Shameless bit of publicity seeking, nothing wrong with it as long as you're open, eh?Fraise wrote:I was a bit puzzled by this.No-one mentioned any specific site and there are loads out there!!
Scams replaced by time wasters
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Hells Bells
- Posts: 13173
- Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2005 8:42 am
- Location: French Alps
- Contact:
I can vouch for holidaylets vigilance in spotting scammers on the site, as I was sent a one yesterday, but it was closely followed by an e-mail from holidaylets warning me of this. I have also had only 2 genuine enquiries during my 3 month trial, BUT one of them is now a definite booking. But is this enough to make me sign up? I'm not sure. I may be better advertising on a more specialist skiing site.
Ross....to be fair no names were mentioned and just by looking at our history on your site does not mean that you can jump to the conclusion that I was directing these comments to your company.OK, but if your clients wanted to share your openness, they would have named your site. That's assuming they are talking about your site.
Last edited by Guest3 on Mon Aug 29, 2005 9:52 am, edited 1 time in total.
After seeing your notes on Holidaylets.net I just signed up to the site on their threee month trial. Within a day I received an enquiry and yes it was genuine as I called them. I do believe they may even book.
I must say that I think the format and operation of this site are one of the best I have seen. I think its great and if they manage to pull in a booking for me I will be signing up with my money.
I must say that I think the format and operation of this site are one of the best I have seen. I think its great and if they manage to pull in a booking for me I will be signing up with my money.
I agree with Clexane, the format and operation of Holidaylets.net site is one of the best I advertise. However, I have never had many enquiries or bookings from them (one booking in the last 12 months) so I'm afraid I won't be re-newing with them this year, which I'm sorry about as it is so user friendly and allows free photo and text updates (unlike some other sites).
I signed up with H-R this year and have found they have brought in much more business, with a very high enquiry/booking ratio.
I signed up with H-R this year and have found they have brought in much more business, with a very high enquiry/booking ratio.
going back to the original post - time wasters...I've just had a rash of RUDE time wasters...I'm getting close to telling a few of them No you can't rent our house because you will give it bad vibes..how dare some of these people behave in such an arrogant manner..funnily enough all through from h-r.com...which is quite bizare - never have I been treated with arrogance & disdain from potential renters! 4 like this in the past couple of weeks.
One chap sent a big long request in all about how he & his wife are non smokers - liked walking etc. looking for a month - couldn't possibly release his phone number until booking had been awarded by him...
I sent a chatty reply - nothing back - so I emailed to see if he had got my reply...nothing back - so obviously hasn't the manners to respond.
Another woman I emailed a pleasant enough note to just making sure she had indeed had my reply and the special offer I had made - curt reply, she's still considering me...I'm considering saying no to her if she does comes back...
Anyone else had this happen...being spoken down to?
One chap sent a big long request in all about how he & his wife are non smokers - liked walking etc. looking for a month - couldn't possibly release his phone number until booking had been awarded by him...
I sent a chatty reply - nothing back - so I emailed to see if he had got my reply...nothing back - so obviously hasn't the manners to respond. Another woman I emailed a pleasant enough note to just making sure she had indeed had my reply and the special offer I had made - curt reply, she's still considering me...I'm considering saying no to her if she does comes back...
Anyone else had this happen...being spoken down to?
it's all a learning curve!
Tansy,
Like you most of my time wasters have come from Holiday Rentals and Vrbo. Some have been quite abrupt or not bothered to answer despite chase ups.
It is quite disappointing as H-R where not bad this year. But in the meantime that old dark horse Perfect Places just got me an enquiry straight to a booking - no chit chat no nothing... just book me please and here is my deposit - for September 2006... Bliss! Abritel as well has also come through with a booking with little chit chat.
I am really starting to wonder about H-R and Vrbo, I am worried they are so big now that people are just sending mass enquiries on them trying to snag a bargin or maybe they are just so prominent that they get all sorts coming to them, where as the less mainstream sites only get real seekers ... don't know, just know what I am seeing.
Maybe if these sites are serious about working for the owners they should limit the enquires to three a day or something ... that should sort out time wasters.
P.S. I am SO SO happy another thread is alive with relevance to our business than that SCB thread !!!!!
Like you most of my time wasters have come from Holiday Rentals and Vrbo. Some have been quite abrupt or not bothered to answer despite chase ups.
It is quite disappointing as H-R where not bad this year. But in the meantime that old dark horse Perfect Places just got me an enquiry straight to a booking - no chit chat no nothing... just book me please and here is my deposit - for September 2006... Bliss! Abritel as well has also come through with a booking with little chit chat.
I am really starting to wonder about H-R and Vrbo, I am worried they are so big now that people are just sending mass enquiries on them trying to snag a bargin or maybe they are just so prominent that they get all sorts coming to them, where as the less mainstream sites only get real seekers ... don't know, just know what I am seeing.
Maybe if these sites are serious about working for the owners they should limit the enquires to three a day or something ... that should sort out time wasters.
P.S. I am SO SO happy another thread is alive with relevance to our business than that SCB thread !!!!!
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Alan Knighting
- Posts: 4120
- Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 7:26 am
- Location: Monflanquin, Lot-et-Garonne, France
Tansy,
The only time it happened for real was when a university law lecturer lectured me on the fact that the washing machine didn't work. It is provided with simple instructions in words of one syllable. As though he was speaking to a child he insisted on taking me through every single step he had taken in loading and setting the machine, without allowing me to say a single word. At the end of his diatribe I was allowed a brief moment within which I was able to point out to him that he hadn't switched it on.
What patronising prats some people can be.
Regards
Alan
A few times in e-mails but I just put it down to the style that some people adopt, to the childishly superior attitude adopted by some and to their general lack of education and manners.Anyone else had this happen...being spoken down to?
The only time it happened for real was when a university law lecturer lectured me on the fact that the washing machine didn't work. It is provided with simple instructions in words of one syllable. As though he was speaking to a child he insisted on taking me through every single step he had taken in loading and setting the machine, without allowing me to say a single word. At the end of his diatribe I was allowed a brief moment within which I was able to point out to him that he hadn't switched it on.
What patronising prats some people can be.
Regards
Alan
Alan,
staying completely off topic, I thought I was patronised (mainly by men who stay here) because I am female and I run the place myself (my partner works in the UK). I am often told how to do things or what should be done, I'm sure they wouldn't dare do that if I was a man. However, there are advantages to being a single female, I have had guests who have taken it upon themselves to do the minor repairs which occur during their stay, such as broken locks, door handles and chairs. I think they assume women are incapable of any kind of DIY, which doesn't bother me in the slightest!
staying completely off topic, I thought I was patronised (mainly by men who stay here) because I am female and I run the place myself (my partner works in the UK). I am often told how to do things or what should be done, I'm sure they wouldn't dare do that if I was a man. However, there are advantages to being a single female, I have had guests who have taken it upon themselves to do the minor repairs which occur during their stay, such as broken locks, door handles and chairs. I think they assume women are incapable of any kind of DIY, which doesn't bother me in the slightest!
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Alan Knighting
- Posts: 4120
- Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 7:26 am
- Location: Monflanquin, Lot-et-Garonne, France
Alan,
I totally agree - in my rather limited long term relationship history I have learnt that men have simple needs, being appreciated and not taken for granted is one of the things on the top of the list, as is watching every Arsenal game without being interrupted (change as applicable for whichever football team is supported).
Susan
[/quote]
I totally agree - in my rather limited long term relationship history I have learnt that men have simple needs, being appreciated and not taken for granted is one of the things on the top of the list, as is watching every Arsenal game without being interrupted (change as applicable for whichever football team is supported).
Susan
[/quote]
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Alan Knighting
- Posts: 4120
- Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 7:26 am
- Location: Monflanquin, Lot-et-Garonne, France
Wow -- we haven't had anyone yet who was really condescending. But some people behave terribly to those whom they perceive are there to serve them. Jerks.
Is it bad that I don't send any "chaser" e-mails at all? My first e-mail in response to an inquiry is always pleasant and gives all necessary information for a booking, includes the rental contract, etc. I have a form letter but I personalize it for each person based on the time of year they've inquired about and how many people are in their party.
After that, if they don't respond, c'est la vie. The one time I've ever followed-up with someone, they turned out to be unbelievably picky, asked for loads and loads of information (what brand of showerhead, how tall are the reading lights, etc.), and contacted several references. In the end I decided I didn't want them to rent, so I just stopped bending over backwards, they went away, and I resolved never to do it again.
Maybe it's just because business is good that I can get away with that... but until I sense otherwise, I'm not going to worry about it. If they don't respond, the property wasn't right for them, and someone else will fill their spot!
Is it bad that I don't send any "chaser" e-mails at all? My first e-mail in response to an inquiry is always pleasant and gives all necessary information for a booking, includes the rental contract, etc. I have a form letter but I personalize it for each person based on the time of year they've inquired about and how many people are in their party.
After that, if they don't respond, c'est la vie. The one time I've ever followed-up with someone, they turned out to be unbelievably picky, asked for loads and loads of information (what brand of showerhead, how tall are the reading lights, etc.), and contacted several references. In the end I decided I didn't want them to rent, so I just stopped bending over backwards, they went away, and I resolved never to do it again.
Maybe it's just because business is good that I can get away with that... but until I sense otherwise, I'm not going to worry about it. If they don't respond, the property wasn't right for them, and someone else will fill their spot!
Brooke
I try to followup (mostly with people that I liked) with a message that begins with something such as "Since email sometimes goes astray..." and ends with "If you have already completed your accommodation arrangements, please accept our best wishes for your upcoming travels." Nothing pushy. I started this because once an email DID go astray, though the person who was booking was tenacious enough to come after me again. After that, I started sending one followup message about 3-5 days after my first response. It's worked well for me.
As for time wasters, I get very few time wasters directly from my website. Most come from h-r and I believe it's because they won't link directly to our site. My initial response to H-R inquiries now has a "We encourage you to visit our website at ... " paragraph.
The oddest query I ever got was from VRBO. The inquirer left a name but no phone number, no dates, no info on number of guests. Just this message which I am including in its entirety: "Does the rental include amenities such as a main lobby, 24 hour key availability upon arrival and maid or concierge services?"
Talk about a time-waster. A main lobby at a VRBO? I assumed he was fishing for email address.
Happy End of August!
debk
As for time wasters, I get very few time wasters directly from my website. Most come from h-r and I believe it's because they won't link directly to our site. My initial response to H-R inquiries now has a "We encourage you to visit our website at ... " paragraph.
The oddest query I ever got was from VRBO. The inquirer left a name but no phone number, no dates, no info on number of guests. Just this message which I am including in its entirety: "Does the rental include amenities such as a main lobby, 24 hour key availability upon arrival and maid or concierge services?"
Talk about a time-waster. A main lobby at a VRBO? I assumed he was fishing for email address.
Happy End of August!
debk
