Poster: A snowHead
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For 29 Euros I would not be expecting much more than a seat.
I tend to assume the emailed receipt is the confirmation of anything booked, on-line or on the phone.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Most local taxi firms don't charge €300, though
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indeed, I am currently sitting waiting for a local taxi to bring my sister and brother in law from Geneva airport, at a cost of €220, standard for the journey, which is a great deal longer than Cham/Gva. The driver rang me this morning to confirm arrival time and asked me to tell them that he had a big moustache (at least, I think that was what he was saying.....).
I emailed my sister who responded enjoying the prospect of accosting strange men in Gva saying "I 'ear you 'ave a beeg one".
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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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pam w, Your sister sounds as entertaining as you!
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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miranda wrote: |
...so either he was thoroughly ripped off or telling fibs about the amount he had to pay. |
I do hope you are not suggesting that Simon W would exaggerate. Shirley Not.
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pam w, I'm not arguing that the bus company (I stand corrected) concerned thought that their procedures were not completed, what I am trying to ascertain is whether or not the punter thought they had. Like Bode Swiller describes above THAT is the method I wopuld have thought applied without knowing anything different. The fact that it is a 'no-frills' service makes me think even more that he had done enough to reasonably think that he had a booking regardless of what the company concerned thought and had not told him. I agree he should have bought a return and I have no idea why he did not - maybe he did not know exactly when he needed to get back to Geneva given the weather conditions/plane cancellations - who knows?
miranda, that's the first coach service I've heard of that does not take cash on board if the seats are available. I take a coach to Stanstead in preference to all the other available options and pay cash on board. I think Chamexpress can do what they like in terms of booking procedures - my question is whether the punter knew what was required of him and from his prior experience I am guessing that he thought as I would: you arrange a place for pick up and pay cash to board. I think he's a numpty for not confiming the coach booking day prior to travel and for paying the EUR300 blackmail price the taxi driver charged but I'm struggling to see how he could forsee the coach company would not pass by to pick him up as he thought he had arranged. And, in fact, why they couldn't swing by just in case - it's, what, 60 seconds worth of effort?
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RattytheSnowRat, when I've taken "Alpibus" type transfers, and booked them for friends/relations, they've all insisted on the need for reservations, though I daresay if you were at the bus stop with money in your hand, and they had empty seats, they wouldn't turn you away.
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he thought as I would: you arrange a place for pick up and pay cash to board
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no he didn't, or there wouldn't have been all those column inches about credit cards and numbers.
My sister just texted to say they had left Geneva and "Yes, it is a big one".
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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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And, in fact, why they couldn't swing by just in case - it's, what, 60 seconds worth of effort?
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yup... 60 seconds for him... .then 60 seconds for the other guys... then 60 seconds for that family... then 60 seconds for the other chappies....
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60 seconds for him... .then 60 seconds for the other guys... then 60 seconds for that family... then 60 seconds for the other chappies....
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and IIRC it was snowy, and possibly too early for side-roads to have been ploughed.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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well, the way the story was told (and who can tell where the truth lies?) the next part of the transaction, which was paying, never got completed
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You know it makes sense.
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Having used at least a couple of CHX transfer services all I can say is I remain impressed by the general efficiency of the system including text/email confirmations, timeliness of return pick-up, friendliness of driver etc. I can see how if you were unfamiliar you might take it to be a bit more like a minicab booking where there is always an elment of doubt when the dispatcher says "he's just round the corner guv" and bookings held on name only. But the reality of how full the buses get I'd want to make sure I was on it.
anyway I'm siding with chamexpress if only not to get on his blacklist (BTW some of your posters in CHX hotels look a bit out of date re prices & reference to summer schedules - not limited to Chamexpress alone )
Last edited by You know it makes sense. on Mon 28-01-13 16:07; edited 1 time in total
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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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Patch,
pam w, used Alpybus and know for a fact that they will take cash. Judging by the speed at which the notes left my hand and the small 'discount for cash' I also think I know why ... I think the reason why I am erring towards the punter despite his later idiocy is I cannot see why anyone would voluntarily do that to themselves. He obviously thought he had done enough to make a booking with Shamexpress and was livid when the 'dumped' him. I agree we will never know what exactly happened but I think the coach firm bears a greater share of the blame than they have so far been willing to shoulder. Relying on their clients developing psy powers to understand their telephone booking requirements seems a step too far for me. If you have to access a website to understand their rules then they should operate e-business only, not via 'phone as well - that would sort out these issues. Cards/payment does seem to be the crux of the argument on both sides although again I would side with the punter if they had provided card details which had not been processed.
maggi, fair enough - I only trawled the thread a bit prior to posting.
I just had a trawl through the Chamexpress site and it looks pretty clear and straightforward - if you book via the web. If they did one to BStM from GVA, I'd take it!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Patch, funny!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Judging by the speed at which the notes left my hand and the small 'discount for cash' I also think I know why ... I think the reason why I am erring towards the punter despite his later idiocy is I cannot see why anyone would voluntarily do that to themselves.
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That's probably why the firms always says prior reservation is essential.
He was only there for a few days - he picked up a ticket for Chamexpress at Geneva, and declined the suggestion that he bought a return. Why did he bring this upon himself? Who knows and he's not going to tell us, so we just have to carry on guessing, or give up!
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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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RattytheSnowRat wrote: |
I think the reason why I am erring towards the punter despite his later idiocy is I cannot see why anyone would voluntarily do that to themselves. He obviously thought he had done enough to make a booking with .... |
He had the option of going on the next bus an hour later, but told them he didn't trust them, then tried to book it anyway, at which point they refused his custom. I would guess that early on transfer day, they have more to be doing than dealing with one customer who can't make up his mind
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