I recently had a guest who initially asked for a two-week booking, but added she would like to stay a week longer if I would reduce my rate. I agreed, reducing the rate rather significantly, thinking Bird in the Hand. I knew from the moment we met that we were on different wave lengths, that happens, all my guests do not become friends, so no biggie.
She started making complaints almost immediately - She didn't know how to turn the coffee pot on in her room. She couldn't figure out how to use the TV remote nor how to turn the key to lock her door. All petty complaints that I addressed immediately. She then started leaving me timed and dated notes about these same issues, even though I was home and able to talk with her.
She would not let my maid in to clean the room, claiming she only slept on half the king size bed, so why bother. She also did not want the towels cleaned, because she "only showered at the gym". After 10 days, I finally insisted that the sheets needed changing and she became increasingly awkward towards me. I knew then she was planning to leave early and sure enough, received a note the next day saying that "due to all the problems", she felt she needed to leave early and wanted a refund. She had another week left, the one she bargained for to get the discount.
I was so frustrated by this woman, I was happy to give her back the one week. But, the more I think about it, the more I feel that I was conned and she always had it in mind that she was not stayng the 3rd week. She left very early the next morning for another city about 2 hours away.
I cannot imagine I am the only one this has happened to, and now know I will never let someone bargain down my extremely reasonable pricing, but I am wondering how others would handle this situation and if there was a better way to manage this issue for the future?
Thank you for your feedback.
