of 29 euros and we’ll just keep it at 500 euros and have the 8 seater to ourselves, so we can stretch out, rather than wait for an hour for the other 3”, that way Cool Bus need to send another bus and the other 3 can pay whatever they get charged divided by 3.
Anyone else been in this kinda situation before?
I am of the opinion to stuff the 3 extra people, stretch out, and then once you arrive you can just relax, see what the resort has to offer in way of bars, etc and just get yourself geared up for the week ahead. In my opinion there is nothing worse then hanging around an airport waiting for people because by the time you arrive you are so anxious and full of excitement and you just want to get to the resort regardless if you going to be on the slopes that day or not. Also the sooner you there the sooner you can relax.
Shame you can’t come on our transfer, but we arriving in Geneva at about 10ish. Which part of Tignes are you going to be staying at? I’m there also from the 13th, and staying at Les Brevieres, the lower part of the resort. |
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Theres a linking what now...?
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nickmotture
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Post subject: RE: Re: Are we being ripped off or what?
Posted: Dec 03, 2009 - 12:54 PM
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First post: Jan 09, 2006
Total posts: 10414
Location: Washington DC USA
Status: Offline
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SamMalone
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Post subject: Re: RE: Re: RE: Are we being ripped off or what?
Posted: Dec 03, 2009 - 12:54 PM
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First post: Dec 03, 2007
Total posts: 366
Location: DD2
Status: Offline
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We're happy to share - I've put threads on here and the Cool Bus forum asking for people to share the transfer cost, it's the price (goalposts) getting moved that we'rre p1ssed off at. Our "fcuk 'em" attitude is purely aimed at Cool Bus.
.....and the other 3 are in the same chalet as us and are getting picked up at the same time as us on the return leg. |
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SamMalone
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Post subject: Re: Are we being ripped off or what?
Posted: Dec 03, 2009 - 01:06 PM
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First post: Dec 03, 2007
Total posts: 366
Location: DD2
Status: Offline
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joe_edd wrote:
Shame you can’t come on our transfer, but we arriving in Geneva at about 10ish. Which part of Tignes are you going to be staying at? I’m there also from the 13th, and staying at Les Brevieres, the lower part of the resort.
Easyjet from Edinburgh, arrives 11.15am
We're staying in Tignes Les Brev as well. From threads on here, I knew you were in TLB and I was gonna PM you nearer the time, to see if you wanna meet up for beers - more the merrier etc.? |
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diggity
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Post subject: RE: Re: Are we being ripped off or what?
Posted: Dec 03, 2009 - 01:14 PM
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First post: Mar 04, 2005
Total posts: 1035
Location: Cambridge
Status: Offline
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| The simple answer is not your not, the chalet has booked a 4 person transfer (I found one for €400, €100 each) then the chalet changed the booking to 7 (cost now €600 for the one I found, €85 each) for the same transfer. You get some cash back as more people in the bus as it should be. Next time book your own if your worried about it that, way you won't save anything by other being in the bus with you. |
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Proud member of BEER GOGGLES!
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joe_edd
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Post subject: Re: RE: Re: Are we being ripped off or what?
Posted: Dec 03, 2009 - 01:20 PM
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First post: Sep 02, 2009
Total posts: 69
Status: Offline
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nickmotture wrote:
You're obviously a lovely person as well if you say stuff the other people. Whoever said snowboarders were a friendly, inclusive and easy going bunch......
Its only an hour to wait!
Thanks for the compliment. I know I am a lovely person. I agree with SamMalone about the goal post keeps on being moved with the price, maybe if it stayed static then it wouldn’t be so bad. Anyway human nature dictates us to be selfish, being nice would mean going out of way and putting in effort for something, who wants to do that, unless we born with being nice the whole time then it would be easier on our part. Buts it’s a dog eat dog world and you got to be tough to get by else people will take advantage of you. (devils advocate, not the movie).
Yeah an hour is an hour, but what happens if it’s delayed or it falls out the sky and you are on it, what a shame. I joke, please see it as that.
But now SamMalone has provided new info saying that the people are in the same chalet, maybe you should wait for them because then you can get to know them on the way to the resort and they could be a good bunch of people. Also if they find out that you screwed them by not waiting, then the week could be an awkward one. |
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Theres a linking what now...?
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