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A few minutes ago I made a reservation for a woman whose call started off normally enough. We established what kind of room she needed, when she needed it and how much it would be. Reservation made -- easy as pie!
Then she asked if we offer pet rooms. I told her we do offer a few, asked if she wanted one, and she responded that she wanted to make sure she got a room that no animal had ever set paw in.
Then she asked if these are nice rooms. I hate that question, because what am I supposed to say? Am I supposed to tell them no, and beg that they run, far, far away before it's too late?
"We usually stay across the road from you," she said, "And I'm just curious as to why your rates are so low. Are you sure they're nice rooms?"
I let my irritation show through. "Yes. They're nice rooms."
"Well, I'm just curious as to why your rates are so much lower than others."
"Ma'am," I said, "If you'd like I can jack the rates way up."
"No, no, no... I just want to make sure you have nice rooms because your rate is so low. I guess we'll just have to look around when we get there."
And now for the punchline.
She asked, "Do you offer any discounts for retired military officers?"
"No, because the rate I gave you is the lowest available."
"So, no AAA or AARP or anything like that?"
"No."
"Alright then... I guess we'll just look at the place when we get there and see what we think."
Now, let's all sit quietly for a moment, hands folded in our laps, and try to think of why this lady might be justifiably called stupid.
(Hums that waltz that plays as the Joker dances with Vikki Vale atop Gotham City Cathedral in the 1989 blockbuster hit movie 'Batman')
Ready? That's correct! Many things add up to SCism in this situation. First, she asked if the rooms are nice. A hotel clerk will say the rooms are nice even if the rooms are, currently, on fire and therefore the question is stupid. Secondly, she had a fit that the rates were too low, which makes her question whether or not we're a fleabag rattrap. This assumption is insulting. Third, despite the fact that the rates were already low enough to worry her, she demanded further discounts and seemed a little put out that the rate wasn't going down any further. This could be considered hypocrisy in some circles.
Stupid questions + veiled insults + hypocritical gimme grab = SC
Then she asked if we offer pet rooms. I told her we do offer a few, asked if she wanted one, and she responded that she wanted to make sure she got a room that no animal had ever set paw in.
Then she asked if these are nice rooms. I hate that question, because what am I supposed to say? Am I supposed to tell them no, and beg that they run, far, far away before it's too late?
"We usually stay across the road from you," she said, "And I'm just curious as to why your rates are so low. Are you sure they're nice rooms?"
I let my irritation show through. "Yes. They're nice rooms."
"Well, I'm just curious as to why your rates are so much lower than others."
"Ma'am," I said, "If you'd like I can jack the rates way up."
"No, no, no... I just want to make sure you have nice rooms because your rate is so low. I guess we'll just have to look around when we get there."
And now for the punchline.
She asked, "Do you offer any discounts for retired military officers?"
"No, because the rate I gave you is the lowest available."
"So, no AAA or AARP or anything like that?"
"No."
"Alright then... I guess we'll just look at the place when we get there and see what we think."
Now, let's all sit quietly for a moment, hands folded in our laps, and try to think of why this lady might be justifiably called stupid.
(Hums that waltz that plays as the Joker dances with Vikki Vale atop Gotham City Cathedral in the 1989 blockbuster hit movie 'Batman')
Ready? That's correct! Many things add up to SCism in this situation. First, she asked if the rooms are nice. A hotel clerk will say the rooms are nice even if the rooms are, currently, on fire and therefore the question is stupid. Secondly, she had a fit that the rates were too low, which makes her question whether or not we're a fleabag rattrap. This assumption is insulting. Third, despite the fact that the rates were already low enough to worry her, she demanded further discounts and seemed a little put out that the rate wasn't going down any further. This could be considered hypocrisy in some circles.
Stupid questions + veiled insults + hypocritical gimme grab = SC
Personally, if I'm booking a hotel, I don't want to ask if the rooms are nice. Nice is such a subjective term, how can one person's nice be the same as someone elses?
"You'd feel a Hell of a lot better if you'd just rip into the occasional customer." 
). i've worn them nightly since my second enlistment and my nights couldn't be quieter!
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