| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 05/06/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 72 |
| Copyright: Other |
Discounting measure
Preferred agents hit out at Lunn Poly offer
THOMSON Preferred Agents claim they have been dealt a further blow by an offer from Lunn Poly to take an extra 10% off Thomson products.Thomson sales director Manuel Mascarenhas admitted some agents have raised the subject but said it was out of the operator’s hands.
Barrhead Travel director Bill Munro said: “Two editions of a Bargain Blitz brochure have been produced but the Lunn Poly edition says save an additional 10% off Thomson products.
“It is blatantly undercutting the independent Preferred Agents.”
Mascarenhas said it was a commercial decision by the retailer to offer the additional discount.
“This discount is not being funded by Thomson,” he said. “We are offering discounts of up to 40% and if any retailer wants to offer that bit more to get an advantage, it is up to them.”
The discount follows controversy over a new telephone system which directed customers to their nearest Lunn Poly or Thomas Cook. The system has since been rectified and now includes listings of independent Preferred Agents.