The answer to, "I tried booking the room online but couldn't do it, so I'm calling you."

[TheBeachHouse]

Answer: The room is already booked for that date. But I have three other rooms open, would you like to book a different room?

 

[Morticia]

I've had that call twice in the past month. Altho, both guests said they got all the way thru the process and then the booking engine stalled on the final screen. I've tested it, works for me, so not sure.
But, I have gotten calls telling me the room IS open, they SAW it open, why can't they book it? Well, no, it's the only room that's taken...

 

[TheBeachHouse]

I've had that call twice in the past month. Altho, both guests said they got all the way thru the process and then the booking engine stalled on the final screen. I've tested it, works for me, so not sure.
But, I have gotten calls telling me the room IS open, they SAW it open, why can't they book it? Well, no, it's the only room that's taken....

She said she had to book it for February 24 (today) because when she typed in the day she wanted, it wouldn't come up.
sigh.

 

[Morticia]

I've had that call twice in the past month. Altho, both guests said they got all the way thru the process and then the booking engine stalled on the final screen. I've tested it, works for me, so not sure.
But, I have gotten calls telling me the room IS open, they SAW it open, why can't they book it? Well, no, it's the only room that's taken....

She said she had to book it for February 24 (today) because when she typed in the day she wanted, it wouldn't come up.
sigh.
.

Good thing she called. I'm very thankful guests do call when they can't make the system work.

 

[TheBeachHouse]

I've had that call twice in the past month. Altho, both guests said they got all the way thru the process and then the booking engine stalled on the final screen. I've tested it, works for me, so not sure.
But, I have gotten calls telling me the room IS open, they SAW it open, why can't they book it? Well, no, it's the only room that's taken....

She said she had to book it for February 24 (today) because when she typed in the day she wanted, it wouldn't come up.
sigh.
.

Good thing she called. I'm very thankful guests do call when they can't make the system work.
.

Good thing she called. I'm very thankful guests do call when they can't make the system work.

We agree. DH is taking calls all day these days. People are planning their years!

 

[gillumhouse]

I have had that also. She called to make the rez - but she assumed it was something with her computer.

 

[Arks]

I have had that also. She called to make the rez - but she assumed it was something with her computer..

...she assumed it was something with her computer.

And I assume it was the computer USER!

 

[Copperhead]

Nine out of ten times the caller was trying to book our place on an OTA but could figure out how to book the room they wanted. I'll take those calls without hesitation

 

[Morticia]

Nine out of ten times the caller was trying to book our place on an OTA but could figure out how to book the room they wanted. I'll take those calls without hesitation.

Nine out of ten times the caller was trying to book our place on an OTA but could figure out how to book the room they wanted. I'll take those calls without hesitation

Gomez always asks me if they were really on our website. I forget to ask the guest, I'm just happy they called!

 

[Aussie Innkeeper]

Don't you just love the OTA bookers? They'll call you and SWEAR that they're on your website and that 'it says so-and-so' and you're trying to figure what the hell they're looking at! Those OTAs are really good at imitating us because they want the commission. Unfortunately, they're not doing anyone, except themselves, any favors - including the guest!
I had one OTA charge the guest our regular rate and then a 'service fee' on top of that! She called me to ask for clarification and ultimately ended up cancelling with the OTA. But in that case not only was I losing out on the room rate, but she was being charged more than I would have charged her for the same room.

 

[Morticia]

Don't you just love the OTA bookers? They'll call you and SWEAR that they're on your website and that 'it says so-and-so' and you're trying to figure what the hell they're looking at! Those OTAs are really good at imitating us because they want the commission. Unfortunately, they're not doing anyone, except themselves, any favors - including the guest!
I had one OTA charge the guest our regular rate and then a 'service fee' on top of that! She called me to ask for clarification and ultimately ended up cancelling with the OTA. But in that case not only was I losing out on the room rate, but she was being charged more than I would have charged her for the same room..

Booking always flags my photos as poor quality. They want better photos. I'm not sure that's in my best interest. I'm thinking of removing all but one outside, one inside and one food photo. Of course they ding you for that and drop you to the bottom of the list.
But I've had booking guests say my rooms look much better on my website (when they try to figure out which room they are getting). That's another issue - booking shows them a particular room photo and they think that's the room they're getting. So, what's an innkeeper to do?

 

[TheBeachHouse]

Nine out of ten times the caller was trying to book our place on an OTA but could figure out how to book the room they wanted. I'll take those calls without hesitation.

Nine out of ten times the caller was trying to book our place on an OTA but could figure out how to book the room they wanted. I'll take those calls without hesitation

Gomez always asks me if they were really on our website. I forget to ask the guest, I'm just happy they called!
.

Nine out of ten times the caller was trying to book our place on an OTA but could figure out how to book the room they wanted. I'll take those calls without hesitation

Gomez always asks me if they were really on our website. I forget to ask the guest, I'm just happy they called!

Couple came in early and I was very nice, said, 'your room is ready, I can show you in.' They asked about check in time and I said, 'we generally say 3, but again, your room is ready, so all good.'
They said, 'I'm sure bkgdotcom said 2!' I laughed and said, 'bkgdotcom says whatever they want to. We don't always agree.'

 

[Arks]

Nine out of ten times the caller was trying to book our place on an OTA but could figure out how to book the room they wanted. I'll take those calls without hesitation.

Nine out of ten times the caller was trying to book our place on an OTA but could figure out how to book the room they wanted. I'll take those calls without hesitation

Gomez always asks me if they were really on our website. I forget to ask the guest, I'm just happy they called!
.

Nine out of ten times the caller was trying to book our place on an OTA but could figure out how to book the room they wanted. I'll take those calls without hesitation

Gomez always asks me if they were really on our website. I forget to ask the guest, I'm just happy they called!

Couple came in early and I was very nice, said, 'your room is ready, I can show you in.' They asked about check in time and I said, 'we generally say 3, but again, your room is ready, so all good.'
They said, 'I'm sure bkgdotcom said 2!' I laughed and said, 'bkgdotcom says whatever they want to. We don't always agree.'
.

I laughed and said, 'bkgdotcom says whatever they want to. We don't always agree.

You got that right!

 

[Morticia]

Nine out of ten times the caller was trying to book our place on an OTA but could figure out how to book the room they wanted. I'll take those calls without hesitation.

Nine out of ten times the caller was trying to book our place on an OTA but could figure out how to book the room they wanted. I'll take those calls without hesitation

Gomez always asks me if they were really on our website. I forget to ask the guest, I'm just happy they called!
.

Nine out of ten times the caller was trying to book our place on an OTA but could figure out how to book the room they wanted. I'll take those calls without hesitation

Gomez always asks me if they were really on our website. I forget to ask the guest, I'm just happy they called!

Couple came in early and I was very nice, said, 'your room is ready, I can show you in.' They asked about check in time and I said, 'we generally say 3, but again, your room is ready, so all good.'
They said, 'I'm sure bkgdotcom said 2!' I laughed and said, 'bkgdotcom says whatever they want to. We don't always agree.'
.

How true! I guess they now allow the guest to state their own arrival time. Some have been hit with arrival times of early morning or very late, no matter what the innkeeper says in the info section.

 

[Copperhead]

Nine out of ten times the caller was trying to book our place on an OTA but could figure out how to book the room they wanted. I'll take those calls without hesitation.

Nine out of ten times the caller was trying to book our place on an OTA but could figure out how to book the room they wanted. I'll take those calls without hesitation

Gomez always asks me if they were really on our website. I forget to ask the guest, I'm just happy they called!
.

Nine out of ten times the caller was trying to book our place on an OTA but could figure out how to book the room they wanted. I'll take those calls without hesitation

Gomez always asks me if they were really on our website. I forget to ask the guest, I'm just happy they called!

Couple came in early and I was very nice, said, 'your room is ready, I can show you in.' They asked about check in time and I said, 'we generally say 3, but again, your room is ready, so all good.'
They said, 'I'm sure bkgdotcom said 2!' I laughed and said, 'bkgdotcom says whatever they want to. We don't always agree.'
.

How true! I guess they now allow the guest to state their own arrival time. Some have been hit with arrival times of early morning or very late, no matter what the innkeeper says in the info section.
.

How true! I guess they now allow the guest to state their own arrival time. Some have been hit with arrival times of early morning or very late, no matter what the innkeeper says in the info section.

I was originally very happy to see the arrival time on the confirmation, then I went out to the site to see what arrival times were offered. GRRR I can see this as a problem down the line.

 

[Arks]

Booking making up arrival times sure won't work for their main customers, the hotels.
My last few reservations through Booking have also said things like, "You have a booker who prefers to communicate by phone," or, "You have a booker who prefers to communicate by e-mail."
I wanted to send back that they have a host who prefers to communicate by text messages, but I didn't want to start something.

 

[Morticia]

Booking making up arrival times sure won't work for their main customers, the hotels.
My last few reservations through Booking have also said things like, "You have a booker who prefers to communicate by phone," or, "You have a booker who prefers to communicate by e-mail."
I wanted to send back that they have a host who prefers to communicate by text messages, but I didn't want to start something..

I was wondering about the 'booker prefers to communicate...' statement.

 

[Arks]

Booking making up arrival times sure won't work for their main customers, the hotels.
My last few reservations through Booking have also said things like, "You have a booker who prefers to communicate by phone," or, "You have a booker who prefers to communicate by e-mail."
I wanted to send back that they have a host who prefers to communicate by text messages, but I didn't want to start something..

I was wondering about the 'booker prefers to communicate...' statement.
.

I was wondering about the 'booker prefers to communicate...' statement.

At first I was irritated by the message (it appeared in ResKey in the section where guests can leave messages). Thought the guest wrote it and was going to be a PITA. But when it came again from a different "booker", I realized it's something new Booking is asking them and sending along. So I was less irritated, but only slightly.

 

[Jcam]

Booking making up arrival times sure won't work for their main customers, the hotels.
My last few reservations through Booking have also said things like, "You have a booker who prefers to communicate by phone," or, "You have a booker who prefers to communicate by e-mail."
I wanted to send back that they have a host who prefers to communicate by text messages, but I didn't want to start something..

what winds me up is then you email they don't answer, you text they don't answer and then you phone and they don't answer - wanted to go to a meeting about the local xmas market so was really chasing this woman - she finally got back in touch 3pm on the day to say they were coming at 5 so could have gone but was over and done by then - so thanks for that. first contact was 5pm the day before

 

[Copperhead]

Booking making up arrival times sure won't work for their main customers, the hotels.
My last few reservations through Booking have also said things like, "You have a booker who prefers to communicate by phone," or, "You have a booker who prefers to communicate by e-mail."
I wanted to send back that they have a host who prefers to communicate by text messages, but I didn't want to start something..

I was wondering about the 'booker prefers to communicate...' statement.
.

I was wondering about the 'booker prefers to communicate...' statement.

At first I was irritated by the message (it appeared in ResKey in the section where guests can leave messages). Thought the guest wrote it and was going to be a PITA. But when it came again from a different "booker", I realized it's something new Booking is asking them and sending along. So I was less irritated, but only slightly.
.

I was wondering about the 'booker prefers to communicate...' statement.

At first I was irritated by the message (it appeared in ResKey in the section where guests can leave messages). Thought the guest wrote it and was going to be a PITA. But when it came again from a different "booker", I realized it's something new Booking is asking them and sending along. So I was less irritated, but only slightly.

My last bdotcom reservation had that message. I wondered if it was due to the way bdotcom has set up the email 'security' format. I sent my confirmation/info email and got one in return with his real email addie. He said feel free to contact me using this email addie.