Room Bids...

I'm tempted to change my policies, to the following....
We offer 2 options...
Prepaid - If you choose this option, the entire amount must be prepaid at the time of the reservation. Your room will be guaranteed. Neither of us has an option of cancelling, changing or modifying the reservation.
Reservation - If you choose this option, you need not put a deposit. Your "reservation" can be cancelled by either party at any time up to 24 hours before the day of arrival. This allows us to keep your room for sale on our website at a higher price in case someone else is willing to pay more for your room. Should your room be reserved by someone else, you will be sent a cancellation and link so that you can increase your reservation bid in hopes or reserving the room again. Be aware that should someone else decide to reserve prepaid that all bids will be considered closed and the cancellation will be final.
So... how many would go prepaid?
(If you can't guess, I had someone try 3 different tactics to get out of paying for their cancellation and I'm a bit peeved at the moment.)

I understand your frustration
But what happens if a bid reservation gets cancelled by you because you've had a higher bid or a prepayment and guest 'didn't see' your notice? And shows up to check in to their room.

seashanty said:

I understand your frustration
But what happens if a bid reservation gets cancelled by you because you've had a higher bid or a prepayment and guest 'didn't see' your notice? And shows up to check in to their room..

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They didn't read... I don't have to keep my promises because they didn't have to keep theirs. That's what it's like in a world lacking the trust of a contract.

well, an innkeeper can dream, eh?

Don't know how it would work in the "real" world, but sounds like a neat idea to me. Folks often ask/complain about cancellation periods and I'm tempted to ask "what length cancellation period would you like" with sort of the same idea as yours, want to cancel the day before your intended arrival, sure, but of course you won't mind if I decide to rent to someone else or take a holiday and cancel and you have no place to stay?
Everyone wants a one way contract, we are all making so much money it is not a problem for us right? Silly, but that seems to be what the public thinks about business and they only see the money coming in, not that most of it gets passed on to others rather quickly.

Way to complicated for me. 3 suites here and I do it all. From cutting grass to kissing..........no I didn't say that. Got to go get a room ready , check laundry, etc.........

I often thought it would be a good idea to have a bidding war for some really busy dates. I think people would pay a lot more than what we charge. We turn a lot of people away and this would help make some more money off of it. I do see your point and what you're trying to do. That said, unless it was automated I think this would be really hard to keep track of and you might end up with a ton of extra work. Might even mess up some dates because you forgot to contact the winning person. But it would be neat if it could be automated. If you use RK for booking John might build something like that... If enough people want it!

Hillbilly said:

I often thought it would be a good idea to have a bidding war for some really busy dates. I think people would pay a lot more than what we charge. We turn a lot of people away and this would help make some more money off of it. I do see your point and what you're trying to do. That said, unless it was automated I think this would be really hard to keep track of and you might end up with a ton of extra work. Might even mess up some dates because you forgot to contact the winning person. But it would be neat if it could be automated. If you use RK for booking John might build something like that... If enough people want it!.

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I'm just blowing off steam... I can't believe someone tried 3 different ploys thinking that I would fall for the sickness after they tried the "I didn't read" and the "move the date" nonsense.

Generic said:

Hillbilly said:

I often thought it would be a good idea to have a bidding war for some really busy dates. I think people would pay a lot more than what we charge. We turn a lot of people away and this would help make some more money off of it. I do see your point and what you're trying to do. That said, unless it was automated I think this would be really hard to keep track of and you might end up with a ton of extra work. Might even mess up some dates because you forgot to contact the winning person. But it would be neat if it could be automated. If you use RK for booking John might build something like that... If enough people want it!.

Click to expand...

I'm just blowing off steam... I can't believe someone tried 3 different ploys thinking that I would fall for the sickness after they tried the "I didn't read" and the "move the date" nonsense.
.

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we always fall for the sickness and death routine.

TheBeachHouse said:

Generic said:

Hillbilly said:

I often thought it would be a good idea to have a bidding war for some really busy dates. I think people would pay a lot more than what we charge. We turn a lot of people away and this would help make some more money off of it. I do see your point and what you're trying to do. That said, unless it was automated I think this would be really hard to keep track of and you might end up with a ton of extra work. Might even mess up some dates because you forgot to contact the winning person. But it would be neat if it could be automated. If you use RK for booking John might build something like that... If enough people want it!.

Click to expand...

I'm just blowing off steam... I can't believe someone tried 3 different ploys thinking that I would fall for the sickness after they tried the "I didn't read" and the "move the date" nonsense.
.

Click to expand...

we always fall for the sickness and death routine.
.

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Death certificate from funeral home, sickness covered by travel insurance. Thanks but no thank. Something proving family relationship. It's almost always fake.

"All travelers should be made to work at a B&B for one year…." That was my comment to my aunt when we were talking about someone who called for this coming up weekend. He wanted a one night stay on our last room (Saturday of course!) and then he asked what was our cancelation policy…. We now have a three nighter in there.
No, too many things can go wrong with the bidding…. including one eyed reviews.

Duff2014 said:

"All travelers should be made to work at a B&B for one year…." That was my comment to my aunt when we were talking about someone who called for this coming up weekend. He wanted a one night stay on our last room (Saturday of course!) and then he asked what was our cancelation policy…. We now have a three nighter in there.
No, too many things can go wrong with the bidding…. including one eyed reviews..

Click to expand...

Yesterday after 3 5-eyed reviews in a row, I finally got my half eye back... got another 4-eye and I lost that half again. UGH!
I wouldn't change my policies this way. But let's be realistic, our customer do this to us, except of course they expect the policy doesn't apply to them. Seriously, she tried 3 different ways to get out of the cancellation policy thinking that it doesn't apply to her.

Generic said:

Duff2014 said:

"All travelers should be made to work at a B&B for one year…." That was my comment to my aunt when we were talking about someone who called for this coming up weekend. He wanted a one night stay on our last room (Saturday of course!) and then he asked what was our cancelation policy…. We now have a three nighter in there.
No, too many things can go wrong with the bidding…. including one eyed reviews..

Click to expand...

Yesterday after 3 5-eyed reviews in a row, I finally got my half eye back... got another 4-eye and I lost that half again. UGH!
I wouldn't change my policies this way. But let's be realistic, our customer do this to us, except of course they expect the policy doesn't apply to them. Seriously, she tried 3 different ways to get out of the cancellation policy thinking that it doesn't apply to her.
.

Click to expand...

Generic said:

Yesterday after 3 5-eyed reviews in a row, I finally got my half eye back... got another 4-eye and I lost that half again. UGH!

Click to expand...

That's what I want to know, how come you have to get three five eyed reviews to get a half eyed back but you can lose it with just one four eyed review?!?! Doesn't seem fair to me. Sigh! We lost that one step up that the four stared review gave us….

Duff2014 said:

Generic said:

Duff2014 said:

"All travelers should be made to work at a B&B for one year…." That was my comment to my aunt when we were talking about someone who called for this coming up weekend. He wanted a one night stay on our last room (Saturday of course!) and then he asked what was our cancelation policy…. We now have a three nighter in there.
No, too many things can go wrong with the bidding…. including one eyed reviews..

Click to expand...

Yesterday after 3 5-eyed reviews in a row, I finally got my half eye back... got another 4-eye and I lost that half again. UGH!
I wouldn't change my policies this way. But let's be realistic, our customer do this to us, except of course they expect the policy doesn't apply to them. Seriously, she tried 3 different ways to get out of the cancellation policy thinking that it doesn't apply to her.
.

Click to expand...

Generic said:

Yesterday after 3 5-eyed reviews in a row, I finally got my half eye back... got another 4-eye and I lost that half again. UGH!

Click to expand...

That's what I want to know, how come you have to get three five eyed reviews to get a half eyed back but you can lose it with just one four eyed review?!?! Doesn't seem fair to me. Sigh! We lost that one step up that the four stared review gave us….
.

Click to expand...

Recently we've only had 5 eye reviews and we dropped down the list from 4th to 5th.

Morticia said:

Duff2014 said:

Generic said:

Duff2014 said:

"All travelers should be made to work at a B&B for one year…." That was my comment to my aunt when we were talking about someone who called for this coming up weekend. He wanted a one night stay on our last room (Saturday of course!) and then he asked what was our cancelation policy…. We now have a three nighter in there.
No, too many things can go wrong with the bidding…. including one eyed reviews..

Click to expand...

Yesterday after 3 5-eyed reviews in a row, I finally got my half eye back... got another 4-eye and I lost that half again. UGH!
I wouldn't change my policies this way. But let's be realistic, our customer do this to us, except of course they expect the policy doesn't apply to them. Seriously, she tried 3 different ways to get out of the cancellation policy thinking that it doesn't apply to her.
.

Click to expand...

Generic said:

Yesterday after 3 5-eyed reviews in a row, I finally got my half eye back... got another 4-eye and I lost that half again. UGH!

Click to expand...

That's what I want to know, how come you have to get three five eyed reviews to get a half eyed back but you can lose it with just one four eyed review?!?! Doesn't seem fair to me. Sigh! We lost that one step up that the four stared review gave us….
.

Click to expand...

Recently we've only had 5 eye reviews and we dropped down the list from 4th to 5th.
.

Click to expand...

We move up and down that list so often I'm starting to think that it's randomly generated. I'd say it drives me batty, but it's a damn owl's eye.

Morticia said:

Duff2014 said:

Generic said:

Duff2014 said:

"All travelers should be made to work at a B&B for one year…." That was my comment to my aunt when we were talking about someone who called for this coming up weekend. He wanted a one night stay on our last room (Saturday of course!) and then he asked what was our cancelation policy…. We now have a three nighter in there.
No, too many things can go wrong with the bidding…. including one eyed reviews..

Click to expand...

Yesterday after 3 5-eyed reviews in a row, I finally got my half eye back... got another 4-eye and I lost that half again. UGH!
I wouldn't change my policies this way. But let's be realistic, our customer do this to us, except of course they expect the policy doesn't apply to them. Seriously, she tried 3 different ways to get out of the cancellation policy thinking that it doesn't apply to her.
.

Click to expand...

Generic said:

Yesterday after 3 5-eyed reviews in a row, I finally got my half eye back... got another 4-eye and I lost that half again. UGH!

Click to expand...

That's what I want to know, how come you have to get three five eyed reviews to get a half eyed back but you can lose it with just one four eyed review?!?! Doesn't seem fair to me. Sigh! We lost that one step up that the four stared review gave us….
.

Click to expand...

Recently we've only had 5 eye reviews and we dropped down the list from 4th to 5th.
.

Click to expand...

partly its on volume as our neighbour has 2 rooms but they are stunning suits always got super reviews but has dropped right down due to lack of volume of reviews.

I actually mentioned a breakfast today if they would use an auction type setting for a reservation. They almost all agree that they would pay more than what was asked for a room if they really wanted to stay there. Very interesting conversation. I mentioned it to John on RK and he kinda liked the idea it seems. Someone else posted they liked it. So if you think its a good idea go to the forum on RK and tell him.

Hillbilly said:

I actually mentioned a breakfast today if they would use an auction type setting for a reservation. They almost all agree that they would pay more than what was asked for a room if they really wanted to stay there. Very interesting conversation. I mentioned it to John on RK and he kinda liked the idea it seems. Someone else posted they liked it. So if you think its a good idea go to the forum on RK and tell him..

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I think you missed that I was saying this in frustration to a guest who was trying to get out of her cancellation fee. I wasn't being serious.