Priceline Hotel: Asking to bid less than original (Priceline)

[alternativekudzu]

I have steadily been bidding on a 2.5 star in Gatlinburg, TN. After about a week of bidding I'm starting to get towards the top I'm willing to pay (about a day or two more and I won't go any higher). However, I'm a bit confused. The last two days Priceline has offered me a "free" bid but only if I move my price NEGATIVE as in a few dollars lower than what my bid just was, and as expected It does not accept the offer. Is it possible that I've passed the price it would take and they just don't have any rooms available? Thanks in advance!

[thereuare]

Please click each of these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links, then reply to this thread and we'll have a look at the offer above.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel bidding, searches and purchases.

Thank you.

[alternativekudzu]

No problem ;)

[thereuare]

The last two days Priceline has offered me a "free" bid but only if I move my price NEGATIVE as in a few dollars lower than what my bid just was, and as expected It does not accept the offer.

This doesn't make much sense... are you still able to view a copy of the exact message that was displayed on the screen? (thru the MY PROFILE >> MY TRIPS link?) Did they also ask you to lower your star rating too? What bids did you make, and what was the amount when PRICELINE offered the free re-bid and what was the amount asked?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[alternativekudzu]

Ok, so I've already topped out what I'm willing to pay for this room. But I ran a bid again this morning so I could copy the exact message it gives me. Here I had just bid $77.00 for it and this is what I got-

Try Again Right Now

We searched hundreds of options to find your hotel room, however we can't accept your offer of $77 per room, per night. Your credit card has not been charged for Request Number xxx-xxx-xxx-60. If you are willing to raise your price by $-5 to $72 per room, per night, you can try the same request again right now.

Normally you are required to change additional items (add zones, star level, or dates) in order to try your request again. However we are able to extend this one-time opportunity to you because of the zone, quality level and dates you requested.

so... I bid the $72.00 it asked for and get this-

Try again right now

We're sorry, due to changes in hotel inventory we were not able to purchase the hotel stay that you requested. Your credit card has not been charged for Request Number xxx-xxx-xxx-64.

We still want to help you get the hotel room you want at a great price. Please try your original request again right now below by changing one or more items with a red check.

To try your request again, change one or more items with a check.

And as far as what bids I have made on this? Well, I started at $55.00 a week or so ago up steadily going up but did not get this message until $75.00 I believe it was.

Thanks

David T.

[thereuare]

Thanks for the additional info.

My guess is likely an old rate no longer available caught in their system, as i don't think the above is an intended message, nor have we had any other reports of a message such as the one above.

Sorry the bidding didn't work out this time, what have you decided to do for this stay? (please check our Support Page for your hotel direct purchases and/or MAPS and HOTELS.com for other ideas in the location you need)