Challenging Guest

[Nicole563]

I had this 5 star guest Instate booked my place for one night. I met him at the door when he checked in, told him the code for the digital lock and showed him how it worked in person. It only requires 2 steps to open and close the door. To open, put in the code, turn the deadbolt to the right. To close, press the top button, turn the deadbolt to the left. He didn’t seem to be able to manage that or didn’t pay any attention at all when I showed him. He came back late last night, was not able to unlock the door. It turned out he put in the wrong code. He called and texted me while I was taking a shower( great timing). He waited in his car for 10 minutes before I saw the missed calls and messages. When he was leaving  early this morning, I was still in bed. I could hear he closed and opened the door  a few times, I could tell he didn’t know how to lock the door. I had to get up, get dress and lock the door myself. Don’t know how to deal with guests like that, just very tiring and energy sucking...

[Nina75]

happens all the time get use to it!

[Gordon0]

Yup, many guests aren't that bothered listening to what you've got to say and will often make mistakes. But we're payed to suck it up. Thankfully these guests aren't the norm.

[Kelly149]

@Nicole563 I have that lock on one of my properties... it isn't my favorite. I know why they did it that way, but it isn't intuitive. At least with a one night stay, you're done with him

[Nicole563]

I am so glad I am done with him, he got into my nerves. I know the lock is not perfect, nothing is. So far, I only had 2 guests having trouble with it, and they both are men, go figure!

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

@Nicole563 

we had a classic old school European door knob and lock with a key.  No problem with EU guests but others struggled. So we installed a digital lock. To lock it, you just have to close the door manually and it will lock itself automatically. But 1 of 20 groups of guests doesn't close the door! Idiots.

To unlock it you should either enter the code (too complicated) or touch it with a digital card or a key chain. They all somehow manage to understand it 🙂

[Sarah977]

@Nicole563  My doors open with keys, but the fix is the same- rather than explaining it to the guest, having them nod their head as if they get it, when in fact they don't, you show them how it works, then get them to do it, lock and unlock, a couple of times while you are standing there. That should hopefully solve the problem.

Keep in mind that when guests arrive, they may have had a long travel, may have had to get up really early, they are disoriented and their brains are not usually running on all cylinders. Verbal instructions for something they're unfamiliar with may just go in one ear and out the other. If you host in your home and it's possible, let the guest check in, get settled, have a shower if they want, and then give them the lock run-through when they're refreshed.

[Kelly149]

@Sarah977 @Yes, when in doubt have them demonstrate