Am I Overreacting?

[NW BB]

I just received this e-mail. A new B&B just opened about 1/2 hour from me and this is the first contact they have made. I was really put off by it. First, the e-mail wasn't addressed to me personally and I'm sure it was sent to more than just me (the directions she gives are wrong from my direction), the website is horrible and I would have appreciated an introductory phone call instead of this e-mail and I don't take kick-backs. I only refer to B&Bs I've seen and recommend. Am I overreacting?
Here is the e-mail:
"Hi there! My name is xxxxxxxxx. I have just opened xxxxbed and breakfast on the shores of xxxxx. Turn right at the xxxx post office and follow the sighns to "lakefront for rent". If you find your inn booked and you refer to xxx Bed and Breakfast, I will give you a 10% referral fee. I am just starting. . Call if you have any questions.
Guest can rent a boat at Blue Heron Boat Landing, just across the lake, and Noel will deliver and pick up the boats! For those who want a lake and ocean experience. Minutes from Chinook Winds Casino and Golf Resort.
xxxxxxxxxx, proprietor"

 

[JunieBJones (JBJ)]

PS I would love to take a kick back I wish someone would just start kicking! I also take gratuities, thank you cards and photos mailed to me.

 

[gillumhouse]

No, I do not think you are over-reacting. with incorrect spelling, incorrect directions, and a bad web site, why would a "seasoned" innkeeper send guests (since you are giving your approval and good name to this when doing so) to a brand new inn, sight unseen?
However, I will say she is probably just ignorant of the proper way to do things. IF she had been smart, she would have called to make an appointment OR even better, invited you to come see her inn (setting a date/time convenient to YOU), to introduce herself to you. At least you have a feel for her and what she does. Is it me or does the whole world think you can get whatever you want by throwing money at it? Doesn't anyone realize money is not everything and integrety counts?

 

[EmptyNest]

If she had made it more personal or at least called you maybe you would have had a better reaction. If I got something like this, I would be "trashing it." I don't refer to anyone I have no persoal knowledge of..I don't care if they will pay be a referral fee. Sounds like she is hurting for business and I wonder why???
Anyone who would leave this on their web site, doesn't have a clue.

<META NAME="Description" content="This Website was built from Country Realty by aveylou using wix.com " />

 

[NW BB]

No, I do not think you are over-reacting. with incorrect spelling, incorrect directions, and a bad web site, why would a "seasoned" innkeeper send guests (since you are giving your approval and good name to this when doing so) to a brand new inn, sight unseen?
However, I will say she is probably just ignorant of the proper way to do things. IF she had been smart, she would have called to make an appointment OR even better, invited you to come see her inn (setting a date/time convenient to YOU), to introduce herself to you. At least you have a feel for her and what she does. Is it me or does the whole world think you can get whatever you want by throwing money at it? Doesn't anyone realize money is not everything and integrety counts?.

Is it me or does the whole world think you can get whatever you want by throwing money at it? Doesn't anyone realize money is not everything and integrety counts?

You hit the nail on the head. Integrity is everything to me. Money is necessary and of course you have to have a certain amount of it to feel "safe and comfortable", but I realized a long time ago that money doesn't make you happy. After we bought our inn almost 9 years ago, we realized that we were making less money, working harder, but we're happier. I think the older you get, the more you realize it.

 

[JunieBJones (JBJ)]

She's not young. After I received this e-mail I called a fellow innkeeper in her area and got a little more info. They built this property 2 years ago and was trying to rent the rooms as long term rentals, but wasn't successful at it. Soooo, now she thinks she can open a b&b. I give it a year.
I agree with JBJ. If she had made the e-mail personal to me, I would not have such a strong negative reaction.
To those aspiring innkeepers out there....this is a good lesson on what NOT to do when you open your B&B.

Or my other favorite - "You make big bucks so obv I can too!" I mean, paraphrase - "We are moving to the area and I WANT to come over so you can tell me how to run a B&B" OH YOU DO DO YOU?
A place needs a good rep before any innkeeper would refer to them. I have a place in a nearby city that sends me into fits when I view the website and cannot send people their knowingly. Bless her hear she is a neat lady too.

 

[swirt]

I wouldn't be offended..I think she is just trying a broad approach and doesn't know any better. (Just in case if that name you used is not a property pseudonym you may want to edit your original post to remove the name so it doesn't get delivered to her in a google alert.)

 

[user 26]

i wouldn't be offended. i think they are trying to figure out how to bring in business.
obviously, this isn't the best approach. it would be nice if they'd invited you to visit their place and see what they are offering ... that would be my way.
i would actually give them points for contacting you. there are some places that act as though you don't exist as in, 'oh, i didn't even know you were here' (ouch) a nice reciprocal relationship is good ... even if (especially if?) your place outshines the other. ((naughty to say that maybe))
maybe you can turn this around to your advantage?

 

[NW BB]

I wouldn't be offended..I think she is just trying a broad approach and doesn't know any better. (Just in case if that name you used is not a property pseudonym you may want to edit your original post to remove the name so it doesn't get delivered to her in a google alert.).

Swirt,
I thought about that, but I seriously doubt she knows about google alerts. Besides, It would do her some good to find this forum and see what innkeeping is all about.

 

[YellowSocks]

I, too, don't think you should take it personally, although I can see how it's annoying. I'd just blow it off, or chalk it up to inexperience, ego, or a combination of those and other factors.
=)
Kk.

 

[Copperhead]

I too would not be offended by the letter. I just feel they are inexperienced in how best to introduce themselves to others in the area. This has nothing to do with the age, it has everything to do with business sence. IF you want to presue a cordial relationship I would send your contact information and state that you wish they could meet.
We all were new once. Some had more knowledge about 'how to's' by this or other forums and some did not. If you meet and you find out your gut was right all along, you can just leave your friendship there.
When I started out (10 yrs ago) the other B&B was 'in' with the local tourist commission. I heard about a meeting and attended. Boy did I get cold as ice stares by her and did her level best to turn the tourist commission against me. Why? The only reason she had was that I had a B&B in the same area. She did not know me or anything about me. She remained that way until she closed...her loss as we could have worked together, instead she chose to be ugly and back stabbing. I never referred anyone to her, only to those about 30 minutes away that I had a good repore with, but I NEVER put her place down if asked only stated that I could recommend the others.

 

[happykeeper]

From a great distance, I don't think it was all that bad. Knowing that I can overblow a situation now and then, I would probably send her a short thanks suggesting she should come by for a meet and greet or some such thing and leave it at that. I think I softened when she acknowledged that they were just starting out- if they are as clueless as I was...mistakes are impossible to avoid and should make for learning- you'll probably be able to tell if she is a learner right of the bat.

 

[mooseberry]

I don't think I ever seen a worse website.
If I would be looking, I would definately pass on this one, especially "couples only".
And the email was cold and lifeless.
I am not a person of many words, but if I try to set up business connectios, I do my homework and put a nice letter together, some even with the help of everyone here

 

[hiddencove]

In response to "Overreacted"
I am the owner of Hidden Cove Bed and Breakfast in Lincoln City, Oregon. I am so sorry if I offended you. I am new to this business. You are right; I probably should have called you and asked you to visit my business before e-mailing you.
I have much to learn. At the ripe old age of 62 years old......I seem to feel the need to be in a hurry to do those things I have always wanted to do. The internet allows for instant connections. I apologize if I was too permissive.
You are welcome to visit my business. I would be happy to give you a tour. I think this is the best and most exciting venture i have ever begun. I look forward to providing loving hospitality to all who enter my doors.
Call me anytime.
Avette L. Gaiser

Hidden Cove Bed and Breakfast

 

[JunieBJones (JBJ)]

A half hour from you is a huge diff from an hour or two. That means this person will be representing YOUR AREA as well.
Either way maybe she didn't want to disturb you by calling? She also sounds very young and not used to more appropriate emails, so she just cut to the chase? The one thing that is missing imo:
Hi my name is Suzie, your place looks great, hope we can work together should we have overflow and vice versa ... Please feel free to stop in any time and take a tour we would love to meet you... etc

 

[happykeeper]

I second that. It's tough to pop into a new forum full of independent minded innkeepers that are merrily discussing your business- but this forum is such a wealth of information and learning that you'll soon discover that it's all for the better. Welcome

 

[JunieBJones (JBJ)]

Welcome Hidden Cove!
Stick around this is a great bunch of innkeepers and aspiring innkeepers. Every one with his or her own personality which makes us all unique just like our inns.

 

[EmptyNest]

In response to "Overreacted"
I am the owner of Hidden Cove Bed and Breakfast in Lincoln City, Oregon. I am so sorry if I offended you. I am new to this business. You are right; I probably should have called you and asked you to visit my business before e-mailing you.
I have much to learn. At the ripe old age of 62 years old......I seem to feel the need to be in a hurry to do those things I have always wanted to do. The internet allows for instant connections. I apologize if I was too permissive.
You are welcome to visit my business. I would be happy to give you a tour. I think this is the best and most exciting venture i have ever begun. I look forward to providing loving hospitality to all who enter my doors.
Call me anytime.
Avette L. Gaiser

Hidden Cove Bed and Breakfast.

Well, thanks for checking in. You will see we pull no punches around here but we do mean well.

If you have questions...ask away..you will get plenty of feedback and advice.
Innkeepers here are a great bunch of folks, but we all have our own ideas and opinions. But we do want to help if we can.
Can I suggest you do some "redo" on your website...
One very basic thing...it is very hard to navigate and there is no navigation, one must always use the BACK button to get to the home page. Also you must have titles and descriptions for your pages which tell search engines what it is.

<title>Wix.com - Website built by aveylou based on Country Realty   </title> ( this is not a title you want people to see
Same thing here:
<META NAME="Description" content="This Website was built from Country Realty by aveylou using wix.com " />
This does not tell anyone / search engines anything about your web site/ inn.  Keywords are not meaningful in this day and age of the web 
Besides the fact that the site is all done in Flash..which is also not a good thing in getting you found.

 

[hiddencove]

In response to "Overreacted"
I am the owner of Hidden Cove Bed and Breakfast in Lincoln City, Oregon. I am so sorry if I offended you. I am new to this business. You are right; I probably should have called you and asked you to visit my business before e-mailing you.
I have much to learn. At the ripe old age of 62 years old......I seem to feel the need to be in a hurry to do those things I have always wanted to do. The internet allows for instant connections. I apologize if I was too permissive.
You are welcome to visit my business. I would be happy to give you a tour. I think this is the best and most exciting venture i have ever begun. I look forward to providing loving hospitality to all who enter my doors.
Call me anytime.
Avette L. Gaiser

Hidden Cove Bed and Breakfast.

Well, thanks for checking in. You will see we pull no punches around here but we do mean well.

If you have questions...ask away..you will get plenty of feedback and advice.
Innkeepers here are a great bunch of folks, but we all have our own ideas and opinions. But we do want to help if we can.
Can I suggest you do some "redo" on your website...
One very basic thing...it is very hard to navigate and there is no navigation, one must always use the BACK button to get to the home page. Also you must have titles and descriptions for your pages which tell search engines what it is.

<title>Wix.com - Website built by aveylou based on Country Realty   </title> ( this is not a title you want people to see
Same thing here:
<META NAME="Description" content="This Website was built from Country Realty by aveylou using wix.com " />
This does not tell anyone / search engines anything about your web site/ inn.  Keywords are not meaningful in this day and age of the web 
Besides the fact that the site is all done in Flash..which is also not a good thing in getting you found.

.

Cat Lady,
Thank you for the help. I designed this website myself. I was amazed at how easily it came together. I appreciate your help. I think that is more the spirit of this industry. I would hope we are here to assist one another, not tear each other down. I have been making changes to my website every day since I first posted it. I see some of the problems and I am adjusting them as fast as I can. I already have had two contacts to inquire about my place. The "couples" thing came up and I got rid of that. I am a fast learner, so i think I can get up to speed eventually. I appreciate your constructive feedback.
"Progress, not perfection", right?
I am also just learning to use a blog. Forgive me if I am not up to speed.
Aveylou

 

[Copperhead]

In response to "Overreacted"
I am the owner of Hidden Cove Bed and Breakfast in Lincoln City, Oregon. I am so sorry if I offended you. I am new to this business. You are right; I probably should have called you and asked you to visit my business before e-mailing you.
I have much to learn. At the ripe old age of 62 years old......I seem to feel the need to be in a hurry to do those things I have always wanted to do. The internet allows for instant connections. I apologize if I was too permissive.
You are welcome to visit my business. I would be happy to give you a tour. I think this is the best and most exciting venture i have ever begun. I look forward to providing loving hospitality to all who enter my doors.
Call me anytime.
Avette L. Gaiser

Hidden Cove Bed and Breakfast.

Hidden Cove - Welcome to the site and hope you stick around.