Varying ferry prices using a VPN, and cookies.

[JockandRita]

A few weeks ago, I typed in details on the DFDS Newhaven - Dieppe website booking service, to get a comparable return channel crossing price. It was quite reasonable.
I went back in today, with the same info and dates, and it was significantly dearer.

I then used a VPN to disguise my IP address, and filled in the same details. Once again, it was quite reasonable.
Each time I completed the details using the same IP address, the price got significantly dearer. Obviously the cookies are indicating my previous enquiries, hence them upping the prices.

Can anyone please tell me how to delete individual cookies, rather than deleting the whole lot, including those needed for online banking? I am using Chrome on Windows 10 Pro.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Steve and Denise]

A few weeks ago, I typed in details on the DFDS Newhaven - Dieppe website booking service, to get a comparable return channel crossing price. It was quite reasonable.
I went back in today, with the same info and dates, and it was significantly dearer.

I then used a VPN to disguise my IP address, and filled in the same details. Once again, it was quite reasonable.
Each time I completed the details using the same IP address, the price got significantly dearer. Obviously the cookies are indicating my previous enquiries, hence them upping the prices.

Can anyone please tell me how to delete individual cookies, rather than deleting the whole lot, including those needed for online banking? I am using Chrome on Windows 10 Pro.

Cheers,

Jock.

I did that last time Jock and it kept going up so I just deleted all the cookie cashae or whatever they call it, and started again can’t tell you how to do it individually

 

[Miggs]

You should alert Trading Standards, sounds like some very dodgy malpractice going on.

 

[activecampers]

VPN would not mask the cookies, so something else amiss.
On Edge/Chrome, you can go incognito which runs session without any cookies (and any dropped are removed on exit along with history. usually used for p*rn mode ) - but you retain the same IP address (which is what VPN masks)
But I doubt its cookies. And if it was, it may not be obvious which ones.
May be a combination of IP & cookies.
Kebab (3 dots)-Settings-privacy-3rd party cookies-see all data and permissions etc

But just try incognito as that runs with no history/cookies.

 

[lorger]

Can’t help with the cookies, however when I’m checking things like this at work I always get different prices and in euros as our server is in Germany.

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[OldCodger]

Hi JockandRita , I research using one browser but “buy” with another.

You can also do things like research in Private Mode closing windows each time. Don’t log in as that blows everything you try to do to cover your tracks.

 

[Burgo]

Can anyone please tell me how to delete individual cookies, rather than deleting the whole lot

Chrome - open Developer Tools. Go to Application tab, then down the left side go to Storage / Cookies. You can then select the individual one(s) you are interested in and see what they hold / edit / delete or add new ones.

 

[JockandRita]

Thanks all. That gives me something to work on.

The return prices went from £130 to £274, which as you can appreciate, is a significant increase, with the latter being closer to Tunnel prices.

Cheers for now,

Jock.

 

[Lenny HB]

You should alert Trading Standards, sounds like some very dodgy malpractice going on.

Standard practice on loads of websites nothing illegal about it.

I've never had it on the DFDS site.

 

[RustyRuss]

Standard practice in may be Lenny, but it’s still SHARP practice!! How about a MoHofun tutorial on how to book cheaper tickets by circumventing this cookies SHARP practice? It’s beyond me I have to admit, but sounds like some of you other guys have cracked it….. Would you be willing and able to share? Maybe as a PM?

Cheers! And a Happy Christmas to you all!!

Russ

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[Lenny HB]

Standard practice in may be Lenny, but it’s still SHARP practice!! How about a MoHofun tutorial on how to book cheaper tickets by circumventing this cookies SHARP practice? It’s beyond me I have to admit, but sounds like some of you other guys have cracked it….. Would you be willing and able to share? Maybe as a PM?

Cheers! And a Happy Christmas to you all!!

Russ

It's not hard either delete your cookies after each session or use a private browser/tab.

You can open a private tab in Firefox from the drop down menu.
In Chrome they call it an incognito tab.

Or use a private browser like DuckDuck Go or Firefox Focus.

 

[JockandRita]

I've never had it on the DFDS site.

I've had it happen 4 x times this evening Lenny, ie, clearing third party cookies as advised, changing my IP address via a VPN, then using the exact same booking details. Each time the price was different.

Also.................

I did that last time Jock and it kept going up so I just deleted all the cookie cashae or whatever they call it, and started again can’t tell you how to do it individually

It seems I'm not the only one either.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Lenny HB]

I've had it happen 4 x times this evening Lenny, ie, clearing third party cookies as advised, changing my IP address via a VPN, then using the exact same booking details. Each time the price was different.

Also.................

It seems I'm not the only one either.

Cheers,

Jock.

When I book I check the price on line without signing in then I phone to book always been given the same price before they know who I am.

Sounds like they have only just started doing it as in the past I have gone back on line a week or two later and still got the same price.

We normally only book two or three weeks before we go, perhaps it happens when booking a long way in advance.

 

[suavecarve]

Another tactic is to "Hold the price" by saving it and having it sent to your email address and the price is guaranteed for about a month I think if you reopen the website via the email you received with the original price on it.

Top tip is not to ask for too many as you can never find the cheapest email.

I also use different computers at work having done the research at home or vice versa

 

[Tombola]

The "cookies" to alter prices is a myth,

It only looks that way due to dynamic pricing and also falls under the scope of Protection from Unfair Trading Regs in the UK if they dont tell you about it

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[LithiumConvert]

I can never see any reason to keep any cookies.

My browser(s) are set to delete all cookies when I close the browser.

And never accept third party cookies.

The fun and all the other websites I visit all work perfectly well

 

[jongood]

I hardly ever book both legs at the same time and often find when booking my return its significantly cheaper in Euros than in GBP

 

[JockandRita]

I hardly ever book both legs at the same time and often find when booking my return its significantly cheaper in Euros than in GBP

I get you on that one Jon, but often travel/medical insurance companies want to see evidence of a return journey booked, if/when making a claim.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Lenny HB]

I hardly ever book both legs at the same time and often find when booking my return its significantly cheaper in Euros than in GBP

I always used to ask to pay in Euro when booking with DFDS and was about £5 cheaper on a return but thats not been the case the the last few years so don't bother now.

 

[OldCodger]

I've had it happen 4 x times this evening Lenny, ie, clearing third party cookies as advised, changing my IP address via a VPN, then using the exact same booking details. Each time the price was different.

Jock ,

There’s algorithms at work here. The first one is designed to nudge you to booking sooner - so they artificially increase the price while you are on the site to creat a sense of urgency.

Behind that is a “supply and demand” algorithm - if it looks like lots of people are booking at once they also increase the price.

The only trick there is, once you have found your ideal sailing is to stop looking for a few hours so the algorithm starts to think the demand rush has died down. The risk here is that something like a football match has been announced and they do really go up in price.

As they genuinely sell out then prices do rise the closer you get to sailing.

I hope this helps.

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[jongood]

I get you on that one Jon, but often travel/medical insurance companies want to see evidence of a return journey booked, if/when making a claim.

Cheers,

Jock.

Ive heard the arguments Jock but think they would still have a lot of wriggling to do to make a substantive case for not honouring their obligations.

We value the total flexibility more and often only have a rough plan of where we re going and when we re coming back. If one of us had a serious health issue then our priorities would be different.

 

[SpeedyDux]

If you see a cheap price for the crossing you want, just grab it and book right away. Don't faff about hoping for a slightly better deal, because the dynamic pricing algorythm will kick in when you return to that website. If the ferry company's booking software is counting enquiries for that particular crossing I don't see how a VPN gets round that problem.

I always clear all cookies daily. Often more than once. Somehow, my browsing experience doesn't suffer at all, so I take the claims that cookies are beneficial to me with a soupspoon of salt. Also I run ad blockers which seems to provoke a huffy message about not having the full features of their poxy website, about which I care even less. If they block me I can come back via a VPN, so NER.


Minor rant. I also got fed up with constantly being badgered to register or set up accounts online, after my list of usernames, pwords and other personal verification information reached more than 10 pages of A4. I prefer to buy stuff from online suppliers who allow me to do it in guest mode.

If they persist in sending junk emails without my permission, they go automatically into the delete folder. Eventually they give up. If news sites are paywalled, tough. There's plenty of free news online, often more impartial or less censored by omission.

As for those Apps that want access to everything on my phone, no way - default response is uninstall the nosey spy ASAP. Byee. I didn't need it previously and can carry on OK without it. Stop snooping, you see you next tuesdays.