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	SCUBA DIVING :: FORUMS :: NEWS :: MIKE BALL
	Mike Ball: Overcharging Americans and Japanese Powered by CDNN - CYBER DIVER News Network CAIRNS, Australia (7 Nov 2001) -- Mike Ball, the Australia-based live-aboard operator has been overcharging Americans and Japanese divers by an average of 20-40%. The price discrimination against Americans and Japanese has angered both independent divers and dive travel specialists who cannot compete against their Australian counterparts in the important online travel bookings market. Ball justifies charging Americans and Japanese a higher rate because according to him, they can afford it and his services are designed specifically for US and Japanese clients. Still, Ball has attempted to conceal the policy. There are no prices listed in the company's web site and nothing stated about the Mike Ball pricing policies.  Divers who inquire via the booking form must indicate their nationality and address.  US-based and Japan-based divers receive price quotes that are substantially higher than other nationalities. Go to full CDNN News Report >>> What our readers are saying about 'Mike Ball:  Overcharging Americans and Japanese' 08-04-09 Brad - Jane, why such a Mike Ball hater? 08-04-05 Jane - Got a life thanks, just trying to right a wrong... 08-04-03 Jane - Mike Ball - you don't see through it? 08-02-29 Leisa S - Attention: This is Australia's Courier-Mail newspaper... 08-01-25 Carol - You people need to get your facts straight... 08-01-25 Carol - Gabe Watson removing flowers from Tina's grave... 07-12-01 John L - Why was a novice allowed to dive at Yongala? 07-11-29 Jenny - Re: Rescue Diver competency... 07-11-29 Jenny - Why Gabe Watson removed flowers from Tina's grave... 07-11-26 Lois - Link to TV news report on inquest into Tina Watson's death... 07-11-26 Shannon K - Appeal to friends of Tina Watson from Bella Magazine... 07-11-21 Carol - Re: Why is Gabe a no-show for the inquiry? 07-11-09 Lois M - So who else is Gabe going to blame? 07-11-09 Lois M - Why is Gabe a no-show for the inquiry? 07-10-19 Jennifer - Smug mug? 07-10-17 Lin - I agree 300% about not tipping... 07-10-12 Greg A - I never tip and it's not because I'm cheap... 07-10-11 Bob H - Jane get a life! 07-10-05 Laurence B - 13% of all Mike Ball tips... 07-10-03 Danny - Not really a rip-off Jane... 07-09-29 Jane - Another Mike Ball rip-off... 07-09-26 Sue - Were there hearings or an inquest on Tina's death? 07-09-07 Sue - What husband wouldn't drown trying to save new bride? 07-09-07 Sue - Smug mug at Tina's funeral... 06-10-03 Adam S - Kangaroo Explorer should be sunk and made a wreck dive... 06-08-19 Amanda - What you've forgotten... 06-08-12 Franklin J - Authorities have charged Mike Ball with safety violations... 06-08-11 Franklin J - Still waiting for links to the stories... 06-08-10 Stephanie - Gabe's mother was laughing at the funeral... 06-08-10 Stephanie - Tina grabbed Gabe's mask... 06-08-10 Stephanie - Gabe left her down there... 06-08-07 Jenny - Stories? I never heard any other story than the one... 06-08-06 Franklin J - So what are these different stories?... 06-08-05 Stephanie - Jenny, do your research girl... 06-08-02 Jenny - Friends of Tina... 06-07-28 Stephanie - Yes, Tina had a heart condition but... 06-07-25 Jenny - Tar and feathers... 06-07-25 Jenny - To Mike and the malicious people... 06-07-25 Jenny - There was no insurance on Tina Watson... 06-07-25 Jenny - Why the suspicions?... 06-07-25 Jenny - Thank you Martin B... 06-07-25 Jenny - My friend Tina... 06-05-09 Kendra - Tar and feathers Mark?... 06-05-09 Jordan - Do you know Gabe?... 06-05-07 Terry - Re: Tina Watson--Sounds like the police are letting this go... 06-05-05 Mark P - I smell a truckload of tar and feathers but no smoking gun... 06-05-04 Kari - What has Gabe been doing for the past three years?... 06-05-01 Kendra - All I know is this... 06-05-01 Colin - Suspicious things?... 06-05-01 N - If Gabe is a cold-blooded murderer, I'm sure he sleeps well... 06-04-30 Kari - Everything that Gabe did before and after Tina's death... 06-04-26 Mike - The truth will come out... 06-04-26 Kim - Maybe there is a lot more to Tina Watson's death... 06-04-22 Elliot - There are so many unanswered questions about Tina 's death... 06-04-21 Allison - Why are people NOW saying that Tina's death was foul play?... 06-04-21 Martin B - No accident because Gabe is a Rescue Diver? Get serious... 06-04-20 Carol - I have to agree Tina Watson's death was "no accident"... 06-04-20 Billy - Death of Tina Watson on Spoil Sport dive--Now what do you think?... 06-04-20 Carol - Tina learned to dive because Gabe wanted her to... 06-04-20 Shelley - Actually, Gabe is a certified Rescue Diver... 06-04-19 Paul T - The dive industry does not adhere to its own recommendations... 06-04-19 Allison - Re: Diver death - If it wasn't an accident then what happened?... 06-04-19 William Chen - Was the Mike Ball Spoil Sport crew negligent?... 06-04-18 Cindy - Diver death on Mike Ball's Spoil Sport... 05-08-14 Anne Butler - If you want the best, I recommend Paradise Sport... 05-07-23 Ron C - Actually overcharging is a big deal and often a crime.. 05-07-18 Henry - I'm also confused... 05-07-09 Tony - Everybody has their own opinion but Ball alienated divers... 05-07-06 AH - Such conflicting information... 05-03-09 Jim B - We have stopped dealing with Mike Ball... 05-03-07 Aussie G - I guess Mike Ball just doesn't have the balls... 05-02-25 Mike Ball - Mike Ball rates... 05-01-20 Satoru W - Charge Japanese more--in Japan, foreigners get ripped off... 05-01-19 Kye Prigg - Its' not only the Australians... 04-12-24 Mike Ball - For the record, we now have one rate listed in AUS $... 04-12-22 Barbara J - Mike Ball 8-day trip?  Aquacat 8-day trip? What gives?... 04-12-21 S Richards - TAKA? What gives?... 04-11-07 Dexter - Do you have to go to Baghdad to know you don't want to... 04-10-31 Ian Johnson - You put down MBDE without even going on the boat... 04-10-30 Nigel - Avoid Coral Reeftel and MV Scubaroo like the plague... 04-10-30 Dexter - Who is "we all": The Assn of Aussie Racists and Thieves?... 04-10-30 Dexter Fulton - OT - Be good to the old axe Jonny... 04-10-29 Jonny - OT - Question for Dexter Fulton: Born to rock?... 04-10-29 Ian Johnson - We all thank you for your comments Dexter... 04-10-27 Dexter Fulton - Hi Nick--ever hear of Gabe and Christina Watson?... 04-10-26 Nick Moore - Follow up on Dexter Fulton, AKA  idiot... 04-10-20 Dexter - Hey Mike Ball, giddy up cowboy and get the cattle on your boat... 04-09-26 Mike Ball - Hey Dexter Fulton, are you just following the other sheep?... 04-09-15 Dexter - Forget about the higher moral ground Deb--you think like a thug... 04-09-14 Danny Smith - Don't agree with Mike Ball pricing but... 04-08-20 Deb - The airline industry have different prices based on nationality... 04-07-24 David - MV Kangaroo Explorer vs Mike Ball Expeditions... 04-07-07 Philippe - Aussie attitude... 04-06-25 Anne Roberts - Death on a Mike Ball liveaboard excursion... 04-02-09 Mike Garside - Overcharging by Mike Ball... 04-01-25 Dan Evans - Mike Ball ends price discrimination--Congrats to CDNN... 03-10-31 Cynthia - CDNN News: Stan Kielbaska denies negligence... 03-10-31 Michael - Mike Ball's prices are outrageous--try Kangaroo Explorer!... 03-10-30 David S - Stan, buy my trip report (special rates for Mike Ball staff)... 03-10-27 Stan Kielbaska - When did David Schwager travel with Mike Ball?... 03-10-25 Nigel - Mike Ball ranks near the bottom in terms of safety... 03-10-23 Jason - We lost a beautiful friend who died on Mike Ball Spoil Sport... 03-10-23 Cynthia - CDNN News: Spoil Sport guest dies... 03-09-18 Brent M - Definitely Serica--it's in a class by itself... 03-09-16 David S - If you prefer cattle boats and rip-offs, choose Mike Ball... 03-08-28 Dan E - Ball has not seen the light of clean, non-discriminatory pricing... 03-08-28 Tony Corbelletta - Re: Check out Taka II and the Undersea Explorer... 03-08-28 Tony Corbelletta - Mike Ball pricing... 03-08-14 Jim Heimer - Mike Ball's pricing policy: Has he seen the light?... 03-07-29 G Fleming - US Dive Travel, Island Dreams are ripping off Americans... 03-07-10 Pete Lindell - Check out Taka II and the Undersea Explorer... 03-07-08 Milton B - Serica is a first-class liveaboard--far better than Ball... 03-06-05 Stephanie - ScubaLinx has diver ratings of Aussie liveaboards... 03-05-30 Russ Murray - Alternatives to Mike Ball? Try Rum Runner!... 03-04-30 Miguel - I completely agree with Karoline... 03-04-29 Karoline - Can anyone recommend good alternatives to Mike Ball?... 03-04-28 Mia - No wonder Mike Ball doesn't list prices on his web site... 03-04-27 Mark - I also want to know which travel agents support Ball's rip-offs... 03-04-14 Jordan - Which companies collude with Mike Ball to rip-off divers?... 03-02-16 David Schwager - Avoid thieves--avoid Mike Ball... 03-02-01 Julian - Mike Ball owns Mike Ball (with Japanese partners)... 03-01-25 Christian G - Who owns Mike Ball?... 03-01-23 J Davis - I have no control over the people who run America... 02-12-27 James West - Australia is populated by descendants of thieves... 02-12-19 Andrew - Treat the septic tank yanks like they treat everybody else... 02-12-04 Eddie Rose - Why not rip off Japs and Yanks?... 02-12-03 Frank Mendell - Ball is a two-bit crook... 02-12-02 Dale Treadway - Discrimination is legal if you target the whole class... 02-11-28 Ray Jackson - Ball has no right to break anti-discrimination laws... 02-11-22 Dale Treadway - Ball has a right to charge whatever he wants... 02-11-22 Ray Jackson - No matter where you buy, it's still discrimination... 02-11-20 Dale Treadway - The choice is ours: Buy here or buy there... 02-10-27 LS - Get smart!... 02-09-10 KB - Fleet boats aren't the go... 02-08-10 M Ginsburg - Mike Ball doesn't cut it... 02-07-02 Kandace H - Mike Ball told me Americans can afford to pay 40% more... 02-07-01 D P - Cancelled our Mike Ball trip... 02-06-16 Bob R - Anybody who books a Ball trip must be an idiot... 02-05-01 Derby - Not all Yanks are so dumb... 02-04-27 Cheryl Lamson - Thanks for the SCAM alert--we found a better operator... 02-03-25 Luther B - It is usually illegal to discriminate on the basis of nationality... 02-03-24 D Johnson - I don't like Mike Ball's pricing either but... 02-03-18 Darrel P - The solution is don't book with Mike Ball--why so difficult?... 02-03-03 H Abramson - Yanks pay the Yank rate--Japs pay the Jap rate:  So what?... 02-02-14 Robert Buckley - One earth, one people, one price... 02-02-08 J Bochenski - Thanks for the info guys... 02-01-15 Russ Murray - 'Caveat emptor' is universal in application... 01-12-10 Eddie Rose - Mike Ball is right--Yanks and Japs are complete imbeciles... 01-12-10 George Cohen - Equivalent to racial discrimination... 01-12-09 Mark Williams - Ball is a thief and probably a racist... 01-11-29 Barry Lever - Japs and yanks enjoy whinging but pay the price... 01-11-24 Bill Windham - The drinks are on me... 01-11-22 James & Kandace Heimer - Mike Ball ripped us off for over US$1600... 01-11-15 Steve - Ball's conduct violates Australian law... 01-11-11 Vaughan R - Oz is tough mate--I might have to start working again... 01-11-11 Ray Jackson - What about black Americans... 01-11-10 Aaron Moore - Does targeting Americans mean big expensive ads?... 01-11-10 Bob Davidson - Those stupid rich Americans, ha, ha, ha... 01-11-10 Martin Loeb - Pity the poor impoverished Aussies... 01-11-10 Carol Hayashi - I'm half Japanese and half Australian living in America... 01-11-10 Nina Naderi - Ball better find another job...   CDNN NEWS HEADLINES
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