Lay My Hat Forum

croatianstonehouse · Joined: 25 Jun 2012 Posts: 54 Location: Dalmatia, Croatia

Do many of you get Low Ball offers for staying at your property. Just had one asking for a 2 week break but at the cost of what I charge for 1 week.

I guess they hope someone is desperate enough to halve their prices..

tavi · Joined: 14 Sep 2011 Posts: 664 Location: Algarve

I had one the other day wanted an August week at September price,

and wanted to bring a baby and a cat.

e-richard · Joined: 17 Oct 2004 Posts: 3155 Location: Algarve, Portugal

You cannot turn on the TV, or read a newspaper these days without some do-gooder consumerist encouraging you to "try it on". They suggest asking for a discount in high street branded stores, in supermarkets and notably calling hotels directly, not going through booking agents.

Its just another sign of the changing times, and one should avoid taking it personally. The guest is asking a question, you have the ability to answer "no, but....".

Take it as an opportunity, not an insult.
_________________
** Richard
Is your glass half full or half empty ?
I don't care - either way there is room for another half glass of wine.

PIMS: Holiday Rental Management made easy

Moliere · Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 2:05 pm Post subject:

It's always your call, remember - you can accept it, reject it, or you can negotiate - only you can judge what you need to do right now.

Moliere
_________________
Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.
Robert A. Heinlein

Greenbarn · Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 2:18 pm Post subject:

tavi · Joined: 14 Sep 2011 Posts: 664 Location: Algarve

Yes, I agree - an enquiry is still an enquiry...and it's an opportunity for dialogue.

Probably unlikely to go very far if they're only offering half the list price but I certainly wouldn't take offence.

In my case recently I probably would have offered the last week of Aug at a decent discount and accepted the tiny baby(I don't want toddlers because of the balcony).
The cat, however, was a definite no for various reasons.

falbayview · Joined: 17 Jun 2012 Posts: 98

Annew · Joined: 04 Nov 2009 Posts: 538 Location: Devon

Marks · Joined: 06 Nov 2006 Posts: 1597 Location: Costa Blanca

Any chance of a discount as we are arriving late in the evening?

Not sure I get the logic behind this one Confused

_________________
Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.

HelenB · Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 7:37 pm Post subject:

I had a similar one last week from Abritel, asking if I would consider X for the two weeks, I replied no, but that I would accept Y, and made a point of pointing out the things that were included in the cost. They booked at my suggested rate.

la vache! · Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 7:49 pm Post subject:

KStott · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 9:42 am Post subject: Never again

In the past we accepted one guest who asked for a special offer, since that week was empty we decided to go ahead with it.
BUT... we had a terrible experience with them. Cigarette burns in the bed linnen, stolen items from the rooms.
Overall not an experience we'd want to repeat. Sad

_________________
If the grass is greener on the other side, you can bet the water bill is higher

Mouse · Joined: 20 Jun 2006 Posts: 4605 Location: Ibiza, Balearics

I think it's a good tactic to re-iterate what is included when asked for discounts. As you say LV some competitors may seem cheaper on first glance but dig deeper and they're not.

I've had it a couple of times with one who always waits for me to release my rates and then prices her villa £50 cheaper than mine....but on the odd occasion this villa has been mentioned I've pointed out that she has no a/c, no WiFi and no dishwasher.

Mouse
x
_________________
One martini, two martini, three martini, FLOOR!

http://www.ownersdirect.co.uk/balearics/B965.htm
http://number21ibiza.promotemyplace.com/