When is 43% not forty three percent?
The delivery of the Sunderwagon is getting closer so I'm looking at how I'm going to get to the dealer to pick it up. It's going to be a 2 hour train ride which I'm really looking forward to (iPod, tea, biscuits, peace and quiet) so I have been looking at advanced fares as I hope to get 5 days notice of the pickup. And I must say this has told me thetrainline needs a lesson on simple mathematics, which I hope Snoopy will help me out on.
"Save on average 43%" claim thetrainline on their adverts - TV, print, website. So let's have a look at what that actually means. In the not so small print the calculation is made on advanced fares purchased through them versus walk-on fares purchased on the day. Ahh, chalk and cheese then.
Let's start comparing like for like to get a true picture shall we? I have looked at an advanced First Class single (and to be sure of a true comparison I have made sure the SAME ticket is being compared for the SAME train with the SAME restrictions) across the following outlets:
East Coast website - £20, no fees
CrossCountry website - £20, no fees
At the station - £20, no fees
ScotRail website - £20, no fees
thetrainline.com - £20 + £1 compulsory booking fee + £3.50 credit card fee = £24.50 (22.5% more, more not saving)
Hmm, pray tell why I would even contemplate thetrainline? Shame, I used to use them a lot when I travelled by train for more than commuting.
Just for the sake of it, let's do the comparison by their methods:
At the station, walk-on fare bought on the day - £37.50, no fees
thetrainline.com - £20 + £1 + £3.50 = £24.50 - £13 or 35% saving
thetrainline.com - £20 + £1 = £21.00 - £16.50 or 44% saving if not using a credit card, if not buying on the day, if not travelling with your back to the sun, if not travelling on a day ending in a "y"...
Dubious. Very dubious. I might lodge a note with the ASA just for the sport!
Ticket to be purchased at the station in advance, with a credit card, and the "saving" I make over not using thetrainline will go on fish & chips for lunch on the way home. And a valet when MOTS whines at me for ditching the wrapper in the passenger footwell!
When is 43% not forty three percent? When it's quoted by thetrainline.com
Comments
SIMPLE mathematics aren't a problem - it's the complicated ones that give me grief, particularly when the grey cells are like Custer, making their last stand.
Having studied the stats my conclusion would be:
thetrainline.com is approaching 100% when it comes to RIP-OFFS. Send it into the buffers.
Posted by: Snoopy | May 22, 2010 9:05 PM
The worrying thing is... I'll have to pay full price as I won't get the 5 days notice I'd hoped for so can't take advantage of the advanced fare. £37.50 here I come!!
Posted by: Lee | May 24, 2010 8:28 AM
Be careful what you wish for... can't get the time off work to collect on Friday, so it'll be Bank Holiday Monday. So I CAN take advantage of the advanced fare!
Posted by: Alder
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May 24, 2010 3:27 PM