Futile attempt to get a discount

[figgyx]

I was working my midnight audit shift at the hotel I work at and I was nearly sold out. The only room I had left was one of our suites. Since this was our last room and anxious for a sellout I always offer a discount to anyone willing to take it.

The room is about 130 dollars normally and I will sell it for our normal 99 dollar rate. This dude calls and I offer him the stated discount. I tell him this is my last room and he should not take too long to think about it. He hangs up and says he will call back.

When he calls back he tells me he called a Motel 6 in the next town over and they quoted him 50. Then he tells me he will offer me 60. My immediate response was a simple "no sir" Then he tries to get me to help him find a cheaper room elsewhere.

I don't know how this dude expected me to cut the rate down that much. I also have no clue as to why he expected me to help him find something else -not my job really.

[EricKei]

You shoulda just told him "Well, I hear there's a motel in the next town over that's selling rooms for fifty bucks..."

[Argabarga]

You shoulda just told him "Well, I hear there's a motel in the next town over that's selling rooms for fifty bucks..."

+1



And you're like customer service, so, you HAVE to serve the customer, even if they aren't going to USE your service! If you don't, that's POOR SERVICE!

[BowserKoopa1]

What?! You mean you didn't cave in and give him the discount?! And then didn't even help him find another place to stay for the night?! To him, no doubt that was bad customer service Why do people expect us to do their thinking for them? Oh right, because they're customers

[Pixilated]

Let's see: a regular room for $50 versus a $130 suite for $99 ... unless I was really strapped for cash, that would be SUCH a no-brainer.

[mhkohne]

Let's see: a regular room for $50 versus a $130 suite for $99 ... unless I was really strapped for cash, that would be SUCH a no-brainer.

And if you were strapped for cash, it would still be a no brainer - just in the other direction. Because, unlike the SC's - you can think.

[earl colby pottinger]

Why help?

What?! You mean you didn't cave in and give him the discount?! And then didn't even help him find another place to stay for the night?! To him, no doubt that was bad customer service Why do people expect us to do their thinking for them? Oh right, because they're customers

BUT, But, but he already found a cheaper place. Motel 6 quoted him $50 according to him, so why does he need help for a cheap place if he already has one?

[Pixilated]

I was just re-reading this ... and I'm wondering if that available cheaper room even existed, or whether he believed the imaginary room to be a sure-fire bargaining chip to get the already-reduced room at an even cheaper rate ... and then it backfired.

[bhskittykatt]

Yeah...you were being generous already with your last room. Some places will even up the rates as they start to fill.

I have no problem letting these types of discount seekers walk the other way, because I know the next person in the door will gladly pay the full rate.