Cruise Ships Financially Exploit Onshore Stores

"unfrostedpoptart" wrote in message
...

On Monday, May 21, 2012 7:13:20 PM UTC-7, Go Fig wrote:
Convinced that the stores on their easy-to-follow map will lead them
to the greatest onshore deals, the eager tourists are unaware that the
cruise line's recommendations are driven solely by profit. They are
unaware that the maps are leading them to stores whose revenue goes
straight back to the ship.

Before cruise passengers go onshore to one of their ship's
destinations, they are given shopping lectures and store maps with the
industry's recommendations for the best deals and the highest quality
products. But what the passengers aren't told is that these stores
have paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual fees to be
listed.

What a crock! First of all, all the people going to these lectures on the
cruise to find the best places to shop and taking cruises to find amazing
deals from "poor countries" are fools to start with. And, if they don't know
that the person giving the lecture and handing out the maps isn't sending
them to a store they're in business with, they have the IQs of turnips and
deserve everything they get.

David

We went to a store in St. Thomas looking for a specific Movado watch that my
wife saw online and wanted to buy.
Of course, the shopping guide told us to go to Diamonds International for
the best price.
We always shop around and wound up purchasing the watch for 15% less at
Little Switzerland.
We saw the shopping guide downtown in St. Thomas and mentioned it to him.
He said that was not possible. We pulled out the receipt and walked into DI
with him to prove it.
Funny part is Little Switzerland was also on the shoppers list that he
handed out.
Cannot figure out why he was angry we found a better bargain.

On our last cruise we felt the shopper was the worst we have had in years.
She didn't even know
that 90% of the stores in Aruba were closed due to a national holiday. She
told us they would ALL be open until at least noon.

When we went to the Belgian Chocolate store in St. Thomas we asked the owner
of the store why her store was no longer
listed in the ship's shopping guide and the one in St. Maartin (which was
far inferior and recommended by the shopper) was.
The owner said she was supposed to be in the guide since she was paying for
the mention. I gave her the guide and she said
she was going to look into it.

We have stopped going to the shopping presentation because we have now
cruised enough times to shop on our own. There is
unfortunately, more misinformation given out at these things than good
information.

In article , "Jr."
wrote:

"unfrostedpoptart" wrote in message
...

On Monday, May 21, 2012 7:13:20 PM UTC-7, Go Fig wrote:
Convinced that the stores on their easy-to-follow map will lead them
to the greatest onshore deals, the eager tourists are unaware that the
cruise line's recommendations are driven solely by profit. They are
unaware that the maps are leading them to stores whose revenue goes
straight back to the ship.

Before cruise passengers go onshore to one of their ship's
destinations, they are given shopping lectures and store maps with the
industry's recommendations for the best deals and the highest quality
products. But what the passengers aren't told is that these stores
have paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual fees to be
listed.

What a crock! First of all, all the people going to these lectures on the
cruise to find the best places to shop and taking cruises to find amazing
deals from "poor countries" are fools to start with. And, if they don't know
that the person giving the lecture and handing out the maps isn't sending
them to a store they're in business with, they have the IQs of turnips and
deserve everything they get.

I'll be impressed with this argument when people start getting upset
about newspaper advertising supplements or, even more on point, radio
personalities showing up at car dealers, etc. Why are cruise ships the
only ones who can't take advertising?


Funny part is Little Switzerland was also on the shoppers list that he
handed out.
Cannot figure out why he was angry we found a better bargain.

Maybe at Little Switzerland for bushwhacking him like that???

--
People thought cybersex was a safe alternative,
until patients started presenting with sexually
acquired carpal tunnel syndrome.-Howard Berkowitz

On 5/25/2012 8:54 AM, Kurt Ullman wrote:

I'll be impressed with this argument when people start getting upset
about newspaper advertising supplements or, even more on point, radio
personalities showing up at car dealers, etc. Why are cruise ships the
only ones who can't take advertising?

They're not presented as advertising. When you get an advertising
supplement in your newspaper, it specifically says that it is
advertising and may even say that on each page. Where does it say that
on the maps that the cruise lines hand out? Where is the disclaimer at
the start of the shopping talks?

Bill

On 5/25/2012 4:39 PM, Bill wrote:
On 5/25/2012 8:54 AM, Kurt Ullman wrote:

I'll be impressed with this argument when people start getting upset
about newspaper advertising supplements or, even more on point, radio
personalities showing up at car dealers, etc. Why are cruise ships the
only ones who can't take advertising?

They're not presented as advertising. When you get an advertising
supplement in your newspaper, it specifically says that it is
advertising and may even say that on each page. Where does it say that
on the maps that the cruise lines hand out? Where is the disclaimer at
the start of the shopping talks?

Bill

None. Bill is correct. The cruise ship "shopping experts" treat their
information as though it's been researched and proven and never do they
*EVER* tell the pax that they are shilling for shops that pay them for
the recommendation.

Ever look at the lighting in one of those Diamonds International shops?
It's specially made to make their gems appear clearer and brighter
than they really are. Never buy anything from one of those port stores
without taking it outside and looking at in natural light.

Don't believe me? I have a bargain diamond tennis bracelet that was
gorgeous in the store and looks like gray dirt in every other light.

--
Janet Wilder
Way-the-heck-south Texas
Spelling doesn't count. Cooking does.

Janet Wilder wrote:
On 5/25/2012 4:39 PM, Bill wrote:
On 5/25/2012 8:54 AM, Kurt Ullman wrote:

I'll be impressed with this argument when people start getting upset
about newspaper advertising supplements or, even more on point, radio
personalities showing up at car dealers, etc. Why are cruise ships the
only ones who can't take advertising?

They're not presented as advertising. When you get an advertising
supplement in your newspaper, it specifically says that it is
advertising and may even say that on each page. Where does it say that
on the maps that the cruise lines hand out? Where is the disclaimer at
the start of the shopping talks?

Bill

None. Bill is correct. The cruise ship "shopping experts" treat their
information as though it's been researched and proven and never do they
*EVER* tell the pax that they are shilling for shops that pay them for the recommendation.

Ever look at the lighting in one of those Diamonds International shops?
It's specially made to make their gems appear clearer and brighter than
they really are. Never buy anything from one of those port stores
without taking it outside and looking at in natural light.

Don't believe me? I have a bargain diamond tennis bracelet that was
gorgeous in the store and looks like gray dirt in every other light.

I agree with you and Bill about the cruise ship '"shopping experts" and
their role.

As for the lighting at Diamond International, jewelry shops anywhere will
have that lighting that is made for jewelry stores to make the gems look
good and entice you to buy. It is not just at Diamonds International.

--
Charles

On May 26, 6:59*am, Charles wrote:

I agree with you and Bill about the cruise ship '"shopping experts" and
their role.

Charles

It has been almost six years since I last posted here although I have
always lurked.

Back in 1967 my wife and I took the first of 4 Italian Line cruises.
We were in St. Thomas shopping when we noticed one of the ship's
officers was also there. We were shocked when we heard him ask the
clerk for "his envelope", but that day we learned the hard facts about
the endorsements that are given during the "informational chats" that
precede every port of call.

Dick G in Cherry Hill, NJ

"You can fool all of the people some of the time. You can fool some of
the people all of the time. You can't fool all of the people all of the
time."

"A fool and his money are soon parted."

~~Doris~~

Good to see you back Dick!
~Doris~In Spring Hill FL

Dick G in Cherry Hill, NJ wrote:
On May 26, 6:59 am, Charles wrote:
I agree with you and Bill about the cruise ship '"shopping experts" and
their role.

Charles

It has been almost six years since I last posted here although I have
always lurked.

Back in 1967 my wife and I took the first of 4 Italian Line cruises.
We were in St. Thomas shopping when we noticed one of the ship's
officers was also there. We were shocked when we heard him ask the
clerk for "his envelope", but that day we learned the hard facts about
the endorsements that are given during the "informational chats" that
precede every port of call.

Dick G in Cherry Hill, NJ

I remember you, Dick. I still peek in here occasionally.

Ermalee

On May 28, 10:28*pm, Ermalee McCauley wrote:
Dick G in Cherry Hill, NJ wrote:

I remember you, Dick. *I still peek in here occasionally.

Ermalee

Ermalee and Doris,

I am aware that because there was a lot of fake posting that went on
here many of the "regulars" here have gone to a better place. I
emailed Jean using the address that she used when I was a part of her
mailing list but she never responded.

Since I am no longer cruising it wasn't important, but since there is
not a lot of news here, and much of it is not trustworthy, if you know
what I mean, I would like to join in even if only as a reader. You
never know if there just might be something I learned over 35 years of
cruising that I could pass along.

Dick