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Tauck Freebie
Not to make anyone jealous, but we got some Tauck branded packing cubes in the mail today. No cover letter, but the card inside says, "We're looking forward to having you join us on your upcoming journey..."
Not sure why we got these. It might be because we just finished our 20th trip. It might be because we had some hotel changes on our upcoming trip, and this is compensation. Or it could be just a random promotion.
Just curious. Did anyone else get these?
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I am starting to have bad thoughts about you, "Ken from Vegas"!!! Just kiddin'. Maybe.
It's just Tauck being Tauck. Enjoy your trip.
Wow Ken, maybe it is a good idea to keep those things to yourself. Having taken around twice as many trips as you, we haven’t even been offered a free trip 😀
I received those packing cubes, too. I don't know why. I've had only 14 trips.
We're betwixt, no cubes here.
I got a free trip. How? By not buying the insurance. The saved premiums have paid for a trip.
I’m not a gambler BKMD
Me neither. If I didn’t take out the affordable Tauck travel insurance for a trip this past April, I would be up a creek. I had to leave a trip on Day 1 because of a dire family emergency. The Tauck insurance reimbursed me for the remainder of the trip, two new business class airfare seats, out of picket expenses. Plus, somehow I have an airline credit from the unused portion of the original flight. The insurance is worth every penny. You never know what can happen.
Ken - How about posting some pictures of these Tauck packing cubes?
Here's a thought - You're from Las Vegas so maybe Tauck thinks you're a High Roller and they wish to lavish you with perks.
These packing cubes must be a random send out - there was a post on the "Tauck Travelers" facebook page a few days ago about some receiving them. I would be curious as to the 'brand' of them. We have been using packing cubes for over 15 years, we go no where without them. We love the Eagle Creek ones, but plan to 'upgrade' on Black Friday to the Peak Design ones which always get the highest reviews on Travel forums/sites/YouTube - they will be ON SALE then. We do 'gift' the Bagail ones on Amazon to our friends who like to travel (as we think everyone needs to try them out). They make great gifts for people who have never used them.
As far as Trip Insurance, we don't have the funds to risk NOT getting it. You never know what can happen. My brother was killed here in the States when were in Europe - it would have devastated us financially to have not had trip Insurance to get back home. Another time, someone on a Tauck trip with us, stepped off a curb wrong and broke her ankle in Budapest. Another time, my appendix ruptured two days before we were to go to Alaska - without Insurance, we'd have been out of SO much money. We always say, if you can afford to travel with Tauck, you can afford the Insurance - although, we use USAA for ours because, for us, it's a better deal and it covers all the Pre and Post Tauck stuff we do. It just depends on what your risk tolerance is when it comes to Insurance, but we will always get it. Trip Insurance even bought my husband new luggage in Germany when the wheels broke off of his when we were over there.
Ken - I agree with Smiling Sam - post a photo of them if you can - we are all curious as to what Tauck is sending out. I love that they do that.
No brand. Made in China. "Designed by Tauck." Carbon neutral. With compression zippers and storage sack that works as a laundry or shoe bag. Two sets,, one for each of us. The color doesn't show well in this picture - they are Tauck green and gold.
Lucky you Ken. Puts my Tauck luggage tag - a birthday gift while on our cruise last year - in the shade. Not that I really need more cubes.
Ken - It's hard to tell the dimensions of the cubes in the picture. Could you provide a bit more detail?
Thanks
If I'm lucky to get a set, I can use the small cube to pack all my Tauck COVID masks.
Sam - The red ruler is one foot.
Ken - Thanks. Totally missed that.
Going on our 8th and 9th tours with Tauck in August and September. Received the packing cubes yesterday…very nice gift.
Good for you Ken. I don't think you got them because of the number of trips, I'll have 27 by years end and have gotten NOTHING
It's probably to make up for the hotel inconvenience.
AlanS - You look so much younger in that mask pic above. Botox?
Just spoke to a young rude female Tauck representative...(new one)
She claims the cubes are random and it depends on the tours route, also mentioned that every tour destination has their own Freebies. Well, after 11 trips I have to say... besides the Safari bags, I have never gotten any freebies- not like I need them, but we all pay full price, right!
Also, I may be wrong, but it used to be that Tauck would BANK the tour deposit ($600..) if trip was canceled you the client without having the insurance... Now, if you cancel the trip without ins.- you lose it.- it cannot be transfer to existing tour as payment or bank for a future trip.
Pretty soon, Tauck will be just another tour company...
The "banking" of tour deposits was a pandemic thing. It didn't exist before that.
Less than a year ago, I cancelled one trip ($600 deposit paid) and transferred that deposit to another trip without any issues.
Never seen that Tauck mask before and I've been on 3 Tauck tours during the pandemic. I even have to beg to receive the calendar, and it doesn't always show up. Guess we should be grateful Tauck hasn't opened an online shop.
So this band of detectives is honing in on something. It sounds like Tauck reverted to their pre-pandemic policy sometime 'Less than a year ago'.
mil - You might consider asking the Tauck agent when you call up to book a tour if there are any freebies associated with the tour. If there aren't then ask which tours have freebies and only book those tours. Doing this will ensure that you get the most for you full price.
I think 'Tauck freebies', at least for some tours are a function of the tour. You cited the Safari bags. Another example is the Antarctica coats.
I think it's highly likely that these 'Tauck freebies' are factored into the cost of those tours.
Sam - wish there was a way to give 2 thumbs up for the above response!
Ooooh, Oooh, I've received water bottles (3?), little LED flashlights, lanyards (leftover from a VOX), etc. etc., and of course the duffles.
That is not a real mask. During COVID several mask vendors offered customized masks. This mask was "designed" using software on their website- all I had to do was furnish a photo of the Tauck logo. I never ordered any, too expensive. It was better than my first attempt
The Antarctica parkas are provided by Ponant.
Alan - As BKMD suggested, I offer up that the first mask photo was post-Botox, while the second mask photo was pre-Botox.
I think you got your money's worth from the Botox! 😂😂
Mil - that woman was obviously not dealing with a full deck…How could packing cubes only be for certain routes? Only certain routes require packing? 😂🤷🏻♀️BTW…. We have been on 13 with 4 more in the next next year - no cubes. I guess packing is not required for those routes. 😱 We will travel light.
Free of charge, an extra paid to Ponant, or factored into the Tauck tour price?