be reasonable, people

[vacation_rentals_suck]

Guest: yes Dave, I wanted to rent this property for July 4th week

Me: ok it is available, the rate is $3500 for the week

Guest: thats a lot more than I paid last year for that same unit for that same week. Can you look it up and tell me what I paid?

Me: yea you paid $1200 but we had moved you from a different unit that rents for a lot less because of a water leak

Guest: so can I have that property again this summer for $1200

Me: no ma'am

Guest: how much can I have it for?

Me: $3500

Guest: but I just cant afford that....can you call and just tell the owner I am not able to afford that much?

Me: no ma'am

Guest: well but I mean we were counting on getting that place again for $1200, cant you help us out?

Me: I can give you 10% off

Guest: well thats still too expensive.........Dave, can you please rent it to me for $1200 since my family and I made plans to rent it at that price

Me: no ma'am

Guest: well thats bait and switch

Me: no it's not (trying to contain my laughter)

Guest: oh yes it is

Me: how is it bait and switch when we arent even advertising the property for $1200?

Guest: because you rented it to me last year at that rate

Me: first off, that was an extreme case and second, even if we did rent it you last year at that rate, its not bait and switch because we wont rent it to you this year for that rate

GUest: well I want the owner's phone number

Me: I cant give that out

Guest: I am calling my lawyer and I am telling everyone how shabilly you treat poor simple folk who just want to take a vacation

Me: ok good luck

she apparently thought she had hung the phone up because I heard her say "God what an asshole"

[Eireann]

"Poor simple folk" don't make plans that include paying thousands of dollars to stay somewhere. They take low-cost vacations.

That woman's insane.

[tropicsgoddess]

Poor simple folk don't pay or try to go somewhere that's over $3,000 for a vacation. What a twit.

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

Who in the hell plans a vacation under the ASSUMPTION they will get the same rate as before without checking into it first?

The entitlement is strong in that one, good grief.

[IT Grunt]

One time on a flight, they'd heavily overbooked it, and gave away my seat. Since I was a miles member with the airline, they moved me up to First Class free of charge so I could still make my flight. (Back then my company flew me everywhere, you bet I was gonna get something out of it. ) Should I have expected the same thing on the next flight I took? Hell no. These people who expect to be compensated for nothing are insane.

[Can I Help Your A$$?]

Poor simple folks go on vacation? Damn. I must be a "poor desperate folk."

[bainsidhe]

If I'm spending over three grand on a vacation, it better include an exotic location with lots of pampering, free drinks, and airfare.

That aside, the travel industry has been showing some really great deals lately because people are tighter with their money. A year from now when gas prices are once again soaring and the economy/jobs are *hopefully* recovering, I don't expect to get all the freebies they're offering now.

Hmm, now that I think of it, I'm surprised this woman didn't pull "the economy sucks" card.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Guest: I am calling my lawyer and I am telling everyone how shabilly you treat poor simple folk who just want to take a vacation

She's got the "simple" part correct.

[Food Lady]

Seriously, Dave, you need a new job. You get these people pretty much every day.

[BookstoreEscapee]

I'd think by now the word "reasonable" would have disappeared from your vocabulary...

[One-Fang]

Me: I can give you 10% off

WTF? What for? If you've got the freedom to give 10% wherever you like at whim, save it for the people that actually deserve it.

[PepperElf]

who the hell thinks that prices will be the same 365 days later, or that raising prices somehow constitutes 'bait and switch'

what an idiot

[Pinkie]

I went to Puerto Rico at the end of February for $2000. Airfare and 4 star hotel for 4 nights for 2 of us. We ate great meals and slept on high thread count sheets (never before did I think that that mattered, but know I know it does!) We found a great deal on my new best friend, priceline.com. But, then again, hubby and I have brains and shop around for the best deal so we can get what we want at a price we can afford. We did enjoy the rate posted on the back side of our room door...even took a picture because we didn't think anyone would believe us. It said the standard rate for the room we had (not even an ocean view room) was $1050/night. I think we got a great deal and sunburn too!!

[smileyeagle1021]

-snip-, priceline.com. -snip-

*boo hiss*

if I had a dollar for every time priceline screwed up a reservation for a guest I was assisting (either here or the call center) and I wouldn't have to worry about working to pay my way through college.

anyway, back to your regularly scheduled thread...