Agoda Prices Higher When Clicking through Cashrewards

loginid on 28/04/2023 - 10:24

Hi all,

This is something I have anecdotally noticed in the past, but I have never done a 'test' to see if it was actually true.

Today cashrewards has 10% cashback on Agoda.

So I thought I'd do a quick test to see if what I 'thought' was true actually was true and it turns out, it is true 😖. If I search for exactly the same dates and exactly the same destination, in two separate browsers. When I click through cashrewards I get the same results, but the rooms are more expensive than if I just go directly to Agoda itself.

Here are the screenshots:

  1. This is the results clicking through Cashrewards onto agoda:

https://ibb.co/wsHQ7j8

  1. This is the result from going directly to Agoda itself in a different private browser (same IP, computer,etc.):

https://ibb.co/0qLTPCY

The first listing is the same price, but the next two are more expensive. One is even $30 more expensive 😓

I personally really love cashrewards and use them a lot, but to me, it looks like Agoda or Cashrewards seem to covering their costs by jacking up the prices and in the end, as the consumers we're not really getting any true benefit from using them at all.

Am I going crazy? What's going on here?

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Comments

  • Muzeeb on 28/04/2023 - 10:27
    +1

    It has been like this for ages with accommodation and travel sites. Has been mentioned on the forums here in the past as well.

    Just did a quick search and definitely as far back as 2018.

    Search the forums using "cashrewards accommodation" and the hits are numerous.

    @tightarse prides himself on his transparency so I'm sure he will chime in with the reasoning if he hasn't already done so in the past.

  • dasher86 on 28/04/2023 - 10:31
    +1

    I use google or tripadvisor to find the best room prices.
    but yes affiliate links jack up the costs for quite a while now.
    I remember when cashrewards (or was it topcashback) had a fixed cashback for hostel bookings @ hostel world. I booked every night separately, and just got the hostel to link my bookings when i go there.
    long gone are the days.

  • first in line on 28/04/2023 - 10:31
    -2

    Common Knowledge

  • No on 28/04/2023 - 10:40
    +3

    I find that Agoda is cheapest if you click through from tripadvisor or trivago. Sometimes by 10% or more.

    • Autonomic on 28/04/2023 - 18:50

      Clicking through google's hotel search can also yield cheaper prices.

    • GEE-SHOCK on 30/04/2023 - 15:00

      Thanks! Saved some extra bucks due to this!!

  • AngoraFish on 28/04/2023 - 10:40
    +7

    Thanks for investigating OP. Unlike the people who have studiously read every OzB post back to last century this was news to me.

  • Autonomic on 28/04/2023 - 10:41
    +1

    I definitely notice this with Agoda. Shopback had 14% cashback on Wotif the other day and there was no change in price when clicking through.

    • loginid on 28/04/2023 - 13:58

      Good to know, thanks Autonomic. I'll keep an eye out for wotif and stay clear of Agoda!

      • Autonomic on 28/04/2023 - 14:02

        No worries. Good to check them all though, sometimes Agoda will be cheaper even without any cashback.

  • garffi on 28/04/2023 - 17:21

    As others have mentioned, clicking through TripAdvisor has usually given me the best prices. Also, make sure you pay with a card that has no international transaction fees. I have had to pay fees even though the price was in AUD and the hotel was in Australia.

    Side note, I have also found that if you use the 'pay later' for hotels overseas, they may change the booking into their local currency. When I use the currency converter, it turns out to be a bit more expensive than when booked in AUD. Your booking also no longer shows the AUD price so there's no proof. Paying immediately but having free cancellation seems to be the better option.

  • GEE-SHOCK on 30/04/2023 - 00:36

    Thanks. Recently looking at Agoda trying to book accomodation for trips. The prices seem to change every time I check the same room out. They also have these random popped up vouchers.

    Also wondering if displaying AUD or the original currency (EUR) would matter (the page says ultimately I would be charged in Euro).

  • runamuck on 01/05/2023 - 00:36

    Not only it is more expensive if you click through cashrewards, you will also get denied the cashback. It was tracked in cashrewards showing the cashback pending, waited many months and was denied. Same excuse, telling me that the sale was not attributed to cashrewards cos i probably opened another page, had ad blocker, used a coupon etc… No, i did not do any of the above. Used cashrewards long enough to know what not to do. So dont waste your time. Use shopback instead.

    • AnophthalmiaCervidae on 31/05/2023 - 15:32

      No better experience with ShopBack,
      Cashback still gets denied.

      Initial Agoda claim "rejected due to cancellation"
      Provided proof that the travel was actually completed (including credit card statement of charges to Agoda).
      Then they went with the "not attributed to ShopBack" bullshot.

      Book direct, if it is only cheaper because of a cashback don't bother because the vendors can lie (to Cashrewards/ShopBack) deny tracking and not pay.
      If it is the same price with the cashback sites roll the dice. Might get a payout one day.

  • gadgetguy on 20/04/2024 - 13:56

    Just discovered this thread when about to book via Agoda. The advice to book via TripAdvisor did not work for me - $1674 AUD direct on Agoda versus $1869 via TripAdvisor.

    The price via Cashrewards was actually slightly lower - $1662.

    Not sure if anything changed since this post started but don't take this advice on face value and check yourself.

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