Lesson Learnt: My Worst Experience of Online Ticketing
I usually prefer and recommend to others as well for online shopping, the reason is its hassle free and you would be able to find suitable things with some handy discount with just some clicks away. Talking about online ticketing of air tickets, train tickets or bus tickets, I compare and then take action. For example, I have shared my recent experience of train tickets in my past posts where I went to train station to buy the tickets instead of buying online just to save few bucks. I would like to share my worst experience which I recently encountered and learnt a lesson.
When it comes to travel alone, I prefer the cheapest way which is ofcourse by train but just to make sure I reach to my family on time for Eid celebrations, I opt to travel by road and started searching online for bus tickets from Karachi to Peshawar as trains are not reliable and usually gets delayed a lot. Normally, the charges are 7000-8000 but after a lot of search, I found the bus ticket of 6000 and without wasting time, I bought the ticket and made the payment through my debit card. Yes, ofcourse I looked out for reviews and found nothing wrong there. The ticket looks valid and authentic. Even I received a call from the company not the actual bus company, that my seat number is changed and it is confirmed, I need to make sure to be at the terminal prior half an hour of the departure time.
Later, I searched for Shaheen Express contact number and found one but it was not responding. I didn’t pay any attention to that and got busy in my work. On the day of travelling, I went to office and came back early at around 2 pm. I just lie down on the bed to take some rest and fall asleep. Aahhh this was a big mistake. This happens when it is not your day and the same happened with me. Luckily, a relative, from downstairs came to check whether I left or at home so he found the lights opened and knocked the door hard to wake me up. It was 4:45 pm and the bus time was 6 pm. I woke up and hurriedly changed and rushed to the terminal. Another misfortune that my rickshaw got troubled half way and I have to take another rickshaw or taxi, once again luckily, I found the other in no time and he rushed me to the terminal. at last, I made it on time and was there at 5:30 pm.
Now its time for the real problem. I was so relaxed and walked to the counter to show the ticket but was shocked to see the response from that guy. He said we are not affiliated with any of such company and do not count this ticket anymore. We have discontinued the collaboration with them and no more accept their tickets. I was speechless for a minute and then requested to resolve the issue as I have paid the charges already, he said did you ask me before making payment to them, am I the reason of all of this, he was so rude and busy selling tickets to other customers. Then he offered me to pay 7000 to catch the bus. I called the company from where I bought the ticket, they were like it is not a big problem and they are working on it to resolve, I said the bus is departing infront of me and I wont be able to catch another bus as I don’t have much cash with me while travelling. It was a critical situation for me.
I kept myself calm and cool and finally when bus left, I asked them to refund my money for which they said it will take 15 days to return and blah blah. I just requested them to remove those bus companies from your website which are not affiliated with you anymore because this is a great mess for the people like us. luckily, it was not the last bus and there were other companies who were having last bus at 8 pm, I bought the ticket and waited at the terminal for two long hours. in fact I did my Iftari there with just a glass of Banana Shake. it was not easy at all but I handled the situation well and bought the ticket after requesting and bargaining for 6000 whereas every other person in bus bought the ticket in 7000-8000. Bus was nice, having comfortable seats for 20 hours of travelling.
I learnt a lesson that never buy a ticket from any affiliated company, better to buy a ticket online only from the original bus company website plus I am thinking of to write on their social media pages about my experience as they still not removed this bus service from their website yet so my review and comment can save others from experiencing the same hassle which I encountered.
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