How Was Everything

Do you ask that specific question when guests check out? Or "were there any problems?"
I don't ask those specific questions, but I do thank them, shake their hand, etc. Most of the time guests are gushing with praise. Sometimes, like today, I just don't know what they thought. They were an odd couple to start out with, but hey, to each his own and like the old saying "there's a lid for every pot". They seemed shy and had never been to a b&b before.
On check-out, same thing. Blank faces, no conversation except for my thanking them for staying. It just gives me such a weird feeling. They ate every bite of food and they had our 2 breakfasts, picnic basket and room service delivered dinner.
I thought about asking them if everything was ok, but I didn't want to put them on the spot and make them even more awkward than they were. They were the only check-out and no other people around, but I would be hesitant to ask "how was everything" if there were others around that could hear.
What do you do?

Most guests turn in their keys saying "Oh it was just what we needed - everything was wonderful - we had a great time..." I don't normally question their sincerity, because they usually want to chat a bit and seem pleased.
Last weekend I happened to ask a guest "How was everything?" She gave a weird smile then proceeded to say how wonderful it was, etc. When I went to clean the room, I found that nail polish had been spilled all over the coffee table. In an attempt to clean it up, they ruined 3 washcloths (and the table). Also a knob was broken off in the shower so they had shut the water off at the valve because it wouldn't turn off. A heads up for both of these circumstances would have been appreciated.
The table I was going to repaint anyway, but they didn't know that, and could have asked for help. The shower knob would be something I ordinarily would think of as something I should apologize to her about if it caused inconvenience to them. However, not a peep out of them other than saying how great a time they had.
I'm surprised they checked out in person because they could have left the key in the room and not had to face me at all. Some people I just don't get.

I bet they loved it and were bashful. Out of their element. We are bold, we need to be, and they aren't, don't you feel like you are teaching a class some days? You could repeat the same thing every day in a row to diff students.

"What's the one thing we could have done that would have made your stay even more amazing?"

PhineasSwann said:

"What's the one thing we could have done that would have made your stay even more amazing?".

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PhineasSwann said:

"What's the one thing we could have done that would have made your stay even more amazing?"

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You ask that Phin?
Lawd help me if I ever ask that.

We do exactly what you do, thank them for staying and welcome them back (if they were not PITAS). I am often surprised that the quiet ones are the guests who write glowing reviews and often return. You just can't tell a book by its cover, as the saying goes.

I don't ask but wonder if I should. Mostly because I'm a complete chicken. I don't want to hear how awful something was while I'm looking at the person. Email and tell me. Please. But, I've also stopped asking in the email because I was getting the oddest comments about what we should have done differently.
You know what I find weird? When you've done the whole check-out thing, said goodbye, gotten the keys, guests are at the door and they just look at you. I always wonder what it is I'm supposed to say at that point.

Silverspoon said:

We do exactly what you do, thank them for staying and welcome them back (if they were not PITAS). I am often surprised that the quiet ones are the guests who write glowing reviews and often return. You just can't tell a book by its cover, as the saying goes..

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I was hoping they wrote something in the room book, but nope. Most of the time when I question whether they liked it or not, they'll have written glowing things in the book and I breath a big sigh of relief.

Morticia said:

I don't ask but wonder if I should. Mostly because I'm a complete chicken. I don't want to hear how awful something was while I'm looking at the person. Email and tell me. Please. But, I've also stopped asking in the email because I was getting the oddest comments about what we should have done differently.
You know what I find weird? When you've done the whole check-out thing, said goodbye, gotten the keys, guests are at the door and they just look at you. I always wonder what it is I'm supposed to say at that point..

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Morticia said:

When you've done the whole check-out thing, said goodbye, gotten the keys, guests are at the door and they just look at you. I always wonder what it is I'm supposed to say at that point.

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Oh, I hate that too! It's so awkward. How many times can you say thank you and have a great day?

Morticia said:

I don't ask but wonder if I should. Mostly because I'm a complete chicken. I don't want to hear how awful something was while I'm looking at the person. Email and tell me. Please. But, I've also stopped asking in the email because I was getting the oddest comments about what we should have done differently.
You know what I find weird? When you've done the whole check-out thing, said goodbye, gotten the keys, guests are at the door and they just look at you. I always wonder what it is I'm supposed to say at that point..

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Morticia said:

I don't ask but wonder if I should. Mostly because I'm a complete chicken. I don't want to hear how awful something was while I'm looking at the person. Email and tell me. Please.

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Same here. Like they tell lawyers, never ask a question to which you don't already know the answer. I never ask a question that invites a negative response. I just don't want to hear that. Email and tell me. Please.

No we don't ask. We do send an email thanking them for their stay and in that we open the opportunity for them to express to us any comments they would like to share with us.
Only once did this bring us any negative comments. - She didn't like the baked oatmeal dish we served. 'Made her not stay for breakfast the 2nd morning' Sigh.
Mostly it is everything was great, or no reply at all.

Sure could have used a little heads up from the couple last week that spilled red wine on every piece of fabric in the room (not every one but it sure felt like it as I was cleaning ).

What could we do better?

Jon Sable said:

What could we do better?.

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Do you say that to them in person?

Copperhead said:

No we don't ask. We do send an email thanking them for their stay and in that we open the opportunity for them to express to us any comments they would like to share with us.
Only once did this bring us any negative comments. - She didn't like the baked oatmeal dish we served. 'Made her not stay for breakfast the 2nd morning' Sigh.
Mostly it is everything was great, or no reply at all.

Sure could have used a little heads up from the couple last week that spilled red wine on every piece of fabric in the room (not every one but it sure felt like it as I was cleaning

)..

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We do the same as Copperhead. Figured we might get more honest responses by email rather than the pressure of face to face. But to no avail. We have found out about a burnt out light bulb or a slow drain but nothing earth shattering. Mostly it was great or no reply.

I always say "We hope you enjoyed your stay." But I'm not nearly brave enough - or thick skinned enough to ask face to face for suggestions. I try hard not to be but that scenario of a bunch of offered suggestions always makes me feel defensive... Have to remember to smile!

Breakfast Diva said:

Jon Sable said:

What could we do better?.

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Do you say that to them in person?
.

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Yes, sometimes it elicits information on things that might be broken, but most of the time they say "nothing" and "it was perfect."

Why would you even want to go there right at the moment they are leaving. Sorry I am diametrically opposed to this idea.
I remember asking guests how they slept at breakfast "Did you sleep well" and would hear the crappy answers and quite frankly it ruined my day. A week or two ago I asked a guest "Did you enjoy your dinner last night?" and got the whole 9 yards, I prob told you about it here. She went from there to why don't we have a coffee shop open on sundays for her, it is ridiculous that a town this size doesn't have one. Okay lady shall we now discuss religion? People have coffee with their families and go to church on sundays... they don't go to coffee shops. Which, by the way wouldn't do you any harm, you might want to cross that threshold yourself once in a while... (see what I mean! haha)
So you see the problem. How about we thank them for their business, we're glad they chose us and we hope they will consider visiting us again soon! Or we can ask and feign interest like we are so sorry they didn't have great service or the coffee shop is not open on sundays...oh you poor things!

Joey Bloggs said:

Why would you even want to go there right at the moment they are leaving. Sorry I am diametrically opposed to this idea.
I remember asking guests how they slept at breakfast "Did you sleep well" and would hear the crappy answers and quite frankly it ruined my day. A week or two ago I asked a guest "Did you enjoy your dinner last night?" and got the whole 9 yards, I prob told you about it here. She went from there to why don't we have a coffee shop open on sundays for her, it is ridiculous that a town this size doesn't have one. Okay lady shall we now discuss religion? People have coffee with their families and go to church on sundays... they don't go to coffee shops. Which, by the way wouldn't do you any harm, you might want to cross that threshold yourself once in a while... (see what I mean! haha)
So you see the problem. How about we thank them for their business, we're glad they chose us and we hope they will consider visiting us again soon! Or we can ask and feign interest like we are so sorry they didn't have great service or the coffee shop is not open on sundays...oh you poor things!

.

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That's the one thing I DO ask about! How was dinner? Where did you go? What did you have?

Small motel, checkout procedure is just leave the key in the door on departure, of course I enjoy the guests so if I see folks out I'm usually there running my mouth, thanking them for staying with us, asking if they slept well and wishing them a safe trip, most seem happy, I'd rather them tell me if there was a problem than post it in a review.

Morticia said:

Joey Bloggs said:

Why would you even want to go there right at the moment they are leaving. Sorry I am diametrically opposed to this idea.
I remember asking guests how they slept at breakfast "Did you sleep well" and would hear the crappy answers and quite frankly it ruined my day. A week or two ago I asked a guest "Did you enjoy your dinner last night?" and got the whole 9 yards, I prob told you about it here. She went from there to why don't we have a coffee shop open on sundays for her, it is ridiculous that a town this size doesn't have one. Okay lady shall we now discuss religion? People have coffee with their families and go to church on sundays... they don't go to coffee shops. Which, by the way wouldn't do you any harm, you might want to cross that threshold yourself once in a while... (see what I mean! haha)
So you see the problem. How about we thank them for their business, we're glad they chose us and we hope they will consider visiting us again soon! Or we can ask and feign interest like we are so sorry they didn't have great service or the coffee shop is not open on sundays...oh you poor things!

.

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That's the one thing I DO ask about! How was dinner? Where did you go? What did you have?
.

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Morticia said:

That's the one thing I DO ask about! How was dinner? Where did you go? What did you have?

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Me too. How was the concert? Where did you end up eating? And Did you sleep ok?
When they leave, it's 'I hope you enjoyed your stay!'