HostesByCity.com
800 Connecticut Avenue
Norwalk Connecticut 06854
United States of America
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HostesByCity.com Priceline.com Overcharged for hotel room Norwalk, Connecticut
*UPDATE by author: HotelsByCity.com still overpriced
2Author
1Consumer
0Employee/Owner
We booked a two day stay at a hotel for $205.28. When I checked out, the hotel gave me a bill for $147.66, so I paid 39% more by booking through this company.
My wife and I both tried to get a refund from customer service, to no avail. A quote form the Email with "customer (dis)service":
"As advised earlier, our hotel partner disclosed a rate to you that is not available to the public. Just like every other business, we receive
reduced rates because we sell in large volume. If you compare our rates, you will find them to be very competitive. We strive to offer customers the best alternatives for saving money while at the same time maintaining profitability.
We apologize if you are disappointed with the difference in rates; however, we are unable to change or refund a part of the rate you booked
through our website."
I don't mind paying a reasonable booking fee, but when they can't even match the price the hotels charges for John Doe off the street, they are being disingenuous at the least. Reduced rates indeed!
Click Here to read other Ripoff Reports on HostesByCity com
REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
2Author
1Consumer
0Employee/Owner
Updates & Rebuttals
#1 Consumer Comment
AUTHOR: What - (United States of America)
SUBMITTED: Friday, January 20, 2012
POSTED: Friday, January 20, 2012
Do you understand what they were telling you? The hotel handed you an invoice for what the website pays. Now, if you can get that rate (or better than what you paid on the site) walking in off the street, you have a right to be upset, but you should ask the hotel for that price...it isn't what you're seeing on the bill the hotel handed you.
Otherwise you got to see their wholesale price (which the hotel never should have shown you), which is only reasonable they would mark up.
#2 Update By Author
AUTHOR: Gruney - (United States of America)
SUBMITTED: Saturday, January 21, 2012
POSTED: Saturday, January 21, 2012
I agree that the bill I received was the amount paid by hotelsbycity. When I have booked online before the bill reflected the retail rate, not the wholesale rate.
I just checked this location through the hotel's online booking and the regular rate is $79 per night. Based on the bill I received, there would be about $9 in taxes at this rate, for about $88 per night all up. This is $176, so I paid $24 more than the regular rate by booking through this site. I could have used my AAA discount and gotten a base rate of $75.05 vs 66.75 through the site.
I still maintain that if they cannot sell the room to me retail for less than I can book the regular rate directly at the hotel, that is by definition a rip off.
