Well it appears that the folks at Webjet are happy to continue taking cheap shots at Aussie travel agents after rolling out another shameful TVC suggesting travel agent quotes are usually out of date.
The new TVC, entitled “Webjet – Never out of date,” was rolled out on free-to-air TV last week, and has since stirred up the Australian travel agent community who have taken to Webjet’s own Facebook page to air their grievances to what is the second attack on them this year.
And it’s another attack that is simply unjustified and quite frankly shameful, leading many travel agents to accuse Webjet of employing “Donald Trump” tactics to smear their opposition.
“It is interesting to see how Webjet has adopted the Donald Trump tactic of criticizing the opposition while actually hiding the truth, which is that Webjet knows they can’t compete with our experience, service (both at point of sale and after sale) and in the end, price. I would say they are getting pretty desperate to resort to this.”
Peter Fiske, Partner and the Manager, Clayfield Travel Professionals
In case you haven’t seen the ad, it goes a little something like this:
**Cue mood lighting and soft piano music.”
MAN: “So yesterday I went to all the trouble of going to the travel agent for our overseas trip, and you’re telling me the quote’s out of date, that there’s even better flights just released online?”
WOMAN: “You got it.”
Man throws away quote.
**
Watch the full TVC here:
As you can see, the ad seeks to tarnish the image and reputation of front-line travel agents by claiming that their quotes are “out of date” and therefore consumers would be best booking their flights online to get “better flights.”
Which, of course, is simply untrue (Webjet have a reputation for being wrong about travel agents), leading the Australian travel agent community to come out in full force against the OTA, including scores of KarryOn readers:
But Webjet’s use of “school yard” bullying tactics has actually tarnished their already muddied view in the eyes of travel agents and consumers alike across the country, and certainly hasn’t done them any favours.
And just like we learnt back in school, when someone tries to poke fun and belittle you, it’s usually because they’re simply insecure.
Some travel agents, however, aren’t content with just posting their outrage at Webjet, but have even issued a good old duel against the online booking website.
“Ok Webjet. I challenge you to a 24-hour airfare comparison. Webjet vs. Goldman Travel Group. Bet you the difference in airfaes we quote vs what you quote. Oh, and we will give personal service to our customers.”
Anthony Goldman, Joint Managing Director, Goldman Travel Group
But if there’s one common theme threaded through most of the comments and outrage over Webjet’s new ad, it’s this: Webjet should hang their heads in shame and use some of the energy used to belittle travel agents in improving their own business model, such as their customer service…
*Read travel agent Matt Castell’s open letter to Webjet here.