Joey Bloggs said:
tar4heel2 said:
I'm dumbfounded to read how many people don't take deposits or first one or two nights.
We have a two-night minimum, 3 nights on weekend holidays, take 50% up front and the balance 30 days out. Cancel prior to 30 days before arrival and you are charged a 15% penalty against the entire reservation, not just on the deposit amount. Cancel 30 to 14 days prior and the penalty is 25%. Cancel less than 14 days prior to arrival; no refund on deposit unless it can be rebooked. And NO refund whatsoever for early departure regardless of the reason.
Why would you leave yourself open to abuse and extreme inconvenience doing otherwise? You have to protect your inventory.
"ruffle our feathers"?
we run a business that is all about people, we are in the people business. They are in our home. Nuff said.
I understand your sentiment, but not securing the payment for your services is just not good business. I respectfully submit that losing 2 or 3 nights revenue is a bit more than "...ruffling our feathers".
Yes, you run a business, NOT a flop-house. Before we changed our view on this we did about what you describe; try to work with people, be sympathetic, not enforcing policies every time... then we took a look and were shocked to discover we were GIVING AWAY $40 to $60,000 a year in refunds and last minute cancellations!
Take a minute and seriously examine exactly how much money you are flat-out GIVING AWAY by folding for people who can't get their act together. You can't conduct yourself as a "sometime-free-service" and "sometime-paid-service"! You can be pleasant but business-like, firm but respectful, and not alienate the public.