TA Charging me to post Doc's - am I being ripped off??

[bsa250cc]

Hi All,

I have just been informed that as we live in the UK our TA (based in the US) is going to charge me $25.00 postage for our doc's.

Has anyone else come across this, either in the US or any posters from other than the US, who have booked through a US TA. We have used American TA's for both cruises and other vacations we have taken in the past in the US, and never been asked for this before. Admittedly the price we paid for our cruise was a steal in our opinion $900 for an SY suite, but are they just trying to put a bit back in the pot??

I feel as if I am being ripped off.:(

Your comments greatly appreciated.

Bob & Dee

[lougee1043]

bsa250cc

really cant tell you if 25 is too much-----------they are being mailed internationally and hopefully being sent priority mail maybe registered with a return receipt so they know you got it-- the price might be slightly inflated but someone has to go to the post office to complete the necessary papers for the receipts

[Ine]

When we (living in NL) booked over Internet through a US travelagent she phoned us to say thank you and introduce herself.
Any question by e-mail was answered right away and
NO we didnot pay anything to have documents mailed to us.

[peaches from georgia]

I don't think anyone is ever being 'ripped off' if they are asked to pay the cost of a service they are receiving. Within the U.S. the postage for docs is minimal and is usually absorbed by the TA. In your case, however, airmail international postage and other mailing services for a package of docs is of more substantial cost and I wouldn't feel ripped off.

My main concern would be that the docs were sent as quickly and as safely as possible.

[lvtotrvl1]

Some cruiselines are offering edocs and if you choose to receive "paper docs" you will be charged...I worked for a very large agency once, that did charge for docs to be fed ex'd. Could you have requested edocs?

[arlenez]

Hi All,

Admittedly the price we paid for our cruise was a steal in our opinion $900 for an SY suite, but are they just trying to put a bit back in the pot??

I.

Bob & Dee

I would love to know what TA you used to get such a fabulous price for an SY suite. I checked a few places and it's a lot more.

Thanks & regards,
Arlene

[gizmo]

There are TA's here in the US that do this. They call it a variety of names, Handling Charges, Processing Fees, Mailing Fees. 25.00 is around the going rate when the TA does this. It is always best to ask about any type of fees before booking. Many also have cancellation fees that run much higher.

[Cruiseoften]

Hi All,

I have just been informed that as we live in the UK our TA (based in the US) is going to charge me $25.00 postage for our doc's.

Admittedly the price we paid for our cruise was a steal in our opinion $900 for an SY suite, but are they just trying to put a bit back in the pot??

I feel as if I am being ripped off.:(

Your comments greatly appreciated.

Bob & Dee

I really don't think so! :) It's not like it's just an ordinary letter - proof of receipt etc. is required - it's insurance for you and the cruise line.

If it's any consolation, our local agencies are now charging for delivery of documents, by mail or courier (your choice) if you don't want to personally pick them up from the agency.

Enjoy your cruise!

[bsa250cc]

Hi All,

And thanks for your quick responses. I agree that there is an additional cost to send the doc's across the pond, but I was not charged last year, or two years before when we stayed on a ranch in Arizona. Perhaps as the margins get tighter they will go down this route to all.

With regard to E-Doc's. I did ask the question, but was told that this was not an option with HAL. All my flights are by E-Doc's, and this makes perfect sense for me personally.

Arlene,

The agent I used is still showing SY's at $906, but now they are just guarantee's. We were able to choose our cabin when I booked a few weeks ago. They have SS which are now $995 on the navigation deck. Again these were $900 when we booked. This is one of 4 sites which I use to make comparison's. As I am unsure of the situation of publicly stating the agent on an open forum, I will gladly send you there web details if you contact me on my email: bob.board@ntlworld.com

Again thanks for your quick responses.

Bob & Dee :)

[newmexicoNita]

As a service we send docs and never charge, but that is within the USA> I think $25.00 sounds a bit high, on the other hand the most important thing is they arrive and are in good condition. As someone pointed out: many companies are adding special fees and calling it whatever, but mainly it is to offset the cost of postage or whatever. Why not ask for Edocs, all cruiselines will send them to the agency this way and the agent can forward them to you. This will be a standard proceedure in a year or two I expect.

NMnita

[Cruising Illini]

We formerly were charged by our local TA to mail DOCS within the city where we live. They are MANY miles south of our subdivision so it was at least a 20 minute drive to pick them up. Needless to say, we no longer use this TA because they also changed the amount of discount we received and some other "nickle and dime" items. Our Seattle TA always mails them in super shape, nice discount and never a question re. mail charge. We sometimes take 7 others as our guests and all docs are mailed to appropriate locations in different cities. Cruising Illini

[fcorey]

Sorry, but it is by no means excessive. When I ship from my Boston office to our Bracknell UK office, a 1 pound Fedex envelope can cost $45, and that is using the international economy rate which is a 2-5 day delivery time.

[kryos]

I have just been informed that as we live in the UK our TA (based in the US) is going to charge me $25.00 postage for our doc's.

I don't think you are getting ripped off because international postage is not cheap. If it's any consolation, I have a feeling over the next couple of years all travel agent's will begin charging a premium for paper docs ... just like the airlines do now. The cruise lines will want you to go onto the internet and print your own docs out. Celebrity does that now.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[twoatsea]

Bob & Dee, just curious when & where are you cruising? If that is a US round trip for $900 SY, I'm booking NOW! :D

[arlenez]

Bob & Dee, just curious when & where are you cruising? If that is a US round trip for $900 SY, I'm booking NOW! :D

Hi:

Bob and Dee are cruising on December 2nd from Ft. Lauderdale to the eastern Caribbean on the Zuiderdam. I, too, am interested in the $900 SY cabin, and I am waiting to hear from Bob via email to find out who is TA is.

Regards,

[DD]

First of all, $25 in LOW in this industry to ship docs across the pond. The bottom line is that you pay for the doc delivery in some way shape or form. If there's not a line item charge for it, you're probably getting a little less of a discount than you would've otherwise.

It makes me laugh sometimes when clients balk at our document delivery fee for internation documents. It's like if I just rolled the price up into the quoted price instead of breaking out the charge where they could clearly see it, they'd be happier. To me, that makes no sense--you're paying the charge in some way so you might as well see specifically what part of the total goes towards shipping the docs.

I had a client argue with me earlier this year about a similar charge. She mentioned that if she went to the cruiseline direct, they wouldn't charge her. I tried to point out that she was saving several hundred dollars by booking with us over going direct to the cruiseline and that, even with the doc delivery fee factored in, she was still coming out way ahead. She couldn't get past the doc delivery fee though; it was such an irritation to her. It makes me think that some clients just don't want to know about it -- they'd rather "pretend" like they're getting the docs delivered and the TA is absorbing the cost.

So, if I tell you that your cruise is $3000 for the cabin and that we'll ship your docs for free, it's the same thing as if I tell you that your cruise is $2970 for the cabin and a $30 doc delivery fee. It all works out the same but if I break that fee out, it freaks clients out. It feels like honesty isn't always the best policy, but I'll keep doing it that way anyway.

[DD]

As a service we send docs and never charge, but that is within the USA> I think $25.00 sounds a bit high, on the other hand the most important thing is they arrive and are in good condition. As someone pointed out: many companies are adding special fees and calling it whatever, but mainly it is to offset the cost of postage or whatever. Why not ask for Edocs, all cruiselines will send them to the agency this way and the agent can forward them to you. This will be a standard proceedure in a year or two I expect.

NMnita

Nita, HAL normally won't do edocs with us even though most cruiselines will. Do they with your agency?

[Aussie Gal]

We are dealing with a U.S.agent and I had the choice of being able to pick up our documents at the dock on the day we sail or have them arrive by Fedex to our home with us paying for the delivery. We preferred to make sure everything was correct and so we opted to have them sent here. They are on their way and we should receive them tomorrow.

I certainly did not expect our T.A. to pay the cost of sending them here.

Jennie

[bsa250cc]

Hi All,

Again thanks for your responses. As I said earlier, I was only enquiring as to whether others had come across this practise. I note the TA's who posted were quick to defend their corner, and that is only to be expected. Again this is NOT a slight against anyone.

On a different note, I have responded to the 40+ people who were asking details of the apparently fabulous deal we got. (well we thought it was as well), and have forwarded them all the relevant website details. If anyone else requires details , I shall be happy to forward it to them. Drop me a line at: bob.board@ntlworld.com . A couple of people have already responded to my email and endorse the company also, having used them in the past.

The company are still advertising SY's at $906 down to Inside's at $595. for our dates at the beginning of December.

Happy cruising

Bob & Dee

[GOLDENBONNY]

[quote=bsa250cc]Hi All,

I have just been informed that as we live in the UK our TA (based in the US) is going to charge me $25.00 postage for our doc's.

Has anyone else come across this, either in the US or any posters from other than the US, who have booked through a US TA. We have used American TA's for both cruises and other vacations we have taken in the past in the US, and never been asked for this before. Admittedly the price we paid for our cruise was a steal in our opinion $900 for an SY suite, but are they just trying to put a bit back in the pot??

I feel as if I am being ripped off.:(

Your comments greatly appreciated.

My TA never charge for shipping thats what I call customer service,she knows we will come back againe for next year

[arlenez]

[quote=bsa250cc]Hi All,

I have just been informed that as we live in the UK our TA (based in the US) is going to charge me $25.00 postage for our doc's.

Has anyone else come across this, either in the US or any posters from other than the US, who have booked through a US TA. We have used American TA's for both cruises and other vacations we have taken in the past in the US, and never been asked for this before. Admittedly the price we paid for our cruise was a steal in our opinion $900 for an SY suite, but are they just trying to put a bit back in the pot??

I feel as if I am being ripped off.:(

Your comments greatly appreciated.

I'm confused. This is the same message posted by Bob and Dee. Are you the same person?

Bob, I would appreciate hearing from you via email in response to the email I sent you yesterday. Thanks.

Regards,

[newmexicoNita]

Nita, HAL normally won't do edocs with us even though most cruiselines will. Do they with your agency?
HAL, no, I think every other mass marketed line will. Of course my clients prefer the real thing and I do think they are fun as well, but I don't like the cost of sending them to my clients and I know the day will come when we will just accept E docs. I wasn't even thinking about what line this was, just thinking about a way to save the client some money. Too much on my mind right now: I am not thinking clearly. I am not sure I ever think clearly now that I think about it. NMNita LOL

[DD]

[quote=bsa250cc]Hi All,

I have just been informed that as we live in the UK our TA (based in the US) is going to charge me $25.00 postage for our doc's.

Has anyone else come across this, either in the US or any posters from other than the US, who have booked through a US TA. We have used American TA's for both cruises and other vacations we have taken in the past in the US, and never been asked for this before. Admittedly the price we paid for our cruise was a steal in our opinion $900 for an SY suite, but are they just trying to put a bit back in the pot??

I feel as if I am being ripped off.:(

Your comments greatly appreciated.

My TA never charge for shipping thats what I call customer service,she knows we will come back againe for next year


Bonny -- this kind of speaks to what I was saying in my previous post. You consider it customer service that your TA doesn't charge you; however, you are paying for the charge somehow -- it goes into the total quote given to you. Why does it seem like customer service when you don't "see" the price of shipping the docs to you but not seem like customer service when you pay the same price but know exactly how much of that price reflects the agency's actual cost in sending the docs to you?

I'm not trying to be argumentative. I'm honestly curious because I do encounter this issue with clients frequently. It's like they prefer to be in the dark and they're happy as long as we don't tell them that $X of their total price is going towards shipping the docs. As long as they don't see that line item and they just know the total, they think we're providing better customer service or doing them a favor. That baffles me every time. Why don't clients want a breakdown of how their bottom line is calculated?

Now, if the agency that you're dealing with isn't discounting, yeah, I expect them to pick up the cost of getting the docs to you. They've got enough profit to cover it. Sometimes, though, we have cruises where we make $30, $40, $50. There's just not enough profit in there to also cover the cost of shipping docs my trackable mail or priority or overnight mail.

[jhannah]

I agree with DD. The cost of document delivery is built into the cost of the cruise ... just like the TA's costs for electricity, CRS, etc.

[PCruzer]

MY TA has charged me about $12 to overnight doc's to me. I did not ask for overnight service, but it is the only way they send them out, and they do charge for the service.

[bsa250cc]

Hi Arlene,

I did send you details last night along with a couple of other people. I have resent to your email before writing this.

Please check your email.

Best wishes

Bob

[arlenez]

Hi Arlene,

I did send you details last night along with a couple of other people. I have resent to your email before writing this.

Please check your email.

Best wishes

Bob

Hi Bob:

Thanks I did get the email, but it went into my spam mail. I'm checking the website right now.
Regards,

[bsa250cc]

Arlene,

Are you sure you have the right website. I have just this minute copied the following from their site. They have most categories available.


Cruise Cabin Availability

[/URL]

http://online.my****************/images/cruise/vendors/hollandlogo.gif
Holland America Line
Zuiderdam
[URL="http://online.my****************/travel/cruise/cabin_availability.rvlx?RateId=13&cruiseSearchID=440573734071418498-74a62906#"]https://www.iceportal.com/Distributors/distrib_2133/icon_film.jpgVisual Tour: Zuiderdam https://www.iceportal.com/brochures/ice/available.aspx?did=2133&brochureid=ship_115 (http://online.my****************/travel/cruise/groups_specials_disp.rvlx?CruiseItineraryID=39954)

7 NIGHT CARIBBEAN CRUISE
Departing on December 2, 2006
Deck:
Category: SUPERIOR VERANDAH SUITES AVG 389 SQ FT (http://online.my****************/travel/cruise/cabin_preview.rvlx?printable=1&ShipID=115&CategoryCode=SY)
Category Code: SY
http://online.my****************/images/cruise/ships/hollandamerica_zuiderdam.jpg
<DIV id=selectButton align=center>

[Schplinky]

We used an online TA and were charged $25 and then got E-docs! We did get a stunning price so we weren't too annoyed.

[Bramcruiser]

Consider it the new norm. Every service nowadays is service charged. Most railways and airlines - if not going the electronic ticketing route - will charge for mailing out.

Canadian here who has used a US-based TA for his last two cruise bookings and also got charged an "international shipping fee" recently. However, they did have that issue posted on their site so I can't claim they didn't tell us.

$25? Its a bargain compared to the almost double I paid!

[arlenez]

Arlene,

Are you sure you have the right website. I have just this minute copied the following from their site. They have most categories available.


Cruise Cabin Availability

[/URL]

http://online.my****************/images/cruise/vendors/hollandlogo.gif
Holland America Line
Zuiderdam
[URL="http://online.my****************/travel/cruise/cabin_availability.rvlx?RateId=13&cruiseSearchID=440573734071418498-74a62906#"]https://www.iceportal.com/Distributors/distrib_2133/icon_film.jpgVisual Tour: Zuiderdam https://www.iceportal.com/brochures/ice/available.aspx?did=2133&brochureid=ship_115 (http://online.my****************/travel/cruise/groups_specials_disp.rvlx?CruiseItineraryID=39954)

7 NIGHT CARIBBEAN CRUISE
Departing on December 2, 2006
Deck:
Category: SUPERIOR VERANDAH SUITES AVG 389 SQ FT (http://online.my****************/travel/cruise/cabin_preview.rvlx?printable=1&ShipID=115&CategoryCode=SY)
Category Code: SY
http://online.my****************/images/cruise/ships/hollandamerica_zuiderdam.jpg
<DIV id=selectButton align=center>

I found it when I looked again. I was on their website, but it didn't come up the first time. Unfortunately, after checking with my family December 2nd is a bad time for us to be away, but we are now considering November 11th. Will keep you informed. Thanks for all of your help.

[bsa250cc]

Bramcruiser,

I think you have hit the nail on the head.

Thinking back, 12 months ago our flights to our home in Spain incurred no cost's if "A" you booked online and "B" paid with a debit card. If you paid by credit card there was a 2.5% fee added at checkout. Yesterday I booked some flights to Malaga and now the only way of avoiding the charge is if you bank with the same bank as the airline.

They have increased the credit card to 4% debit card is 2.5% and no charge for one particular bank.

These companies all seem to be taking the same approach. Flash the lowest possible price, and then try any means possible to recover a little extra back into the deal.


Thanks Again


Bob & Dee

[hammybee]

Hi All,


$900 for an SY suite
Bob & Dee

What curency are you talking about? $900 for a suite?

[arlenez]

Hi Bob:

Do you book on line or do you call the TA? I think I am just about ready to book and was curious as to how you book and if you ever had a problem when you booked on line.

Thanks & warm regards,
Arlene

[bsa250cc]

Hi All,

To answer a few questions:

Hammebee. The currency is good 'ole US Dollars.

Arlene.

I did all my booking online and when I got to the final page with my home address the TA's computer threw a wobbly. I tried three times to enter the information without success. I then rang the TA to explain the situation, and they also had a problem, which they solved by giving me a US zip code. I subsequently emailed them my details which they updated on to their system. They took the remaining details whilst I was on the phone and processed the booking direct to HAL. Before the end of the call they had given me my HAL booking number, so I could book excursions etc. The service was faultless throughout.
I believe their may be a booking fee if the TA takes your details over the phone, but as it was a glitch in their system they did not do this to me.

I hope you are able to get the deal your'e after.:)

Best Wishes

Bob & Dee

[arlenez]

Hi Bob:

I just finished booking on line and I can't believe how painless it was. Thanks so much for all of your good advice and help. We're booked for November 11th in an SY Guarantee. We debated over the SY and the VA aft, but the only aft cabins were on the 4th deck and we prefer 5,6 or 7.

Have a great day!

Warm regards,
Arlene

[bsa250cc]

Hi Arlene,

That's great news. I hope you all have a great time. Have a drink on us in the Crow's Nest..

Best Wishes.:) :)

Bob