How do some owners get a booking?
- Mountain Goat
- Posts: 6070
- Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2006 1:31 pm
- Location: Leysin, Alpes Vaudoises, Switzerland
- Contact:
How do some owners get a booking?
24 hours ago I contacted via HR (and other sites) 14 owners of properties in and around Cape Town. All were showing available. Nothing devious - just looking for 7-10 days hols. next month.
Not one response so far.
Earlier this year I did the same thing to owners in Switzerland within 25kms of us, looking for availability for some punters we couldn't help. This time it was 40 owners - and I got 8 replies.
Do you think this is common?
MG
Not one response so far.
Earlier this year I did the same thing to owners in Switzerland within 25kms of us, looking for availability for some punters we couldn't help. This time it was 40 owners - and I got 8 replies.
Do you think this is common?
MG
Absolutely! We have the same experience every time we try to book somewhere. Would be nice if the lettings sites would throw off the owners who don't actually reply to enquiries. I'm not going to hold my breath though.
(We have experience in both France and Germany - mainly hotels admittedly - where the response when we have chased for a reply was 'If I had had availability, I would have responded to you' - is this some kind of national trait?)
(We have experience in both France and Germany - mainly hotels admittedly - where the response when we have chased for a reply was 'If I had had availability, I would have responded to you' - is this some kind of national trait?)
Same here in Conwy - I'm looking for b&b for 4 golfers and although replies were received eventually I was a little miffed as I jump on the computer as soon as I get a SMS.
www.northwalesholidaylets.co.uk
www.northwalesholidaylets.co.uk
Absolutely. I've also had poor replies (got the dates wrong, too terse or disinterested)Do you think this is common?
I'm convinced that respondingly quickly, in a friendly manner and with enough detail get's results.
Add to that poor care and attention (we've been left waiting for hours to get into a place, had our last night in the accommodation sold, had mix up on dates, had to chase for payment receipt confirmation etc )
In fact I have a testimonial from a guest where she's thanked me for dealing efficiently with everything...that's quite common.
It's not rocket science is it?
Mouse
x
One martini, two martini, three martini floor!
- Giddy Goat
- Posts: 9054
- Joined: Sun Jun 12, 2005 7:38 am
- Location: UK
- Contact:
We fired off enquirires to a series of B&Bs in NW Spain last year, all paying big bucks for inclusion in Alistair Sawday, and three of them didn't reply! This wasn't even for a particularly busy time of year!
Those we booked (over the phone) were also a little laid back I thought as we only had an emailed confirmation of one booking out of 5, and were travelling with a couple of friends.
I had visions of arriving and finding that they had no record of our reservation! All was well but it made us feel unnecessarily uneasy.
Those we booked (over the phone) were also a little laid back I thought as we only had an emailed confirmation of one booking out of 5, and were travelling with a couple of friends.
I had visions of arriving and finding that they had no record of our reservation! All was well but it made us feel unnecessarily uneasy.
Nostalgia isn't what it used to be
- cambalala
- Posts: 258
- Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2008 9:31 pm
- Location: Hazyview - Mpumalanga - South Africa
- Contact:
yeah... I hate it when owners dont reply to me. I just booked 13 nights in Zurich... with guess who? The owners that responded first
I emailed about 10 to 12 places and only about 5 got back. Only 1 got back on the same day.
Thats why when I get enquiries I ALWAYS respond. Availability or no. - Some enquirers have flexible dates and may stay with you a day or 2 either side of the origional query.
Thank goodness for blackberry else I'd never leave home.
PS: On a side note re: responses from South Africa. Internet and internet access in South Africa is a LOT less widespread and generally much slower than the EU. A lot of people in SA still use 56k dial-up and therefore may only log-in to check emails once or twice a week.
I emailed about 10 to 12 places and only about 5 got back. Only 1 got back on the same day.
Thats why when I get enquiries I ALWAYS respond. Availability or no. - Some enquirers have flexible dates and may stay with you a day or 2 either side of the origional query.
Thank goodness for blackberry else I'd never leave home.
PS: On a side note re: responses from South Africa. Internet and internet access in South Africa is a LOT less widespread and generally much slower than the EU. A lot of people in SA still use 56k dial-up and therefore may only log-in to check emails once or twice a week.
- Normandy Cow
- Posts: 2687
- Joined: Sun Nov 28, 2004 7:14 am
- Location: Normandy
- Contact:
Even if they don't have flexible dates, and even if they are very unlikely to ever enquire again (once in a lifetime trip to Europe from australia for example) I will ALWAYS respond, it's just common courtesy, like saying "thank you".cambalala wrote: Thats why when I get enquiries I ALWAYS respond. Availability or no. - Some enquirers have flexible dates
In fact, I often help them find other accommodation (eg recently sent one of my enquirers to my biggest competitor!!
(Thomas take note! ) (i.e. take note that I now acknowledge that you are my biggest competitor, thanks to GG2's work on your new website )
I'm totally amazed by the experiences related above. I presume that you're all talking about private owners not responding and that they weren't agencies ?
Looking on the bright side: The more owners who fail to respond, the higher YOUR probability of filling your calendar.
Looking on the dark side: This is giving the private rental business a very poor image.
Light or dark ?
Looking on the bright side: The more owners who fail to respond, the higher YOUR probability of filling your calendar.
Looking on the dark side: This is giving the private rental business a very poor image.
Light or dark ?
** Richard
PIMS: Holiday Rental Management system
They say we learn from our mistakes. That makes me a genius !
PIMS: Holiday Rental Management system
They say we learn from our mistakes. That makes me a genius !
- Mountain Goat
- Posts: 6070
- Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2006 1:31 pm
- Location: Leysin, Alpes Vaudoises, Switzerland
- Contact:
How odd....
I just added a skype button to show when I'm online (practically all the time I'm awake, what a saddo). We'll see if this just results in crank calls/lagos clergy/general timewasting - but I think it might also encourage genuine enquirers...thoughts? Experiences?
http://www.chaletlaforet.com/booking/index.html
I just added a skype button to show when I'm online (practically all the time I'm awake, what a saddo). We'll see if this just results in crank calls/lagos clergy/general timewasting - but I think it might also encourage genuine enquirers...thoughts? Experiences?
http://www.chaletlaforet.com/booking/index.html
Chalet la Foret, Chamonix
- Mountain Goat
- Posts: 6070
- Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2006 1:31 pm
- Location: Leysin, Alpes Vaudoises, Switzerland
- Contact:
- Rocket Rab
- Posts: 2248
- Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:37 pm
- Contact:
Hi Martha,
I really like your idea of adding a line like "We aim to answer all enquiries within....", as you have done, and I think I'll do likewise. Not too sure about advertising you're actually online. It might add to the frustration if you can't respond immediately, for whatever reason? Emptying the washing machine, stuffing courgettes, twittering...
I really like your idea of adding a line like "We aim to answer all enquiries within....", as you have done, and I think I'll do likewise. Not too sure about advertising you're actually online. It might add to the frustration if you can't respond immediately, for whatever reason? Emptying the washing machine, stuffing courgettes, twittering...