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I'm not sure this post is off-topic, but I just receieved an e-mail claiming to be sent from [email protected], and I believe someone is phishing for my paypal account username and password. Return-Path: <[email protected]> Received: from relay5.XXX.XXXX.edu (relay5.cso.XXXX.edu [XXX.174.5.138]) by expms2.XXXXX.XXXX.edu (MOS 3.4.8-GR) with ESMTP id BHN70446; Wed, 2 Nov 2005 16:13:14 -0600 (CST) Received: from server.betterbidding.com (server.betterbidding.com [207.142.135.54]) by relay5.XXX.XXXX.edu (8.12.11/8.12.11) with SMTP id jA2MCwFD010219 for <[email protected]>; Wed, 2 Nov 2005 16:12:59 -0600 (CST) Received: (qmail 23056 invoked by uid 48); 2 Nov 2005 22:10:01 -0000 Date: 2 Nov 2005 22:10:01 -0000 Message-ID: <[email protected]> Subject: paypal account ( From Priceline and Hotwire Forum ) X-PHP-Script: www.betterbidding.com/admin.php for 83.237.118.245 From: "Priceline and Hotwire Forum" <[email protected]> X-Priority: 3 X-Mailer: IBForums PHP Mailer X-Spam-Score: 0 X-Spam-Details: rule=cautious_notspam policy=cautious score=0 mlx=0 adultscore=0 adjust=0 engine=2.5.0-05091301 definitions=3.0.0-05110204 X-Spam-OrigSender: [email protected] To activate your paypal account , you must enter your Email Address and Password in the corresponding dialog box of http://bbs.xvsxp.com/account.php.

Final update: I've contacted Priceline's executive office, 1-800-945-4602. Thier office hours are Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00am and 6:00pm EST. They can't receive e-mail attachments, but they can receive fax. So what happened to my case? Well, even though the person acknowledged the mistake, and she was sorry about that, they refused to change or compensate me anything. Isn't it a nice way to say "We don't want your business"? In another word, Priceline think it's okay to have inconsistent hotel ratings! What a BBB member!

Anyont heard about Octopustravel.com? This is not an opaque web site, but sometimes their deal can beat Priceline's. And, if you work hard enough, you'll be able to get a cheaper rate quote due to currency exchange rate. Although you are paying US dollars, I'm not sure whether your credit card company will add 3% surcharge though (because you used localized editions to get a cheaper rate). But it's still worth the risk. For example, the HK based edition can give you a three-night rate of $255, as opposed to the US based edition that gives you $291 rate quote (tax and fee included).

I'm posting the last e-mail from their Travel Services Specialist so that I'll not took up too much space here. Remarks are added in red color. Dear Mr. X, Our records indicate that you have already contacted us via telephone. Remark: I was never able to reach a "real" person. We apologize if we were unable to resolve your concern to your satisfaction. Our ability to assist you is directly related to contractual agreements with our airline, hotel, and rental car partners. Remark: In the future, just ask questions to the higher level. If you would like to discuss this matter at a higher level, we suggest that you send an e-mail to our management team. You may do so by visiting the Investor Relations section of our website and clicking on "Management" in the right hand column, or click on the following priceline.com/customerservice/email/Corp/emailanswer.asp?category=0&question=0&pagetitle=Send+us+your+feedback Remark: It's funny that no one let me know the link in the first place! Note: If clicking on the link does not take you to our management page, copy and paste the complete URL into the address bar of your web browser. Sincerely, Frank B. Travel Services Specialist

Maybe one day you'll have to pay in order to read TOBB.

Well, the cheapest way is certainly by public transportation. First, take Long Beach Transit bus to downtown Lon Beach Transit Mall. Then, take Metro Blue Line or MTA bus #60, transfer at the Green Line station, and get off at the aviation station. Ride the free shuttle to LAX, and then take your hotel's complimentary shuttle. If this last leg sounds too time consuming and your hotel is located on Century west of Airport Blvd., you can take a bus to LAX City Bus Center and walk across the parking lot to your hotel. Remember to use Terraserver to know the street layouts around there.

Does anyone remember the title of the article? Thanks. BTW, I think it will be very interesting if someone pitched this idea to David E. Kelley for a Boston Legal episode.... :)

There used to be an Airlink bus #302 that allows you to carry luggage onboard, but since Amtrak and NJ Transit opened a train station at EWR, Airlink bus has stopped running. However, the alternative economic local bus route #62 still goes to Newark Penn Station for slightly over a $1, and you can carry a piece of luggage onboard, providing that it's not taking up (standing) space. Nonetheless, I've never seen NJ Transit bus driver to deny boarding for people who carry a reasonable size (i.e., 25 inch) luggage. The ride is short, about 15 minutes, and generally there will be no one to board the bus after stopping at EWR.

I hate to do this everyday, but I bet their hourly wage must be higher than mine? It's a shame that Priceline.com, Inc. is a membber of BBB. If Priceline.com's vacation packages indeed belongs to "other group", I wonder who's the CEO of that "other group", and whether they have separate SEC filings for that "other group"? Dear Mr. X, Thank you for taking the time to send us an e-mail back in regards to your hotel reservation at they Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles. We again are sorry to hear that you are not happy with the star rating placed on this hotel. Mr. X all properties offered through priceline.com have been evaluated according to the specific star level standards that we have developed exclusively for our program and described on our web site. While you may feel that this property should have a different star rating or is rated differently by other groups, we are confident that our evaluation of this property will meet the expectations of a 4 star priceline.com hotel. We are not saying that "you'll get an inferior room by booking a vacation package with us"! Again at this time sir we will not be able to change or cancel your current hotel reservation. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience while resolving this issue. Sincerely, Bryan B. Travel Services Specialist

Here is their reply today: Dear Mr. X, Thank you for taking the time to send us an e-mail regarding the star rating of the Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles. Once again we appoligize that you are unhappy with the star rating. Our corporate offices have researched your concerns and our standing by our 4 star rating. If a hotel accepts your price, Priceline will immediately charge your credit card the total cost of your stay. Rooms purchased through Priceline can not be cancelled, changed or transferred and refunds are not allowed. Mr. X, We apologize for the inconvenience and regret being unable to assist you further. Sincerely, Rosanne Travel Services Specialist Well, at least this time the last name for the Travel Services Specialist is not "B". She does not have a last name! :) I just posted my question at webflyer.com's Starwood board. It seems to me that Priceline is very sure that "if you bid your hotel room, Sheraton Gateway is a 4-star" and "if you booked a vacation packages with Sheraton Gateway, you'll get a 3-star room". Can I rephrase that as, "you'll get an inferior room by booking vacation packages with Priceline"??? I'm also surprised that they haven't "upgrade" Sheraton Gateway as a 4-star on vacation packages page, after more than 36 hours has gone? Very interesting...

Thank you so much for your reply. This is their second reply, received at 2:08 pm CST: Thank you for taking the time to contact us regarding your reservation at the Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles, and your concern about the star level of this property. We have sent this information to our corporate offices for them to research. When we hear back from them we will contact you as soon as possible to advise you of the resolution. We are very sorry for the delay and the inconvenience, Mr. X. We do thank you for the opportunity to assist you and hope this information is helpful to you. Frank B. And later today, they sent the third reply, received at 8:33 pm CST: Thank you for taking the time to contact us in regards to your hotel reservation at the Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles. We are sorry to hear that you are not happy with the star rating on this hotel. We have sent your information to our corporate office about the star rating on the hotel. They have advised that they are going to stand by the rating that they provided. With that information we are sorry to say we will not be able to change or cancel your reservation. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience while resolving this issue. Sincerely, Bryan B. I apologize for composing such a long post. I've e-mailed Christopher Elliott and hopefully he will be willing to look into the case, and contact Brian Ek. I don't want to call or e-mail Brian Ek first because I think this is something that can be resolved easily. I even mentioned that I'm willing to settle for a 3-star in downtown. I also sent an e-mail to Sheraton Gateway's sales department, to ask him whether they provide "appointments, bathrobes, mini-bars, and comprehensive business services?", as described by Priceline's 4-star description. I guess I should send him another e-mail to see whether they have "upgraded amenities, bathrobes, and in-room safes. Multiple dining options are frequently available as well as room service", as described by another page about what a 4-star might be. As of now, midnight CST, I haven't heard anything back from Sheraton Gateway. And, on the vacation package, it still shows Sheraton Gateway as a 3-star. I guess I should also post my complain at webflyer.com, look for that Starwood representative, and maybe call Brian Ek everyday? :) Sorry for the long message and thanks for your suggestions!

Here it is: http://www.betterbidding.com/index.php?act...&f=428&t=11447& I'm sorry that I didn't post it in the first place because I was afraid of being treated terribly by TOBB.

Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Los Angeles Airport (LAX) zone 6101 West Century Boulevard Los Angeles, California 90045 310-642-1111 Check-In Date: Thu, Apr 14, 2005 Check-In Time: After 03:00 PM Check-Out Date: Mon, Apr 18, 2005 Check-Out Time: 12:00 PM Your Offer Price: $60.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 4 Subtotal: $240.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $44.00 Total Charges: $284.00 I started bidding a 4-star hotel at downtown Los Angeles on 3/18 and the bid was rejected up to $72. It was about a month away from scheduled travel dates, and there was no 4-star hotel listed in the LAX zone. When I started to add zones to rebid, I did not check whether other zones now offer 4-star hotels. What bothers me most is, even Priceline's own vacation package lists Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles as a 3-star hotel, as opposed to a 4-star. I've printed copies and forwarded web page, just in case they decided to suddenly "upgrade" a lot of hotels into 4-star hotels, while in fact they were 3-star, even to Priceline's own standard.

Three days ago I tried to bid a 4-star hotel room in downtown Los Angeles. I was very certain that the only two zones that offer 4-star hotels were, Beverly Hills and Downtown LA. I wasn't able to get a hotel room then, so three days later, I bid again without checking whether other zones now offers a 4-star today. Alas! LAX just showed a 4-star, and I got the Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles! (I know I should have checked every time I start a new bid :) ) Remark: I've got 4 nights stay for $60 each night. I'll disclose full dates later. There is no way Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles is a 4-star, rated even higher than Westin LAX! And, Priceline's vacation travel package clearly showed that Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles is a 3-star. I've contacted Priceline for this matter, but the CS replied: 1. We evaluate each participating property on many different criteria, including cleanliness, guest satisfaction, d