We went to a cute little motel on the coast. It appeared very clean. It had a little kitchen, two beds and a bathroom.

I always first strip the bedspreads off and throw on the floor. Then I take the thin blanket off one bed to add to the one we are sleeping on. There were hairs and dirt on the sheets. So I stripped the other one and the SAME THING.

I called the office and the man was so apologetic. He told me that the maid told him the contractor that had stayed did not use the beds so she did not have to change the sheets. He was very apologetic and brought new linens blankets and all.

I was mad but there were no rooms available anywhere else.

This just verifies for me that I must continue to be vigilant in motel & hotel rooms and it shows that even if the room looks clean you don't know what the lazy attendant did or did not do.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

That makes me think of the Dateline or 20/20 report where they talked about the drinking glasses in the rooms. The maids were wiping them out with the same cleaner as they used for the toilets and sinks! Of course, there have plenty of reports about the nasties in motel/ hotel rooms. Yuck!

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NSDQ-Nightstalkers Don't Quit!

Ewwwww! I know a girl here who cleans at a local motel. To cover her area, she only has about 2-4 minutes per room. That should tell you how clean everything gets. Blech!

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AKA: Airbornearmywife

I am wondering, when you have an experience at the total opposite end of the spectrum, perhaps someone gave great service, the accomodations were stellar, etc, the item was more than you expected, etc, do you also compliment?

I will let it be known when things need improving, and I also let it be known when someone has done great. About 2 weeks ago I went to return an item. The 1st employee really wanted nothing to do with it ( perhaps no commission) however the 2nd employee did so with ease, and a great attitude. I asked her for a comment card. She almost fell on the floor. She said she has worked there 11 years and no one had ever done that for her. And yet, the cards were next to her register as it turned out, easily accessible.

I took the time to fill it out and deposit in the box in customer service. I was very pleased because overall, customer service is woefully lacking. This woman certainly is an asset to the company she works for.

dl

Why should you have to compliment them for actually doing the job WE paid our hard-earned money for? We paid for the hotel room and EXPECT a clean room. No, I do not compliment them for something they should already be doing!!

Even though you quoted what I wrote, I can see you didn't read it:

Originally Posted by deddlastt
I am wondering, when you have an experience at the total opposite end of the spectrum, perhaps someone gave great service, the accomodations were stellar, etc, the item was more than you expected, etc,

Nowhere did I say to compliment anyone for simply doing their job, I started it with opposite end of the spectrum and mentioned the words: great, stellar, more than. Please read again.

dl

I did read your post. I actually haven't seen 'stellar, great, more than' service lately. It's almost like the baby shower post. People seem to think you owe them something. People think they're doing you a favor when you're already paying them (and tipping them) for doing something they're being paid to do in the first place.

I very much agree with your last statement. I did say that customer service is woefully lacking as well. All the more reason when it's better than it should be, to acknowledge.

dl

Yep, I do!

I had a letter of mine distributed throughout a Comcast call center. An internet customer service rep did so much for us, I told her I was going to write a letter to her boss and let her boss know how great she had been.

I did it and it ended up all over the place. The girl told me she cried, she never really expected me to follow through. She said she was going for a promotion and that letter did some good for her.

While I was so glad she was that happy, it's kind of sad in a way that people are SO surprised when you say something good about them, or something good that they've done for you.

*sigh* Sad commentary on our times.

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I agree, both sides are sad, IMO.....both the lack of Customer Service on the part of the "server" and the lack of appreciation on the side of the "customer". At the very least, you make someone's day a little brighter by complimenting them on something they have done. I try to make it a point to let someone know how much I appreciate what they have done, even if it is "their job". Who doesn't like to be appreciated and recognized "just for doing their job"?? IMO, it goes along the lines of telling someone how nice they look, or how cheerful they are, or something.

A lot of people have difficulty accepting a compliment. How many times have you (general you) been complimented and retorted with "oh, no.......". Hey, Jane, that's a nice blouse you have on......OH, this OLD thing??? Something like that.

Anyway....kind of got a bit OT, but, I just wanted to say I agree.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

Similar experience - went to Savannah, GA for our honeymoon. We didn't go for any fancy hotel room. I had just paid for a big move from 700 miles away AND most of a wedding. We just wanted to get away for a few days.

Anyway, we paid for a mid-range hotel, I think 10 yrs ago it was $50-$60 per night. I didn't expect to be transported into the garden of eden, but clean is a MUST. I don't remember all the issues - there were several - but the one that sticks out the most is pubic hair on the bathroom ceiling. I can't even begin to understand how I even noticed that, but THAT was the final straw. I called the MANAGER to come up to the room and showed him everything. He apologized over and over and we didn't pay for the room.

I don't even WANT to know how it got there! Bleh.


On a flip side, we stayed at a cheapie little Super 8 motel on the way up to Ohio this past December. I had to find something that takes dogs, in the right spot for us to stop, etc. We left after work and got there. While the decorating was a minor tragedy from the 70's, it was CLEAN. The drinking glasses were even wrapped in plastic, which made me feel good too.

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How in the heck did you know it was a pubic hair?? Maybe it was from some very tall black man.

That's what I was thinking!

You know? The company I work expects NO LESS than stellar customer service....we would be fired if we didn't. It's part of the companies service expectation and a huge selling point when we attempt to sign new business. Maybe that is why the company is one of the top in it's field....

I have no patience for people who work in a customer oriented business who do NOT practice good customer service.

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

Nevermind. I guess I don't really think this is funny and a little offensive to black people.

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I did as well. Customer service was THE part of the job to make sure you're doing properly in any company I've worked for.

I can't believe sometimes how prevalent it is. I don't understand businesses that allow employees who just don't understand basic good graces to continue working for them .

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The managers do appreciate the comment cards, they like knowing if one of their employees cares enough about their job to go beyond normal service for the customer. The ones they dont care for and my husband gets a lot is the stupid comments thats about nothing the hotel can do about. he's gotten complaints about the cab service before? huh? That's not connected to the hotel in any way.

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Books just wanna be FREE! See what I mean at:
http://bookcrossing.com

My other favorites
www.paperbackswap.com
www.wheresgeorge.com
www.geocaching.com

My thought exactly.

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Sometimes the elevator often the shaft

When I get Customer Service that goes above and beyond the call of duty you bet your bippie I let the management know!
And this was not just a case of poor service it was an unacceptable situation.

But I also must agree with the above poster that we should not have to compliment the management when an employee what is expected of them. A "thank you" or even "wow it's been a while since I was treated so well" is good enough. But when someone neglects the very basics of their job someone in a position of power needs to know.
One of the problems is that the management especially execs and offiers have no idea what is being done to people at the customer level. I believe if they knew they would do something about it.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

Why would this be "offensive to black people"? Seemed like a fair question and a plausible explanation.

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips