" YOUR THOUGHTS?"
Why would the
gift card holder choose to stay at a non-participating B&B to begin with if intending to use the cards for payment?
Why would an innkeeper unsure about the transferability or fine print of the
gift cards accept them in lieu of actual payment and run the risk of getting stiffed if they weren't transferable until redeemed?
Why would an innkeeper who is opposed to accepting them for I assume the distaste of having the commission deducted be more than willing to let some other colleague absorb that commission?
As with any discussion of discounting here, I always ask about and adhere to the concept that if you are willing to offer ANY guest a discount or reduction equal to any commission paid to a second party, what is the difference?.
Tim_Toad_HLB said:
" YOUR THOUGHTS?"
Why would the
gift card holder choose to stay at a non-participating B&B to begin with if intending to use the cards for payment?
Why would an innkeeper unsure about the transferability or fine print of the
gift cards accept them in lieu of actual payment and run the risk of getting stiffed if they weren't transferable until redeemed?
Why would an innkeeper who is opposed to accepting them for I assume the distaste of having the commission deducted be more than willing to let some other colleague absorb that commission?
As with any discussion of discounting here, I always ask about and adhere to the concept that if you are willing to offer ANY guest a discount or reduction equal to any commission paid to a second party, what is the difference?
GC holders do not always know which B&B's take the GC's no matter how many times the directory makes changes to make it abundantly clear that they MUST inform the B&B BEFORE arrival that they are using the GC. (Which is how I found out I could not access the GC system to check the number to be sure it was valid when I had a screaming guest at my front desk.)
Now that I know I can check the GC's I would accept them, check them and then either use them myself or regift them to my kids.
My kids have used the GC's at big resorts, never a small B&B, which is what I would do if I chose to use one that showed up at my door. The philosophy there being that a big resort can absorb a $30 discount faster than a small 4 room B&B.
No one coming here gets a $30 discount (the average GC's total $100, even if they come in $25 increments). The flip side to the question about commissions is that I choose who gets a discount, I don't like having it thrust upon me. And guests will try to get a discount first and then 'mention' they will be paying with the GC once I've knocked the price down by the amount I am comfortable with. All the guest is trying to do is pay the least out of pocket, and who could blame them?
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I based my comments on the assumption that Joe was referring to B&B.com GCs which probably doesn't represent too many "big resorts".
I think bnbfinder's commission is about 10% lower if memory serves. We don't get very many of either, so the impact isn't very large.
Most of the B&Bs who both accept them and participate in their online reservation system are small B&Bs like most of ours building their businesses. Thats the only reason we do it and we wouldn't if we were even slightly more secure in our projected annual bookings than we currently are.
We all know the business of bigger volume enabling bigger properties to slash rates, offer rooms on priceline, hotwire, etc.. so that goes without saying.
But nobody said what size property they'd go redeem one at.
Thanks for that clarification.
As far as somebody thrusting something on you, the program through B&B.com is voluntary just like you opening your front door, letting a stranger tour your house, eating up your time then dickering over the rate.
I'm not sure I see the distinction.
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