Richard Kaban · Sep 11, 2025 ยท 5:37 PM
Inbound · 11:46 · Planner: Susan Bender · +19177713461
“that's why we call you instead of looking at the book. Yeah, no credit like.”
Send Richard a detailed confirmation of the March 17 Viking River cruise deposit and add-on, with a reminder to call by October 20th to provide ACH routing information if he wants the 3.3% payment discount before the October 31 final payment deadline. Also follow up within 2-3 weeks to see if he has decided between the March and April dates.
Full analysis
What happened
Richard called to provide a deposit for a Viking River Cruise with a pre-trip Brussels add-on and March 17 departure. He had several substantive questions: the routing from JFK to Brussels, why the add-on costs more than others, and whether a competitor offering (Tulip Time) had the same trip at half price. Susan walked him through cabin availability across March and April dates, explaining that brochure lead-in prices are loss leaders and unavailable. Richard paid the deposit via credit card and confirmed he would call back before October 31 final payment to provide ACH routing for a 3.3% discount. The booking appears to be moving forward, though Richard is still comparing options and considering payment method tradeoffs (cash discount vs. credit card points).
Emotional read
Richard was engaged and methodical throughout, asking specific pricing and logistics questions with genuine curiosity rather than frustration. He displayed a transactional but friendly demeanor, comfortable pushing back on pricing discrepancies while maintaining rapport with Susan. His tone was matter-of-fact and practical, focused on getting details right.
Emotional arc through the call
Richard remained consistently engaged and pragmatic throughout; no significant shift in emotional state, though he warmed slightly when Susan gave honest explanation of why brochures list unavailable lead-in prices.
How customer sees Pavlus
- positive · expressed confidence in calling Pavlus rather than relying on brochure prices: 'that's why we call you instead of looking at the book'
- neutral · acknowledged Susan's honest explanation of industry practice: 'They'll put the lowest price whether it's available or not just to get you to call'
Value perception
Richard values Pavlus's direct agent access to check real availability and actual pricing, which he sees as preferable to relying on marketing brochures. He stated 'that's why we call you instead of looking at the book,' indicating he trusts the agency to surface what's actually bookable rather than lead-in bait.
Customer behaviors
comparison-shopping against Tulip Time river cruisesscrutinizing pricing discrepancies and add-on costsmethodically evaluating multiple departure date optionsdeferring final payment method decision pending points vs. discount analysisgathering detailed logistical information before committing
Topics & signals
| Topics | Viking River Cruises pre-trip extension routingadd-on pricing comparisoncompetitor pricing (Tulip Time river cruises)cabin category and availabilityMarch vs April departure datesdeposit payment processingcash payment discount (3.3% ACH incentive)onboard credit differences |
|---|---|
| Destinations | BrusselsAmsterdamJFK |
| Cruise lines | Viking River CruisesTulip Time |
| Buying signals | provided credit card deposit information to agentcompared specific March 17 and April 12 departure dates in detailasked about ACH payment discount before final payment deadlineconfirmed he will follow up before final payment on October 31st |
| Objections | unsure why this add-on costs more than others at $5,600+concerned competitor offers same trip for half the priceskeptical about brochure lead-in prices that aren't actually availableApril mid-month pricing significantly higher than March specials |
Analyzed 2026-05-28 09:20:33 by claude-haiku-4-5-20251001. Confidence 0.78.
Transcript (10,163 chars)
Agent (Susan Bender): Travel, this is Susan. Customer: Yeah, yeah. Hi Susan, it's Richard. Can calling you back. Agent (Susan Bender): Hi, hi Richard. Okay. Customer: Hi. Customer: I have to give you the deposit. Yeah. It is, it, yeah, it ends in 99 and it is, oh, 726 is that? It's good through and it's a visa. Okay, that's good. Okay. I have one question for you, do, do you know, because it's a, we have the add-on, the pre trip do we flight, we slide into Brussels right directly from JFK or do we fly to Adam and income go to Bruss from so, do you know how the routing is done there for that? Agent (Susan Bender): You want, is that the right, yeah, is it the correct card card? Agent (Susan Bender): Okay, perfect. Then I will proceed. Agent (Susan Bender): Sure. Agent (Susan Bender): For the pre extension you fly into where the pre extension starts and then you're, then you go, yeah, and then your motor coach, you go on it, you'll, after the extension you'll be on a motor coach to get to where the ship and bar is. Customer: Mm-hmm. Customer: So that would be brought. Customer: Yeah. Customer: Which would be answer them? Okay, so, alright, let's see if I'm in there. Okay, so then it's, it looks it I think it's a high to, to. Agent (Susan Bender): Right. Agent (Susan Bender): Okay. Customer: For the ad on, you know, compared to some of the other ones, I'm just wondering if you have any idea why that particular one would be much more than the, than some of the others. Some of the others are like $5,600 or you know, not, not. Agent (Susan Bender): Oh, yeah, yeah, it depends on what all is included, the hotel. I wish I had a clue at how Viking puts their pricing together but if there's just a number of factors involved and also the location, the hotel what's included, those are, those are the three things that go into pricing. Customer: Oh. Customer: Okay. Customer: That's correct. So that's I figured. So, it probably, yeah, okay, just a while. I just wanted to mention that beautiful for sure. You said about love your relocations from pet vacations. From pass there was one company that has the same. Well, it's just a tool uptime, it didn't save, it's the same trip and it was half the pi I wonder I forgot which company it was. It was 11 of the other river was that I don't know if I can take a QCKBOT. Yeah, I don't know there are other you do other trips, mm-hmm. Agent (Susan Bender): Yeah, yeah, uh-huh. Agent (Susan Bender): Uh-huh. Agent (Susan Bender): I have no idea what company that it, that would be and then I'd have to check availability. They usually the price that's listed on an ad, like that is the lead in price lowest category and it has to be available and it has to be the date. It has to be applicable to the date also and. Customer: Yeah. Customer: Yeah, okay. Customer: Yeah, yeah, this is the luxury, and it was, let me just see very quickly. My, which other maybe reach and they don't have Rio maybe let me look at 34 could it be, I'm not, it's not more. Agent (Susan Bender): Almost usually pretty prices are usually right up there with with Viking. So yeah, I need to know exactly the details and then I'm gonna, I'll be happy to price it for you while we're on the phone, if you'd like I just need the details. Customer: Okay, let me just check for. Customer: Yeah, no, that's pretty. You go to the next page we should have heard. Customer: Keep on. Okay, this one it says two time, right? Yeah, too little time it's March seventeenth though. Who is it? What Hama? Vanita. And what's the price trip is $2,500? Yeah, $2,550 Patricia number it's March is when the two would start efficient, yeah, so it's March seventeenth where they listed March seventeenth. I don't know how many days of it is. Maybe it doesn't, oh, it's seven nights. Agent (Susan Bender): Alma. Agent (Susan Bender): Okay. Agent (Susan Bender): Mm-hmm. Agent (Susan Bender): Okay. Customer: And so that would be still here, the price, right? Yeah, for that but yeah, okay. Say it was called tool uptime. Agent (Susan Bender): Well, let's just check it out. Agent (Susan Bender): Okay, one moment. Agent (Susan Bender): Just getting signed into the travel agent portal with alma. Customer: It's a Fabi in that purchase. Customer: Yeah, have you been on all these trips that they in with a travel agency? Agent (Susan Bender): I have been on a, I have been on can't do them all. We don't, we don't have enough time off to do them all. Customer: Yeah. Customer: Yeah, yeah, anymore so. Agent (Susan Bender): I have been on the Oma, tulip same area. I don't remember what it was called. It was back in 2012, I believe well, it's been a while. Customer: Okay. Customer: Oh, good. Did you go on, what are those stories with the company? Have you been on the safari? Agent (Susan Bender): I've been honest safari, it was with the African travel. Customer: It the one in universal, I think starts with an. Agent (Susan Bender): Oh, mad. Oh, Mao's pretty pricey. Yeah, but. Customer: I, yeah, so I signed up to see that thing online but I missed it. Agent (Susan Bender): Did you watch the presentation yesterday? Customer: I signed up to do it and then I didn't put it on my calendar and I for gosh she forgot. Agent (Susan Bender): Oh. Well, maybe I can get a video sent to you. Customer: Okay, let's see the salary. Agent (Susan Bender): Okay, us in begin water wave. Agent (Susan Bender): Pu, uptime March seventeenth. Customer: You're okay. And. Customer: Maybe it's not only teen, maybe it's other change as well. Agent (Susan Bender): And what's the price that we're looking for? Customer: This thing from 2549. Agent (Susan Bender): Okay. Customer: It says Riverview. Agent (Susan Bender): March, mm-hmm. Agent (Susan Bender): There's. Agent (Susan Bender): I don't know if it's available, I have to check further but March seventeenth shows the lead in price of $2,399 plus tax for charges, whatever else is involved. Let me see if that category is available. That would be lowest category, a fixed window view state room. Okay, category, that would be a category E. Agent (Susan Bender): There now let's just see. Agent (Susan Bender): Total for $24,798 and that's a fixed window. It does not open, it's a small window and it's on the lowest level of the ship. I just see if it's available. Agent (Susan Bender): Okay. Yeah, it's available. Customer: I say anything did they have that same trip with availability in April? Agent (Susan Bender): Let me check. Customer: You might want. Agent (Susan Bender): In April the lowest, lowest fair I see is 3449 and that would be April 1st or April 2nd. You want to fix out that one. Again, it's gonna. Customer: Get to, so, yeah, no, I don't even know that's too soon. I thought they might have something in mid April you know, cause we're gonna have ex. Agent (Susan Bender): They do, but it's full price. They don't have any specials for mid April. Customer: Oh, okay, that's probably, they get us for the two. That's so, isn't, so then maybe the prices and so, because if you tried to do April eleventh or twelfth the way we're doing it probably be close to 6002. Agent (Susan Bender): Yes, it's let's see, April 12th for example, a category with a fixed window, again you're in a French balcony, right? So, I'll compare apples to apples, let me go to the French balcony on April 12th. Customer: Yeah. Customer: Right. Customer: Right. Agent (Susan Bender): Okay. Agent (Susan Bender): That would be a category CB and it's sold out. It would have been $5,248. Customer: Okay. Customer: So it is switch but not but, but that not much less. Well yes, it's about $700 less the person. Oh, it's. Agent (Susan Bender): Per person. Agent (Susan Bender): Yeah. Agent (Susan Bender): Mm-hmm, and there's no onboard credit. Like, you're currently getting, there's differences. Customer: Oh, yeah, so we might have this. Okay, well then we'll just leave it but it was interesting cause the brochure came just yesterday, I'll look through it. You had some nice ideas and then, she's doing this one because well we did. Agent (Susan Bender): Mm-hmm, it's to get you to call, it's to get you to call in and then, and then we tell you what really is available. Customer: Okay. No, that's okay, that's why we call you instead of looking at the book. Yeah, no credit like. Agent (Susan Bender): I'm sorry. Agent (Susan Bender): I'm just being honest. Yeah, that's the way it is. They'll put the lowest price whether it's available or not just to get you to call. Customer: They don't get like $52 they don't. Agent (Susan Bender): No, no they do not. Customer: Okay. Thank you. Thanks. Okay, so we're gonna use that card like we said and uh-oh I have one, I think that's it and now and that was it. Oh, didn't they used to do something where if you pay cash for the balance, you get, you save two percent each hit. Agent (Susan Bender): Okay. Agent (Susan Bender): Yup. Agent (Susan Bender): If you pay with an E. E. yes, you save 3.3 percent, so you would need to call in before final payment which is October 31st, you need to call me with the routing number and an account number and then 3.3 percent would be deducted off of the balance due. It's a good deal. Customer: Okay. Customer: Yeah. Customer: Right. Customer: Yeah, cause we point three percent what I see that yeah, it's either that or points, okay. No, alright, it's a good deal of course. Agent (Susan Bender): It's a chunk, yeah. Agent (Susan Bender): Yeah, a lot of people use credit card for the points that's true. Customer: That yeah, so one with the I will figure it out. Maybe we haven't, we haven't done it yet. It looks good or not. Okay, alright, so you have that deposit and then we'll speak to you before, before we have to make the final deposit, a final payment. Okay, thanks for your help. Agent (Susan Bender): Alright. Agent (Susan Bender): I'm gonna proceed. Agent (Susan Bender): Sounds good. My pleasure. Thank you. I hope you too. Have a good day. Let me know if you need anything else. I'll send you a new confirmation. Alright, take care. Bye-bye. Customer: You too. Okay. Okay, great. Bye-bye bye-bye bye-bye bye.