Worst TA service ever?

[lizzy77]

I think it's time Aussie TA's get into the real world and start to realise they are not the only way to book cruises. Nasty comments doesn't help at all.

Edited July 14, 2014 by lizzy77

[icat2000]

I think the problem in Australia is one big agency has killed off a lot of smaller operators in Australia. This particular agency operates under various brands but they are essentially the same company. What I have found is they have a general knowledge re travel. But they lack specialist knowledge and generally ring up one of their other places to get the information. Its so time wasting. They not really competitive either, they offer little incentives and the service is pretty poor. With the internet, apps etc people have access to information so much quicker now. The bricks and mortar TA really need to lift their service levels.

 

I've had a couple of work colleagues who have gotten interested in cruises. I even sat down with one and showed them step by step how to book their cruise directly with the cruise line.

 

I like the principal of show one, do one, teach one.

Edited July 15, 2014 by icat2000

[Seadog & Sea Hag]

I love my T/A. I recommend them to one and all. We were fortunate enough to have them recommended by another family that had used them. I have used them for ten years now and the family that recommended them for ten years before that. There are good and bad apples in all industries. If you find a good one stick with them and give them good feedback and recommendations. I guarantee you will get better service every time.

[Billy and Charlie's Mum]

I love my T/A. I recommend them to one and all. We were fortunate enough to have them recommended by another family that had used them. I have used them for ten years now and the family that recommended them for ten years before that. There are good and bad apples in all industries. If you find a good one stick with them and give them good feedback and recommendations. I guarantee you will get better service every time.

 

You are very lucky.... I wish we could name and praise the good ones on here but alas we can't.

[MicCanberra]

I love my T/A. I recommend them to one and all. We were fortunate enough to have them recommended by another family that had used them. I have used them for ten years now and the family that recommended them for ten years before that. There are good and bad apples in all industries. If you find a good one stick with them and give them good feedback and recommendations. I guarantee you will get better service every time.

 

Great to hear you have found a TA that provides a good service.:D

The TAs that provide a good service will remain in business, the ones that offer a poor service will not.

[The_Big_M]

The TAs that provide a good service will remain in business, the ones that offer a poor service will not.

 

That's a platitude.

 

There's more to survival than good service, and I daresay some that provide good service will still not remain in business.

[Royalty X]

In any industry' date=' if you don't perform you are out on your ear..... why should TA's be any different?

 

 

 

Obviously you are in the industry, that is why you take these comments personally. Please try and see it from the layman's point of view. You might provide excellent service and earn your salary and keep your job but you would be in the minority going from what everyone, including myself, that have dealt with bricks and mortar TA's have experienced.

 

 

 

I think YOUR comment was not very nice and uncalled for.[/quote']TAs shouldn't be any different. But on this forum, it seems a lot of people like to generalise. Why are all agents being tarred with the same brush? Time and time again, threads like "All Aussie TAs are rubbish" come up and it seems everyone likes to jump on the bandwagon. I think THAT is completely uncalled for.

 

Before I started in the industry, I thought I knew it all as well. I thought "hey, being a TA would be super easy. I can get on the internet and do everything myself." But there is a hell of a lot to know, and the majority of people would like to think they know everything about the industry, but truth is they really don't. Just like I don't know much about many other industries. It's so easy to stand back and comment on an industry when you really have no idea about the inner workings.

 

I LOVE my job and take great pride in giving amazing service! I put my immense love and knowledge of cruising to good use and turned it into a career. There's been times when I've come on here and actually explained how certain processes work in the industry, due to heresay and misconceptions, and I've been ridiculed for it. How is that fair or called for?

Edited July 15, 2014 by Royalty X

[MMDown Under]

 

I LOVE my job and take great pride in giving amazing service! I put my immense love and knowledge of cruising to good use and turned it into a career. There's been times when I've come on here and actually explained how certain processes work in the industry, due to heresay and misconceptions, and I've been ridiculed for it. How is that fair or called for?

 

I have appreciated your "insider" input.

 

I suspect that the cruiselines don't offer all the same "deals" to Aussie TAs as they do to overseas TAs. If that is the case, it would be extremely difficult to compete on a level playing field.

 

I can book all my overseas travel direct, why not cruises?

 

However, I understand that local TAs provide an essential service for less experienced travellers.

[MicCanberra]

TAs shouldn't be any different. But on this forum, it seems a lot of people like to generalise. Why are all agents being tarred with the same brush? Time and time again, threads like "All Aussie TAs are rubbish" come up and it seems everyone likes to jump on the bandwagon. I think THAT is completely uncalled for.

 

Before I started in the industry, I thought I knew it all as well. I thought "hey, being a TA would be super easy. I can get on the internet and do everything myself." But there is a hell of a lot to know, and the majority of people would like to think they know everything about the industry, but truth is they really don't. Just like I don't know much about many other industries. It's so easy to stand back and comment on an industry when you really have no idea about the inner workings.

 

I LOVE my job and take great pride in giving amazing service! I put my immense love and knowledge of cruising to good use and turned it into a career. There's been times when I've come on here and actually explained how certain processes work in the industry, due to heresay and misconceptions, and I've been ridiculed for it. How is that fair or called for?

 

I cannot recall ever ridiculing you in the past and if I did I apologise here and now.

I have never said that all Aussie TAs are rubbish, (or even that a particular one) as I have a very good one that I use often, although not every time.

I have continually expressed my view as shop around for the best overall deal, as a cheap price may then have added extras bumping the total cost up (such as taxes and fees when using a US TA).

I have appreciated your insights of the TA industry in the past and hope to continue to in the future. I hope that all is forgiven and we can both move on with providing good information and advice in a friendly spirit.

cheers mic:D

[Guest012]

Not one to mince my words I am going to be very blunt, if posters come on here and disclose they are in the industry and take offence to comments made about the industry all i can say is they need to put their big girl undies on, suck it up, even learn from it.... No matter how great someone says they are as a salesperson too many others have said same and delivered nothing but disappointment so trust for any salesperson in the industry of course will be met with scepticism.....not unique to this industry.... In response to "information given" and being "ridiculed" if the information is correct why would anyone respond negatively..... incorrect information given to clients is one of the biggest problems in this industry..

 

The travel industry is not the service industry it was in the past today it is motivated more by money than customer service.... once we had travel consultants today they are no more than "salespeople" poor trained in the basics pushed to meet targets....

 

I see this forum as not just a feel-good place to come to to get great information on cruising and travel but also a place to learn about the bad stuff happening out there too......if poor service from the industry is causing clients grief why shouldn't they speak up....we may not have the rights to name and shame on CC but this doesn't mean that we have to remain silent......

[Royalty X]

I hope that all is forgiven and we can both move on with providing good information and advice in a friendly spirit.

 

cheers mic:D

Sorry for the delayed response Mic, I've only just seen this reply (I'm in Bali on holiday at the moment so I've only been jumping on here on the odd occasion). All is good my friend, I'm happy to move on. :)