Lay My Hat Forum

fincafern · Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 9:04 pm Post subject:

I have just received my annual reminder for renewal with Homelidays and was quite annoyed to see how much the price had gone up - just over 40 %. unless I have made a mistake with my invoices.

In 07, I paid €105 pa
In 08, I paid €125 pa
In 09, I am now asked to pay €199 pa

With two adverts running, that will cost € 400 pa !My houses are next door to each other but they won't let me refer to them singly on an advert so insist on 2 ads.
I have searched on LMH to try to find out when these price increases were made - ie. before or after the takeover. The nearest I can find is prices were as above /ie.normal in late Dec 08. I don't mind an increase of €20 pa but not this, especially when I have kept my prices in pounds and reduced some monthly rates.
The takeover was early Feb 09 - did the prices increase after or before takeover ? Did anyone on here pay their fees Jan / Feb or Mar 09 and could check for me please.

HelenB · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 7758 Location: Serre Chevalier

I paid 169€ in January

Brenda · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 8:09 am Post subject:

I am usually getting a good supply of enquiries and bookings by now from Homelidays but not a whisper from them yet this year.

Fingers crossed things change soon as they have been by far my best Guest provider for the past 2 years.

I got a great deal on my renewal in January (€85 for 12 months) but would be reluctant to pay €199 if enquiries are going to plummet.
_________________
Lake view B+B in Andalucia
www.bandblakevinuela.com
www.spain-holiday.com/rentals/accommodations/properties/5555/La+Vinuela/6/Malaga/0/Andalucia/La+Vinuela.html
www.ownersdirect.co.uk/spain/S3364.htm

Giuliana · Joined: 17 Sep 2008 Posts: 77 Location: Sicily

I paid €169 in January, but now it's €199.
Maybe one of the most expensive but it's the one that gives me the most bookings!
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http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/rentals/messina/64475
http://www.villagiuliana.iowners.net/home.html

Richard D · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 8:19 am Post subject:

We're just getting towards the end of the 2 month free trial and I don't think I'll progress to a paid ad right now as we don't really have that much left to go for this Summer now. We did get several enquiries and one booking though (all French or Spanish and for peak season) so they'll go into the "maybe" list for the new tranch of listings I usually set up around October.
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Child Friendly Gites in Charente Maritime

fincafern · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 8:31 am Post subject:

...hmmm. Brenda, I usually have lots of enquiries too but for the past month , nada. I haven't had a single enquiry for nearly 4 weeks, very strange and it isn't to do with the fact that we have a lot of bookings. I have checked past history and I usually have plenty of enquiries for the shoulder months at this time of year.
I am now in a dilemma, whether to renew or not.
It's my favorite site too...but €400 is too much, especially if the enquiries are going to dry up.
Thanks, Giulana, for the price info. It would appear that they have increased their prices twice in 12 months from your data -once in January 09, €125 to €169 and then again near the takeover time I would guess, Feb/ Mar 09 ? €169 to this current €199.
Whenever it happened, a 40 % price increase in one year, particularly these years with all their financial problems, I find unacceptable and greedy.
I was afraid this would happen.

la vache! · Joined: 16 Feb 2005 Posts: 7554 Location: Brittany, France

I can't afford to list with them, 1 booking, a few other enquiries, but they are ridiculously expensive as are most the listing sites at the moment and none of them are delivering enough enquiries to justify their prices.
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"What you can't get out of, get into wholeheartedly."

fincafern · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 9:13 am Post subject:

I am still getting enquiries from my other rental sites but not from this one any more, for some unknown reason.

The same thing happened for me with Holiday lets when they were taken over by Homelidays. I still had nearly a year to run and never had another booking during that time whereas previously, they had performed very well for us.

This is why I am overly suspicious or maybe expecting it to happen again with this takeover.

Big Sis.. · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 9:15 am Post subject:

BenFrirnan · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 9:17 am Post subject:

My renewals with Homelidays come up in July. Last year, we paid 169 Euros on each one. This year, I will send an email offering to pay the same as last year and if they don't like it, I'll advertise elsewhere.

Now, where elsewhere? The thing that Homlidays has provided is French visitors and we love them. I wonder what other listing sites have good visibility in France?
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Cheers, Ben
http://www.scotland-cottage.com

fincafern · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 11:44 am Post subject:

If you find one Ben, please let me know too.
I am expressing my annoyance with my feet and walking away from them ! Laughing

HelenB · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 7758 Location: Serre Chevalier

I shall probably be stopping my listing with them next January unless they produce astoundingly good results between now and then.

Brenda · Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 6:43 am Post subject:

Just checked my statistics for 2009.

Although we got 12 enquiries from Homelidays in March - and none yet this year - they ALL came from the Easter weekend onwards (Easter was early last year with Easter Sunday on 23rd March).

With Easter being later this year perhaps Homelidays enquiries will not start until April.

Fingers crossed they do start coming in!
_________________
Lake view B+B in Andalucia
www.bandblakevinuela.com
www.spain-holiday.com/rentals/accommodations/properties/5555/La+Vinuela/6/Malaga/0/Andalucia/La+Vinuela.html
www.ownersdirect.co.uk/spain/S3364.htm

Nessie · Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 8:33 am Post subject: