Preface: Here is some REAL Doo that you can find on the internet. It reflects new business paradigms that the general population appears to be accepting as a matter of course. The personal opinions, explicit or implicit, expressed below are those of the DotDoo.com web site editor. The quoted items are selected short excerpts from various web sites, some of which are part of stipulated copy written material and clips are presented here to accurately illuminate the Doo being addressed.
HOT DotDoo Pile #1 is Pay Now
A dot com business that provides hotel reservations requires that YOU AGREE with their charging your credit card at the time they accept your reservation. That is, they have and use your money for the time the reservation is in effect. To quote, "You agree that your credit card will be charged for the full cost of your reservation when the Company accepts your reservation order."
Contrast this with the normal hotel business paradigm that charges your credit card AFTER you have stayed in the room! The normal hotel business paradigm usually allows cancellation without penalty up to 24 hours before the reservation date.
Gee, I wonder WHEN the dot com reservation service pays the hotel ... do you think it might be AFTER you have stayed in the room?!? In any case they have had your money IN THEIR POCKET from the moment they took your reservation. They really like you to make reservations far far in advance just so you can be assured of having a room. :-)
HOT DotDoo Pile #2 is Too Bad {"We sympathize, BUT you DID agree (emphasis added)"}
The same dot com hotel reservation service requires that YOU AGREE to the fact that your reservation charges may be non-refundable and/or non changeable. To quote, "You agree to abide by the terms and conditions imposed with respect to any completed reservation order for a hotel stay as specified on the reservation order form."
Of course the order form does advise, "You will be notified before the reservation order is completed and your credit card is charged if a reservation is non refundable or non changeable." Note: For the record, without exception, every time I have used this dot com hotel reservation service, the reservation has always been non-refundable. (dotdoo.com web editor)
HOT DotDoo Pile #3 is the Absolutely Guaranteed Warrantee
A dot com hotel reservation service states, "THE COMPANY AND ITS AFFILIATES MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS ABOUT THE SUITABILITY OF THE INFORMATION, PRODUCTS AND SERVICES CONTAINED ON THIS WEB SITE FOR ANY PURPOSE."
Hummmm, presumably the "ANY PURPOSE" would include the making of hotel reservations. I can not help but wonder what this says about their integrity ... actually, one could argue that they are being up-front by telling you ahead of time that what they present on their web site may not be suitable "... FOR ANY PURPOSE." Gee, how honest can they be?
HOT DotDoo Pile #4 is the We're Reasonable {"We provide you with a means to seek redress and get satisfaction."}
The same dot com hotel reservation service appears to recognize that there might be a dispute and allows for such by stipulating that, "You hereby agree that any dispute arising from or relating to the use of this web site or hotel reservations made through us, will be subject to binding arbitration under the commercial rules of the American Arbitration Association. The arbitration shall be conducted in (***) County, (***), USA before neutral arbitrators."
I love this part where the case is presented to the neutral arbitrators in the company's county and state of residence/incorporation [actual names "(***)" deleted to protect the guilty]. If I were to employ a little sarcasm I might guess the "neutral" means that they will pick arbitrators that are not DIRECTLY related to the Company employees or stockholders.