The HfP chat thread – Monday 26th July

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FatherOfFour says:

26 Jul26 July 10:19

Not travel related but thought might be of interest. I just found a product on Amazon I wanted to buy. Got my wife to order it via her Prime account and found the price was hiked by £7 compared to my regular account which offered slow, but free delivery. Exactly the same URL used to find the item. I thought the idea was that by paying a prime membership, you subsidised the better service…not to then pay extra on top!
- LS says:
  
  26 Jul26 July 10:21
  
  Interesting. Never noticed this before. Is it definitely the same seller for both? It might show a different seller if they are cheaper then the shipping is added on
- Anna says:
  
  26 Jul26 July 10:24
  
  It’s worth comparing sellers, even when ordering via Prime, as prices can vary quite a bit for the same product.
- Andrew says:
  
  26 Jul26 July 10:29
  
  Not unusual.
  
  An item that I bought a few weeks back was £8, but £10 when logged in via Prime. The sellers were different though, £8 was Amazon Market posted by the seller and £10 was Amazon selling and distributing.
  
  I paid the £10 because it could be delivered to Amazon Locker.
  
  (Afterwards, I found Matalan had the identical item on their shelves for £4)
  - FatherOfFour says:
    
    26 Jul26 July 10:53
    
    Thanks, You are right, despite using the same URL, the Prime account switched to Amazon as the “seller / distributor”.
  - Lady London says:
    
    26 Jul26 July 17:23
    
    Yes I tested pricing with and without Prime a lot on my free trial and prices were definitely being manipulated a lot. It was like for my address they knew they had promised Prime would give free delivery but once I signed in a lot of items noticeably increased their pricing. Especially some of the ones with free delivery anyway to anyone. It was a contributing reason to my not signing up after the Prime trial.
- SteveJ says:
  
  26 Jul26 July 10:54
  
  It’s definitely will not be the same seller, so not like for like comparison.
- Yorkie Aid says:
  
  26 Jul26 July 10:57
  
  For low cost items I hardly ever find that they are cheaper on Amazon anymore. Support your local shops and save money.
  - Rob says:
    
    26 Jul26 July 11:03
    
    You probably have the little button ticked in the corner saying ‘just show me Prime items’. Untick that and everything will change.
    
    Amazon doesn’t compete on price now. The delivery network is so good (same day in London on some items via Prime) that people are actually willing to pay more to buy off Amazon. It’s like ‘pay £8 for this book and have it by tonight or pay £7 at Waterstones.co.uk and have it in 5 days’.
    - Super Secret Stuff says:
      
      26 Jul26 July 12:13
      
      Nivea sun cream is now more expensive on Amazon than in any shop or going direct to Nivea. I got mine delivered with my Salisbury order next day…
      - Andrew says:
        
        26 Jul26 July 12:31
        
        Garnier Factor 50 Dry Mist.
        
        Asda, Two for £12. Superdrug, £7. Boots, £8. ASOS, £10. Amazon, £27.
      - Rob says:
        
        26 Jul26 July 12:36
        
        Years ago, in my banking days, I went to a presentation by a senior Superdrug manager. He said that had to put up the price of their own-label sun cream because no-one would buy it when it was cheap – no-one would believe it actually worked. They upped the price and it started selling fine.
      - Super Secret Stuff says:
        
        26 Jul26 July 13:04
        
        @Andrew Nivea 50+ is £5 per 200ml cream bottle. I am very prone to burning, even in winter, nothing else works for me properly.
        
        @Rob is it any good? Other than a brick wall Nivea is the only sun protection that works for me
      - Super Secret Stuff says:
        
        26 Jul26 July 13:07
        
        The £5 offer is from Sainsbury’s, quite convenient as it was delivered with my food shop and earned Nectar points on it. Got 5 to last me this year
  - BJ says:
    
    26 Jul26 July 13:55
    
    I have become increasingly unhappy with amazon in past two years. Found that any decent deals they have are simply matching other sellers. In such cases I go to the other seller as there is the option to boost savings via other avenues. The convenience of amazon is very addictive though.
    - Rob says:
      
      26 Jul26 July 15:11
      
      Not sure how you can complain when you can order something at 10pm Sat night and have it at 10am Sunday morning, as we find frequently. What you are trying to say is that you are obsessed with price above all else and that Amazon is now more bothered about service than price, which is fair comment. Amazon believes that more people are bothered about service than price, however.
      
      Same with Deliveroo. Feel free to moan about the cost, mark-ups etc but we ordered lunch in today and it arrived NINE MINUTES after clicking the Pay button. The word-of-mouth you get for operating like that is far better than the word of mouth you get for being cheap.
  - FatherOfFour says:
    
    26 Jul26 July 15:46
    
    I had actually ordered this item for 140 direct on another site but it was a 4-6 wait, so buying via another retailer via Amazon marketplace now for 153. As others have said, it’s the convenience factor, but also the range available versus walking into a high street store.
- Chas says:
  
  26 Jul26 July 11:18
  
  I often notice a message saying that “this item may be cheaper from other sellers without Prime”, so you could then click that to see (potentially) cheaper options with slower delivery.
  - Crafty says:
    
    26 Jul26 July 19:03
    
    Yes that’s the one those above have missed.
LS says:

26 Jul26 July 10:19

I was looking at purchasing QR flights. On the website it says free changes and refunds for flights booked before 31st Aug. But on selecting flights and clicking through, it says the cancellation before departure is USD185. Which is correct? Anyone know?
Andrew says:

26 Jul26 July 10:26

A story in the “Daily Rangers” yesterday, noting that 1 in 6 Scottish quarantiners have been refusing to pay the £1,750 bill for their accommodation.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/travellers-flying-scots-airports-during-24610855

It will be interesting to see what happens as and when LCS starts taking the individuals to court. Will Sheriffs be looking at Consumer Rights if the individuals, who haven’t paid, claimed that their accommodation and service fell below reasonable expectation?
- Anna says:
  
  26 Jul26 July 10:28
  
  There’s been a legal challenge (in England at least) and it looks as though it will end up being means tested – so more public expense! Honestly, they should just let them all go home and send G4S round to fit electronic tags and monitor them remotely.
- LS says:
  
  26 Jul26 July 10:32
  
  I dont understand the person quoted. It sounds like she returned to Poland for medical treatment – why should she have to hotel quarantine after this? Poland, or any country around it, is not on the red list.
  - Andrew says:
    
    26 Jul26 July 10:35
    
    All arrivals into Scotland, from outside the Common Travel Area had to quarantine at one point.
- Anna says:
  
  26 Jul26 July 10:33
  
  Surely Poland is not on the red list though, or is it different in Scotland? I can’t understand why the woman who went for medical treatment is now in hotel quarantine.
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    26 Jul26 July 10:44
    
    It’s was ALL arrivals outside the CTA to Scottish airports between Feb and May 17th.
    - Pete M says:
      
      26 Jul26 July 11:44
      
      Why everyone wasn’t travelling via England is beyond me… But I guess this wasn’t a major consideration for her at the time.
SSR BAQ says:

26 Jul26 July 10:38

Seeing conflicting stuff regarding predictions of the next travel update – is it due 2nd Aug or 5th Aug? And do they tend to give you a few says notice?

Basically I’m going to be in Spain soon, it could end up on Amber Plus, I’m currently due to Travel back ON the 5th anyway…
- Anna says:
  
  26 Jul26 July 10:56
  
  It’s the 3rd from what I can gather but not sure when it would take effect from.
  The stuff about Spain going amber plus seems to be mainly scaremongering from the media – the only quotes from ministers I’ve been able to find are to the effect that France is a one-off (and will probably change soon) and that Spain is unlikely to be made amber plus (no rhyme or reason behind any of it of course!)
  The Spanish authorities are bringing in tighter controls on their own residents with the intention of saving the tourist season if at all possible, so they’re unlikely to impose restrictions on incoming tourists which would discourage them from visiting.
  - SSR BAQ says:
    
    26 Jul26 July 12:44
    
    Thanks Anna, that seems about right, I do see so many different dates thrown around. The Mail (I know) are saying 5th. Hard to know, but just have to see eh!
Ashraj says:

26 Jul26 July 10:44

Has anyone stayed at the ME Ibiza? Have made a tentative booking for a week on Melia points towards the end of September. I needed to use the points and with rates at over £300 per night was good value.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  26 Jul26 July 10:45
  
  I haven’t stayed but it’s a well regarded property on the island.
- Ant says:
  
  26 Jul26 July 11:51
  
  Hi Ashraj we stayed there on points in June. Enjoyed the stay would say it was 50% busy mainly germans. Always found sunbeds by the main pool and there is a DJ in the afternoon. The rooftop pool most of the time was empty.
  Breakfast is excellent with a very large selection.
  Not much around the hotel so need a car or use cabs.
  The basic room is v small and no balcony, so we paid an extra €50 a night for a corner room with balcony. Still small but it had a sea view and we enjoyed sitting outside with a drink before we got ready to go out.
  Bar closed at 11pm which we thought was a bit early. And the restaurant was ok but nothing special would definitely go out for dinner.
  Also there isn’t really a beach by the hotel.
  - Ashraj says:
    
    26 Jul26 July 14:13
    
    Thanks for the replies. I have also booked the basic aura room so will see what they can offer at check in. Im in 2 minds to hire a car or not.
    
    @ant any restaurant recommendations would be very helpful.
    - Ant says:
      
      26 Jul26 July 14:34
      
      Restaurants:
      Los Dos Lunas – been there a few times. Love the venue and the food is always excellent. And u have the table all night – service is v good.
      Bambuddha – v cool venue, and the food was excellent. Had a great evening there.
      Sa Punta – same but you also get the view of the Old Town.
      Bar San Juan – in the Old Town for a cheap good meal.
      Go to the town of San Gertrude for a few beers and small plates in the square
      For drinks &/or lunch during the day Experimental Beach and Amante
      - Ashraj says:
        
        26 Jul26 July 16:35
        
        Thanks so much ! Much appreciated
- BJ says:
  
  26 Jul26 July 14:03
  
  Somebody commented on it in the recent W Ibiza review IIRC.
Nigel W says:

26 Jul26 July 10:49

Considering Curve Customer Service usually gets dragged on here, I’ve got to say I am super happy with them with a chargeback success I have just had for some Olympics tickets (the ticket agent/reseller were refusing to give me a full refund).
- Mr. AC says:
  
  26 Jul26 July 12:27
  
  Similarly good experience with Curve doing a chargeback from Air Europa (after they promised but failed to send a refund for 3 months).
C says:

26 Jul26 July 10:59

Any news of increased bonus on the IHG free card soon? Need to apply in the next few weeks but wondering whether to hold off a week or so! Thanks
- Rob says:
  
  26 Jul26 July 11:00
  
  Not heard anything. You rarely see bonuses launch in August anyway as people away and all the impact is lost.
Daniel says:

26 Jul26 July 11:39

I am heading to Geneva later this week – does anyone know if there is a way to convert my UK Pfizer vaccine into the Swiss Covid certificate so it will be accepted for large events etc.? – or is my only option a negative test every 2 days. And similarly for France (where I will be heading afterwards). Any experiences or thoughts are much appreciated, so thanks in advance!
- Lyn says:
  
  26 Jul26 July 13:41
  
  I am pretty sure most places in France accepts alternative proof of vaccination, such as printed on paper or displayed on a mobile phone, for visitors.
  
  I would be surprised if Switzerland doesn’t also do this.
  - Daniel says:
    
    26 Jul26 July 21:59
    
    Thank you Lyn! Useful to know.