How Would You Respond To This Email From Travel Agent?

There are two sides to this coin. I work in sales and oncommission and I think her wanting to be paid for her job is completely valid and you saying- hey we found it cheaper here kind of sounds like a slap in the face to her because she is doing all this work and not getting paid for it. Let’s do this...( she hears sorry, but I wasted countless hours helping you and you’re just going to book on a shitty promotional website , and not pay me?) She needs to eat too.



eep in mind that if you book with cheap Caribbean, you may get a cheaper price- but you will have to do the leg work yourself in choosing safe excursions, airport transfers in an unknown country and all sorts of other services will be left up to you. So yes it’s cheaper but I don’t think what she said or did was out of line.

I would drop her! Book your own, seems like you're doing better anyway. I've use apple vacations. They are amazing.

I would run far, far away. If she's becoming so defensive because you mentioned a website in your email and asked for a longer honeymoon, that's no good. It doesn't sound like you even told her you were considering dropping her services. I wouldn't be able to trust her to create a blissful honeymoon catered to my interests if she's unable to keep her bias out of your inquiries.

Travel agent here!

I know this forum is old but I felt compelled to add my two cents. Comparing a travel agent to a car salesman/realtor is like comparing apples to pineapple. Sure, we both work on commission but in completely different volumes. What a realtor makes on the sale of one house might be what a travel agent makes in 4 months or more.

I don't think you can understand the sheer volume of people who contact me on a daily basis just because they are wondering or just curious what a trip like this would cost. Or because they saw this advertisement pop up on the internet and they want to know how they can get that price. Or people who have booked their own trips and call me for advice on luggage requirements, transfers, airline restrictions, etc. Frankly, it's exhausting and a huge waste of my time. And most days I feel I just can't compete with the internet anymore.

I want to attract clients who use me because they value my expertise and the relationships I have with vendors/management companies in different destinations, not the client who wants me to price match the lowest price on Cheap Caribbean. Places like Cheap Caribbean undercut their commission so they get the sale, which is not possible or ethical for most agents to do. They are able to do this and still make a profit with the volume of sales they have.

I want my clients to come to me because they trust me. I am here to help reduce stress and eliminate any confusion they may have during the booking process. I am also here for them while they travel and upon their return if they have any concerns. They can trust that I will evaluate all the options out there and help them make the best decision for them.

As an agent, I always want to get the best price for my clients. I always look with multiple vendors to ensure I am getting them the best deal out there with the reputable vendors I work with. That being said, I am not in the business to price match. However, I look at each situation on a case by case basis and it is never the agent making the decision on whether or not we can price match, it is the vendors we work with. Generally anytime I do a price match, it ends up coming out of my commission. And, more often then not, we are not comparing the same thing. (room types, class of air service, insurance coverage, transfers, etc)

It seems like there was obviously some miscommunication between you and the agent you were working with. Believe me, we hate it when that happens too. Although I completely agree with her implementing a fee at that time, I would have gone about it in a different way. Many people do not realize the time and effort it takes into quoting trips for people. There is not just some magical wand we wave to get the best price. Your agent should eliminate stress and anxiety, not cause it. That being said, if you felt she wasn't a good match for you do the right thing and let her know that, before she puts anymore of her time into the planning. Move on with another agent or on your own if you are comfortable with it.

I can't tell you the number of times I have quoted trips for people only to have them book it on their own and they call me during the trip because of an emergency. Things like the hotel won't give them the room type they booked, or the resort doesn't have availability for them at all. To flights being canceled 6 hours before you are supposed to fly out for your wedding. If you did not book with me, unfortunately I am unable to offer advice or help in these types of situations.

I'm sure you have traveled by now and I hope you had a great honeymoon!