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Companies deserving boycotts - added Marriott

C

Craig234

Lifer
Over years, I built up hundreds of thousands of points staying at Marriott properties.

Then, I did not travel for years. Marriott had told me I could count on their never expiring the points.

I just checked,and in 2016 they deleted all the points; I'd heard of no change to the policy.

I explained the situation; they chose to not restore the points. I informed them I'd plan not to stay at Marriott properties again, and to let others know of the poor service they provided on this.

Coincidentally, I'd also seen them in the news recently for a change bad for customers I don't really take issue with.

The story said that they have gotten so big - over a million rooms IIRC - that they are ending the customary practice of not charging guests for late reservation cancellations. Seems clear the direction they're heading.
 
I've stayed at Marriott for quite a while, and I know that there isn't a single hotel company (at least not the main ones of Hitlon, Hyatt, Marriot, or Starwood) that do not have a points expiration.

Suffice to say, you're just a dumbass for not reading the policy correctly. Cry moar.
 
They added that at the start of 2016 IIRC - need some sort of activity within 24 months to keep them active. You're not missing much though - they're my least favorite chain
 
Exterous said:
They added that at the start of 2016 IIRC - need some sort of activity within 24 months to keep them active. You're not missing much though - they're my least favorite chain
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Thanks, that's right.

Maybe not missing much - but a lot of money was spent and a lot of credit lost to their poor service on this.
 
Craig234 said:
Thanks, that's right.

Maybe not missing much - but a lot of money was spent and a lot of credit lost to their poor service on this.
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Yeah I get it and it sucks. Unfortunately hotels and airlines don't have to care much because so many people are traveling right now. There have been notable cuts in customer service and loyalty programs across most of the major players. I expect the trend will reverse during the next recession but for now the downward trend continues
 
They probably sent you notice in the mail about changes to the policy, but since it just looked like normal spam mail, you trashed it.
 
Exterous said:
Yeah I get it and it sucks. Unfortunately hotels and airlines don't have to care much because so many people are traveling right now. There have been notable cuts in customer service and loyalty programs across most of the major players. I expect the trend will reverse during the next recession but for now the downward trend continues
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To me it seems like the exact opposite. There are tons and tons of credit cards out there with bonus points for spending X in Y months. You can basically always find a new one.

Although now that I see you're talking about hotels and airlines, that is a bit different than credit card companies with travel rewards. I do have 2 airline credit cards right now (SW and United) and I have never paid so little for flights in my life as I have the past 2 years. Other than mine and my wifes flight to Europe last year, I haven't paid anything other than taxes for mine, my wifes, and my son's flights the past 2 years, due to points.
 
Craig234 said:
I think that's just what happened.

I'd tend to notice something that looked more important.
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The problem is that all of that mail looks the same. I get mail about my current credit cards all the time (that I trash without even opening) that look just like new card offers.

Or there will be the ones that are spam that they make "look" important, but after you get enough of those, then the ones that are truly important also look like spam.

I wish there was a way to not get spam snail mail. Like 99% of my mail is spam shit that goes straight into the trashcan.
 
purbeast0 said:
The problem is that all of that mail looks the same. I get mail about my current credit cards all the time (that I trash without even opening) that look just like new card offers.

Or there will be the ones that are spam that they make "look" important, but after you get enough of those, then the ones that are truly important also look like spam.

I wish there was a way to not get spam snail mail. Like 99% of my mail is spam shit that goes straight into the trashcan.
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They made a point to justify it saying they had sent such notification. Not whether it was in small print of junk mail.
 
purbeast0 said:
To me it seems like the exact opposite. There are tons and tons of credit cards out there with bonus points for spending X in Y months. You can basically always find a new one.

Although now that I see you're talking about hotels and airlines, that is a bit different than credit card companies with travel rewards. I do have 2 airline credit cards right now (SW and United) and I have never paid so little for flights in my life as I have the past 2 years. Other than mine and my wifes flight to Europe last year, I haven't paid anything other than taxes for mine, my wifes, and my son's flights the past 2 years, due to points.
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Those rewards programs have been trashed. Airlines are removing award options and increasing point costs. AA is taking a lot of heat right now for having next to no sAAver awards available. In 2014 they ended the truly amazing Explorer Award allowing for up to 16 segments and they did so with 0 days notice.. BA went so far as to write a special rule for Boston - Dublin because it was too lucrative a redemption for their customers. Delta's award program is now nick named 'Sky Pesos' and is all over the place with absurd pricing. Club Carlson got rid of the 2 for 1 award redemptions. The Marriott free night 1-5 cert used to cover most of their properties. Now it covers about half with most of the ones that it still covers are in BFE. Southwest is steadily reducing the ways to qualify for the Companion Pass. 2013 was a bloodbath for hotel programs yet the 'bad' options in 2013 seem good by comparison to todays rates. Hotels have been cutting benefits like confirmed suite upgrades, adding hotel categories and increasing point cost.

https://thepointsguy.com/2013/02/hi...e-for-elites-new-tierds-and-seasonal-pricing/

Meanwhile the credit card offers are getting trickier with Chase's 5/24, Amex 1 per lifetime and Citi's no similar program within 24 months language.

I'm not saying there aren't options still available but redemption options are a lot worse than they were.
 
purbeast0 said:
The problem is that all of that mail looks the same. I get mail about my current credit cards all the time (that I trash without even opening) that look just like new card offers.

Or there will be the ones that are spam that they make "look" important, but after you get enough of those, then the ones that are truly important also look like spam.

I wish there was a way to not get spam snail mail. Like 99% of my mail is spam shit that goes straight into the trashcan.
Click to expand...

I get paperless for all my credit cards - and so they send me an email for each statement. Until I go in and grab the PDF and save it to my files (for records) I won't delete the email, and I also do a quick scroll through on each PDF looking for changes in the terms to make sure nothing sneaks by.
 
s0me0nesmind1 said:
I get paperless for all my credit cards - and so they send me an email for each statement. Until I go in and grab the PDF and save it to my files (for records) I won't delete the email, and I also do a quick scroll through on each PDF looking for changes in the terms to make sure nothing sneaks by.
Click to expand...
I have paperless for all bills too.
 
Having to stay in enough Marriott properties to accumulate that many points in the first place is almost my definition of hell. Hilton would be worse.

Loyalty members will continue taking it in the shorts as companies continue to reposition in competition for high dollar biz travelers as the world economy has improved. When things go to shit again they'll make some adjustments back.
 
I bet it was all free points from business travel paid by your employer. So you didn't spend your money so you really didn't lose anything.

I like Four Seasons, Ritz, and JW Marriott but I travel for leisure so I have no loyalty other than a good deal.
 
ponyo said:
I bet it was all free points from business travel paid by your employer. So you didn't spend your money so you really didn't lose anything.

I like Four Seasons, Ritz, and JW Marriott but I travel for leisure so I have no loyalty other than a good deal.
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That's a ridiculous statement. I chose where to get points, who to patronize, and the loss is very real of a lot of money's worth of points.

The reason they have the program is to influence your choices by giving you something of value.
 
Craig234 said:
That's a ridiculous statement. I chose where to get points, who to patronize, and the loss is very real of a lot of money's worth of points.

The reason they have the program is to influence your choices by giving you something of value.
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The reason they have the program is to influence your choice based on dollars paid broceritops. You didn't pay. This isn't the bachelorette where you choose it and they feel loved, they don't give a fuck about anything but dollar bills yo.

Love how you're so butt-hurt over this though.

Make sure to cross your arms and give a pouty face
 
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