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Just had a caller trying to scam a lower rate out of me.
Caller wanted a single room for two nights. I quoted her $50 a night, plus tax.
SC: "Really? That's the best you can do? Because I'm here on the [3rd party travel site] and I can get a better rate from [competitor]."
Competitor is normally at least $5 more a night than we are. I know this because I drive by their sign several times a week, and I do the competitor rate surveys for the Area Manager.
SC: "It's not even for me, it's for my friend. I stayed there in 2008 and it was $35 a night."
Big red flag: I've worked here since 2005, and I know for a fact our rates have never been that low.
Me: "Are you sure, ma'am? Our rates have never been that low."
SC: "Yes, they were! I know it. I still have the receipt, and it was even posted on your sign."
Now she's calling me a liar!
We went back and forth for a bit. After SC said she'd gotten a rate of $35 from us, I wasn't willing to budge on my price anymore, since that was a blatant lie. I've cut deals for people in the past, but no way was our rate ever posted $35 since I've worked here. The cheapest I've seen was $46.
SC finally admitted the price she found for [competitor] was the same as ours. She asked if our rates changed later in the week. When I told her no, she began arguing until I explained that in the summer we often have weekend rates, but that they go away in the winter.
SC: "Oh yeah, that's right. 'Cause it was in June when I stayed there."
BULLSHIT! She's saying she payed $35 during a peak season time?!?
SC: "Are you sure that's the best you can do?"
Me: "That's it, I'm sorry."
Just for shits and giggles, after I got her off the phone I went and looked up our rates for June 2008. $55 a night during the week, $60 on the weekends, for a single.
The thing is, if she'd just asked nicely and hadn't been such a blatant liar, I would have gladly given her 10-15% off without argument. We're not busy, and lately I've been more than willing to cut all sorts of deals to fill the rooms. I gave a gal 10% off last night because she cringed at the price I gave her, even though she was willing to pay full price if she had to, I was just being nice. I'm that easy. But the kind of blatant scamming like I got from this caller tonight is not going to get you any favors from me.
Caller wanted a single room for two nights. I quoted her $50 a night, plus tax.
SC: "Really? That's the best you can do? Because I'm here on the [3rd party travel site] and I can get a better rate from [competitor]."
Competitor is normally at least $5 more a night than we are. I know this because I drive by their sign several times a week, and I do the competitor rate surveys for the Area Manager.
SC: "It's not even for me, it's for my friend. I stayed there in 2008 and it was $35 a night."
Big red flag: I've worked here since 2005, and I know for a fact our rates have never been that low.
Me: "Are you sure, ma'am? Our rates have never been that low."
SC: "Yes, they were! I know it. I still have the receipt, and it was even posted on your sign."
Now she's calling me a liar!
We went back and forth for a bit. After SC said she'd gotten a rate of $35 from us, I wasn't willing to budge on my price anymore, since that was a blatant lie. I've cut deals for people in the past, but no way was our rate ever posted $35 since I've worked here. The cheapest I've seen was $46.
SC finally admitted the price she found for [competitor] was the same as ours. She asked if our rates changed later in the week. When I told her no, she began arguing until I explained that in the summer we often have weekend rates, but that they go away in the winter.
SC: "Oh yeah, that's right. 'Cause it was in June when I stayed there."
BULLSHIT! She's saying she payed $35 during a peak season time?!?
SC: "Are you sure that's the best you can do?"
Me: "That's it, I'm sorry."
Just for shits and giggles, after I got her off the phone I went and looked up our rates for June 2008. $55 a night during the week, $60 on the weekends, for a single.
The thing is, if she'd just asked nicely and hadn't been such a blatant liar, I would have gladly given her 10-15% off without argument. We're not busy, and lately I've been more than willing to cut all sorts of deals to fill the rooms. I gave a gal 10% off last night because she cringed at the price I gave her, even though she was willing to pay full price if she had to, I was just being nice. I'm that easy. But the kind of blatant scamming like I got from this caller tonight is not going to get you any favors from me.
. So for a decent place like that, $50 is an amazing price for me.
I love those lodging coupons books.
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