Comments on: Another dirty trick in the Boston-New York bus wars http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/anderkoo/2008/04/17/another-dirty-trick-in-the-boston-new-york-bus-wars/ Anderson + Koo = Anderkoo Wed, 02 Dec 2009 06:17:27 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5.2 hourly 1 By: Gene Koo http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/anderkoo/2008/04/17/another-dirty-trick-in-the-boston-new-york-bus-wars/comment-page-1/#comment-20240 Gene Koo Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:44:17 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/anderkoo/2008/04/17/another-dirty-trick-in-the-boston-ne#comment-20240 @ Trudy: Boltbus is partially a "loss leader" marketing scheme; given the high price of gas, there's no way that's a sustainable venture. I've learned that there's no free ride: one way that the Lucky Star bus line charges only $15 is by partnering with other small businesses where it regularly makes its obligatory but unnecessary rest stops. It's also a clever way to segment the market where those who are willing to pay more do so and those who aren't jump through hoops (a lot like the extra clicks I had to go through to get to my $20, I mean $23, ticket). Still, I'd be interested with your experience with the process. @ Melissa, I suspect there are laws that regulate this kind of bait-and-switch pricing. Perhaps a call to the Attorney General's office will give some guidance? Hmmm.... @ Trudy: Boltbus is partially a “loss leader” marketing scheme; given the high price of gas, there’s no way that’s a sustainable venture. I’ve learned that there’s no free ride: one way that the Lucky Star bus line charges only $15 is by partnering with other small businesses where it regularly makes its obligatory but unnecessary rest stops. It’s also a clever way to segment the market where those who are willing to pay more do so and those who aren’t jump through hoops (a lot like the extra clicks I had to go through to get to my $20, I mean $23, ticket). Still, I’d be interested with your experience with the process.

@ Melissa, I suspect there are laws that regulate this kind of bait-and-switch pricing. Perhaps a call to the Attorney General’s office will give some guidance? Hmmm….

]]> By: Rachel http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/anderkoo/2008/04/17/another-dirty-trick-in-the-boston-new-york-bus-wars/comment-page-1/#comment-20235 Rachel Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:51:44 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/anderkoo/2008/04/17/another-dirty-trick-in-the-boston-ne#comment-20235 I hear you. I mean, fine, charge us the three bucks, but just add it into the cost of the ticket. It's going to need to be printed regardless. I'm sure there's an extra cost in any format we get our tickets. It's the same thing with your phone bill. These extra weird charges just offend me. Add it into the overall cost... we'd never know! Oh well, I still need to take Greyhound until the other bus companies are up and running. Amtrak is still just too expensive! I hear you. I mean, fine, charge us the three bucks, but just add it into the cost of the ticket. It’s going to need to be printed regardless. I’m sure there’s an extra cost in any format we get our tickets. It’s the same thing with your phone bill. These extra weird charges just offend me. Add it into the overall cost… we’d never know!

Oh well, I still need to take Greyhound until the other bus companies are up and running. Amtrak is still just too expensive!

]]> By: Melissa http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/anderkoo/2008/04/17/another-dirty-trick-in-the-boston-new-york-bus-wars/comment-page-1/#comment-20228 Melissa Fri, 18 Apr 2008 03:24:03 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/anderkoo/2008/04/17/another-dirty-trick-in-the-boston-ne#comment-20228 It must be a new trend. Last week I went to a performance at a local coffee house/music hall. I elected to purchase my $20.00 ticket at the door. Them: "Actually, it's $22.50" Me: Ummmm...why? Them: Surcharge Me: Ummmm...for what? Them: The cost of printing the tickets For the record? I was not given a printed ticket. One of my friends who got there before me did receive a ticket. No, it wasn't the standard ticketmaster ticket, it was a basically a ticket sized piece of paper printed out on regular paper. Perhaps they should see if they can get a better deal at WB Mason? It must be a new trend. Last week I went to a performance at a local coffee house/music hall. I elected to purchase my $20.00 ticket at the door. Them: “Actually, it’s $22.50″
Me: Ummmm…why?
Them: Surcharge
Me: Ummmm…for what?
Them: The cost of printing the tickets

For the record? I was not given a printed ticket. One of my friends who got there before me did receive a ticket. No, it wasn’t the standard ticketmaster ticket, it was a basically a ticket sized piece of paper printed out on regular paper. Perhaps they should see if they can get a better deal at WB Mason?

]]> By: Trudy http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/anderkoo/2008/04/17/another-dirty-trick-in-the-boston-new-york-bus-wars/comment-page-1/#comment-20227 Trudy Fri, 18 Apr 2008 03:11:23 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/anderkoo/2008/04/17/another-dirty-trick-in-the-boston-ne#comment-20227 Maybe you'll make an exception for Greyhound's new Boltbus? Starting next Thursday you'll be able to travel between Boston and NYC for as little as $1 each way, and there is no convenience fee for printing a ticket, because there is no ticket -- you just give the driver your confirmation number. Boltbus' fares supposedly cap out at $25 each way but the most expensive ticket I've seen on the site is $15, and I didn't see many of those -- most trips are either $1, $7, $10 or sold out. They also have free wifi on the busses, and power at every seat. (no I don't work for them, I'm just very excited about going to NYC for $2 round trip ;-) Maybe you’ll make an exception for Greyhound’s new Boltbus? Starting next Thursday you’ll be able to travel between Boston and NYC for as little as $1 each way, and there is no convenience fee for printing a ticket, because there is no ticket — you just give the driver your confirmation number. Boltbus’ fares supposedly cap out at $25 each way but the most expensive ticket I’ve seen on the site is $15, and I didn’t see many of those — most trips are either $1, $7, $10 or sold out. They also have free wifi on the busses, and power at every seat. (no I don’t work for them, I’m just very excited about going to NYC for $2 round trip ;-)

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