Counter

[aglinka]

In JFK and Manhattan, with many failed bids..I have NEVER gotten countered by Priceline.

-AG

Have you gotten countered? How does it work? How do you get the counter? I understand that the counter prices aren't as good as the real Priceline bids.

[thereuare]

It happens randomly and Priceline will present you with a screen along the lines of "we couldn't find you a room at $xx. Usually you have to change part of your bid to try again, but if you are willing ot increase your bid by $xx we will let you try again immediately."

[gleff]

Is it actually random? Or does your bid need to be within x $ or % of a potential winning bid?

I've never seen Priceline counter with the lowest possible successful bid, either. Strange huh?

[thereuare]

I do believe it's random, but you're bid must be somewhat close. For instance, if you bid $1 i don't think you would ever get a counter, "if you raised your bid by $75...".

I guess i should clarify and say that perhaps it's random for all bids within $xx dollars of success. There is some randomness to it because we have seen users get countered, turn it down and bid again using a re-bid zone, and win by only raising $1. On the otherhand we've seen users not get countered, raise $1, and then get accepted. I have also seen similar bids places hours from each other, and one user will get a counter-offer, the other will not!

So i don't think one will get always get a counter offer simply for being $xx away from a winning bid.

[WillTravel]

In my recent bid for a 3* in the Anaheim - Disneyland zone, I bid $40 and was counteroffered $12. Then I used a free rebid zone and bid $43. I was again counteroffered $12! Then when I used another rebid zone and bid again at $45, it was accepted.