Report by Lisa James
HIGH-STREET agents are as confused as their customers over
the latest discounts, according to a Travel Weekly investigation.
Travel Weekly ‘mystery shopped’ the top four multiple agencies in a busy high
street and found staff knowledge of the latest summer 2001 deals was limited.
And a vox pop on the streets of London found the general
public unconvinced by the discounts.
During the mystery shopper exercise, one Going Places
counter clerk said the 50% discount campaign was a “swizz,” while another said
working out the deals was a “nightmare”.
Many agents said they had been asked countless times over
the past three weeks to explain the deals to confused shoppers.
First Choice managing director UK distribution manager Peter
Shanks said: “We’ve invested in training to ensure our staff are well aware of
our offers. There might be isolated incidents where people are confused but our
experience is that our BOGOF campaign is one of the clearest we have ever had.”
Going Places was unavailable and Lunn Poly refused to
comment.