Keira H. (fueledbykeira)
1/5
Yesterday, October 20th, I walked in to inquire about a vacation for my boyfriend and I. I was greeted as I sat down. I immediately started in about how we were looking at going to Orlando, would be booking the following day. I told the agent that I didn't have very much time because I had just been held up at Travel Discounters down the street for an hour, so I just wanted a quick quote and would return if it fit our needs. Before I could even finish, the agent cut me off and said "if you're shopping at other places, I'm not going to do this for you."
In shock, I looked at her and asked why. She then proceeded to tell me that she runs entirely off of commission and I would be wasting her time if she spent time with me and I didn't go with her.
After talking back and fourth about how we would infact go with that company if we received good service [which at this point was completely out of the question], regardless of the price- she was still amendment that I knew that I was being an inconvenience for her to just be "shopping".
1. I understand that people go in, have all the work to look up trips for them, and then go elsewhere. Let me explain why that is and why I have chosen to go with a different travel company. I, and many others- shop different companies because every company deals with different airlines, hotels, etc. They have preferences, and some won't even entertain you if you say that you want to go with something specific, aka flying with Spirit or Air Canada.
2. I explained to her what I just explained above, and she did not seem to care. I feel that this is discrimination towards not only our age [22 and 25] but also my race, given that I am not Caucasian.
3. I was referred by the owners daughter to DeSena's, and expected better service given the fact that this is not a chain travel company, but a privately owned one.
After i pointed out who referred me, her tune totally changed.
"Let me look this up for you."
"I will email you what I find for a few different locations!"
"It's fine, we deal with Delta only though!"
This was the point I was getting at, they only deal with Delta. At Marlin, they deal primarily with Transat. At Travel Discounters they deal with West Jet/Sunwing. at Carlson Wagonlit they deal with Southwest. This is exactly why I was shopping different companies. Because there doesn't seem to be any two companies that deal with the same airlines. Thus giving me different prices and offers. Some at resorts, some at hotels, some at private houses.
Near the end, I asked her
"if i were 40 years old, instead of 22 sitting infront of you.. would you be treating me any different?"
She rolled her eyes, stared at me with a long pause, then told me "no".
That was my cue that age was definitely a matter and that this woman obviously didn't need my money as badly as some other, nicer, more helpful travel agent. I told her that perhaps she should seek a different profession that fits her wage needs, thanked her for her TERRIBLE service and walked out.
As promised, we did book our trip today, and it was not with this company.
Good service goes far, we like to vacation and money isn't much of an obstacle if we are getting where we want and staying somewhere nice. The way this woman treated me would NOT have been worth the extra pennies we might have saved.
