Comments on: Sunshine Guaranteed: Or Your Trip is Free?

By: Minuteman Press

Minuteman Press — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 01:02:58 +0000

Wow! Too funny, I can’t beleive you refund trip money if someone’s vactaion in Ft. Lauderdale is rained out. Great job.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 20:24:57 +0000

Well, actually, if you plan your trip right, you could potentially have the free trip if you were to visit a vacation paradise in the off-season. Hawaii still is a great vacation in the rain since it isn’t always rainy on every part of any of the islands at the same time! –book a reservation in Kanaohe on Oahu December through March: it is very rainy compared with it’s neighbor Honolulu, and a mere 20 minute drive over the Pali will bring you to the lovely shores of Waikiki…

By: Kelly

Kelly — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:56:38 +0000

I booked a trip on Priceline for this first time earlier this month, which happened to meet the criteria for the Sunshine promotion. I used Priceline strictly because it had the best price. I did not even notice the promotion was going on. If I had, it wouldn’t have mattered. I was going to a wedding no matter what and would not have been interested in trying to create a rainy vacation just to maybe get my money back.

The wedding I went to was in Raliegh, NC on a weekend when a hurricane was developing. It rained quite a bit. This morning I got an email notifying me about my weather refund. At first I thought it was spam and was going to delete it unread. Then I read it and still thought it was spam. I searched the internet and found the details of the promotion, and then I went back to my contract email, and sure enough, the Sunshine Guarantee was included.

All promotions promise something in the title and then get you in the fine print. I think it’s the first rule of marketing. Yes, the fine print might work in Priceline’s favor. But they didn’t charge extra for the guarantee, and from my experience, it is possible that you can collect. Hopefully at least…I don’t have the check yet. But they did contact me automatically, which is saying something. Had they not, I would have never realized that I was eligible for the refund. So I think the promotion was a smashing success

By: Shadeus

Shadeus — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:58:06 +0000

Also, I did some inside studying.

Everything but Trip Protection is refunded.

For purposes of the Sunshine Guarantee, daily rainfall is measured at your destination airport and not at your hotel or other location. (I wonder what “purposes” they’re talking about?)

The daily amount of rain that falls at your destination airport will be determined from measurements provided by the National Weather Service or other independent agency. Rainfall will also be audited by a private independent provider of weather information. Priceline will use the data provided by these agencies to determine if a refund applies. (A “private” provider of weather info? If that’s not deceptive, what is?”

Other than that, I don’t really see anything else that is too suspicious. Although, I don’t like the fact that you have to wait 21 days to get a check in the mail “IF” you do qualify for a refund.

By: Shadeus

Shadeus — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:46:59 +0000

Everywhere you look, companies are finding ways to make more money, without even a thought for the customer. Seems like deception is the route to go anymore. That’s why if I ever want a vacation, I just use local travel agencies. They’re honest….for the most part.