Centurion Concierge Service: Fact or Fiction???

[serfty]

Sadly, its already been done (and it seems we have two threads crossing over at the moment).

That thread relates to Westpac Concierge services - this one is about Centurion Amex Concierge services.

 

[haydensydney]

(And this one started on 03/09/2011 - that one started today)

 

[Flying Fox]

I'm too poor to afford a limited edition Hermes Birkin Bag or whatever but I have always wondered how a concierge service works?

For example, lets say that the bag cost $20000 and you call the service and they do magic and get you one from the Hermes store in Antartica who are experiencing low sales but by the time they freight it and bribe the polar bears it comes to $40000; does the service simply bill you the $40000 or do you get a call saying I can get you one for $40000?

 

[haydensydney]

I'm too poor to afford a limited edition Hermes Birkin Bag or whatever but I have always wondered how a concierge service works?

For example, lets say that the bag cost $20000 and you call the service and they do magic and get you one from the Hermes store in Antartica who are experiencing low sales but by the time they freight it and bribe the polar bears it comes to $40000; does the service simply bill you the $40000 or do you get a call saying I can get you one for $40000?

They call you first before proceeding, unless it's been agreed to beforehand that they can debit the card. In some cases, they get you to confirm in writing.

 

[mini2]

An update re my little challenge for the team...e-mail was sent to them on 04/09 at 1:52pm and finally got a generic e-mail response at around 4pm yesterday. I've got told to expect a call from their lifestyle team shortly to discuss my requirements

At least they've acknowledged my request which is always good.

 

[Ricardo]

An update re my little challenge for the team...e-mail was sent to them on 04/09 at 1:52pm and finally got a generic e-mail response at around 4pm yesterday. I've got told to expect a call from their lifestyle team shortly to discuss my requirements

At least they've acknowledged my request which is always good.

You would hope that Amex Plat/Cent concierge teams read some of this feedback and take note. I seem to get a survey every time I contact the Plat concierge or travel team with a short survey about my 'experience'. Normally it's not overly complementary because in the main they get it wrong and don't deliver so I do it all myself. The main thing I have had some success with is match tickets for Rugby and League matches, this has normally been good with decent seats for the right price delivered to my home address. But like Homer can neither confirm nor deny who my contact person for tickets is :mrgreen:

 

[mini2]

Well the last couple of times I've requested their help have been absolutely useless - what's the point telling me at 6pm that they've secured a booking at Quay for me when I've made other arrangements since I haven't heard from them or the other time they've said they can't get Disney on Ice tix for me and I ended up sourcing them myself.

I wonder if Amex will drop the annual fee if I tell them I won't bother with their concierge.

 

[straitman]

I wonder if Amex will drop the annual fee if I tell them I won't bother with their concierge.

Dream on :!:

 

[mini2]

Dream on :!:

Hey it's free to dream. It's also free to ask

 

[straitman]

Hey it's free to dream. It's also free to ask

OK then.

If you are asking then you can ask on my behalf also.

 

[oz_mark]

OK then.

If you are asking then you can ask on my behalf also.

Why don't you get the concierge to look into it for you?

 

[mini2]

Why don't you get the concierge to look into it for you?

They will just Google and this page will turn up

On another front, no update re my request. Might give them till tomorrow for a response.

 

[sparoz]

I might try something too . As I am looking for an isofix convertible car seat from birth with a top tether even while rear facing. See how they go with that one.

 

[sparoz]

Tried to submit with my request on the website:

"Canada - English
We apologise - an error occurred "

:?:

 

[steveda]

I might try something too . As I am looking for an isofix convertible car seat from birth with a top tether even while rear facing. See how they go with that one.

'Slightly' OT, but if you're going to use an ISOFIX seat over here, double-check with whoever provides your CTP insurance that they'll cover medical expenses for the restrained child in the event of an accident.

I sent the following to Allianz (they provide CTP here in SA) and was told that yes, they would cover:

If a child is involved in a car accident while that child is restrained in a car seat that is approved under the european standard "ECE R 44/04" and sustains an injury that in all respects would be paid out if the child were in a car seat certified to comply with AS/NZS 1754 would any personal injury claims relating to injuries sustained by the child still be covered by my CTP or would the claim be denied/reduced as the child was not in a restraint certified to comply with AS/NZS 1754?

Cheers

Steve

p.s. While you're at it, write to your federal MP asking them to nag whoever's responsible for car seats over here to pull their finger out and have ISOFIX seats approved for use in Australia.

 

[mini2]

Update re my little challenge...

I've just got an e-mail from the concierge team 5 minutes ago and they've found 2 resellers with the watch I want

I'll verify the information provided and will report back. I may even make the purchase at the same time if it's indeed true

 

[sparoz]

'Slightly' OT, but if you're going to use an ISOFIX seat over here, double-check with whoever provides your CTP insurance that they'll cover medical expenses for the restrained child in the event of an accident.

I sent the following to Allianz (they provide CTP here in SA) and was told that yes, they would cover:



Cheers

Steve

p.s. While you're at it, write to your federal MP asking them to nag whoever's responsible for car seats over here to pull their finger out and have ISOFIX seats approved for use in Australia.

Thanks for this - we get a choice up here, so we will choose Allianz and get it in writing.

 

[sparoz]

We are organising another holiday, so will test out their travel service. I found the seat myself so will not be using them. We are promised a 12pm tomorrow deadline.

 

[docjames]

p.s. While you're at it, write to your federal MP asking them to nag whoever's responsible for car seats over here to pull their finger out and have ISOFIX seats approved for use in Australia.

+1 from me on that one.

 

[sparoz]

+1 from me on that one.

OT still: Thanks for the advice and I have sent the letter to allianz. As we are expecting our car in October, we will have plenty of time to choose our CTP insurer. From some forum source, the ISOFIX should be allowed from 2013. Unfortunately, it is really not good enough for right now.

However, for those who would just comply to the law, there is a RACV study (not from the media hype) published in 2006 stating that our standard is inferior to the European Standard in allowable load on the neck and head movement, and ISOFIX in side impact protection and installation. If you are concerned with side impact testing which is not compulsory in the EU standard, your car is likely to have a Euro NCAP rating. Euro NCAP requires the manufacturer to have a child restraint installed during the test and a grade reported. NCAP test involves a test beyond the Australian standard - offset frontal impact of 64km/h instead of 55km/h, side impact test of 50km/h instead of 35km/h, and a additional side impact test involving a pole at 28km/h. We have picked the car seat that is used during the NCAP test with our car. You should able to find the information available from the NCAP website.

Just remember the fact that it has ISOFIX doesn't mean it is better than the Australian seats. There are good seats and bad seats, and the EU standard doesn't require side impact testing like AU standard has. So, you will need to do your research and look for one that will meet the Australian testing requirements apart from the fact that it is not support by a top tether and side belt but ISOFIX instead.