Companies offering VIP offers, discounts, concierge services
Discussion
I am seeing a proliferation of big consumer corporates (O2, Vodafone, Tesco, American Express etc) offering "exclusive offers", "VIP Member Benefits", as well as concierge services like Quintessentially and holiday company Vacance Prive, and fashion site Secret Sales who can get you access to knock down deals.
When you look at a lot of the "deals" it is questionable whether these are that exclusive, nor that special a deal generous discounts of 4% are hardly dealbreakers and, 5 mins of internet searching can often get you what you want for less.
Am I the only person who thinks that these are all a bit of a con to us general punters, and that the real money is being made not through sales, but by companies selling mine and the various site users our shopping and browsing preferences, combined with name, address, age etc to the highest bidders, or using it for detailed profiling of current customer's habits.
I often have a look at what these sites have to offer, but on the whole I'm never that impressed with what's on offer, or find something of real value and quality. A bit like falling into the trap of popping into TK Maxx in case you find something really cool at a bargain price, but realising within seconds it's all crap.
When you look at a lot of the "deals" it is questionable whether these are that exclusive, nor that special a deal generous discounts of 4% are hardly dealbreakers and, 5 mins of internet searching can often get you what you want for less.
Am I the only person who thinks that these are all a bit of a con to us general punters, and that the real money is being made not through sales, but by companies selling mine and the various site users our shopping and browsing preferences, combined with name, address, age etc to the highest bidders, or using it for detailed profiling of current customer's habits.
I often have a look at what these sites have to offer, but on the whole I'm never that impressed with what's on offer, or find something of real value and quality. A bit like falling into the trap of popping into TK Maxx in case you find something really cool at a bargain price, but realising within seconds it's all crap.
Indeed - I happen to have the "flagship" of all concierge services at my disposal - the Amex "Centurion" (or Black Card) service - load of b
ks if you ask me. Every single time I've phoned them to sort something they are either wildly more expensive than I can find online (particularly for flight tickets, hotels, car rental) or just unable to do what I want. Completely useless to the point I no longer phone.
I'm sure it works fine for the "lazy" or inept wealthy who just want someone to phone to sort out basic logistics, but I'd rather do it myself.
ks if you ask me. Every single time I've phoned them to sort something they are either wildly more expensive than I can find online (particularly for flight tickets, hotels, car rental) or just unable to do what I want. Completely useless to the point I no longer phone.I'm sure it works fine for the "lazy" or inept wealthy who just want someone to phone to sort out basic logistics, but I'd rather do it myself.
Funny that, we had a concierge service here at work. I tried using it several times until I found making enquiries myself was quicker and cheaper. I struggled to work out what I was doing wrong, until I realised, like you, was that it was for rich stupid people who had never heard of Google!
Interestingly work has since withdrawn this valuable "benefit" through lack of interest...
Interestingly work has since withdrawn this valuable "benefit" through lack of interest...
GreigM said:
Indeed - I happen to have the "flagship" of all concierge services at my disposal - the Amex "Centurion" (or Black Card) service - load of bks if you ask me. Every single time I've phoned them to sort something they are either wildly more expensive than I can find online (particularly for flight tickets, hotels, car rental) or just unable to do what I want. Completely useless to the point I no longer phone.
I'm sure it works fine for the "lazy" or inept wealthy who just want someone to phone to sort out basic logistics, but I'd rather do it myself.
Centurion's old hat now ... Titanium's where it's at! ks if you ask me. Every single time I've phoned them to sort something they are either wildly more expensive than I can find online (particularly for flight tickets, hotels, car rental) or just unable to do what I want. Completely useless to the point I no longer phone.I'm sure it works fine for the "lazy" or inept wealthy who just want someone to phone to sort out basic logistics, but I'd rather do it myself.
AmEx Concierge ALWAYS comes up more expensive than anywhere else. I've NEVER followed up and actually purchased anything from them.
5potTurbo said:
GreigM said:
Indeed - I happen to have the "flagship" of all concierge services at my disposal - the Amex "Centurion" (or Black Card) service - load of bks if you ask me. Every single time I've phoned them to sort something they are either wildly more expensive than I can find online (particularly for flight tickets, hotels, car rental) or just unable to do what I want. Completely useless to the point I no longer phone.
I'm sure it works fine for the "lazy" or inept wealthy who just want someone to phone to sort out basic logistics, but I'd rather do it myself.
Centurion's old hat now ... Titanium's where it's at! ks if you ask me. Every single time I've phoned them to sort something they are either wildly more expensive than I can find online (particularly for flight tickets, hotels, car rental) or just unable to do what I want. Completely useless to the point I no longer phone.I'm sure it works fine for the "lazy" or inept wealthy who just want someone to phone to sort out basic logistics, but I'd rather do it myself.
AmEx Concierge ALWAYS comes up more expensive than anywhere else. I've NEVER followed up and actually purchased anything from them.
GreigM said:
Indeed - I happen to have the "flagship" of all concierge services at my disposal - the Amex "Centurion" (or Black Card) service - load of bks if you ask me. Every single time I've phoned them to sort something they are either wildly more expensive than I can find online (particularly for flight tickets, hotels, car rental) or just unable to do what I want. Completely useless to the point I no longer phone.
I'm sure it works fine for the "lazy" or inept wealthy who just want someone to phone to sort out basic logistics, but I'd rather do it myself.
Isn't that the point though?ks if you ask me. Every single time I've phoned them to sort something they are either wildly more expensive than I can find online (particularly for flight tickets, hotels, car rental) or just unable to do what I want. Completely useless to the point I no longer phone.I'm sure it works fine for the "lazy" or inept wealthy who just want someone to phone to sort out basic logistics, but I'd rather do it myself.
People who don't have "time" to do stuff like this, therefore go to a consierge service to sort it out for them. That's what being stupidly wealthy is about, not actually having to do anything for yourself.
VEA said:
GreigM said:
Indeed - I happen to have the "flagship" of all concierge services at my disposal - the Amex "Centurion" (or Black Card) service - load of bks if you ask me. Every single time I've phoned them to sort something they are either wildly more expensive than I can find online (particularly for flight tickets, hotels, car rental) or just unable to do what I want. Completely useless to the point I no longer phone.
I'm sure it works fine for the "lazy" or inept wealthy who just want someone to phone to sort out basic logistics, but I'd rather do it myself.
Isn't that the point though?ks if you ask me. Every single time I've phoned them to sort something they are either wildly more expensive than I can find online (particularly for flight tickets, hotels, car rental) or just unable to do what I want. Completely useless to the point I no longer phone.I'm sure it works fine for the "lazy" or inept wealthy who just want someone to phone to sort out basic logistics, but I'd rather do it myself.
People who don't have "time" to do stuff like this, therefore go to a consierge service to sort it out for them. That's what being stupidly wealthy is about, not actually having to do anything for yourself.
Given that these services don't seem to offer particular value, then the cynic in me makes me feel we are being used for something...
Edited by prand on Wednesday 25th August 16:53
My travel insurance comes with a conceirge thingie..
I've only used it 3 or 4 times, mainly to book tables at restaurants when I couldnt be arsed (or wasnt able to) lookup numbers for them, and also to book a few taxis when I've been abroad and didnt speak the lingo.
So wasnt actually buying anything from or via them, worked quite well IMO.
I've only used it 3 or 4 times, mainly to book tables at restaurants when I couldnt be arsed (or wasnt able to) lookup numbers for them, and also to book a few taxis when I've been abroad and didnt speak the lingo.
So wasnt actually buying anything from or via them, worked quite well IMO.
davido140 said:
My travel insurance comes with a conceirge thingie..
I've only used it 3 or 4 times, mainly to book tables at restaurants when I couldnt be arsed (or wasnt able to) lookup numbers for them, and also to book a few taxis when I've been abroad and didnt speak the lingo.
So wasnt actually buying anything from or via them, worked quite well IMO.
They sound a good way of using it...Now where did I leave that concierge number... (searches google to look it up)... I guess it's useful to have it ready programmed into your phone!I've only used it 3 or 4 times, mainly to book tables at restaurants when I couldnt be arsed (or wasnt able to) lookup numbers for them, and also to book a few taxis when I've been abroad and didnt speak the lingo.
So wasnt actually buying anything from or via them, worked quite well IMO.
euroboy said:
Well, to go against the grain a little bit I used the AMEX concierge a while back for some Nickelback tickets in Oberhausen - 1 day before concert and every Google option I could come up with was sold out.
Quick phone to AMEX concierge and 1/2hr later had two tickets on the way to me for about 25% above face value, arrived next morning via o/night courier. Good service and reasonable price considering.
Nick?Quick phone to AMEX concierge and 1/2hr later had two tickets on the way to me for about 25% above face value, arrived next morning via o/night courier. Good service and reasonable price considering.
Mr. Bassist?
Is that you?
That was my first thought, too.Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff