You arrive at a hotel in Washington at around 1930, after getting up at 0330 for a 0415 taxi to the airport. London-Copenhagen-Washington was half the price of a direct flight hence the crazy hours. You order room service planning some comfort food, you eat it, drink the watery beer (sorry I love American for many things but not the beer) and collapse into bed to sleep. The phone rings waking you from a deep History Channel induced sleep. Guess what? It's customer service wanting to know if you enjoyed the meal.
Well I didn't, the burger was dry even after pouring a bottle of ketchup over it and the fries looked like they had been into the deep fat at least three times, shrivelled would be a generous description of their condition. 20% service had been added automatically to the bill and the staff member went out muttering when I didn't add any extra. It's adding insult to injury to phone me up an hour after delivery, waking me up to the point where I have to write a blog post to get it out of my system. Before you ask, no I didn't complain, the British heritage and all that. However tonight I am going to a nice place just down from Farragut Square that does real burgers.
Comments (4)
Oh dear, says she being really British and polite about it, that does not sound like fun!
Enjoy tonight's meal, please.
Posted by Hazel Edmunds | March 17, 2009 12:25 PM
Posted on March 17, 2009 12:25
Gruesome! The customer services call is a refinement of cruelty that almost provokes admiration...
However, I have a genuine question: Shouldn't Dave at least name the hotel? Sharing an experience like this helps us to avoid sharing it in any more direct sense - if we have the information needed to use it. On the other hand, I can see all kinds of reasons why it feels more comfortable (not to say British) not to - at least, not until after you've left!
I ask the question because I was wondering what I would do, and decided I didn't know!
Posted by Ben Plouviez | March 19, 2009 12:33 PM
Posted on March 19, 2009 12:33
The correct form in the US is to complain loudly and vociferously - you should have been able to get them to fund a meal of your choice from what ever restaurant you chose at the very least. Loud complaining at the reception desk about being woken to give a review of their appalling room service is also in order. When in Rome etc etc..
Posted by Bina | March 19, 2009 11:15 PM
Posted on March 19, 2009 23:15
Oh, I forgot to mention that there is a 'craze' for creating an 'error' to be corrected in the hope that a fast rectification will cause you to believe you've had good service and will return business (apparently works in 92% of cases) - hospitality industry a bit prone to this. Its utterly bad in my view but hey I'm a Brit.
Posted by Bina | March 19, 2009 11:21 PM
Posted on March 19, 2009 23:21