Come out, come out, wherever you are….

I am finding that it is extremely hard to find the people behind the websites.   Why so coy?  Even Mr Expedia only offers an email address and a phone number.   Being a  nosy person I am always curious as to where these businesses are situated.  Where is HQ?

Now I understand that these are online companies and as such maybe they don’t have an administrative office (which I find hard to believe – somebody must be doing all the paperwork).  However I can’t help but conjure up images of somebody’s basement with an Ikea desk and several laptops.

Experts warn us to examine websites carefully for poor English or grammatical errors.  There are some beauts out there – these for example –

“We are also is the only lawn care franchise business”
or
“Click her to order.”

Not the way to win sales and influence people.  And it gets more complicated with the big well-known companies.  Like booking with Travelocity.  Now that Expedia bought them you are not booking with Travelocity but with Expedia but it feels, looks and tastes like you are booking with Travelocity – so don’t waste any time price checking the two sites.  And if you do dig around on Travelocity’s website you won’t find this announcement featured in a press releases – seems the latest press release from Travelocity was way back in 2007 – Really?

Date	Title (click to view the full text)
02/21/07	Travelocity.Ca Highlights 2007 Spring Skiing Trends
02/07/07	Travelocity Coins 2007 the “Year of the Savvy Traveler”
10/23/06	Travelocity.Ca Names The Top Halloween Getaways
10/18/06	Travelocity.Ca Takes A Lesson From Its European Counterparts: Survey Reveals The Truth About International Vacationers
02/27/06	Over Half of Canadian Travellers Admit to Checking Their Work E-mail While on Vacation
06/15/05	Travelocity.ca Launches New and Innovative Online Cruise Shopping Path
03/10/05	Travelocity.ca Adds a Lift to Commuters Who Dream of a Great Getaway

And the poor gnome doesn’t know which way to turn…..but one….