It's never enough

I offer her $10 off to bookonline, she replies back what about a senior discount? Oh excuse me, are you on the dole? Why are you staying at a bed and breakfast my dear?
Sorry I just find this cheapness a quality that is not endearing. I am "frugal" and I spend my money wisely, I am not cheap.
Oh and someone left some power drinks, whatever the heck you call them, the AMP type drinks full of caffeine. No one has touched them for weeks, so it is not a big deal, but a late arrival, left right after breakfast drank all of them himself, a 4 pack. I didn't want them, that was why they were left in the guest fridge, I just thought it amazing that someone would do that.
I was blaming the polar vortex, now I think I will blame Perseids.

One discount to a customer, this isn't Kohl's.
I used to give them a choice - senior discount or AAA. But I wouldn't tell them how much each discount was until they picked. ;-)
Of course the discount was the same, but I was getting annoyed.
Maybe I could say, "I'd love to offer a discount but the kids need shoes for school."

No double dipping, that went out with the double coupon days!

We rarely discount ... OK, DW never discounts, sometimes I do. Our rooms are well priced and it doesn't seem fair to give a break to some one who pesters you and not to the ones who don't. That said, there is Gen XY which has been blasted by the "never pay full price" message; there it seems to be almost a biological need to get a discount. Last week I had an XY on the phone who went through a long list of possible discounts (didn't try AARP, to his credit). Finally I tell him there is $10 off for carbon-based life forms, and, does he qualify? ... "Oh yes!" ... He booked.

Tom said:

We rarely discount ... OK, DW never discounts, sometimes I do. Our rooms are well priced and it doesn't seem fair to give a break to some one who pesters you and not to the ones who don't. That said, there is Gen XY which has been blasted by the "never pay full price" message; there it seems to be almost a biological need to get a discount. Last week I had an XY on the phone who went through a long list of possible discounts (didn't try AARP, to his credit). Finally I tell him there is $10 off for carbon-based life forms, and, does he qualify? ... "Oh yes!" ... He booked..

Click to expand...

I once gave a 'made me laugh' discount.

Madeleine said:

One discount to a customer, this isn't Kohl's.
I used to give them a choice - senior discount or AAA. But I wouldn't tell them how much each discount was until they picked. ;-)
Of course the discount was the same, but I was getting annoyed.
Maybe I could say, "I'd love to offer a discount but the kids need shoes for school.".

Click to expand...

Madeleine said:

Maybe I could say, "I'd love to offer a discount but the kids need shoes for school."

Click to expand...

Maybe I could use this too... I get so many people who say that the previous managers used to give them much bigger discounts (sometimes as much as 60%, even during peak periods), and why won't I do that or honor their prices? In the same breath, they ask why the place hasn't been painted in years, or why the carpet is stained and old. I finally broke down and told them it's because the previous managers gave the outrageous discounts they did- the owners couldn't keep up with the bills!

DH once matched the PO's 50% discount and the guests complained because it was more than we'd promised.
He said, no, I charged you 50%, the overage is the room tax. I have to charge the room tax.
I guess PO worked in round numbers.

We just say flatly that we only give military discounts. That shuts them up pretty quick. Who's gonna argue with that? (well, someone will, but they haven't called us yet!)

TheBeachHouse said:

DH once matched the PO's 50% discount and the guests complained because it was more than we'd promised.
He said, no, I charged you 50%, the overage is the room tax. I have to charge the room tax.
I guess PO worked in round numbers..

Click to expand...

TheBeachHouse said:

DH once matched the PO's 50% discount and the guests complained because it was more than we'd promised.
He said, no, I charged you 50%, the overage is the room tax. I have to charge the room tax.
I guess PO worked in round numbers.

Click to expand...

We lost a few bookings when we wouldn't give the Po's traditional 10% off discount. But the rooms didn't stay empty so that gave us confidence.
I've found a lot of folks just say, 'doesn't hurt to ask,' and then pay full price.

MountainMystery said:

Madeleine said:

One discount to a customer, this isn't Kohl's.
I used to give them a choice - senior discount or AAA. But I wouldn't tell them how much each discount was until they picked. ;-)
Of course the discount was the same, but I was getting annoyed.
Maybe I could say, "I'd love to offer a discount but the kids need shoes for school.".

Click to expand...

Madeleine said:

Maybe I could say, "I'd love to offer a discount but the kids need shoes for school."

Click to expand...

Maybe I could use this too... I get so many people who say that the previous managers used to give them much bigger discounts (sometimes as much as 60%, even during peak periods), and why won't I do that or honor their prices? In the same breath, they ask why the place hasn't been painted in years, or why the carpet is stained and old. I finally broke down and told them it's because the previous managers gave the outrageous discounts they did- the owners couldn't keep up with the bills!
.

Click to expand...

When they make that comment again, just say "That's why they are THE PREVIOUS managers".
'nough said.

Breakfast Diva said:

MountainMystery said:

Madeleine said:

One discount to a customer, this isn't Kohl's.
I used to give them a choice - senior discount or AAA. But I wouldn't tell them how much each discount was until they picked. ;-)
Of course the discount was the same, but I was getting annoyed.
Maybe I could say, "I'd love to offer a discount but the kids need shoes for school.".

Click to expand...

Madeleine said:

Maybe I could say, "I'd love to offer a discount but the kids need shoes for school."

Click to expand...

Maybe I could use this too... I get so many people who say that the previous managers used to give them much bigger discounts (sometimes as much as 60%, even during peak periods), and why won't I do that or honor their prices? In the same breath, they ask why the place hasn't been painted in years, or why the carpet is stained and old. I finally broke down and told them it's because the previous managers gave the outrageous discounts they did- the owners couldn't keep up with the bills!
.

Click to expand...

When they make that comment again, just say "That's why they are THE PREVIOUS managers".
'nough said.
.

Click to expand...

Breakfast Diva said:

When they make that comment again, just say "That's why they are THE PREVIOUS managers".
'nough said.

Click to expand...

Exactly!

Breakfast Diva said:

MountainMystery said:

Madeleine said:

One discount to a customer, this isn't Kohl's.
I used to give them a choice - senior discount or AAA. But I wouldn't tell them how much each discount was until they picked. ;-)
Of course the discount was the same, but I was getting annoyed.
Maybe I could say, "I'd love to offer a discount but the kids need shoes for school.".

Click to expand...

Madeleine said:

Maybe I could say, "I'd love to offer a discount but the kids need shoes for school."

Click to expand...

Maybe I could use this too... I get so many people who say that the previous managers used to give them much bigger discounts (sometimes as much as 60%, even during peak periods), and why won't I do that or honor their prices? In the same breath, they ask why the place hasn't been painted in years, or why the carpet is stained and old. I finally broke down and told them it's because the previous managers gave the outrageous discounts they did- the owners couldn't keep up with the bills!
.

Click to expand...

When they make that comment again, just say "That's why they are THE PREVIOUS managers".
'nough said.
.

Click to expand...

Breakfast Diva said:

When they make that comment again, just say "That's why they are THE PREVIOUS managers".
'nough said.

Click to expand...

Tom said:

We rarely discount ... OK, DW never discounts, sometimes I do. Our rooms are well priced and it doesn't seem fair to give a break to some one who pesters you and not to the ones who don't. That said, there is Gen XY which has been blasted by the "never pay full price" message; there it seems to be almost a biological need to get a discount. Last week I had an XY on the phone who went through a long list of possible discounts (didn't try AARP, to his credit). Finally I tell him there is $10 off for carbon-based life forms, and, does he qualify? ... "Oh yes!" ... He booked..

Click to expand...

Tom said:

Finally I tell him there is $10 off for carbon-based life forms, and, does he qualify? ... "Oh yes!" ...

Click to expand...

haha, I LOVE this! We get these people too... The first 3 minutes of a phone call is taken up by them listing everything organization they are members of, their age, what wars they fought in, how long they've been coming here, and how many other guests they are responsible for bringing to us... Perhaps I should use this line- just to save myself some very valuable time!

Madeleine said:

TheBeachHouse said:

DH once matched the PO's 50% discount and the guests complained because it was more than we'd promised.
He said, no, I charged you 50%, the overage is the room tax. I have to charge the room tax.
I guess PO worked in round numbers..

Click to expand...

TheBeachHouse said:

DH once matched the PO's 50% discount and the guests complained because it was more than we'd promised.
He said, no, I charged you 50%, the overage is the room tax. I have to charge the room tax.
I guess PO worked in round numbers.

Click to expand...

We lost a few bookings when we wouldn't give the Po's traditional 10% off discount. But the rooms didn't stay empty so that gave us confidence.
I've found a lot of folks just say, 'doesn't hurt to ask,' and then pay full price.
.

Click to expand...

Madeleine said:

TheBeachHouse said:

DH once matched the PO's 50% discount and the guests complained because it was more than we'd promised.
He said, no, I charged you 50%, the overage is the room tax. I have to charge the room tax.
I guess PO worked in round numbers.

Click to expand...

We lost a few bookings when we wouldn't give the Po's traditional 10% off discount. But the rooms didn't stay empty so that gave us confidence.
I've found a lot of folks just say, 'doesn't hurt to ask,' and then pay full price.

Click to expand...

It won't happen again. They were pitas about their bikes getting rained on and they were messy. They are welcome to come back, but our rates are no longer discounted.

We keep it really simple. No discounts. Now, with that said, when our "regulars" (those who have stayed several times for more than 3 nights.) request a reservation, we generally offer a $15/night discount off the standard rate. Those looking for a lower rate know that they have to book outside our busiest months if they want to pay less...or they have to stay in the cottage for a full week to get $25/night off.
And then there are the occasional guests who we would gladly pay to leave..but that's another story.

When asked for a senior discount I tell them we are old too, that shuts them up! LOL

Madeleine said:

TheBeachHouse said:

DH once matched the PO's 50% discount and the guests complained because it was more than we'd promised.
He said, no, I charged you 50%, the overage is the room tax. I have to charge the room tax.
I guess PO worked in round numbers..

Click to expand...

TheBeachHouse said:

DH once matched the PO's 50% discount and the guests complained because it was more than we'd promised.
He said, no, I charged you 50%, the overage is the room tax. I have to charge the room tax.
I guess PO worked in round numbers.

Click to expand...

We lost a few bookings when we wouldn't give the Po's traditional 10% off discount. But the rooms didn't stay empty so that gave us confidence.
I've found a lot of folks just say, 'doesn't hurt to ask,' and then pay full price.
.

Click to expand...

I find it hurts me when they do ask- my rooms are well priced, if they want less expensive they should go where they charge less.

Ice said:

When asked for a senior discount I tell them we are old too, that shuts them up! LOL.

Click to expand...

LOL yes we say the same. But we do give Military discount. Yes they get good pay but if they are a serving member I am very pleased to give them a break. Plus do special things for them .It is my way of saying thank you for serving our country.

Flower said:

Ice said:

When asked for a senior discount I tell them we are old too, that shuts them up! LOL.

Click to expand...

LOL yes we say the same. But we do give Military discount. Yes they get good pay but if they are a serving member I am very pleased to give them a break. Plus do special things for them .It is my way of saying thank you for serving our country.
.

Click to expand...

We are putting together the participating list of WVBBA members for B & Bs For Vets for Veterans Day. It is coming up very soon. Canada started doing it in 2011 for Remembrance Day. We have 22 yes and I have 8 that have still not gotten back to me.