Direct Mailing a con!

I just want to clear a few myths up over our direct mailing, I hear it all the time from potential customers that call me up having seen a great deal in one of our direct mail pieces that has landed on their door step. This is how the conversation normally flows

Nik “Good morning, your through to Nik at Cruise.co.uk, how can I help”

Customer “Yes hi, I have seen a cruise that I am interested in and I would like you to check price and availability”

Nik “Great what is the the name of the ship and sailing date”

Customer “It’s the Anthem of the seas sailing on the 25th April next year”

Nik “Ok how many people are looking to travel”

Customer “2”

Nik ” and what type of cabin are you looking for”

Customer “balcony please”

Nik ” Ok give me a moment and I will check price and availability for you”

Pause

Pause

Nik ” Ok the cost is £1,399.00pp inc $100 per cabin onboard credit, how does that sound?”

Customer “that sounds ok but in your booklet you sent me it says £999.00pp

Nik “Ok let me check”

Pause

Pause

Nik” I have checked again for you and it is showing now at £1,399.00pp inc $100 per cabin on board credit”

Customer “Well that’s a con it says in here that you are offering balcony cabins for £999.00pp” why do you always do this put a price in here and then you can never get that cruise for that price.

Customer HANGS UP !

Too be honest this does happen a few times and yes it can be very frustrating, especially when you have seen a cruise that you really wanted to go on. Now you must remember when we organise these direct mailing pieces they are organised probably a couple of weeks before they hit your door step and prices can change on a daily basis, there is no advantage for us to put a price in the direct mailing  that is not correct. It’s a waste of time for you and a waste of time for us. Please remember these direct mailing pieces that you find on your door step are correct at the time of going to print, and prices are very fluid exactly the same way you find with booking a flight. Yes we also sometimes make errors in these pieces, we are not perfect and try our best to get everything spot on.

So please remember, the prices in our direct mailings are not live and things can change very quickly.