Theft of toilet rolls and tissue box!
Theft of toilet rolls and tissue box!
Hi, I'm from Australia and maybe it's an Aussie problem. But we've just had our first guests for the weekend in our property The Shed on Blackwood (Facebook page only at this stage, plus Trip Advisor). They were booked through Airbnb, no problems there, and we thought they were a lovely couple. However, when I went to clean The Shed (a separate studio on our property), I discovered they'd 'got through' 2 1/2 rolls of toilet paper and 3/4 box of tissues. One of the two days they were out all day.
So my question to other property owners is how many toilet rolls do you put out and what quality of loo roll do you use? I know I'm lucky that nothing more important was used/taken, but I just want to know what others do!
So my question to other property owners is how many toilet rolls do you put out and what quality of loo roll do you use? I know I'm lucky that nothing more important was used/taken, but I just want to know what others do!
- bornintheuk
- Posts: 538
- Joined: Sun Jun 12, 2011 11:18 am
- Location: Southern Charente
- PW in Polemi
- Posts: 1781
- Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2012 5:23 am
- Location: A village in Paphos, Cyprus
I supply 2 per toilet i.e. 4 rolls in total. The accommodation is self catering, not a hotel, so we supply enough that the guest is not obliged on arrival to immediately turn round and go shopping for various soaps/detergents, paper items, bin bags, tea, coffee, sugar, condiments, herbs, spices, oils etc etc.
None of our guests have ever suggested that 4 loo rolls is insufficient or inconvenient.
Maybe your guests' apparent heavy use of loo roll is down to personal hygiene - if they wash themselves after using the loo, maybe they use wodges of loo roll rather than drying with a towel...... And as for the tissues, well, if they don't use condoms, they have to use something to wipe up afterwards, don't they?
None of our guests have ever suggested that 4 loo rolls is insufficient or inconvenient.
Maybe your guests' apparent heavy use of loo roll is down to personal hygiene - if they wash themselves after using the loo, maybe they use wodges of loo roll rather than drying with a towel...... And as for the tissues, well, if they don't use condoms, they have to use something to wipe up afterwards, don't they?
Dogs have masters. Cats have slaves!
I supply exactly the same as PW. I think only once did a guest knock on the door and plaintively say "we need more - we have none". I gave them a roll and explained ( nicely) they were in a self catering establishment and pointed them towards the village shop. Recently, in an effort to reduce the make up on towels (why?????), I left out a large packet of really nice Clinique facial wipes in the bathroom. Now there are only 7 days in a week and I think this contained 40 wipes for one woman. She took the lot!
We leave 2 toilet rolls per loo plus the one on the toilet roll dodah. We used to leave a notebook and pencil in each bedroom, but after discovering after a 3-night break that all the loo rolls had gone and nearly all the pages in the notebooks, we stopped supplying them (the notebooks that is)! The dirty 8a$7ard$.
"Write something, even if it's just a suicide note"
"There is no human problem which could not be solved if people would simply do as I advise"
"As for my amnesia, I've had it as long as I can remember"
Real name: Steve
Gender: Male
"There is no human problem which could not be solved if people would simply do as I advise"
"As for my amnesia, I've had it as long as I can remember"
Real name: Steve
Gender: Male
Great feedback
Thanks everyone for your feedback. So two rolls it is. I also supplied shampoo, conditioner and shower gel, but having discussed it with my daughter, she felt I shouldn't be supplying that either! I do have a little stock of salt/pepper/oil/vinegar/herbs/tea/coffee/sugar and washing up liquid. Plus I supply a fresh loaf of home-baked bread. Maybe that's enough!
- PW in Polemi
- Posts: 1781
- Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2012 5:23 am
- Location: A village in Paphos, Cyprus
What you supply is very much dependent upon several factors:
1. What quality/price your accommodation is, i.e. more extensive/expensive supplies for luxury, more basic for comfortable.
2. How far it is to the nearest shop. There are no 24 hour convenience stores near our cottage, so we supply what we feel is a fairly comprehensive starter pack to ensure our guests who arrive late at night do not die of hunger/thirst before they can drive to the shops the following day!
3. What time of day most of your guests arrive, and whether they have their own transport.
Have a look at
viewtopic.php?t=26413&highlight=welcome+packs
for some more ideas.
1. What quality/price your accommodation is, i.e. more extensive/expensive supplies for luxury, more basic for comfortable.
2. How far it is to the nearest shop. There are no 24 hour convenience stores near our cottage, so we supply what we feel is a fairly comprehensive starter pack to ensure our guests who arrive late at night do not die of hunger/thirst before they can drive to the shops the following day!
3. What time of day most of your guests arrive, and whether they have their own transport.
Have a look at
viewtopic.php?t=26413&highlight=welcome+packs
for some more ideas.
Dogs have masters. Cats have slaves!
-
- Posts: 201
- Joined: Sat Aug 06, 2011 12:22 pm
- Location: Moselle Valley (Mosel) Deutschland
MaryE ... PW in Polemi is right
are you self self catering or a 5 * hotel
you must decide what suits your budget and guests
since starting the current business in 2010 i have struggled with what i offer my guests and as i live on site some guests find it easier to knock on my door so you have to draw the line especially if they act as if they are your best friend during their stay and take advantage of your kindness & location
so i have re drawn the line many times over am i too strict / appear unhelpful etc… but i offer a service
i do not offer a welcome pack however i have the following in each apartment
as most of my rentals are short stay average 4 nights with the occasional 7-10 days in the high season in the large apartments
Toilet Rolls 1 per person + 1 extra for 4 days +
Shower gel pump refillable on a wall bracket in the shower ( from a hotel supplier )
+ 1 per person wrapped soap bars by the wash basin ( to match the shower gel )
Wrapped tea bags 2 per person + i have a display in the main guest area with the option to purchase more at a reasonable cost
Sugar cubes ( small kilner jar ) enough to cover a couple of cups per person
Freshly ground coffee ( small kilner jar ) enough for a couple of pots in the filter machine
+ a note if they require fresh milk for tea for the first night to ask ( i don't like the small plastic cartons
salt & pepper mill with a couple of inches of rock salt peppercorns
sparkling mineral water in glass bottle
and as we are in the wine area a small metal wine rack with a selection of wine to purchase at reasonable prices
in the main guest area a wine fridge ( glass door ) with a section of german sekt ( champagne ) and mineral water for guests to purchase
we have small kitchenette in each apartment with microwave /fridge/cooking hob /coffee machine /kettle etc
we have a good local bakery 5 mins walk from the house
and supermarkets about 10 minutes by car
this year i have put a polite notice in the guest information book in each apartment what is included
to help them until they can get to the shops ideally the next full day
then a lists of shops underneath
so far it has worked …. with some exceptions for english guests who will alway ask … as country men think i am their best friend but i have tactfully got my answer off to a fine art now and are able to look them straight in the eye without being held to ransom over a possible bad review for such trivial things
however if they are flying in or arriving on Sundays ( grocery shops are closed in Germany ) i offer them in advance in booking to get a few provisions from a standard list and place them in the apartment for their arrival …i do this with my normal shop and charge at cost
the only changes i made this year was reducing the toiletries shower gel etc …. when last year one of my so called good friends who brought another couple with them and i gave them mates rates
i heard them talking saying “take all the small complimentary toiletries even if you don't use them as they are free “ so later when we were out having a drink in the village all together i asked them what they thought of the accommodation to get some feedback which is always helpful from friends
both women were complimentary & they told me they always take all the little” free “ toiletries home and sometimes other freebies !!! ….FREE !!! so i tactfully said where do they think they came from & who buys them …. they went quite…. but after a few minutes said well it is included in the price i paid SO…the end of mates rates and a tighter budget but without altering the quality or standards
are you self self catering or a 5 * hotel
you must decide what suits your budget and guests
since starting the current business in 2010 i have struggled with what i offer my guests and as i live on site some guests find it easier to knock on my door so you have to draw the line especially if they act as if they are your best friend during their stay and take advantage of your kindness & location
so i have re drawn the line many times over am i too strict / appear unhelpful etc… but i offer a service
i do not offer a welcome pack however i have the following in each apartment
as most of my rentals are short stay average 4 nights with the occasional 7-10 days in the high season in the large apartments
Toilet Rolls 1 per person + 1 extra for 4 days +
Shower gel pump refillable on a wall bracket in the shower ( from a hotel supplier )
+ 1 per person wrapped soap bars by the wash basin ( to match the shower gel )
Wrapped tea bags 2 per person + i have a display in the main guest area with the option to purchase more at a reasonable cost
Sugar cubes ( small kilner jar ) enough to cover a couple of cups per person
Freshly ground coffee ( small kilner jar ) enough for a couple of pots in the filter machine
+ a note if they require fresh milk for tea for the first night to ask ( i don't like the small plastic cartons
salt & pepper mill with a couple of inches of rock salt peppercorns
sparkling mineral water in glass bottle
and as we are in the wine area a small metal wine rack with a selection of wine to purchase at reasonable prices
in the main guest area a wine fridge ( glass door ) with a section of german sekt ( champagne ) and mineral water for guests to purchase
we have small kitchenette in each apartment with microwave /fridge/cooking hob /coffee machine /kettle etc
we have a good local bakery 5 mins walk from the house
and supermarkets about 10 minutes by car
this year i have put a polite notice in the guest information book in each apartment what is included
to help them until they can get to the shops ideally the next full day
then a lists of shops underneath
so far it has worked …. with some exceptions for english guests who will alway ask … as country men think i am their best friend but i have tactfully got my answer off to a fine art now and are able to look them straight in the eye without being held to ransom over a possible bad review for such trivial things
however if they are flying in or arriving on Sundays ( grocery shops are closed in Germany ) i offer them in advance in booking to get a few provisions from a standard list and place them in the apartment for their arrival …i do this with my normal shop and charge at cost
the only changes i made this year was reducing the toiletries shower gel etc …. when last year one of my so called good friends who brought another couple with them and i gave them mates rates
i heard them talking saying “take all the small complimentary toiletries even if you don't use them as they are free “ so later when we were out having a drink in the village all together i asked them what they thought of the accommodation to get some feedback which is always helpful from friends
both women were complimentary & they told me they always take all the little” free “ toiletries home and sometimes other freebies !!! ….FREE !!! so i tactfully said where do they think they came from & who buys them …. they went quite…. but after a few minutes said well it is included in the price i paid SO…the end of mates rates and a tighter budget but without altering the quality or standards
When it comes to wine, I tell people to invest in a good corkscrew. The best way to learn about wine is the drinking
The truth is the best German wine remains in Germany
So forget your memories of Blue Nun & Black Tower
The truth is the best German wine remains in Germany
So forget your memories of Blue Nun & Black Tower
Thank you
Zur Alten, thank you for your very thoughtful response. My accommodation is a renovated shed (https://www.facebook.com/theshedonblackwood/ ) on our 2.5 acre property in the South West of Western Australia. Wine and tree country! So it is a unique property but definitely not aimed at the luxury market. I am focusing on those who like the rustic charm, hence it's filled with vintage memorabilia which the young like. I guess my aim was to be helpful, but previous repliers have also said to be firm, helpful and not overly generous, which I think is very sound advice. Certainly a loo roll isn't a lot of money, however, it's the fact that it seems ok to take stuff that worries me. I am now writing an inventory of each item in The Shed so that I can instantly see what's missing. I'm also going to note down their car number plates as a form of guarantee against theft of major things, which I hope never happens. It's taken months to get The Shed into a presentable format and I hate to think of people being disrespectful of our endeavours!
This forum has already given me much food for thought and I will be welcoming the 2nd lot of guests this coming weekend, so we'll see what happens with them. We are about 500m from a small shop that stays open til 7pm, so there is no need for me to supply everything for the entire weekend - big mistake of a newbie!
This forum has already given me much food for thought and I will be welcoming the 2nd lot of guests this coming weekend, so we'll see what happens with them. We are about 500m from a small shop that stays open til 7pm, so there is no need for me to supply everything for the entire weekend - big mistake of a newbie!
- PW in Polemi
- Posts: 1781
- Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2012 5:23 am
- Location: A village in Paphos, Cyprus
Re: Thank you
How about charging a damages deposit? It tends to focus the guests' minds because they want their money back at the end of their stay!MaryE wrote:... however, it's the fact that it seems ok to take stuff that worries me. I am now writing an inventory of each item in The Shed so that I can instantly see what's missing. I'm also going to note down their car number plates as a form of guarantee against theft of major things, which I hope never happens.
Dogs have masters. Cats have slaves!