Expedia.scam
I usually try to make my complaint letters funny, but I was rather angry about this one:
To whom it may concern: I am writing to express my deep dissatisfaction with my recent travel purchase using Expedia.com. I have used Expedia for many purchases over the last several years, and have always been very happy with your service.
Yesterday, I purchased two round trip tickets from LAX to Rome (itinerary number 120620811764). I received confirmation that my tickets had been booked (Alitalia confirmation code: JPUZJA), as well as a follow up email confirmation. Nine hours later, I received an email stating that: "Due to circumstances beyond our control, we are unable to process your request for an airline ticket." When I called your company to see what the problem was, I was told that the price had gone up, and the two tickets that I had booked for $972.60(business class) would now be $2371.40 (economy class). When I agreed to pay the $972.60 we entered into a contract...I understood that I could not make any changes to the contract (ie: canceling my flight) without paying a penalty; I assumed that your company understood it had agreed to the same thing. The Expedia promise(http://www.expedia.com/daily/highlights/Expedia-Promise/default.asp) seems to indicate that your company understands this very well. I thought I was shopping, booking, and clicking with confidence. I would like to draw your attention to this line from your website: "We'll take responsibility, at no additional cost to you, if we make a mistake booking your travel." I have already booked the rest of my trip around this airfare purchase. I am certain that there is still plenty of room on the planes we had booked. I would greatly appreciate your booking these tickets at the originally agreed (and booked price).
Excerpt from the (long, boring) response from Bonnie Sharkey (assistant to Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO and President of Expedia, Inc):
This itinerary you intended on reserving was not allowed to be ticketed due to several problems in the booking path on your purchase. Reviews of the recorded path taken during purchase and creation of the itinerary reflect numerous errors occurring regarding both flight availability and pricing. The created flight record and itinerary were later rejected by our quality control teams and cancelled due to the noted error responses from the air carriers and our website. Some of the response you witnessed on your booking included: Select to check price, then showed a price of $4786.20
One of your flights is no longer available at this price
Please go back and select a different trip or try building your own trip flight by flight. You may also want to try changing your travel dates or times.
We're Sorry; We Had a Problem with Your Selected Flights
We're currently having difficulty confirming the price for your itinerary. We apologize for any inconvenience. Please try again later. If you need immediate assistance, please call us at 1-800-EXPEDIA (1-800-397-3342) or 1-404-728-8787.
A reply from the office of the CEO/President is rather impressive. Ms. Sharkey, I saw none of these error messages when booking these tickets. Is this a form letter you sent me?
On the bright side, Expedia's agent for service of process is in Irvine. I will get you yet, Expedia.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
My new career
Some of you may remember my strategy for a cheap hotel room.
I am actually even better at booking cheap airfare.
Here are the basics:
1) 70 days prior to your trip, check prices on expedia.
2) Check the individual airline sites directly for the two or three cheapest airlines on expedia. (did that make any sense to anybody but me?)
3) Repeat step 1 and 2 every 10 minutes until you have found an acceptable price. Yes, you can still sleep, but you should wake up at midnight and 1AM (for all Continental US time zones)...that's when unpaid reservations usually expire.
I suppose it helps to have a job where you sit in front of a computer all day, otherwise it probably is not worth the effort...even if you are able to book 2 round trip tickets to Rome (from LAX) for $486.30 each (tax and fees included). Did I mention that's for business class? Look at that, business class comes with access to airport VIP lounges in NY, Paris, and Rome.
Some of you may remember my strategy for a cheap hotel room.
I am actually even better at booking cheap airfare.
Here are the basics:
1) 70 days prior to your trip, check prices on expedia.
2) Check the individual airline sites directly for the two or three cheapest airlines on expedia. (did that make any sense to anybody but me?)
3) Repeat step 1 and 2 every 10 minutes until you have found an acceptable price. Yes, you can still sleep, but you should wake up at midnight and 1AM (for all Continental US time zones)...that's when unpaid reservations usually expire.
I suppose it helps to have a job where you sit in front of a computer all day, otherwise it probably is not worth the effort...even if you are able to book 2 round trip tickets to Rome (from LAX) for $486.30 each (tax and fees included). Did I mention that's for business class? Look at that, business class comes with access to airport VIP lounges in NY, Paris, and Rome.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Jeez, did Nicole write the directions for the Shimano Flight deck?
Follow up question: Why would I ever look at the thing when I wasn't riding?
Follow up question: Why would I ever look at the thing when I wasn't riding?
Saturday, July 21, 2007
This contract limits our liability, please read it. This parking pass LICENSES the holder to park ONE VEHICLE as directed. The University hereby declares itself NOT RESPONSIBLE for and assumes no liability arising from fire, theft, damage to or loss of the vehicle or any article left therein including but not limited to damage from trees. ONLY A LICENSE OF SPACE IS GRANTED HEREBY AND NO BAILMENT IS CREATED. Acceptance of this parking pass constitutes acknowledgement by holder that he or she has read and agrees to the provisions of the foregoing contract. Your PERMIT IS NOT VALID IN METERS. RESALE IS PROHIBITED AND NOT TRANSFERABLE.
As my lawyer friend is fond of saying: "Those parking tickets can't force me to read them..."
On that note:
At Hogsmeade, Harry and friends are cornered by Death Eaters and saved by Aberforth Dumbledore. Aberforth opens a secret passageway to Hogwarts, where Neville Longbottom greets them. Harry alerts the Heads of Houses at Hogwarts to Voldemort's imminent arrival and evacuation measures are implemented to ensure the younger students' safety, with the older ones able to stay and fight. After saving Draco Malfoy's life, Harry finds Ravenclaw's diadem in the room of requirement and it is destroyed. Hagrid is captured by acromantulas and later ends up a captive in the hands of the Death Eaters. Fred Weasley is killed by a Death Eater just after his estranged brother Percy Weasley comes back to reunite with his family. Harry, Hermione and Ron go to the Shrieking Shack, where they see Voldemort kill Snape, believing this will transfer the Elder Wand's power to him. As he dies, Snape gives up memories to Harry, which reveal that Snape was on Dumbledore's side, motivated by his lifelong love of Lily Potter. Snape was asked by Dumbledore to kill him if the situation demands it; the curse placed on the Horcrux ring limited Dumbledore's life, regardless. Resigned to his fate, Harry sacrifices himself to Voldemort, and is seemingly killed.
However, Harry awakens and meets the deceased Albus Dumbledore in what appears to be a deserted King's Cross station. Here, it is explained he cannot die whilst Voldemort lives since he used Harry's blood to recreate his body, and Lily's protection binds the two. It is unclear if he actually dies, or it is merely a dream. He discovers he was the final Horcrux and needed to die before Voldemort can be killed, finding that the spell destroyed the part of Voldemort's soul he had inside himself represented by a wounded dying creature. He also discovers Dumbledore himself sought the Hallows, with Grindelwald, for less than noble reasons - resulting in the death of his sister Ariana from neglect. Only Harry is worthy of possessing the Hallows. Harry is given the choice of "going on" or returning to try and stop Voldemort, which he decides to do.
Back in the forest, on Voldemort's orders, Hagrid carries Harry (seemingly dead) back to Hogwarts to much dismay and shock to those there. Bravely, Voldemort is faced down by Neville, who rejects his offer to join him and become a Death Eater. Voldemort then proceeds to torture Neville using the burning sorting hat - at that moment, the Centaurs attack. In the confusion, Harry covers himself with the invisibility cloak and Nagini, the last Horcrux, is killed by Neville using Gryffindor's sword pulled from the sorting hat. In the ensuing battle, Bellatrix is killed by Molly Weasley and Harry reveals himself to prevent Voldemort from killing her in retaliation. Coming face to face with Voldemort in the Great Hall, Harry is seemingly faced with impossible odds - with Voldemort possessing the Elder Wand, he cannot be beaten in a duel. However, Harry gambles correctly that Draco Malfoy was the true master of the Elder Wand, not Snape - by Disarming Malfoy, the mastery of the wand has passed to Harry, not Voldemort. When Voldemort strikes Harry with the killing curse from the Elder Wand it rebounds on him, due to Harry's mastery of the wand, killing himself once and for all. Harry decides to return the Elder Wand to Dumbledore's grave instead of keeping it for himself but first repaired his old wand with it.
In the story's epilogue, taking place 19 years after the Battle of Hogwarts, Harry and Ginny Weasley are married and have three children named James, Albus Severus, and Lily. Ron and Hermione are also married and have two children named Rose and Hugo. Draco Malfoy has a child named Scorpius. Lupin and Tonks' orphan son Teddy is apparently in love with Victoire, Bill and Fleur's daughter. They all meet at King's Cross, about to send their children to Hogwarts at the beginning of term. Neville Longbottom has become the Herbology Professor at Hogwarts. It is revealed that Harry's scar has not hurt since the Dark Lord's defeat, and there, the story ends.
As I have said before, there truly is a wiki for everything.
As my lawyer friend is fond of saying: "Those parking tickets can't force me to read them..."
On that note:
At Hogsmeade, Harry and friends are cornered by Death Eaters and saved by Aberforth Dumbledore. Aberforth opens a secret passageway to Hogwarts, where Neville Longbottom greets them. Harry alerts the Heads of Houses at Hogwarts to Voldemort's imminent arrival and evacuation measures are implemented to ensure the younger students' safety, with the older ones able to stay and fight. After saving Draco Malfoy's life, Harry finds Ravenclaw's diadem in the room of requirement and it is destroyed. Hagrid is captured by acromantulas and later ends up a captive in the hands of the Death Eaters. Fred Weasley is killed by a Death Eater just after his estranged brother Percy Weasley comes back to reunite with his family. Harry, Hermione and Ron go to the Shrieking Shack, where they see Voldemort kill Snape, believing this will transfer the Elder Wand's power to him. As he dies, Snape gives up memories to Harry, which reveal that Snape was on Dumbledore's side, motivated by his lifelong love of Lily Potter. Snape was asked by Dumbledore to kill him if the situation demands it; the curse placed on the Horcrux ring limited Dumbledore's life, regardless. Resigned to his fate, Harry sacrifices himself to Voldemort, and is seemingly killed.
However, Harry awakens and meets the deceased Albus Dumbledore in what appears to be a deserted King's Cross station. Here, it is explained he cannot die whilst Voldemort lives since he used Harry's blood to recreate his body, and Lily's protection binds the two. It is unclear if he actually dies, or it is merely a dream. He discovers he was the final Horcrux and needed to die before Voldemort can be killed, finding that the spell destroyed the part of Voldemort's soul he had inside himself represented by a wounded dying creature. He also discovers Dumbledore himself sought the Hallows, with Grindelwald, for less than noble reasons - resulting in the death of his sister Ariana from neglect. Only Harry is worthy of possessing the Hallows. Harry is given the choice of "going on" or returning to try and stop Voldemort, which he decides to do.
Back in the forest, on Voldemort's orders, Hagrid carries Harry (seemingly dead) back to Hogwarts to much dismay and shock to those there. Bravely, Voldemort is faced down by Neville, who rejects his offer to join him and become a Death Eater. Voldemort then proceeds to torture Neville using the burning sorting hat - at that moment, the Centaurs attack. In the confusion, Harry covers himself with the invisibility cloak and Nagini, the last Horcrux, is killed by Neville using Gryffindor's sword pulled from the sorting hat. In the ensuing battle, Bellatrix is killed by Molly Weasley and Harry reveals himself to prevent Voldemort from killing her in retaliation. Coming face to face with Voldemort in the Great Hall, Harry is seemingly faced with impossible odds - with Voldemort possessing the Elder Wand, he cannot be beaten in a duel. However, Harry gambles correctly that Draco Malfoy was the true master of the Elder Wand, not Snape - by Disarming Malfoy, the mastery of the wand has passed to Harry, not Voldemort. When Voldemort strikes Harry with the killing curse from the Elder Wand it rebounds on him, due to Harry's mastery of the wand, killing himself once and for all. Harry decides to return the Elder Wand to Dumbledore's grave instead of keeping it for himself but first repaired his old wand with it.
In the story's epilogue, taking place 19 years after the Battle of Hogwarts, Harry and Ginny Weasley are married and have three children named James, Albus Severus, and Lily. Ron and Hermione are also married and have two children named Rose and Hugo. Draco Malfoy has a child named Scorpius. Lupin and Tonks' orphan son Teddy is apparently in love with Victoire, Bill and Fleur's daughter. They all meet at King's Cross, about to send their children to Hogwarts at the beginning of term. Neville Longbottom has become the Herbology Professor at Hogwarts. It is revealed that Harry's scar has not hurt since the Dark Lord's defeat, and there, the story ends.
As I have said before, there truly is a wiki for everything.
Friday, July 13, 2007
I got plants, brother.
(Original title of this post was: "I got fish, brother", but the video of my new Dwarf Gouramies was rather underexposed. Also, some of you get attached to my fish, then they die, and you get upset.
Plants are a little harder to kill. Here are some of my current patio selections:
In sailing news, here's me (and crew) at the Balboa Yacht Club with my very first real sailing trophy. I have won plenty of races (well maybe not plenty, but at least some), but the trophies have always been things like ALYC lunchboxes...or trophies recycled from previous races. (I know what you're thinking: "This trophy is just a cup..." You are wrong. It is a beer stein...for drinking lager [I won the lager series]. I would also have an ale stein, had I shown up last month for my trophy (for the ale series).
Finally, I have one more picture...of some hot chick ironing my shirt. She was a demon hot chick ironing my shirt, but as usual I have done my best to un-redden her eyes.
(Original title of this post was: "I got fish, brother", but the video of my new Dwarf Gouramies was rather underexposed. Also, some of you get attached to my fish, then they die, and you get upset.
Plants are a little harder to kill. Here are some of my current patio selections:
In sailing news, here's me (and crew) at the Balboa Yacht Club with my very first real sailing trophy. I have won plenty of races (well maybe not plenty, but at least some), but the trophies have always been things like ALYC lunchboxes...or trophies recycled from previous races. (I know what you're thinking: "This trophy is just a cup..." You are wrong. It is a beer stein...for drinking lager [I won the lager series]. I would also have an ale stein, had I shown up last month for my trophy (for the ale series).
Finally, I have one more picture...of some hot chick ironing my shirt. She was a demon hot chick ironing my shirt, but as usual I have done my best to un-redden her eyes.
Friday, July 06, 2007
People are always asking, did I know about Tyler Durden.
Since my Lasik surgery, watching television and reading have been a little uncomfortable. Not to worry, Nico has been filling in as a book on tape. Not really on tape, but you get the idea. Now that I think about it, I really should have been recording her...though she does not do voices very well...or at least not as I would do them, had I ever the occasion to read an entire novel aloud. With Nico narrating, everybody comes off sounding a little too animated. But I digress. She just finished reading Survivor to me. Chuck Palahniuk is quite brilliant if you have the stomach for him. Pa-len-ik...it's almost fun to say.
Since my Lasik surgery, watching television and reading have been a little uncomfortable. Not to worry, Nico has been filling in as a book on tape. Not really on tape, but you get the idea. Now that I think about it, I really should have been recording her...though she does not do voices very well...or at least not as I would do them, had I ever the occasion to read an entire novel aloud. With Nico narrating, everybody comes off sounding a little too animated. But I digress. She just finished reading Survivor to me. Chuck Palahniuk is quite brilliant if you have the stomach for him. Pa-len-ik...it's almost fun to say.
Monday, July 02, 2007
I am swearing off red wine.
Sorry I have no pictures of the weekend's Zin party; too much zin, and I forgot all about the camera.
Good thing the party was at my house, as I had the highest score on the Alcohawk! I think the results may have been skewed a little by the alcohol swab I used to clean the mouthpiece...because I was in fact, not dead.
Julie, proud owner of the Alcohawk had a great story about what she was doing with an Alcohawk...but I cannot seem to remember it this morning.
Sorry I have no pictures of the weekend's Zin party; too much zin, and I forgot all about the camera.
Good thing the party was at my house, as I had the highest score on the Alcohawk! I think the results may have been skewed a little by the alcohol swab I used to clean the mouthpiece...because I was in fact, not dead.
Julie, proud owner of the Alcohawk had a great story about what she was doing with an Alcohawk...but I cannot seem to remember it this morning.
Friday, June 29, 2007
"It looks like Wednesday night Beercans out there..."
So said the British commentator on VS as New Zealand wrecked spinnaker after spinnaker during race #5 of the America's Cup. What's the big deal? Those spinnakers only cost $27,000 a piece.
Here in Newport, we race Beercans on Thursdays...and I looked like anything but a Beercan racer as I cruised to my 2nd straight victory. I'll attribute 30% of my new found success to luck, 30% to my new set of eyes, and 40% to my superb crew (they have become better at sail trimming than the captain).
Directly behind my backstay, you can see two Shields off in the distance. I have never been this far ahead in a race...
The trick to taking a good picture of yourself, is to hold the camera up high...or so I've heard. Sevin shot this one of us:
So said the British commentator on VS as New Zealand wrecked spinnaker after spinnaker during race #5 of the America's Cup. What's the big deal? Those spinnakers only cost $27,000 a piece.
Here in Newport, we race Beercans on Thursdays...and I looked like anything but a Beercan racer as I cruised to my 2nd straight victory. I'll attribute 30% of my new found success to luck, 30% to my new set of eyes, and 40% to my superb crew (they have become better at sail trimming than the captain).
Directly behind my backstay, you can see two Shields off in the distance. I have never been this far ahead in a race...
The trick to taking a good picture of yourself, is to hold the camera up high...or so I've heard. Sevin shot this one of us:
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Step-wise therapy/treatment of post-Lasik dry eyes
(Or how I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb)
1) Solicit your coworkers for sad stories. If you know the difference between comedy and tragedy, you will understand why this step will not work. Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you walk into an open sewer and die. (Coworkers: before you get mad at me, that is a Mel Brooks quote).
2) Stock up on preservative free Refresh Plus. Your ophthalmologist will likely recommend something thicker like Refresh Liquigel or Systane. Your ophthalmologist neither has dry eyes, nor has to stare at a computer all day; he does not understand that Refresh Liquigel and Systane are so thick that they will congeal on your eyes and make it impossible to see. No matter how hard you try, it is impossible to wash off a glob of Systane with more Systane.
3) Fill that prescription for the potent immunosuppressant (previously used to prevent the rejection associated with organ transplantation). If you had done your reading ahead of time, you would have started this step one month prior to your Lasik procedure. (Have no fear about the immunosuppression; the mechanism of action of Restasis is actually: put something really gritty in your eyes, and they will have no choice but to water. You could probably accomplish the same thing by rolling around at the beach).
4) Have your opthalmologist plug up your tear ducts. No, really. You have two tear ducts on each side. Start with the lowers. (Your insurance company will probably want to make this step 3, and Restasis step 4).
5) Moisture chamber glasses!!! I was looking around for some pictures of these really cool goggles that spray mist on your eyes, and have windshield wipers (on the inside) so you can still see. However, all I can find are these gems. They're designed just to prevent evaporation. (I assume there is not much market for these among the post-Lasik crowd).
(Or how I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb)
1) Solicit your coworkers for sad stories. If you know the difference between comedy and tragedy, you will understand why this step will not work. Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you walk into an open sewer and die. (Coworkers: before you get mad at me, that is a Mel Brooks quote).
2) Stock up on preservative free Refresh Plus. Your ophthalmologist will likely recommend something thicker like Refresh Liquigel or Systane. Your ophthalmologist neither has dry eyes, nor has to stare at a computer all day; he does not understand that Refresh Liquigel and Systane are so thick that they will congeal on your eyes and make it impossible to see. No matter how hard you try, it is impossible to wash off a glob of Systane with more Systane.
3) Fill that prescription for the potent immunosuppressant (previously used to prevent the rejection associated with organ transplantation). If you had done your reading ahead of time, you would have started this step one month prior to your Lasik procedure. (Have no fear about the immunosuppression; the mechanism of action of Restasis is actually: put something really gritty in your eyes, and they will have no choice but to water. You could probably accomplish the same thing by rolling around at the beach).
4) Have your opthalmologist plug up your tear ducts. No, really. You have two tear ducts on each side. Start with the lowers. (Your insurance company will probably want to make this step 3, and Restasis step 4).
5) Moisture chamber glasses!!! I was looking around for some pictures of these really cool goggles that spray mist on your eyes, and have windshield wipers (on the inside) so you can still see. However, all I can find are these gems. They're designed just to prevent evaporation. (I assume there is not much market for these among the post-Lasik crowd).
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