Priceline strategy ever backfire?

[mark2000]

Has anyone ever had the Priceline strategy backfire of selecting areas without the * availability you were looking for, backfire?

For example, if you are looking for a Chicago downtown 4*, bid $75, and get rejected. Then you re-bid at $80, adding a suburb which only shows 2* hotels available.

Has this ever backfired, and suddenly something became available during the bidding process, where Priceline came back and ended up finding a 4* in the suburb anyway? (even though the availability search said the max in that area was 2*)

[Colfax]

I guess it's possible what you describe--Priceline adds a new 4* at the exact moment your bid is being processed, and you win it; even though 4* option wasn't showing when you placed the bid. I haven't heard of it but it's possible.

Usually when people win a hotel in the "wrong zone"--a zone they thought was a rebid zone--it's because something changed and they didn't check * levels before bidding.

[TheBosz]

I bid on the wrong zone once, that got me a hotel way out of the center and not for a really good deal (just a few dollars cheaper then when using Priceline direct with this hotel). Later saw the hotel on another site cheaper and called Priceline. Got the difference back and $25 extra.

To ease the pain I discovered that the hotel has a free shuttle downtown and a very cheap shuttle to and from the airport. It's only for two nights, have to make due...

It didn't stop me from using: Priceline

[relaxing41]

been doing this for years and it never backfired for me. Its kinda scary sometimes especially when choosing zones you absolutely do not want to stay in, but as long as u check prior to bidding and dont make a mistake, you should be fine.

[mark2000]

Thanks for the responses. Kind of what I figured. "Rare, but theoretically possible."