c4countdown

Matt Morrison wrote:what changed?

I changed.

I guess there are some pretty good deals on this page considering the site has been crashed to fuck since the newsletter went out: http://www.travelodge.co.uk/early-bird-deal-for-2014
Corby wins?

Matt Morrison wrote:I guess there are some pretty good deals on this page considering the site has been crashed to fuck since the newsletter went out: http://www.travelodge.co.uk/early-bird-deal-for-2014
Corby wins?

I bet you're behind a DDoS on it because you're so bitter about me paying less than you AGAIN.

Looks like Lincoln not included - still £9 more than we paid! Keep on waiting Corbykins.

I have bought a room at the Travelodge on the Friday night for slightly but negligibly more than Matt Morrison and Ryan Taylor have paid, but for probably a significant amount cheaper than Jon Corby will pay. I hope this helps.

I can only imagine it helps some people a little bit, doesn't help other people much at all, and helps you more than any other individual. I hope this helps.

Yeah, I noticed the price seemed to go up as well in the 'sale'. It's lucky I've got so many good friends that, even if I end up pricing myself completely out, they'll happily accommodate me in their rooms rather than see me out in the cold. Probably even at zero cost. I am truly blessed.

I still haven't booked Saturday yet and noticed the "sale" price. I'm going to hold out a bit longer.

Let's be clear, it's not a sale price. It's not included in the sale. So you guys should still have hope. I think last time it all kicked off mid-December or something? (Can't be arsed to check.)

Matt Morrison wrote:Let's be clear, it's not a sale price. It's not included in the sale. So you guys should still have hope. I think last time it all kicked off mid-December or something? (Can't be arsed to check.)

Yeah, it was a few years ago we picked up the £12 rooms, but I think last year was only £19 and £29 or something. It's almost double that at the moment. It is weird if you look at the whole calendar, as the week before COLIN is far cheaper. It's you pricks booking early that has driven the price up.

Jon Corby wrote:

Matt Morrison wrote:Let's be clear, it's not a sale price. It's not included in the sale. So you guys should still have hope. I think last time it all kicked off mid-December or something? (Can't be arsed to check.)

Yeah, it was a few years ago we picked up the £12 rooms, but I think last year was only £19 and £29 or something. It's almost double that at the moment. It is weird if you look at the whole calendar, as the week before COLIN is far cheaper. It's you pricks booking early that has driven the price up.

I think whatever algorithm they use to set their prices will probably look at previous years' experience. Also I think more people are staying in the Travelodge nowadays. The problem is that we are too cool, and now everybody is copying us.

Jon Corby wrote:

Matt Morrison wrote:Let's be clear, it's not a sale price. It's not included in the sale. So you guys should still have hope. I think last time it all kicked off mid-December or something? (Can't be arsed to check.)

Yeah, it was a few years ago we picked up the £12 rooms, but I think last year was only £19 and £29 or something. It's almost double that at the moment. It is weird if you look at the whole calendar, as the week before COLIN is far cheaper. It's you pricks booking early that has driven the price up.

You should go the weekend before, then. Show us how it's done.

Mark Deeks wrote:You should go the weekend before, then. Show us how it's done.

Might just do that, the Saturday's gone up to £55 now

Sit tight. It will come to us.

And remember, the objective of COLIN might be to get cheap accommodation but failing to do so doesn't make you worse at Countdown.

Hoping to come with my husband, Alan, if you still have spaces, Ben

Phyl Styles wrote:Hoping to come with my husband, Alan, if you still have spaces, Ben

Of course.

The Saturday is now at £64.20

Jon Corby wrote:The Saturday is now at £64.20

Sit tight.

Still feeling glad that I went early. How long til people end up in the Best Western?

Zarte Siempre wrote:Still feeling glad that I went early. How long til people end up in the Best Western?

Never!

Does anyone actually like the game playing aspect of Co:Lin or is everyone purely interested in the fascinating science of hotel and train fare booking it so proudly deals in?

Mark Deeks wrote:Does anyone actually like the game playing aspect of Co:Lin or is everyone purely interested in the fascinating science of hotel and train fare booking it so proudly deals in?

Seeing as you managed to win, I hardly think that needs answering.

Mark Deeks wrote:Does anyone actually like the game playing aspect of Co:Lin or is everyone purely interested in the fascinating science of hotel and train fare booking it so proudly deals in?

Seeing as you managed to win, I hardly think that needs answering.

Seems I've won at both games, really.

Mark Deeks wrote:Seems I've won at both games, really.

We shall see, we shall see.

Jon Corby wrote:The Saturday is now at £64.20

Were you misreading the Flexible prices? It's £64.20 at Flexible today. If not, then you'll be pleased to hear it's "down" to £52.20 now at normal (Saver) price.

Matt Morrison wrote:

Jon Corby wrote:The Saturday is now at £64.20

Were you misreading the Flexible prices? It's £64.20 at Flexible today. If not, then you'll be pleased to hear it's "down" to £52.20 now at normal (Saver) price.

No, it was £64.20. Then went back down to £52. Now it's back at £64. And the Friday is creeping up too, it's at £32 now. Where's the sale?

Jon Corby wrote:

Matt Morrison wrote:

Jon Corby wrote:The Saturday is now at £64.20

Were you misreading the Flexible prices? It's £64.20 at Flexible today. If not, then you'll be pleased to hear it's "down" to £52.20 now at normal (Saver) price.

No, it was £64.20. Then went back down to £52. Now it's back at £64. And the Friday is creeping up too, it's at £32 now. Where's the sale?

Up Gevin's bum. Why don't you go and look for it? With your tongue.

Corby's going nowhere near.

Gavin Chipper wrote:Corby's going nowhere near.

NOWHERE NEAR THE NORTH HYKEHAM TRAVELODGE AT THIS RATE!!!!!

Defo taking a risk by actually not booking anything yet...................

That's the risk you take when a CO-event is on FA Cup 4th round weekend...............

James Robinson wrote:Defo taking a risk by actually not booking anything yet...................

That's the risk you take when a CO-event is on FA Cup 4th round weekend...............

What's that got to do with the price of ... Travelodge?

Gavin Chipper wrote:

James Robinson wrote:Defo taking a risk by actually not booking anything yet...................

That's the risk you take when a CO-event is on FA Cup 4th round weekend...............

What's that got to do with the price of ... Travelodge?

Easy, by the time, the 3rd round is done 3 weeks before COLIN, there might not be a Travelodge room to book into

Oh it is FA Cup again? We spotted the draw for the 3rd round was for the first weekend in January and just assumed things had changed this year. I can't believe there's only 3 weeks between rounds! Glad though. It's always an added dimension.

Matt Morrison wrote:

Jon Corby wrote:Where's the sale?

Up Gevin's bum. Why don't you go and look for it? With your tongue.

Oh Matt. I can't believe you fell for that.

James Robinson wrote:

Gavin Chipper wrote:

James Robinson wrote:Defo taking a risk by actually not booking anything yet...................

That's the risk you take when a CO-event is on FA Cup 4th round weekend...............

What's that got to do with the price of ... Travelodge?

Easy, by the time, the 3rd round is done 3 weeks before COLIN, there might not be a Travelodge room to book into

Is it traditional to spend the FA Cup 4th round in a Travelodge then? Are Hykeham FC at home to Manchester United?

Would be a pretty close game if they were!

Cos Hykeham FC (if they even exist) would only be a small club, but Man Utd are rubbish at the moment!

Moyes!!!!

LOL

They do exist. They're 4th in the table of their league at the moment (the glamorous-sounding Sills and Betteridge Lincolnshire Football League Premier Division), a league that apparently has no fixtures in January - so they'll be well prepared for that game against United.

Jennifer Steadman wrote:They do exist. They're 4th in the table of their league at the moment (the glamorous-sounding Sills and Betteridge Lincolnshire Football League Premier Division), a league that apparently has no fixtures in January - so they'll be well prepared for that game against United.

It'd be a bit inconvenient for us though, given that they play their home fixtures on the playing field behind the Memorial Hall.

£29 & £71 for Fri & Sat

that adds up to £100!!

Matt Morrison wrote:that adds up to £100!!

Back to £28.99 and £64.20 today.

Do you suppose that they monitor the number of people searching for specific locations/dates, and adjust the prices accordingly? If I stop showing interest for a week, will the price fall?

So Gev are we doing that eating competition this year?

Jon Corby wrote:

Matt Morrison wrote:that adds up to £100!!

Back to £28.99 and £64.20 today.

Do you suppose that they monitor the number of people searching for specific locations/dates, and adjust the prices accordingly? If I stop showing interest for a week, will the price fall?

They would be crazy if they didn't monitor year-long booking peaks such as Colin creates, which is perhaps why sales have gotten noticeably more disappointing in the last couple of years.
But your guess is as good as mine simply for searching and analytics on the particular location/date search combos. Even then, they could read it two different ways - "huge amounts of searches per actual booking so let's drop the price and close the sale" or "huge amount of searches per actual booking so clearly these guys are getting desperate, let's hold out until closer to the time and pressure them into making that booking".

Who knows.

Mark Deeks wrote:So Gev are we doing that eating competition this year?

Wicked idea. I really am keen on this. So where did we get to - just chips yeah? We'll get everyone (other than you two; free food) to chip in (haha, CHIPS) and we'll just keep buying portions of chips from the pub until one of you gives up?

Fine by me. I bet Gevin won't play though. Pre-emptive booing. Booooooooo!

Jon Corby wrote:

Matt Morrison wrote:that adds up to £100!!

Back to £28.99 and £64.20 today.

Do you suppose that they monitor the number of people searching for specific locations/dates, and adjust the prices accordingly? If I stop showing interest for a week, will the price fall?

This is getting very quantum mechanical. Is there a way of making an observation without affecting the thing?

Mark Deeks wrote:Fine by me. I bet Gevin won't play though. Pre-emptive booing. Booooooooo!

How did this come up in the first place? Did I say I was really good at eating or did someone else put me forward on the basis of having two puddings in the pub or having more than one thing in Little Chef?

I dunno, I forgot. But you were up for it at one point and then backed down because you weren't feeling the competitive element.

Mark Deeks wrote:I dunno, I forgot. But you were up for it at one point and then backed down because you weren't feeling the competitive element.

It was probably the feeling uncomfortable for ages afterwards that I was against.

That's only a problem if you lose. Which you will, obviously.

Can a decision be made nearer the time?

Yes, but that very statement alone tells me you've pretty much already made it.

Boooooooo!

If you don't want to do quantity Gev you either have to do "spicy" or "disgusting", do either of those appeal more?

Gev, as long as it doesn't involve carrots or pineapple, you can make every rule of this that you want, to suit your every whim.

Matt Morrison wrote:If you don't want to do quantity Gev you either have to do "spicy" or "disgusting", do either of those appeal more?

Yeah. Carrots and pineapple are pretty disgusting. We could do that.

You win. Enjoy your hollow victory.

The thing is - I see myself as OK at eating food. If I go to a Pizza Hut buffet or go our for a curry where they have some offer meaning that you effectively have to order more than most people would eat, I do a better job than most of my friends. But I don't eat industrial amounts of food. I've never been on food-eating Apterous to practise. I'm more like the good play-along-at-home eater. And I worry that you can eat at levels that spoil it for everyone else.

I'll give you a headstart. I'll have a starter.