All,
I put in an offer for a Hotwire Hot rate deal ($71) that was advertised as follow:
3.5 STAR
Orlando -International Drive - Convention area
90% recommended
3/31 - 4/5
Hotwire Hot Rate Hotel purchased
Amenities
Complimentary Free Internet
Business center, Fitness center, Pet friendly,Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Self-service laundry, Smoke-free rooms
HOTWIRE returns a 'match' and offered Rosen Plaza International drive that has a lower recommended rating in hotwire.com (their own website) than 90% (87% only)
I called their customer service (on the phone for almost 75 minutes) and they came up with all kinds of brush off and diversion tactics to tell me how Rosen Plaza hotel matches the criteria. They even went as far as telling me that listing 90% recommended doesn't necessary mean it would be above 90% recommended. I walked each of the agent/manager through their own hotwire.com webstie so they can see what I am seeing and they confirmed/acknowledged this hotel is 87% recommended only. I showed them examples of hotels that matches all the criteria but they refused to change even through Rosen Plaza doesn't match what they advertised. I asked them to offer an hotel that matches all the criteria they listed but they refused. The following is the link that shows Rosen Plaza Hotel at 87% recommended in Hotwire site.
Rosen Plaza On International Drive
I like to know what kind of recourse I can take on this? I feel Hotwire has legal/moral obligation to honor the deal they advertised. What they listed to me are information I feel is binding and those are determining factors for me to make purchase decision. In this case, that is like false advertisement and use of misleading and deceptive practices.
The Hotwire supervisor said the way the hotwire deal works, it cannot be changed or cancelled which I understand. However, this is a case where what they offered didn't match their listing criteria. The Hotwire supervisor then offered a 'solution' by allowing me to change/cancel if I would agree to pay the advertised hotel price of a different hotel that I would changed to. That definitely seem like a bait and switch or upselling. I reminded her that it is Hotwire that failed to provide a matching hotel that fulfills all the criteria they advertised and would be happy if Hotwire provides a different hotel that truly satisfies all the criteria in their listings. In the end, I was rudely hung up by the supervisor.
I like to see if someone on this board that have similar experience and can offer tips on what can be done about the situation.
Thanks!