Clueless and not just the guest.

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NC Innkeeper

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We all most likely had other jobs prior to becoming an Innkeeper, right? Mine was and still is hair dressing, apparently you are not allowed to retire from that.
Last night ( Saturday ) at 7 pm a friend text " can I get a haircut tomorrow and before 8 am ?". I replied, you are joking right? Nope he had somewhere to go early and just thought if I could that would be great.
Clueless! After knowing me for 13 years, comes to the BED & BREAKFAST to get his haircut he does not think that maybe on a Sunday I have guest and breakfast to make. Well I did, a full house so no friend you are not getting your haircut Sunday.
I do not get it, why do these friends not think I really work? I do everything myself and it just does not register with them.
I sometimes find guest are clueless too with what all we really do. Anyone else relate?
 
The phone calls at breakfast time... I don't bother answering them anymore.
 
Oh yes, I can. Recently had a guest message me "what are your dinner plans?" It's a bed and BREAKFAST. "Dinner has to be booked 48 hours in advance with the Chef (me) and costs money. "So food is free?" "Uhh no, just the standard breakfast" Have a feeling it's going to be a bumpy visit.
 
My favorite was the American Express person who called at 8:15am and "wanted to learn more about my business."
I said "Well, the first thing you need to learn is that I'm a Bed and BREAKFAST, so you've called right in the middle of me serving BREAKFAST."
 
'Is this a good time...?' 7:45 AM. Um, not really.
Priceline called at 1 AM and then called back at 8 AM to let me know my 'night clerk' was not answering the phone. When I said the 'night clerk' was asleep at 1 AM, they wanted to know what sort of place I was running! There was a lot of yelling by the Priceline guy because a guest wanted to cancel and had been calling Priceline all night.
We had one guest call about 5 times in as many minutes to cancel her reservation for that day. Sorry, breakfast is happening right now, leave a message.
Back to the OP - I have a friend who texts me at 9:30 PM to fix her computer. A) I'm in bed; B) stop hitting 15 keys in succession and the damn thing might work; C) break down and buy something with the latest OS and AV software and stop clicking everything that is sent to you.
 
And, my mom used to think I only worked weekends. Had no idea that guests were here all the time.
 
I usually have my bloutooth on - and most of my early calls are dead air. Hit the button, give greeting, say Happy New Year, and hang up.
Guests leaving this morning - Do you do all this by yourself? THAT is a lot of work! They noticed! Military discount.No tip. IF they send me some guests, I am good with it.
 
My favorite was the American Express person who called at 8:15am and "wanted to learn more about my business."
I said "Well, the first thing you need to learn is that I'm a Bed and BREAKFAST, so you've called right in the middle of me serving BREAKFAST.".
Amex is completely clueless. They called to find out why I wasn't processing any transactions with them. I told them I use Square for Amex, because they won't meet the rate.
Of course, those days are over, they now process with my processor and the rate is almost comparable with MC/Visa.
 
'Is this a good time...?' 7:45 AM. Um, not really.
Priceline called at 1 AM and then called back at 8 AM to let me know my 'night clerk' was not answering the phone. When I said the 'night clerk' was asleep at 1 AM, they wanted to know what sort of place I was running! There was a lot of yelling by the Priceline guy because a guest wanted to cancel and had been calling Priceline all night.
We had one guest call about 5 times in as many minutes to cancel her reservation for that day. Sorry, breakfast is happening right now, leave a message.
Back to the OP - I have a friend who texts me at 9:30 PM to fix her computer. A) I'm in bed; B) stop hitting 15 keys in succession and the damn thing might work; C) break down and buy something with the latest OS and AV software and stop clicking everything that is sent to you..
Make sure they marked you down as NO 24 HOUR FRONT DESK. If they call late now, I tell them that if they were hoping for a positive outcome, they better call back during normal hours, because at this hour, my only answer will be NO, no matter what they ask. They seem to be able to figure that one out quickly enough.
Haven't had many night time calls since I told them that after 11PM and before 8AM the answer to all requests are NO....
Also, with all cancellations, when I talk to them on the phone, when the answer is yes, the room must be back in my inventory in 15 minutes or less, or the answer is NO. They can't hold my inventory and let the guest "think about it". It's NOW or NEVER!
 
I didnt make this up I dont think but isnt it a common rule 9am-9pm not before not after.
This lady called after I was already asleep one night and asked for me to put her thru to John Taylors room. I told her there was no one here by that name. She asked if I could check again. Laughing I said " Sweet heart if someone is in my house I for sure would know it. "
If I hadnt been still half asleep I would have yelled his name out and said nope apparently he isnt here.
Oh and Joey ( friend ) I started at 5am and just now stopped. That is 14 hours buddy!
 
'Is this a good time...?' 7:45 AM. Um, not really.
Priceline called at 1 AM and then called back at 8 AM to let me know my 'night clerk' was not answering the phone. When I said the 'night clerk' was asleep at 1 AM, they wanted to know what sort of place I was running! There was a lot of yelling by the Priceline guy because a guest wanted to cancel and had been calling Priceline all night.
We had one guest call about 5 times in as many minutes to cancel her reservation for that day. Sorry, breakfast is happening right now, leave a message.
Back to the OP - I have a friend who texts me at 9:30 PM to fix her computer. A) I'm in bed; B) stop hitting 15 keys in succession and the damn thing might work; C) break down and buy something with the latest OS and AV software and stop clicking everything that is sent to you..
Make sure they marked you down as NO 24 HOUR FRONT DESK. If they call late now, I tell them that if they were hoping for a positive outcome, they better call back during normal hours, because at this hour, my only answer will be NO, no matter what they ask. They seem to be able to figure that one out quickly enough.
Haven't had many night time calls since I told them that after 11PM and before 8AM the answer to all requests are NO....
Also, with all cancellations, when I talk to them on the phone, when the answer is yes, the room must be back in my inventory in 15 minutes or less, or the answer is NO. They can't hold my inventory and let the guest "think about it". It's NOW or NEVER!
.
I'm not really using them anymore. I think I got 2 reservations all summer from BDC. Not really worth keeping them now. I will probably close my account this winter just so I don't show up on there with no avail.
 
I didnt make this up I dont think but isnt it a common rule 9am-9pm not before not after.
This lady called after I was already asleep one night and asked for me to put her thru to John Taylors room. I told her there was no one here by that name. She asked if I could check again. Laughing I said " Sweet heart if someone is in my house I for sure would know it. "
If I hadnt been still half asleep I would have yelled his name out and said nope apparently he isnt here.
Oh and Joey ( friend ) I started at 5am and just now stopped. That is 14 hours buddy!.
NC Innkeeper said:
I didnt make this up I dont think but isnt it a common rule 9am-9pm not before not after.
This lady called after I was already asleep one night and asked for me to put her thru to John Taylors room. I told her there was no one here by that name. She asked if I could check again. Laughing I said " Sweet heart if someone is in my house I for sure would know it. "
If I hadnt been still half asleep I would have yelled his name out and said nope apparently he isnt here.
Oh and Joey ( friend ) I started at 5am and just now stopped. That is 14 hours buddy!
You know that 'John Taylor's room' thing is a scam, right? Basically any fairly common name will do. Call now looks like it's coming from inside the hotel and the caller tells John that his credit card was declined and the office needs him to give it again so they can process his stay. John thinks it's the front desk and gives card number to scammer.
 
I didnt make this up I dont think but isnt it a common rule 9am-9pm not before not after.
This lady called after I was already asleep one night and asked for me to put her thru to John Taylors room. I told her there was no one here by that name. She asked if I could check again. Laughing I said " Sweet heart if someone is in my house I for sure would know it. "
If I hadnt been still half asleep I would have yelled his name out and said nope apparently he isnt here.
Oh and Joey ( friend ) I started at 5am and just now stopped. That is 14 hours buddy!.
NC Innkeeper said:
I didnt make this up I dont think but isnt it a common rule 9am-9pm not before not after.
This lady called after I was already asleep one night and asked for me to put her thru to John Taylors room. I told her there was no one here by that name. She asked if I could check again. Laughing I said " Sweet heart if someone is in my house I for sure would know it. "
If I hadnt been still half asleep I would have yelled his name out and said nope apparently he isnt here.
Oh and Joey ( friend ) I started at 5am and just now stopped. That is 14 hours buddy!
You know that 'John Taylor's room' thing is a scam, right? Basically any fairly common name will do. Call now looks like it's coming from inside the hotel and the caller tells John that his credit card was declined and the office needs him to give it again so they can process his stay. John thinks it's the front desk and gives card number to scammer.
.
Well I had no idea. That is crazy.
 
I didnt make this up I dont think but isnt it a common rule 9am-9pm not before not after.
This lady called after I was already asleep one night and asked for me to put her thru to John Taylors room. I told her there was no one here by that name. She asked if I could check again. Laughing I said " Sweet heart if someone is in my house I for sure would know it. "
If I hadnt been still half asleep I would have yelled his name out and said nope apparently he isnt here.
Oh and Joey ( friend ) I started at 5am and just now stopped. That is 14 hours buddy!.
NC Innkeeper said:
I didnt make this up I dont think but isnt it a common rule 9am-9pm not before not after.
This lady called after I was already asleep one night and asked for me to put her thru to John Taylors room. I told her there was no one here by that name. She asked if I could check again. Laughing I said " Sweet heart if someone is in my house I for sure would know it. "
If I hadnt been still half asleep I would have yelled his name out and said nope apparently he isnt here.
Oh and Joey ( friend ) I started at 5am and just now stopped. That is 14 hours buddy!
You know that 'John Taylor's room' thing is a scam, right? Basically any fairly common name will do. Call now looks like it's coming from inside the hotel and the caller tells John that his credit card was declined and the office needs him to give it again so they can process his stay. John thinks it's the front desk and gives card number to scammer.
.
Well I had no idea. That is crazy.
.
NC Innkeeper said:
Well I had no idea. That is crazy.
I don't generally let on about any guest. I ask for the guest's room number. (Ha ha, all our rooms have names, not numbers.)
If the caller says they don't know the number I say I'm not allowed to put the call thru, maybe they could try the guest's cell phone.
 
Last night I had someone call at 11:48pm inquiring if we still had free rooms for B&B For Vets.
omg_smile.gif
 
Early on I answered the phone at any hour, it sat by my bed, over time I learned that folks calling at odd hours usually wern't my customers. These days I say I'm usually available 9 to 9, when I go to bed I don't hear the phone and will return messages the following morning, if I'm really tired I'll post the no rooms sign at the door. Friends/family know not to call the cell phone that late.
 
Well my friend is coming for a haircut this afternoon. I would like to ask why on earth he thought I could cut his hair on a Sunday morning before 8AM. As my sisters says, clowns!
 
Neighbor stops by while I am prepping breakfast burritos for tomorrow. I think to come thank me for blowing off his steep long driveway the other day. Its a second home for them and they were up so I thought I would be nice. Well no, he hadn't even noticed, HELLO.
No he wants to talk about the internet company I have and what I am doing about tv if not satellite.
I have an open kitchen so I am working on getting these burritos done hoping he would see I was busy. Nope, clueless. Even said " oh don't let me keep you from what you are doing" then sits down at the counter. He was blah blahing for an hour.
 
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