 Poster: A snowHead
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I have just received what I expected to be the Crystal brochure.
It is now called "your guide to the mountain".
It contains all the usual stuff - except prices.
Price is covered by "off peak prices from ...." No details other than that. It suggests you look online.
So there is no means to mark up particular weeks with a biro, no offers and supplements to highlight and cross reference with ease.
I am not sure if Crystal will produce a proper brochure in due course but this thing is useless.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Don't the print prices in a separate skinny supplement so they can tweak prices without having to pulp and reprint the whole production run of the brochure?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Not in the envelope I received.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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hardly worth it nowadays as all the prices are online - it was the same last year when I settled down on the sofa with a selection of brochures but found I wasn't able to compare prices
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| nbt wrote: |
| hardly worth it nowadays as all the prices are online - it was the same last year when I settled down on the sofa with a selection of brochures but found I wasn't able to compare prices |
"Worth it" to who?
Saves money on brochure production for companies it is true.
Definitely "worth it" for customers to easily compare prices though.
There have been posts about Crystal encouraging early bookings then offering lower prices shortly after; with no comeback to early bookers.
Lack of price information will only encourage me to wait longer before booking. Not going to buy a pig in a poke.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Surely the reasoning is obvious!
Amongst other criteria price will be dependant upon demand and competitors, if their prices are in print then are likely to be wrong, so I suspect they're referring you somewhere to get the prices (like see our website) which they can update as often as they like and can make sure is always correct!
Waiting can be a double edged sword as if demand is high then so will prices be (a la Easyjet model)
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I just thought the guide is to sell the resort/property to you or as a reference to help choose.
Most businesses try to get away from selling on price - even if we end up making a choice on price!
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I guess there goes one of the pleasures of the holiday for some people. The "how much I've saved compared to the brochure price" satisfaction  .
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Nobody seems to have much problem with the price structure for easyjet flights or the car ferry to the Pisle of Schite. You can't get a brochure with those prices, either.
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Brochures are dead. Yield mgt is where it's at.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Brochures are dead. Yield mgt is where it's at.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| pam w wrote: |
| Nobody seems to have much problem with the price structure for easyjet flights or the car ferry to the Pisle of Schite. You can't get a brochure with those prices, either. |
Price is simple to calculate with examples above. Add ons are known and cheap dates clear. Sale dates are well announced.
Holiday package has all sorts of additional costs.
If a package price is not easily available more people will hold off booking with the tour operator, or use the required net search to build themselves an independent holiday instead.
Holding back information is a double edge sword too.
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You know it makes sense.
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I think the function of a brochure has changed and in all fairness I doubt they will exist much longer. TOs are having to adapt to constantly changing prices, currency fluctuations, accommodation/resort/flight availability. Printing a fixed set of prices up to 9 months in advance is no longer feasible. They are not holding back information, this is simply how the holiday market has evolved in the digital age. Do you expect to see the same prices every time you look at flights on easyjet.com and hotels on booking.com? TOs have to respond to this level of price flexibility to stay competitive.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Sadly, I think queen bodecia is right. The internet and the immediate availability of information mean that customers consume differently and businesses react to the changes in demand. It probably means lower prices or at least a slower increase in prices and therefore costs have to be reduced as margins are squeezed.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@George Jones, you can get a cost for a specific flight with the extras you want on a specific date. But the price is likely to have changed if you look some weeks (or even hours) later. There's no"price" until you push the button to buy.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I must admit it's irritating when the price changes +/-£30 everyday as you are considering options and the algorithm is tinkering as you can never quite compare like with like. But it's a small price to pay for not having to deal with travel agents or any of that nonsense.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Sounds like they have adopted an easyjet style algorithm to their pricing. Spose it's progress. These days so many people (Mr P and I included) book independently. It must be harder and harder to sell packages when booking independently is so easy.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| queen bodecia wrote: |
| I think the function of a brochure has changed and in all fairness I doubt they will exist much longer. TOs are having to adapt to constantly changing prices, currency fluctuations, accommodation/resort/flight availability. Printing a fixed set of prices up to 9 months in advance is no longer feasible. They are not holding back information, this is simply how the holiday market has evolved in the digital age. Do you expect to see the same prices every time you look at flights on easyjet.com and hotels on booking.com? TOs have to respond to this level of price flexibility to stay competitive. |
I would expect information to enable me to compare and contrast across a range of options. That could be published in an additional pamphlet if change is an issue.
Without this, I am inclined to see what the weather is a like a week or two before I want to go and then see what is available.
The printed guide without detailed prices is completely useless to me.
The option to find a specific price is there on the net; but I have not got all day to find all prices for everything that might be of interest.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Quote: |
What is the point of a ski holiday brochure
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This!
There's a new fangled thing called the internet.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| George Jones wrote: |
The option to find a specific price is there on the net; but I have not got all day to find all prices for everything that might be of interest. |
So engage an old fashioned travel agent to do it for you or do what everyone else does - search with appropriate filters, list by price or other priority and shortlist ones that may be of interest. Take 5 mins. Then book if its acceptable or keep a watching brief if you want to play brinksmanship.
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| George Jones wrote: |
| Without this, I am inclined to see what the weather is a like a week or two before I want to go and then see what is available. |
Do it then, plenty do. I'm amazed the number of people here who book very early. They seem to live a different kind of life to me. What you don't want to do is book flights at the last minute or you'll be paying business prices.
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Yes, leave it till a week before provided you're content to be flexible and take whatevers left. Or decide what the holiday is worth to you, book earlier and pay it. It's like the Scottish house buying system. If it's the house you really want, bid whatever you can afford.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| dogwatch wrote: |
Do it then, plenty do. I'm amazed the number of people here who book very early. They seem to live a different kind of life to me. . |
Either they have fixed holiday dates and are attached to a resort that sells out (pretty common for those with kids) or they are very picky about accommodation or they are determined to strike early on lowest priced flights so might as well book everything else. It's pretty understandable and because they do live a different kind of of life. FOMO is a motivator for us all to some extent.
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@George Jones, if you have to ask . . . etc... You wouldn't think for a moment that the O'bаstard business model of flexible pricing wouldn't filter down from the winged bus plan? I'm not saying that it's not bloody tough for the big guys to make a decent profit and if you want to have your colon lubed with warm baby oil by a nubile chalet 'easement specialist' (not an Onion article . . . been doing some research  ) You should expect an uptick on the price point.
However, DIY works for thousands and if you want an 'ease of use' option just go onna(sic) bash.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Dave of the Marmottes wrote: |
| dogwatch wrote: |
Do it then, plenty do. I'm amazed the number of people here who book very early. They seem to live a different kind of life to me. . |
Either they have fixed holiday dates and are attached to a resort that sells out (pretty common for those with kids) or they are very picky about accommodation or they are determined to strike early on lowest priced flights so might as well book everything else. It's pretty understandable and because they do live a different kind of of life. FOMO is a motivator for us all to some extent. |
We start looking early and if something comes up that suits and the price seems right early then we'll go for it. If nothing does we sit tight and wait. We also price up DIY options and see if that fits too - although admittedly we're not organised enough to book flights the day they go on sale.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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^ what he/she said.
It is nice to have a printed list of prices early on.
But if the operators are not prepared to offer one then **** 'em.
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| George Jones wrote: |
^ what he/she said.
It is nice to have a printed list of prices early on.
But if the operators are not prepared to offer one then **** 'em. |
Kind of, but we check the prices online, not in a brochure.
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You know it makes sense.
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Have a look at Ski Independence and they don't even put prices on the internet. You have to ask for a quote. Brochures with any price that could actually be relevant are dead. Sad as they were really great to drool over.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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All well and good to book on the website, but only if it allows you to...
Inghams' website does not permit single parent families to book (1 adult and 2 kids). Apparently, they are not prepared to invest enough in their website to upgrade it to permit us to book.
I've been fighting a losing battle with them on the issue for over 3 years now...
The UK MD, Hugh Walton, is sympathetic to my plight, but blames the Swiss parent company.
Crystal / Thomson, Mark Warner etc all allow single parents to book online, it's just Ingham's that don't. Pity, because, if not for that, they would be our favourite ski company.
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Poster: A snowHead
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I thought holiday brochures had died a death several years back. I certainly wouldn't expect to see prices in any that did still exist.
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FAQ
