Cashrewards - Travel Pricing Manipulated on Booking.com

Been making some accommodation bookings, domestic and overseas. Don't know about other cashback sites, but Cashrewards/Booking.com is clearly manipulating search results on Booking.com.

Many instances where the organic search on Booking.com shows price X, if you use Cashrewards' "cashback" link (app or desktop) - the price is higher, by around the cashback amount anyway.

Clearly intentional, dishonest practice. Has anyone found a workaround or is this the norm with cashback now?

Edit:Apologies if this has been discussed before. Last relevant post I found was 6months ago. Not very used to the cashback sites.

Feel bad for less tech savvy folks who would get completely duped by this.

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Comments

  • +6

    To be fair, it's been 8 days since this topic was raised.

  • Are you on genius level ?

    Shows normal price

    • +1

      Yes.Level 1 though. Shows higher price via Cashrewards link for me.

  • +4

    I think you'll find it's booking.com doing the manipulating personalisation.

    Every affiliate link for these aggregator sites has different pricing.

    Has anyone found a workaround

    Compare multiple websites and pick the cheapest with/without cashback.

  • +2

    This is why you research, note the price, add it to a wish list and then when there is a cashback offer you go and book it.

    Have done multiple CR (and SB) bookings on booking.com over the last few months and never seen the price change

    • +1

      I tend to agree with this.
      Always research. Check with/without CR, direct with venue, other sites like expedia and other aggregators.

      When I see a decent cashback without the price getting manipulated, and after comparing direct with the hotel's (or whatever accommodation)_ website then use CR as appropriate.

  • +1

    I recently spent around $7.5k in accommodation at Booking and Expedia through CR and successful got around $800 back.

    Always always check prices for the same thing before and after going through CR or SB.

    You can call it dishonest or whatever, as long as I can check beforehand I can avoid it.

    Mine were all the same price through CR or SB whether it was Expedia or Booking.

  • +4

    It's already been mentioned but again to emphasise that it's not the CashBack sites doing this but the booking sites….direct your anger towards them instead.

  • Clearly intentional, dishonest practice. Has anyone found a workaround or is this the norm with cashback now?

    Pretty much standard 101 for cashrewards these these… Lots of intentional, dishonest practices with the plan to screw you out of the cash back.

    So if the price goes up equal to the cash back, then don't bother with the cashback, as you might not get it.

    • -1

      Cashrewards don't control the pricing on Booking.com. Don't spread misinformation when you have your own issues with CR.

      Booking.com will increase prices on some properties for all affiliate networks. It's no different to how some hotels are eligible for the Genius 20% discount, while others are only 10% or none at all. Booking.com are responsible.

      • +1

        Cashrewards don't control the pricing on Booking.com. Don't spread misinformation when you have your own issues with CR.

        I never said they did, I did say CR has lots of intentional, dishonest practices with the plan to screw you out of the cash back though.

        Booking.com will increase prices on some properties for all affiliate networks

        And as I said, if the price goes up around equal to the CB, then don't even bother as see point 1, CR will find a way to screw you over so you are worse off.

  • I always check prices coming from both CR and SB, and also then in incognito mode and also from Tripadvisor..

    • Thanks, that helps!

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