Hi Stena Line,
We've been loyal Stena Line customers for quite some time now having made many trips back and forth between Belfast > Stranraer and as of late Cairnryan by car, car & caravan, motorbike and motorhome.
Every time we've enjoyed your services and indeed our holiday once on the mainland.
We had one of our best holidays in Scotland by Motorbike in 2012 .... our appetite having been wetted by availing of one of your Biker Day Return trips previously.
We where looking forward to availing to your Biker Day Return again this year. Once or twice for pleasure and once to combine two of our favourite hobbies, motorcycling and geocaching by booking a Biker Day Return in August this year to allow us to attend our first ever Mega Geocaching Event which is taking place at Ayr.
Now from previous occasions, we're aware that dates for your Biker Day Return trips are released early on in the year and so we sat and waited for same to be released this year.
Imagine our horror and disappointment that you have chosen to ramp the price up to a shocking £50 this year. While I understand that you can now choose to return up to 30 hours after landing .... I wonder how many people will actually choose to do this? After all, a Biker Day Return is simply that ..... out and back the same day?!
I could perhaps understand if you sought opinions far and wide from the motorcycling community but judging by the volatile reaction against this new offer on several motorcycle discussion forums, I suspect not.
I wonder has Stena Line shot themselves in the foot here? Yes, for one booking, Stena Line stands to make more money but I fear the big downside is, motorcyclists will simply vote with their feet or perhaps bikes and just not bother as much with this offer and overall, revenue from us for this type of offer will drastically reduce?
Come on Stena Line, please have a re-think ... our bikes don't take up that much room on your ferry. While I expected an increase in price from last year, say perhaps up to £30 ... what you have put out seems to have been ill thought out.
Would it perhaps be a good idea to offer the traditional Biker Day Return as you have always done at a reduced price and keep the more expensive 30hr Return for those that may perhaps need to avail of same thereby offering your customers better choice?
I look forward to your comments and hope to continue to sail with you in the future.
Regards,
.......................