How do you reply to people always looking for a discount?

I had a call today.. This person has stayed a few times here and has asked before for a "special deal" and I've stood my ground. Saying that the price is what it is and it was up to them if they wanted to stay. They ended up with the same questions today and I stood my ground. They ended up reserving at the rate that I said the room is.
This gets frustrating and little insulting after a while. I could see the person looking for AAA or AARP, but this person I know is well off and is always looking for a break. Yet they own a house in the caribbean and elsewhere. 3 times on our phone conversation he asked if he could get a discount or if they could get stay in a luxury room at standard room price. Grrrrrr
I wish there was a polite way to tell the guy we are business and feel our prices are fair for the product we offer. It irks me, he's coming today and I can hardly look at him. Believe me I would have loved the room to be empty than to host this couple at a discounted price.
Is there a way you politely tell people no deals?
It's going to be a warm one today here. Maybe the heat is getting to me and my fuse is shorter today.

I have a nothing throwaway line when people ask if there are any discounts, or if we have a AAA or AARP discount:
"Our discounts are already built into our rates."
Amazingly, after 2 years of using this, no a single person has thought twice to question it. Amazing.

My standard reply is "I'm sorry, we're just too small to be able to do discounts". Most of the time they say they understand and it didn't hurt to ask.
Just continue to stand your ground. They obviously they enjoy what you provide and keep coming back. I'm like you, I'd rather have an empty room than to give the pushy ones a discount. It's not as if we don't have to look them in the eye every day they're here!

PhineasSwann said:

I have a nothing throwaway line when people ask if there are any discounts, or if we have a AAA or AARP discount:
"Our discounts are already built into our rates."
Amazingly, after 2 years of using this, no a single person has thought twice to question it. Amazing..

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Great answers, above.
The practice in some service businesses (spas, salons, etc.) is not to discount, but to throw in additional services, especially things that might bring them back.
A masseuse might give a 15 minute reflexology service with a first time massage. A salon might give a top of the line conditioner or a wax (next time they visit) with a coloring service. Sometimes, excess stock makes a good incentive. And of course loyalty programs and referral rewards.
I think discounts better serve to grow reasons for a relationship, rather than cutting the price for low price seekers.

When we first came here we had to "sack" a lot of the previous owners customers - this is a phrase I picked up from one of the marketing gurus
The always wanted dirt cheap - well I have not spent a fortune renovating and upgrading to do dirt cheap thank you!
I say I am sorry but our prices are very competitive for the area - if you don't believe me look on the internet, good day.

My system is short and sweet. We advertise our best rates on our own website. We offer no other discounts by email or by telephone because we think that it is unfair to others, not AAA, not AARP and not government. Everyone gets the same price
I get the emails asking us for discounts all the time. In fact, if an email has a BCC I tend to simply answer that our prices and availability are live on our website. Why? Because if they are simply shopping by price, I'm not the place they should stay... I'm not cheapest and I'm not going to bargain down on my price! I offer things that the others don't... location, atmosphere and my breakfast... it's not comparable.
You need to decide, are you the bargain basement, or can you afford to wait for the right person to reserve? We do change prices to sell a room based on our needs, but it's the same for everyone, no single special deals.

I have been asked about all the usual discounts and I reply that my rates reflect the best possible price I can give. I do not do discounts to any other than military and first responders (cops/firemen) as a thank you for your service.
If it was asked once, I put it down to nothing ventured, nothing gained. But to ask repeatedly is not nice.

I say you can get cheaper but you can't get better (then here) Bring out what you offer compare to the "cheap places. But what I really want to say, is hope you don't pick up something!
From what I hear from guest who have stayed at some of the other places is how clean we are.

Our first year, we gave discounts to people who had had them from the PO. We won't be doing that this year. We have done extensive work, we have been very successful and we don't really like these folks. LOL.

I don't discount for anyone. However, I have chosen to give about 6 guests, singles and couples, that come more than 6 times per year (some come up from Chicago every weekend) and always stay more than 4 nights, the "repeat guest discount" of 5%. I don't do it when would be guests ask. I give it as a thank you to those few for loving our place.
Who goes to the store and asks for a discount on milk?
My answer always is, this is a business and we have 3 months to make our money to make it through the entire year. They all understand, book at the regular price, which is totally in line with everyone around here, plus, we are not just a place to spend the night and move on, we offer some pretty spectacular property, with service unlike any place else.
If you need cheap, you are not our kind of guest!

We have a standard deal for repeat guests. Folks from way back when get a discounted rate as a thank you for not booking at one of the other inns. ;-) Many of them have summer homes here so I know they're not hurting.
It's a tiny discount, less than 10%. (We got great advice a long time ago. "$10 off shouldn't break the bank and some people just need to feel they got a deal.") Obviously we don't do it for every caller.
Newer guests (maybe 4 years out) get a gift instead. Small, local, inexpensive. Candy, syrup, mugs.
For guests we don't know but who book extended stays I give them state park passes or other venue tix. Doesn't sound like much but I pay $5 and they save up to $30 depending on the park.
You probably don't have time today but for future guests, don't mention it in advance, but have it in the room with a thank you card.
On the phone, most of our repeats don't ask for discounts. Except if they haven't gotten a gift yet. Gifts come after 3 stays. It's very hard when it's a repeat to hold the line you tell folks you don't know.
So preemptively do a small gift, if that sounds good to you. I keep them stocked in case the repeat guest is a walk in. I bring the gift with the keys. (I don't give a gift every year and I do keep it in my guest system.)

Iris said:

I don't discount for anyone. However, I have chosen to give about 6 guests, singles and couples, that come more than 6 times per year (some come up from Chicago every weekend) and always stay more than 4 nights, the "repeat guest discount" of 5%. I don't do it when would be guests ask. I give it as a thank you to those few for loving our place.
Who goes to the store and asks for a discount on milk?
My answer always is, this is a business and we have 3 months to make our money to make it through the entire year. They all understand, book at the regular price, which is totally in line with everyone around here, plus, we are not just a place to spend the night and move on, we offer some pretty spectacular property, with service unlike any place else.
If you need cheap, you are not our kind of guest!.

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On the milk, I agree. People (even the wealthy) do price compares, but once in the store, not many people haggle. I suspect the aggressive hagglers are not really people I would want as regulars. Thinking of Ebenezer at his regular eating place - "more bread!" Waiter says "Bread costs extra!" And Scrooge replies "No more bread!"

TheBeachHouse said:

Our first year, we gave discounts to people who had had them from the PO. We won't be doing that this year. We have done extensive work, we have been very successful and we don't really like these folks. LOL..

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Made me chuckle

I have the standard, "Our best rates and specials on on our website. You have to reserve online to select one."
I sense this is more than that. When I get that I immediately go into, "There are some budget options in our area that might work for you."

Q: How do you reply to people always looking for a discount?
A. I give them one.
$10 to book online, thar she blows...the discount. They can ask for more, but this is what we offer, and it seems to work.

Joey Bloggs said:

Q: How do you reply to people always looking for a discount?
A. I give them one.
$10 to book online, thar she blows...the discount. They can ask for more, but this is what we offer, and it seems to work..

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My only concern on this is once I have a prospective guest in hand, I don't want to let go until I have a reservation. If they call, I ask for the booking. If they want to wait or need to check with someone, then I tell them they're welcome to get the wife's OK and then book online for "extra ease."

PhineasSwann said:

Joey Bloggs said:

Q: How do you reply to people always looking for a discount?
A. I give them one.
$10 to book online, thar she blows...the discount. They can ask for more, but this is what we offer, and it seems to work..

Click to expand...

My only concern on this is once I have a prospective guest in hand, I don't want to let go until I have a reservation. If they call, I ask for the booking. If they want to wait or need to check with someone, then I tell them they're welcome to get the wife's OK and then book online for "extra ease."
.

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Perhaps it is our current situation that was increased our selectivity, but if they call and they are our perfect guest, it is because they have a question about logistics or to make sure we have a particular item. They have made up their mind to reserve and they just have to get a question answered. If they call and they are wanting us to sell ourselves to them, they're not our guests.
Just got a call from a fellow who we had been recommended to. Was ready to book, saw we had one room available, and just needed to make sure the room had two beds. He booked 5 minutes later.

Joey Bloggs said:

Q: How do you reply to people always looking for a discount?
A. I give them one.
$10 to book online, thar she blows...the discount. They can ask for more, but this is what we offer, and it seems to work..

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I can see wisdom in that - person calling for discount and responding that online booking represents a discounted price...

I think I may use a few of these suggestions for the next time. Guest left this morning. I did my best to be cordial, but wanted to let him know how insulting it was that he thought he could get a reduced rate, instead I bit my tongue! I've shaken it off and on to a new day.
Happy Wednesday all....

Baygirl, my take is this ... it's not intended as an insult, it's just what he does. E.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e. he goes. I know there is an old thread on here about this. Someone I 'used to know', everywhere he called, everywhere he went, he asked about discounts. repeatedly. It made him feel good. I could tell some folks were getting seriously annoyed with him but he didn't care. His answer was always something along the lines of, If you don't ask you don't get - and sometimes they'll 'find' a discount for me.
When given the online booking option for a discount, however small, he always took it. But in restaurants and paying at checkouts, he'd go through all the membership cards in his wallet looking for a deal.