Consumer Reports magazine has run several articles advising the smart consumer to ALWAYS ask for a better price, including even asking the doctor's office to give you a better deal on your exam! And they report results that over 65% of the time, those who ask for a better price get one.
I think that's where much of this is coming from. People are being told it's OK to do it, and, indirectly, told they are a bad consumer if they don't do it!
My advice is to just politely let them know you aren't coming down and most will accept it and proceed to pay you what you ask. They're only asking because they've been told to, and told they have nothing to lose by asking. Sometimes they get lucky..
I'm not averse to discounting. I really shouldn't be open on holidays because I don't want to work holidays! At least not winter holidays. I don't mind the summer hols.
It was the whole list...move that person if it's 'only' your family (OK, my FAMILY deserves the nice accommodations, too! And the implication was 'because you gave them the room for free, you can cut me a deal'), give me a better price than they're paying, that sort of thing.
He won't book. I'm sure I wasn't the only inn on his shopping list.
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