This is from decades ago when fax machines were the latest hoot. The paper was on a roll, and it’d drive you crazy toward the end of the roll because the paper would curl up. It was THAT long ago.

I worked at the largest hotel in my hometown. I was a secretary to the management team. The general manager was just a few weeks away from retirement, meaning he wasn’t going to wrap his head around new equipment.

The general manager approached me one day with a letter.

General Manager: “Send this by fax, but make a copy of it first; I’d like to keep the original.”

I didn’t bother explaining to him how faxing works. I just made a copy, handed him the original, faxed the copy, and dusted my hands of the whole thing.

Related:
Taxing Faxing, Part 32
Taxing Faxing, Part 31
Taxing Faxing, Part 30
Taxing Faxing, Part 29
Taxing Faxing, Part 28

A guest checks into their room.

Guest: “This room is supposed to have an ocean view. I can’t see the ocean.”

Me: “Sir, that’s because it is nighttime. I assure you that the ocean is there.”

I’m working in a hotel when I get this call.

Me: “Thank you for calling [Hotel] in [City]. This is [My Name]; how can I help you?”

Caller: “You guys have no channels I want to watch!”

Me: “I’m so sorry about that, ma’am. We did recently get rid of a few channels because they were unused the most. May I know what room you’re in and what channels you were looking for?”

Caller: “Yes, I’m in room 203. I want to watch [channel #1] and [channel #2], but you don’t have either!”

I look up her room number.

Me: “Um, ma’am, I don’t have you in that room. Are you sure you’re in that room?”

Caller: “Yes! I’m in that room; you gave me the keys. I just wanted to relax and watch a movie, but you don’t have the channels I’m looking for! Do you have a TV channel list?”

I desperately look at my coworker for spiritual guidance. She looks just as confused.

Me: “Well, like I said, ma’am, we did get rid of some channels due to them not being watched the most. Unfortunately, I don’t have a list at the moment because the change is new. Also, the room number you gave me doesn’t have anyone in it. I also looked up your last name, and we don’t have you checking in until tomorrow.”

Caller: “Well, I don’t know what to tell you. I checked into 203. You gave me the keys. It seems like your problem.”

Me: “So, you’re in the [Hotel] in [City] right now?”

Five seconds of silence pass. I think she is going to blow up on me.

But the caller BURSTS OUT LAUGHING. She’s laughing so hard she can’t speak.

Me: “You’re not in [City] are you?”

Caller: “No! I’m in [Whole Other State]!”

Me: “Oh my, God. You’re venting at the wrong front desk agent lady!”

Caller: “You are so right. I’m so sorry. I’ve gotten my days all mixed up!”

After that, we shared a few funny hotel stories. I offered to look at the channels we did have so she wouldn’t be surprised when she arrived. She declined that, saying she needed a nap, instead. When she arrived the next day, we had a good laugh about it. I never did find out if she found the channels she was looking for.

I work at the reception desk at a very popular skiing resort. A guest checked in at our hotel for a week-long stay during one of our busiest. She was very clear that she needed a quiet room, which she had contacted us about in advance, and we’d assigned her a room as far away as possible from the main building, pubs, and other sources of noise like traffic and partying.

The first night, she came down to reception several times, complaining about the noise in the room. We asked what the issue was.

Guest: “There are people and kids in the room next door!”

We honestly thought she was joking the first time, but we quickly realized she was very serious. Despite being fully booked, we were able to sort things out and move her to a different room, which was even worse, since there was a dog in the room underneath it, and it was next to an elevator that kept ringing when people used it.

She ended up moving back to the original room the next day, and she continued to complain that she couldn’t sleep because people were chatting in the rooms next door, and it was ruining her holiday.

We did the best we could during the whole week, trying to explain that if you want a quiet holiday during the high season for skiing, a hotel is not the best choice.

After she left, we got correspondence from the travel agency she’d used. They apologized profoundly for our experience with the difficult guest and explained that they’ve had the same kind of experience with her. Surprisingly, though, when she had spoken to the travel agency about her holiday, she had only good things to say about our hotel and staff, and she said she would definitively consider us for the next vacation, as well.

Let’s just hope it’s not during the busy season, so both she and the reception desk will get some peace and quiet.

I work in a hotel. I’m chilling at the desk and I answer the phone.

Caller: “Hi, I’m [Caller]. I’ve been staying here for a few days and I just noticed a charge on my card for $91, and I was wondering what that was for.”

Me: “All right, give me just a moment and I’ll look that up.”

I look up her last few nights, which is a pain because she booked all but her first night individually through online travel agencies.

Me: “It looks like $91 was the total after tax for your stay on Saturday night.”

Caller: “So, who do I talk to about that?”

Me: “Sorry?”

Caller: “How do I get that fixed?”

Me: “Uh, I think you misunderstood what I meant, ma’am. That was the price of the room on Saturday. There was no extra charge or anything.”

Caller: “But it was $70-something for the other nights.”

Me: “Right. Sunday to Thursday, our rates are lower because we’re not as busy.”

Caller: “Very interesting. Are you the manager?”

Me: “I’m the manager on duty.”

Caller: “Hmmm, well, I’ll just talk to someone about it tomorrow.”

All right, go ahead and call to complain about the price you already agreed to.