Zeeks Blog - Fool-An-American

Dienstag, 28. November 2006

Fool-An-American

As of today, November 28th 2006, 2 p.m. CET, 1 EUR is worth exactly USD 1.3144 and it has never been worth less than USD 1.18 during 2006. Expedia Quote Sep
But it seems like Expedia has the knowledge of something serious (like a collapse of the European economy) to happen before friday, when I want to rent a car at the Milan airport... Or they're just trying to fool their US customers...

E-Mail to Expedia:

Sent: 11/28/2006 5:01:59 AM
The current convertion rate is EUR 1 : $ 1.3139, so EUR 157.79 would be $207.27 and NOT $143.84, as you mentioned. That's a difference of more than 60 bucks plus the foreign fees if I got charged in Euro. Which amount would you charge me if I took this offer?

Volker Schulz

Answer:

Sent: 11/28/2006 5:19:00 AM
Dear Expedia Customer,

Thank you for your e-mail regarding your booking.

We would need your booking ID or itinerary number to assist you. Please reply to this e-mail or call our 24 hour support desk at 1-800-EXPEDIA for more information.

If you have further questions, feel free to reply to this e-mail or contact Expedia customer services at 1-800-397-3342 and reference case ID :29823366. You can also visit the Expedia.com "Customer Support" page (<http://www.expedia.com/daily/service/default.asp>) for more customer service information.

Thank you for choosing Expedia.com.

Jennifer
Expedia.com Customer Support Team

My answer to Expedia:

Sent: 11/28/2006 6:17:47 AM
I haven't booked yet, but informed you about a serious mistake on your website... I'm not gonna book before I know how much I'd be charged!

Volker Schulz

Expedia's 2nd answer:

Sent: 11/28/2006 6:21:00 AM
Dear Expedia Customer,

Thank you for contacting Expedia.com with your question.

In order to better assist you with your inquiry regarding your itinerary, we ask that you contact Expedia.com Online Support Desk. Unfortunately, we are limited to the assistance we can provide via e-mail correspondence.

If you have further questions, feel free to reply to this e-mail or contact Expedia customer services at 1-800-397-3342 and reference case ID 29823366. You can also visit the Expedia.com "Customer Support" page (<http://www.expedia.com/daily/service/default.asp>) for more customer service information.

Thank you for choosing Expedia.com.

Jennifer
Expedia.com Customer Support Team

So I wrote:

Sent: 11/28/2006 7:31:02 AM
Jennifer, I know it's early in the morning, but please do me a favor and for this time READ my E-Mail before you reply.

I didn't book a rental car yet, I just tried to REQUEST a quote for a car rental. Therefore I don't have an itinerary number yet. And as this is a GENERAL question, you don't have to access any personal information, so you can securely reply by E-Mail.

I PLAN to rent a car in Milan, Italy at the airport. When I requested a quote, I got all rates in the currency of US$. The cheapest offer was $143.84, which doesn't seem to be too bad. After I clicked on this offer, I was told the total price would be EUR 157.79 which should be equal to $143.84. But that's simply not true.

My question is: In the case I WOULD take this offer, WOULD you charge $143.84 or WOULD you (or the rental company) charge EUR 157.79, which would be 200-something in the currency of US$ and NOT 143.84 US$?

Volker

Expedia:

Sent: 11/28/2006 7:34:00 AM
Dear Expedia Customer,

Thank you for contacting us about pricing.

The type of currency reflected in Expedia's pricing depends on which version of Expedia you have accessed. The U.S. version (Expedia.com) quotes prices in U.S. dollars, the Canadian version (Expedia.ca) quotes prices in Canadian dollars, and so on.

For your information, you may use an international credit card on Expedia.com only to reserve hotel rooms and car rentals. (To purchase airline tickets on Expedia.com, you need to have a credit card billing address in the United States.)

If you need to set up a new account, see the list of Expedia's international sites at: http://www.expedia.com/pub/agent.dll?qscr=hgen&hfnm=h_EX_intl.htx.

If you have further questions, feel free to reply to this e-mail or contact Expedia customer services at 1-800-397-3342 and reference case ID 29823366. You can also visit the Expedia.com "Customer Support" page (http://www.expedia.com/daily/service/default.asp) for more customer service information.

Thank you for choosing Expedia.com.

Julie
Expedia.com Customer Support Team

Me:

Sent: 11/28/2006 7:49:00 AM
Hi Julie.

I accessed the US-version of Expedia, I live in the US and I have a US credit card and I love to pay in the currency of US$. Still, I want to rent a car in Europe and I got the total price in Euro (after I clicked on the offer in the overview, where the prices were denominated in US dollars). The line reads:

Total price* €157.79 ($143.84)
*Includes estimated taxes and fees. Car charges are billed at time of rental.

So: Which amount would be billed to my (US) credit card if I booked this offer? Either €157.79 (which would be $207.40!!!) or $143.84 (which would be €109.43!!!).

Volker

Them:

Sent: 11/28/2006 7:54:00 AM
Dear Expedia Customer,

Thank you for contacting us about car rentals.

The rental car company does not require you to submit a credit card to complete a reservation unless it is part of an Expedia Vacation Package. Charges for car only itineraries are billed at time of pick up by the rental agency.

All information regarding car rentals is provided by the car company directly. Please review the car details and contact the car rental company directly for further information.

If you have additional questions, reply to this e-mail or contact us at 1-800-Expedia . You can also visit the Expedia.com "Customer Support" page (http://www.expedia.com/daily/service/default.asp) for more customer service information.

Thank you for choosing Expedia.com.

Tina
Expedia.com Customer Support Team

Me again:

Sent: 11/28/2006 7:57:00 AM
I KNOW!!! My question was if they will charge me the EUR-amount or the US$-amount, as they're NOT calculated correctly on your website!!! NOT even close!

Expedia:

Sent: 11/28/2006 7:59:00 AM
Dear Expedia Customer,

You should be charged in US currency. However, we can not verify the amount. Please contact the car rental company after you have reserved it for full details.

If you have further questions regarding this issue, feel free to reply to this e-mail or contact Expedia customer services at 1-800-397-3342. You can also visit the Expedia.com "Customer Support" page (http://www.expedia.com/daily/service/default.asp) for more customer service information.

Thank you for choosing Expedia.com.

Tina
Expedia.com Customer Support Team

My response:

Sent: 11/28/2006 8:04:06 AM
Sure I will be charged in US$, but WHICH AMOUNT??? The two amounts (stated in EUR and US$) on your website are not calculated correctly!!!

Expedia:

Sent: 11/28/2006 8:08:00 AM
Dear Expedia Customer,

Thank you for contacting us about your account.

Unfortunately, we cannot handle this issue via e-mail. However, we would be happy to assist you over the phone. Please give our customer support desk a call at 1-800-EXPEDIA (1-800-397-3342). If possible, please have your itinerary number and/or booking ID available when calling.
If you have further questions regarding this concern, feel free to reply to this e-mail or contact Expedia.com customer services at 1-800-397-3342 and reference case ID 29823366. You can also visit the Expedia.com "Customer Support" page (http://www.Expedia.com/daily/service/default.asp) for more customer service information

Thank you for choosing Expedia.com.

Julie
Expedia.com Customer Support Team

I'm about to give up.