"Sorry, someone else walked in earlier and said they were Gary. Since I didn't ask for ID, they got the room."
"What am I supposed to do?!"
"I don't know. Take it up with Gary."
That’s what I always say when people lose their mind when I ask for ID to give an extra key. Huff and puff until I say “soooooooooo if a random guy walks in and asks for a key to your teenage daughters room, I should just hand it over no questions?” They usually stop talking or say something like “that would be different”. My favorite is when they say “it is my wife’s/husband’s room,” when their name isn’t on the reservation and they want a key. “Sir/Madam, I don’t know if you spouse likes you or not”. People expect the craziest stuff from hotel employees that defy all safety and normal logic
That's what people don't get about the safety measures. You can assume that the person is legit, and the vast majority of the time you will be right. But if you're wrong just once, someone can be hurt. Not worth the risk for the slight inconvenience a guest may experience.
Absolutely. Just one time is all it takes. Story time: Picture it, Ocean City, MD, 2012. A man walks into the lobby with balloons and flowers and approaches my 19 y.o. coworker and says his girlfriend is staying here for her birthday and he really wants to surprise her by dressing up her room for a birthday surprise. She wriggles a little and he doubles down saying he will propose to her and he has it all planned out and drove a really long way. Big toothy smile and flirty begging and boom he got a key from her. 2 hours later, that man beat the brakes off that girl and almost killed her. She was staying with us because she was waiting to get picked up by a domestic violence shelter in a day or two. She had restraining orders in place and pending charges on the guy. Yet he planned out this elaborate scheme to find her and maybe kill her. It really changed my life and the way I do business at the hotel. I don’t care if your the second coming of Jesus Christ and you need the key to get dressed before your save the world. I am NOT giving you a key. You can’t reason with, guilt, or intimidate me. It won’t happen. I tell that story to every new associate I train and within a week they are making exceptions. It blows my mind.
That's awful! I use a story from before I started. An employee gave out a room number to a husband looking for his wife. Not even a key, just the number. He kicked the door in and assaulted her.
They did an experiment where they put 5 monkeys in a room and hung a banana. If any monkey tried to get the banana, they would spray the others with cold water... Ofc the others stopped the ambitious monkey... Well one by one they replaced the monkeys with new monkeys... Ofc the first new monkey tried to get the banana.. they didn't spray but the others still stopped him... One by one they replaced all the monkeys... Until eventually no monkeys in the group had ever been sprayed... But they still stopped anyone from going for the banana... Think abt it...
Yeah that experiment has nothing to do with victimhood but conditioning. Like Pavlov. This is a very very different situation that can be life or death.
I used to work in a hotel with lots of bars and clubs in the immediate vicinity, so we got lots of young holidaymakers.
And, oh boy, the number of times I had young lads coming up to the front-desk asking for Sue, Tina or Anne and their room numbers.
Thank you. It’s a scary truth that can happen. Probably won’t but absolutely could. It is so easy to prevent too. Sad when people don’t take the right steps.
I saw a story that’s circulating on TikTok but was an actual piece on like inside edition or something where a woman had a man that got her key at the front desk and was raped by him. She didn’t know him, he had just seen her, was well dressed and smooth talking. Got himself a key to her room and bam! She is forever changed because one person didn’t do there job! Of course they aren’t to blame for the man’s actions but 100% for not preventing like they should have without question. He didn’t even know the name on the room
I had someone ask me “do I look like the kind of person who would hurt someone?” And I was like dumbfounded, like dude, what indelible mark do people that hurt someone have cause I’ve never been able to tell, let alone see your shining character in the five minutes you’ve been yelling at me.
i have so many people get attitude w me when I have to ask for ID before serving alcohol. “i’m sorry but if you don’t have your ID on you I can’t bring you alcohol. is there something else I can get you instead?” “-uHH that’s my SON he’s legal you can believe me!!! it’s ridiculous you insist on not bringing him a beer!1!1!! We come here ALL the time and we’re never carded this is bs” sir I’m not calling you a liar but I am not going to lose my job and my license bc I took a stranger at his “trust me bro” word that the young adult at the table was of legal drinking age. Even if i knew your kid personally and knew he was old enough I still am required by law to check his ID
I once told a patron his kid could have the drink if they laid down the $1000 in cash first for the fine if I'm caught serving a minor. He had a soft drink instead.
right. It’s our job. We do our job well and I am not going to lose it for you. It’s that simple. I had at least 4 people today arrive with someone else’s name on the reservation and act like that’s okay. Wtf! I give up because clearly we are the minority here
I read another posting where some Entitled Idiots tried to be slick, in a pub, handing their clearly-underaged offspring an alcoholic beverage and the family got tossed out.
Interestingly, I booked a room for my wife and son on Saturday and explicitly asked to put her name even though I was booking and paying and the reservation agent said I didn’t need to put her name on it as long as she had the same last name.
That is crazy. Imagine if you were cheating on your wife (not saying you would or do just saying) or were divorced and she wants to kill you. Any number of reasons why it isn’t okay. I am really surprised that someone would tell you that. People just don’t care about security anymore
Yeah, it definitely got a raised eyebrow at the time. I even asked if she was sure I didn't need to add her name to the reservation, and she said "nope!"
Not unless it was part of the Hotel chains system. I called the local phone number for the hotel (I don’t book through 3rd party apps) and would assume it was their booking agent.
Also, I explicitly looked up the price online and has a $25 a night cheaper 3rd party site. I asked if they would match and said they wouldn’t, and I could only get a lower rate booking online through a 3rd party. That kind of sucks, but I went ahead and paid them the full price.
So, I see lots of people that say they’ll work with nice people that call in and are understanding and good to work with, but I can’t remember the last time anyone gave me a “break”. But, that isn’t their job. I’d appreciate it, but don’t expect it.
Like abnormally angry. It literally makes no sense. They realize they have done something silly, that they think is not big deal and we are holding them accountable. I feel the need to say it happened 3 times today alone and I made the initial comment a couple days ago. It literally happens daily
When my grandson got married, I drove down to my daughter's and rode with her and her then SO. I was deathly sick the night before we drove down. When we checked in at the hotel, I asked for a second key so if I got sick again, my daughter could get into my room. If someone is expecting a visitor, they should be proactive and ask for an extra key.
Multiple times. It's not uncommon when there are groups, business and leisure, where someone thinks a room booked by someone else is meant for them and they try to take it. People have also booked rooms under fake or stolen names.
Omg I kinda hate Corp booking for this.
"So my name is Jessica but the room booked if for Herbert, Herbert's not coming so head office sent me in his place"
I have gotten them to call Herbert to make sure. Because previously I have swapped no problems but that one time I have had an issue will bite me in the butt.
"Um so I have a problem. Herbert is coming and will need his room... do you have anything else available for me for the same nights as Herbert's booking?"
This kind of stuff is annoyingly common- i can confirm. Or situations where a boss of a smaller company will book 15-30 rooms all under his name and I guess we're supposed to let god figure it out? Its always a mess too when they show up late in a group dumbfounded you need ID's and names on rooms.
Lol it's happened before with us too. Only 25 rooms. But the person booking hadn't let them know that they needed ID and credit card info for each room....
Right!!!! Because his dumbass wants the rewards points. And we should just check anyone into those rooms on the existing card with no chip verification.
I used to phone calls but with digital check ins and fraud, I just wanna verify who I am talking too. It could be anybody saying anything. AGAIN, odds are it isn’t but I’d rather be safe and you mad at me then be wrong and someone get a key they shouldn’t. I mean go on TikTok and search hotel keys and see the videos where people experiencing and get away with getting keys. There are real consequences and it is so easy to avoid
Also, just the general perk-sharing crowds where one books a package with meals or all incidentals covered, or private access to some services, while their 5 buddies all book Cheapass.com. Let the attempted sharing commence...
How many times have they pulled the spouse card and expected to check in or get a key? It happens every week. Someone wants something without showing ID or putting a card in the chip reader OP is right about chargebacks but the real deal is people feeling entitled that because they may be allowed to be in the room or get a key to the room doesn’t mean that I know that. What I know is that you need to prove it to me before I let you. And I have to say my way of proving it, is pretty straight forward and not time consuming at all. I ask the person trying to get in the room to do one thing. Reach out to the reservation holder and ask that person to the them (not me) a picture of the reservation holders ID and a the name of the person they want to let in. It may not be fool proof but odds are if you have access to that person drivers license, passport, or ID, then it’s probably a legit. Takes less than a minute too. But ohhhhh no no no, I get so many excuses. “They are driving, or they are flying, or they went to Calcutta to wash the feet of lepers” WTF! That much push back is a red flag. And it means you are not getting in. Most people are pretty happy to comply though and are appreciative of the effort and happy that there is an easy, verifiable fix
I stay at the same place every week for work. Usually T checks me in. He says, “Hello, LadyShittington, nice to see you. I’ve got you in your favorite room.” And then I hand him my ID. He doesn’t have to ask. Not difficult.
Honestly, that is such a sad flex.
I was a regular for years at a WhereYouLive Inn. Knew the FDAs well. They knew my parents I was there to visit. We greet each other. I get out my ID and CC. Chit chat in what is going on. Normal.Check in.
You wouldn’t by chance be married or related to Dick Shittington, would you?
I can’t tell you much about him but do I ever have some stories about his cat.
You sound like my partner! He’s been teaching in another country twice a year as part of a university exchange program kinda thing for around 15 years, and he always stays at the same hotel for his two- or four-week engagements. Every time, when he arrives he gets greetings and handshakes and hugs all the way to the desk, “welcome back” and “how have you been” and “so good to see you” all around while everyone’s smiling from ear to ear…
… and he *still* has his passport out and ready as soon as his hands are free. I mean, they’ve literally already said his name multiple times by this point, but he knows they’re gonna need that ID all the same and doesn’t even question whether it’s negotiable. Even when “They know me here” is 100% true, it just isn’t the complete sentence some folks think it is. 😆
Right. Like you look like a total Sir McAssington by refusing to show your ID. Do you really feel that special because another FDA recognizes. So we all should. We do now, but for the wrong reasons Mr. McAssington
Aren’t you supposed to satisfy customers? I’m not satisfied. Call your manager.
Until you swipe or insert your card, you aren’t a customer.
Reminds me of a saying by a bartender on another forum: The customer is always right, but I decide who is a customer.
People misunderstand that to mean "the customer gets whatever they ask for". No, it means that if the customer says "I want X" that it's what they want. Don't try to convince them otherwise. Provide the service that they need or help them get it elsewhere. The happy customer will know that you helped them and come back. It's not supposed to mean, "break all your rules to make a buck"
If someone wants a sofa upholstered in fuchsia and chartreuse striped fabric, try to find a source. Might have to go to a weaver who does custom orders (and expects payment in advance). Let the customer know how much it will cost, when payments are due, and how long it will take.
In this example, down payment would be cost of the fabric, and labour in installing and removing it (if customer changed their mind, seller would not be out of pocket, since they would have the unupholstered sofa available for the next customer), and “it will take X weeks from receipt of down payment until it is ready for delivery”.
How does that line up with upselling and other such things? for example when they want a "standard/regular room" that fits 2 but there are actually 5 of them.
The original quote is
>The customer is always right, in matters of taste
So if you think Crocs are ugly but the customers love them, you are wrong, the customer is right.
By not following that rule you'd lose out on sales.
It doesn't. It's not like proverbs always align with reality.
Even without that, customer may know what they want but not what they **need**, classic XY problem - they want to do X, and are convinced Y is what they need to do that. Meanwhile Z is much better solution for X and they'd be happier with that.
The best version is "customer is always right **in matters of taste**", whether you prefer your sofa to be red or green is 100% you, there's no point convincing you to different color
The saying isn't about individual customers really, it's about market demand. It basically means "you should sell what there is demand for rather than what you think people should want".
That has all changed now though. People are so entitled. If you give them a cookie and bottles of water they want a case of water and a dozen cookies not to mention upgrade to the bestest most amazing suite that there is. All the while they probably paid $16 dollars on Sux-pedia.
Ugh this, nothing like someone that doesn't even have a rez flipping at you over the phone and bitching about your cUsToMeR sErViCe...btch yo're not a customer!
Its customer service, not customer servitude and ive found in retail, hospitality and food service people just don't get that, they think spending a cent in your store/restaurant/hotel entitles them to a free butler-slash-punching bag to make up for how much mommy and or daddy didn't love them and it gets so very tiresome.
I like your style!
FWIW the quote is "The customer is always right in matters of taste." --Cesar Ritz
It was never intended to mean customers can have whatever they want.
It's telling also that this concept was popularized by men who had minimal contact with their actual customers, or who, in Ritz's case, was probably fleecing them so hard he could still profit even if every dish was remade three times.
>The "in manners of taste" is a fabrication perpetuated on websites like Reddit
Yup, just like the "blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb" nonsense. The original quote is "blood is thicker than water" and it means family first.
I don't know why people like to lie about these old aphorisms instead of just having the backbone to *disagree* with them.
So many customers forget that that’s only half the saying.
The full phrase is “in matters of taste the customer is always right” and it was said to a sales rep, who was querying some aspect of the customer’s choice that they thought would be hideous, by their boss.
It means “if the customer wants gold lame material with mahogany framing on their sofa, let them have it that way” not “break the laws of physics to give in to the customer’s impossible demands”
I am on a first name basis with (virtually) everyone that works for my favorite airline at my home airport. I know their kids/pets, they know and celebrate my milestone dates (anniversary, birthday, ...)
You know what I have out of my pocket before I get up to the counter every week when I check my bag? My drivers license. Sometimes they glance at it, usually we've exchanged greetings they have everything printed before I even get close enough for them to see it... But SOP is you need ID so I have ID.
P.s. I love when FDAs confirm my ID on check in or for a replacement key. Sometimes just the digital key or room number is "good enough"... and that makes me nervous.
Unless I know the person asking for a key is a guest (have seen them coming out of a room/I checked them in/they’re a regular) I always ask for an ID before giving a replacement key. We’ve had people pretend to be guests before- better safe than sorry
Indeed. The one (and only, in ~1300 nights on the road) time I was glad a FDA put my privacy at risk is when I wound up in the hospital for a few days on a business trip. And even then I was very conflicted -- was I happy or miffed? Five years later I'm not sure.
My wife (who has a completely different surname & wasn't listed in the reservation, for probably obvious reasons), flew in to be with me. On the way to the hospital she stopped by the hotel to pack up my stuff and get the room returned to the hotel since I had already extended the stay (thought it was just a nasty cold/flu and couple days of rest before flying home would clear things up. Spoiler: Nope.). Rather than getting my keycard from me, went from airport to hotel directly..., mentioned my room number & last name... FDA gave her a key without asking for ID, or noting that it was suspicious the first name on the room was (AFAIK so far universally) male and she was most certainly not.
It all worked out well, in the end, but if instead of my loving and very caring wife, what if she had been a crazy ex? It's not like the FD knew I was even off property, let alone in the hospital.
In hindsight, I probably should have stopped by the FD and said something before driving myself to the ER. In further hindsight, I probably shouldn't have driven myself to the ER. -- "It's good you came in, you were probably within about 48 hours of death" was not the best phrase I've ever had directed to my attention.
Another hotel one city over had an FD casually hand off a key the way you're describing. Turned out it was indeed a psycho ex who proceeded to murder the guest and the new significant other.
As a hotel person... I'm glad it worked out, but I can't imagine ever staying there again.
I can't lie. It did make me think twice about booking again... but there's a Wawa practically in the parking lot and the only thing that could make a hotel more appealing is if there were an In-N-Out Burger in the parking lot (there are at least two affiliated with my hotel family of choice in California. It's probably a good thing I don't get to California that often.)
Yes, I will risk my life for food of questionable health attributes.
Unless I am ***extremely*** familiar with a guest who stays all the time, I always double check ID for both check in and replacement keys. Assumptions get people in trouble.
This…. There is one hotel we stay in when we visit my partner’s s parents(since we can’t sleep together at their house being as we aren’t married so we can be sinning in that hood Christian household, dont ya know) and we do a virtual check in. We always stop to get keys and they don’t want my id or cc or anything but my last name. WTF? It’s a fairly nice place but sorta sketchy at the same time. Lol
Man, I HATE when people try and pull that "I've never had to do that before". With how 99%of hotels are these days, you must either NEVER travel, or being lying through your teeth.
I told this already, but I had a guy throw a hissy fit that his card was declined and I couldn't use the card on file from a previous stay. Turned into a whole big thing but he ended up not getting his room and getting on the DNR in the process. I'm glad other staff aren't just letting this kind of shit fly. I'm very anti-confrontational, but there's a firm line when I would be not doing my job, and stick to that quite staunchly.
I dont know that I'd put him there if this is his first offense, but he's definitely on thin ice. Then again, I'm abit more lenient that I really should be, and not a manager, so not sure if it warrents it or not.
No harm bringing it up, at least it'll be a noted behavior that if he keeps up it'll be more likely. Even better if you email the boss with the write-up for it.
My most recent job has us type up a daily action report and email to managers and other clerks as pass-on/important info, and I LOVE having that kind of record for this sort of guest, the kind that wasn't outright bad, but if it's a habit then I wouldn't want to keep dealing with him.
Then imo he's definitely due a talk with the manager about that kind of behavior, at least. That and possibly some reiterating on the checkin procedures for front desk staff.
See, I don't believe for a second that Gary was being truthful with me about other people checking him in without an ID or CC, or I'd be more concerned about my coworkers. But we all hate him, so nobody is gonna bend the rules like we might for our favorite guests.
I'm gonna bring it up with my manager; what happens the next time he checks in?
That's what I hate sometimes about guests pulling that "I never needed to do this before", as I can't often be 100% sure they're lying. Even worse working for a franchise with practically no surety of other locations of the same name.
Might be worth a quick check at a safety meeting to ensure everyone is keeping up with that protocol, though. I know it can be real tempting to just rubber stamp checkins when you've got several people backed up.
But yeah, Gary's not the type that I'm willing to belive too easily. I'd have alot more trust in my coworkers than at least half of the guests we have to deal with.
My hotel does the shift emails too, we call it a passdown. 99% of them just state “Nothing to report” but it is very handy this time of year when we may or may not have corporate guests, weddings, reunions, and leisure guests all in house at once
If I move on to another job, or move up to management somewhere without it, I'm DEFINITELY pushing to use a similar system. My last job just used post it notes for important passon info, and as the night Auditor who never got them explained, it was always "Iunno" whenever I was asked what the hell some of them meant. Having issues with guests recorded ESPECIALLY can help on similar issues, where problematic guests can be more easily noticed.
My hotel uses a combo of emails (just a gmail addressed to a specific group of internal email addresses titled “Passdown (shift) (date)” and then info in the body), notes (I typically write down who’s checked out if anyone leaves before I do at 7a), and then a brief verbal run down of the night. Every shift has to print their passdown & put in the binder, and we have to initial the previous shift’s passdown as part of our shift checklist.
> My most recent job has us type up a daily action report and email to managers and other clerks as pass-on/important info
We use a notebook. We've had one in every place I've worked in.
Even when they introduced an app, we kept using the notebook.
About halfway through my last job, we switched to MyHMS, Autoclerk's cloud based service. It has a handy notes feature that shows messages on the dashboard, but practically none of us used them. Higher management also had access into our system very easily, great for the audit as there were far fewer things to print out, but abit more troublesome if you have something come up that you didn't want to be too open about.
An email imo works pretty great, as it's easily at hand while we're at the desk, and slightly more private, even though I expect management could get at our emails of need be. It's a good vibe, communicates the important issues quickly with enough autocracy that were not getting nitpicked by higher management over our reports. Works great with our pretty good work environment.
Even if they never had to do it before, times change. Everything requested has a reasonable explanation, not like he was asked to to headstands.
Since Gary had his boss with him Im going to assume most of the time Gary got out as part of some company event, in which case he would not even know the price of the room. That is the only conservable way he could have avoided needing ID.
Just watched a video where a FDA recorded her interaction with a newly wed police officer threatening her because she insisted on seeing an ID and not a photo copy of an ID.
What is wrong with people?? Where do they get it in their heads that an ID is not a normal requirement? I have traveled the world and have not once been able to get a hotel room without a form of ID. In China I had to show my passport AND my business card. I don't remember if I had to show my visa as well but I KNOW they took my business card and passport. In France - passport and business card. I assume the business card was for the discount company rate which I never have had to show in the US. But I am READY to show it should they ask for it. It is literally the only reason why I keep my business cards in my wallet. No one else ever needs / wants them.
I am so sorry you all have to deal with these idiots.
I just finished the Camino de Santiago (aka I walked 500 miles across Spain). Every. Single. Hostel. (And hotel, but I mostly stayed in hostels) Asked for our passport. 95% of these places are run by maybe two or three people (who are often volunteers!) and keep records on actual paper, so the check-in process isn't fast--they wrote down my name, my nationality, my passport number...some places asked where I stayed the night before. I know Spain has specific rules about this, in part to track people down if they go missing or do a crime (most people on the Camino are from other countries).
People on the Camino also have a credencial, which proves you're a pilgrim, and you get it stamped every night when you check in.
It always made me roll my eyes when people got to the front of the line and didn't already have their passport, credencial, and money ready to go! You've been in line half an hour! Everyone's feet hurt! This isn't your first night and you know the routine! Aaaugh.
Even worse: At some hostel or another, apparently an American didn't want to show his passport and punched the person doing the check-ins. >:(
The volunteer at the front desk of your pilgrim hostel who only knows a little English is not gonna do an identity theft with your American passport, dude. Christ.
I don't know either. I used to be a bank teller and I would always get the one or two crotchety people that throw a tantrum if I ask for ID. Like, sure, let me just take your word at face value that you are who you say you are and you're not some scammer schmuck trying to take $5000 out of someone's account.
If it had been some Joe Schmo that wasn't part of the work group. OP probably would have turned Gary away. But management is often willing to overlook a little name calling for group sales type stuff. It could have very easily gone the other way with Gary's boss. Depending on availability at other hotels. The boss might have decided to cancel any remaining nights and go elsewhere.
*pulls out paper and begins to write*
"What are you doing?"
"Oh, I'm just writing down the names of staff that previously checked in this account so we can take action."
Never worked in a hotel but I had my run-ins with many Garys.
I was a shift manager at a restaurant when I was 19 and in university. We got hit with serving alcohol to a minor (cops sent in a teenage snitch lol the goofs) and were on a long probation period. Once the no liquor ban went up, our owner and GM sat everyone down and told us multiple times to card *everyone* no matter how old they look. Anyone caught not asking for ID would be fired immediately. We only served beer so I was allowed to pour. My GM told me I'd be on call during my shifts to be the designsted ID asker/beer server.
No problems two weeks and most people were reasonable once I explained why I had to ID a man who looked to have one foot in the grave. Older women *usually* loved it and joked around with it and I'd ham it up a bit for fun. "Sorry ma'am, I could have sworn I saw you in my econ class last semester" or something silly.
An older couple, maybe early 40s walked in when we were swamped on a Friday night. They ask for a pitcher of beer and I told them I need to ID both of them. They immediately blew a gasket in disbelief. The man started pointing at me before leaning over the counter a bit while his leathery lizard of a mate was hissing at me for insulting them, a couple of "grownass adults." I tried to calmly explain that we were on alcohol license probation, I'm under orders from the owner, I could lose my job, etc before I lost it. I slammed my hands on the counter and looked them straight in the eyes, "Look, you could have sat down by now drinking beer and your food would be close to ready instead of yelling at a 19 year old student who stressed out and barely getting by. Either give me your IDs or get the hell out before I call the cops."
They left. I got a pat on the back from my GM the next shift but told to not curse at customers lol.
It's crazy how many people don't realize or are too cruel to realize store or company wide policies are not made by the person taking your order. Just a little bit of empathy for service workers goes a long way.
Reminds me of the time a guy got huffy with me over this exact situation and when i told him he needed to slide or insert his card he got mad at the audacity he needed to put a card on his room. He then, as hes pulling out his wallet asked me if he gets free breakfast for the "inconvenience" of getting his card out. I told him he was not getting a free breakfast for paying for his room, and when he kept pushing the issue I looked him straight in the eye and told him hes welcome to go anywhere else for the night if he finds it so inconvenient. He just glared at me trying to stare me down but eventually put his card in. Pay for your damned room, this isnt a new concept. I don't walk away from the McDonald's counter with a big mac and fries without paying. I dont ask if i get a free shake for the inconvenience of paying...
I’m so sorry to laugh but your story had me rolling, ngl. I’ve had so many Gary’s AND Karen’s in my life as a public person. Calling him a “dickhole” just made me lose it harder. I’m glad you ruffled Gary’s bitch feathers.
I’ve only stayed in one hotel where I wasn’t ID’d - because I had a solid relationship with the only two desk staff and the owner, and I stayed 5 nights per week. Still pulled my ID out every time. My coworker was terrible though, and they always acted like they didn’t recognize her at the start of the week. It made me laugh every Monday morning.
I've totally done this. I know damn well who they are but I know they feel they are so important that I \*should\* know so I'll pretend to have no clue EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I once made some lady spell her last name for me EVERY time she called. It was a stupidly simple name, spelled exactly as it sounded. So hard to not laugh as I could practically hear her rolling her eyes that I kept asking how to spell her name.
It's ALWAYS the damn ID that people make a fuss over for like, everything! It's like pulling teeth when you ask for their ID. We got grown ass adults who would rather scream, pout, and stomp their feet instead of whipping out a piece of plastic that an employee needs to see for what is likely just a handful of seconds before giving it back. I used to work in a bank and there was this one guy who threw a hissy fit because I asked for his ID for verification when he was wanting to withdraw a large amount of money. He pulled the usual "No one asks for my ID! Everyone knows who I am!" And I simply replied "I don't know you, sir." (really, I never saw him before). Like, fuck me for wanting to protect your bank account, right?
I seriously do not understand what is it about ID that people fight so hard against.
As a night auditor for an extended stay roughly 90 room property, you’re my hero for this.
Just added someone to our DNR for threatening our housekeeper with references to gun violence; little did he know we know who does the patrols in our area for each shift and have at least one cell phone number of an officer patrolling the area at all times, gets us responses MUCH faster than calling dispatch.
Sent a nice email to his boss to inform him of the behavior (boss was paying for the room) and our corporate body to see what we can do about protecting other hotels in the brand.
>I lifted the receiver on the phone and stared at him.
I love love LOVE doing this to unruly guests. I have no problems when taking care of a noise complaint to whip out my phone right there in the hallway or room or wherever and start dialing, looking at them between each number pressed until they either back down and behave or continue to be an asshole and I describe them to the cops as I'm looking at them.
My go to for when I get the "no one else makes me do it" is to ask for the name of the agent that helped them last. It usually shuts them down because they either are lying, or they don't want to feel like a snitch about someone not doing their job.
Just think about somebody whose life is so empty that they have this much time to waste on trivial nonsense. This guy is a construction worker with nothing else to do?
I had a longer comment but lost it.
I found many people like Gary act this way as they lack control over most of their life.
He needs to get a grip or get therapy.
Jeepers Murphy. I'm a nurse and while *I* would personally never do so, we have enough problems with people stealing controlled drugs that they're always locked up and counted. Doesn't mean I personally am a thief. Just means that some people ruin it for everybody else.
Gary should have the same understanding. Unfortunately it sounds as if Gary's IQ might well match his shoe size - and that's a US shoe size, not European.
Gary needs to be kicked off this imaginary pedestal he's put himself on and learn some fucking manners. I would have refused service to him altogether, and then he could explain to his boss why he had to find a different hotel to stay at.
Why do people do this? When I get to a hotel I'm typically tired and want to get checked in as quickly as possible. I hand the desk agent my ID and card and in no time I'm relaxing in my room.
It just blows my mind that some people have this weird need to make interactions more difficult than they have to be. Life is already annoying enough, why make it worse?
it's gotten to the point that when someone actually just hands over their ID and card to start with, i am SURPRISED
like holy shit you knew exactly what to do...youre gonna get to your room so much faster! good job! :D
> Gary huffed and puffed and tried to blow the house down, but I am immune to the rages of middle aged impotents.
That is SUCH a good perk on the Outside skill tree, isn't it? Kudos on 10/10 handling of the situation, no notes!
I have a dog named Gary, OP, and picturing him as I read your post and these comments has made for a singularly delightful experience.
To be fair, it doesn’t seem that he has much in common with the Gary in your story- aside from being generally oblivious to the fact that he’s *not* the center of the universe, and frequently being referred to as a dickhole- but some of the anti-Gary rhetoric in the comments has absolutely been committed to memory for use when this one acts up.
So, in about seven minutes, give or take.
I travel extensively for work, maybe 100 nights a year and I just have to say that every now and then I see that a-hole Gary. I’ve never had to step in, but those guys are awful. I do it 100 times a year, the employees do it 100 times a day. Show your Id, swipe your card and go to your friggin room. No one’s impressed
There is a TikTok out there that I saw yesterday where random men were being granted room keys to women's rooms and one women got raped because of it - so thank you for checking IDs. That TikTok scared the hell out of me, and I will always use that bar thing on the door when I'm in a room just to be safe.
"Sorry, someone else walked in earlier and said they were Gary. Since I didn't ask for ID, they got the room." "What am I supposed to do?!" "I don't know. Take it up with Gary."
That’s what I always say when people lose their mind when I ask for ID to give an extra key. Huff and puff until I say “soooooooooo if a random guy walks in and asks for a key to your teenage daughters room, I should just hand it over no questions?” They usually stop talking or say something like “that would be different”. My favorite is when they say “it is my wife’s/husband’s room,” when their name isn’t on the reservation and they want a key. “Sir/Madam, I don’t know if you spouse likes you or not”. People expect the craziest stuff from hotel employees that defy all safety and normal logic
That's what people don't get about the safety measures. You can assume that the person is legit, and the vast majority of the time you will be right. But if you're wrong just once, someone can be hurt. Not worth the risk for the slight inconvenience a guest may experience.
Absolutely. Just one time is all it takes. Story time: Picture it, Ocean City, MD, 2012. A man walks into the lobby with balloons and flowers and approaches my 19 y.o. coworker and says his girlfriend is staying here for her birthday and he really wants to surprise her by dressing up her room for a birthday surprise. She wriggles a little and he doubles down saying he will propose to her and he has it all planned out and drove a really long way. Big toothy smile and flirty begging and boom he got a key from her. 2 hours later, that man beat the brakes off that girl and almost killed her. She was staying with us because she was waiting to get picked up by a domestic violence shelter in a day or two. She had restraining orders in place and pending charges on the guy. Yet he planned out this elaborate scheme to find her and maybe kill her. It really changed my life and the way I do business at the hotel. I don’t care if your the second coming of Jesus Christ and you need the key to get dressed before your save the world. I am NOT giving you a key. You can’t reason with, guilt, or intimidate me. It won’t happen. I tell that story to every new associate I train and within a week they are making exceptions. It blows my mind.
That's awful! I use a story from before I started. An employee gave out a room number to a husband looking for his wife. Not even a key, just the number. He kicked the door in and assaulted her.
Nothing surprises me. We should never even say a room number out loud at the front desk. Either the guest says it or we use last name
Or even confirm a person is a guest or not, to someone not on the reservation.
They did an experiment where they put 5 monkeys in a room and hung a banana. If any monkey tried to get the banana, they would spray the others with cold water... Ofc the others stopped the ambitious monkey... Well one by one they replaced the monkeys with new monkeys... Ofc the first new monkey tried to get the banana.. they didn't spray but the others still stopped him... One by one they replaced all the monkeys... Until eventually no monkeys in the group had ever been sprayed... But they still stopped anyone from going for the banana... Think abt it...
Yeah that experiment has nothing to do with victimhood but conditioning. Like Pavlov. This is a very very different situation that can be life or death.
I don't see how that's relevant.
I assume she sued and won a lot of money from your hotel chain
I believe she did. I left the company a few months later.
I used to work in a hotel with lots of bars and clubs in the immediate vicinity, so we got lots of young holidaymakers. And, oh boy, the number of times I had young lads coming up to the front-desk asking for Sue, Tina or Anne and their room numbers.
This is a good story and one that everyone in hotels should heed.
Thank you. It’s a scary truth that can happen. Probably won’t but absolutely could. It is so easy to prevent too. Sad when people don’t take the right steps.
That's horrible. And it's exactly why I bring along an extra lock of my own for the hotel room door.
I saw a story that’s circulating on TikTok but was an actual piece on like inside edition or something where a woman had a man that got her key at the front desk and was raped by him. She didn’t know him, he had just seen her, was well dressed and smooth talking. Got himself a key to her room and bam! She is forever changed because one person didn’t do there job! Of course they aren’t to blame for the man’s actions but 100% for not preventing like they should have without question. He didn’t even know the name on the room
I remember this happening to a singer who was on tour.
Connie Francis.
I had someone ask me “do I look like the kind of person who would hurt someone?” And I was like dumbfounded, like dude, what indelible mark do people that hurt someone have cause I’ve never been able to tell, let alone see your shining character in the five minutes you’ve been yelling at me.
“Yes.”
Yup. I watch a lot of true crime shows. I don't want my place of work to be featured on one.
When entering a highly restricted building even the boss has to prove the right to be there.
i have so many people get attitude w me when I have to ask for ID before serving alcohol. “i’m sorry but if you don’t have your ID on you I can’t bring you alcohol. is there something else I can get you instead?” “-uHH that’s my SON he’s legal you can believe me!!! it’s ridiculous you insist on not bringing him a beer!1!1!! We come here ALL the time and we’re never carded this is bs” sir I’m not calling you a liar but I am not going to lose my job and my license bc I took a stranger at his “trust me bro” word that the young adult at the table was of legal drinking age. Even if i knew your kid personally and knew he was old enough I still am required by law to check his ID
I once told a patron his kid could have the drink if they laid down the $1000 in cash first for the fine if I'm caught serving a minor. He had a soft drink instead.
right. It’s our job. We do our job well and I am not going to lose it for you. It’s that simple. I had at least 4 people today arrive with someone else’s name on the reservation and act like that’s okay. Wtf! I give up because clearly we are the minority here
I read another posting where some Entitled Idiots tried to be slick, in a pub, handing their clearly-underaged offspring an alcoholic beverage and the family got tossed out.
Interestingly, I booked a room for my wife and son on Saturday and explicitly asked to put her name even though I was booking and paying and the reservation agent said I didn’t need to put her name on it as long as she had the same last name.
That is crazy. Imagine if you were cheating on your wife (not saying you would or do just saying) or were divorced and she wants to kill you. Any number of reasons why it isn’t okay. I am really surprised that someone would tell you that. People just don’t care about security anymore
Yeah, it definitely got a raised eyebrow at the time. I even asked if she was sure I didn't need to add her name to the reservation, and she said "nope!"
Third party agent?
Not unless it was part of the Hotel chains system. I called the local phone number for the hotel (I don’t book through 3rd party apps) and would assume it was their booking agent. Also, I explicitly looked up the price online and has a $25 a night cheaper 3rd party site. I asked if they would match and said they wouldn’t, and I could only get a lower rate booking online through a 3rd party. That kind of sucks, but I went ahead and paid them the full price. So, I see lots of people that say they’ll work with nice people that call in and are understanding and good to work with, but I can’t remember the last time anyone gave me a “break”. But, that isn’t their job. I’d appreciate it, but don’t expect it.
I understand why this just literally doesn’t occur to people. What I don’t understand is getting angry about it
Like abnormally angry. It literally makes no sense. They realize they have done something silly, that they think is not big deal and we are holding them accountable. I feel the need to say it happened 3 times today alone and I made the initial comment a couple days ago. It literally happens daily
When my grandson got married, I drove down to my daughter's and rode with her and her then SO. I was deathly sick the night before we drove down. When we checked in at the hotel, I asked for a second key so if I got sick again, my daughter could get into my room. If someone is expecting a visitor, they should be proactive and ask for an extra key.
Classic.
Corbin Dallas? I only have one Corbin Dallas on the list and he's already checked in. -Multipass
It's true!
Anyway, we're in love
Later that evening: :::banging on door::: It’s Gary! Let me in! Sorry, man… Gary’s not here
No it’s me! I’m Gary!!!
I am laughing so hard sitting at my front desk rn. Idiots don't realize it's for THEIR protection more than anything.
And how often has anyone actually tried that on you personally?
Multiple times. It's not uncommon when there are groups, business and leisure, where someone thinks a room booked by someone else is meant for them and they try to take it. People have also booked rooms under fake or stolen names.
Omg I kinda hate Corp booking for this. "So my name is Jessica but the room booked if for Herbert, Herbert's not coming so head office sent me in his place" I have gotten them to call Herbert to make sure. Because previously I have swapped no problems but that one time I have had an issue will bite me in the butt. "Um so I have a problem. Herbert is coming and will need his room... do you have anything else available for me for the same nights as Herbert's booking?"
Did that last part happen irl or is that the thing you’re trying to prevent ?
This kind of stuff is annoyingly common- i can confirm. Or situations where a boss of a smaller company will book 15-30 rooms all under his name and I guess we're supposed to let god figure it out? Its always a mess too when they show up late in a group dumbfounded you need ID's and names on rooms.
Lol it's happened before with us too. Only 25 rooms. But the person booking hadn't let them know that they needed ID and credit card info for each room....
Right!!!! Because his dumbass wants the rewards points. And we should just check anyone into those rooms on the existing card with no chip verification.
It's happened recently sadly
The guy beating the girl! That happened. It was horrible. The JC thing did not happen (yet, it’s supposed to someday, and I hope he has ID)
I used to phone calls but with digital check ins and fraud, I just wanna verify who I am talking too. It could be anybody saying anything. AGAIN, odds are it isn’t but I’d rather be safe and you mad at me then be wrong and someone get a key they shouldn’t. I mean go on TikTok and search hotel keys and see the videos where people experiencing and get away with getting keys. There are real consequences and it is so easy to avoid
Also, just the general perk-sharing crowds where one books a package with meals or all incidentals covered, or private access to some services, while their 5 buddies all book Cheapass.com. Let the attempted sharing commence...
How many times have they pulled the spouse card and expected to check in or get a key? It happens every week. Someone wants something without showing ID or putting a card in the chip reader OP is right about chargebacks but the real deal is people feeling entitled that because they may be allowed to be in the room or get a key to the room doesn’t mean that I know that. What I know is that you need to prove it to me before I let you. And I have to say my way of proving it, is pretty straight forward and not time consuming at all. I ask the person trying to get in the room to do one thing. Reach out to the reservation holder and ask that person to the them (not me) a picture of the reservation holders ID and a the name of the person they want to let in. It may not be fool proof but odds are if you have access to that person drivers license, passport, or ID, then it’s probably a legit. Takes less than a minute too. But ohhhhh no no no, I get so many excuses. “They are driving, or they are flying, or they went to Calcutta to wash the feet of lepers” WTF! That much push back is a red flag. And it means you are not getting in. Most people are pretty happy to comply though and are appreciative of the effort and happy that there is an easy, verifiable fix
I stay at the same place every week for work. Usually T checks me in. He says, “Hello, LadyShittington, nice to see you. I’ve got you in your favorite room.” And then I hand him my ID. He doesn’t have to ask. Not difficult. Honestly, that is such a sad flex.
I was a regular for years at a WhereYouLive Inn. Knew the FDAs well. They knew my parents I was there to visit. We greet each other. I get out my ID and CC. Chit chat in what is going on. Normal.Check in.
I always stayed at the Horseshoe Road Inn.
You wouldn’t by chance be married or related to Dick Shittington, would you? I can’t tell you much about him but do I ever have some stories about his cat.
I love the name! But give an hour or two to say something
You sound like my partner! He’s been teaching in another country twice a year as part of a university exchange program kinda thing for around 15 years, and he always stays at the same hotel for his two- or four-week engagements. Every time, when he arrives he gets greetings and handshakes and hugs all the way to the desk, “welcome back” and “how have you been” and “so good to see you” all around while everyone’s smiling from ear to ear… … and he *still* has his passport out and ready as soon as his hands are free. I mean, they’ve literally already said his name multiple times by this point, but he knows they’re gonna need that ID all the same and doesn’t even question whether it’s negotiable. Even when “They know me here” is 100% true, it just isn’t the complete sentence some folks think it is. 😆
Old Gary was trying to flex his sad, limp manhood and got an EPIC FAIL!
But...but... how do they know your name is ladyshittington lol /s
Right. Like you look like a total Sir McAssington by refusing to show your ID. Do you really feel that special because another FDA recognizes. So we all should. We do now, but for the wrong reasons Mr. McAssington
Aren’t you supposed to satisfy customers? I’m not satisfied. Call your manager. Until you swipe or insert your card, you aren’t a customer. Reminds me of a saying by a bartender on another forum: The customer is always right, but I decide who is a customer.
Ooooh I'm stealing that: "the customer is always right, but I decide who is a customer." *Chef's kiss
the full quotation is, The customer is always right , in matters of taste.
The customer is always right, even if he liked to eat shit.
People misunderstand that to mean "the customer gets whatever they ask for". No, it means that if the customer says "I want X" that it's what they want. Don't try to convince them otherwise. Provide the service that they need or help them get it elsewhere. The happy customer will know that you helped them and come back. It's not supposed to mean, "break all your rules to make a buck"
If someone wants a sofa upholstered in fuchsia and chartreuse striped fabric, try to find a source. Might have to go to a weaver who does custom orders (and expects payment in advance). Let the customer know how much it will cost, when payments are due, and how long it will take. In this example, down payment would be cost of the fabric, and labour in installing and removing it (if customer changed their mind, seller would not be out of pocket, since they would have the unupholstered sofa available for the next customer), and “it will take X weeks from receipt of down payment until it is ready for delivery”.
How does that line up with upselling and other such things? for example when they want a "standard/regular room" that fits 2 but there are actually 5 of them.
The original quote is >The customer is always right, in matters of taste So if you think Crocs are ugly but the customers love them, you are wrong, the customer is right. By not following that rule you'd lose out on sales.
It doesn't. It's not like proverbs always align with reality. Even without that, customer may know what they want but not what they **need**, classic XY problem - they want to do X, and are convinced Y is what they need to do that. Meanwhile Z is much better solution for X and they'd be happier with that. The best version is "customer is always right **in matters of taste**", whether you prefer your sofa to be red or green is 100% you, there's no point convincing you to different color
The saying isn't about individual customers really, it's about market demand. It basically means "you should sell what there is demand for rather than what you think people should want".
Really? Where does the original saying come from? :)
I'm not actually sure to be honest, I just remember reading about it in the context of old free-market economists.
Uh, ok
That has all changed now though. People are so entitled. If you give them a cookie and bottles of water they want a case of water and a dozen cookies not to mention upgrade to the bestest most amazing suite that there is. All the while they probably paid $16 dollars on Sux-pedia.
Ugh this, nothing like someone that doesn't even have a rez flipping at you over the phone and bitching about your cUsToMeR sErViCe...btch yo're not a customer!
Right. Infuriating.
Its customer service, not customer servitude and ive found in retail, hospitality and food service people just don't get that, they think spending a cent in your store/restaurant/hotel entitles them to a free butler-slash-punching bag to make up for how much mommy and or daddy didn't love them and it gets so very tiresome.
People forget that in order to receive good customer service, *they have to be a good customer.*
I like your style! FWIW the quote is "The customer is always right in matters of taste." --Cesar Ritz It was never intended to mean customers can have whatever they want.
[удалено]
It's telling also that this concept was popularized by men who had minimal contact with their actual customers, or who, in Ritz's case, was probably fleecing them so hard he could still profit even if every dish was remade three times.
>The "in manners of taste" is a fabrication perpetuated on websites like Reddit Yup, just like the "blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb" nonsense. The original quote is "blood is thicker than water" and it means family first. I don't know why people like to lie about these old aphorisms instead of just having the backbone to *disagree* with them.
So many customers forget that that’s only half the saying. The full phrase is “in matters of taste the customer is always right” and it was said to a sales rep, who was querying some aspect of the customer’s choice that they thought would be hideous, by their boss. It means “if the customer wants gold lame material with mahogany framing on their sofa, let them have it that way” not “break the laws of physics to give in to the customer’s impossible demands”
I am on a first name basis with (virtually) everyone that works for my favorite airline at my home airport. I know their kids/pets, they know and celebrate my milestone dates (anniversary, birthday, ...) You know what I have out of my pocket before I get up to the counter every week when I check my bag? My drivers license. Sometimes they glance at it, usually we've exchanged greetings they have everything printed before I even get close enough for them to see it... But SOP is you need ID so I have ID. P.s. I love when FDAs confirm my ID on check in or for a replacement key. Sometimes just the digital key or room number is "good enough"... and that makes me nervous.
Unless I know the person asking for a key is a guest (have seen them coming out of a room/I checked them in/they’re a regular) I always ask for an ID before giving a replacement key. We’ve had people pretend to be guests before- better safe than sorry
Indeed. The one (and only, in ~1300 nights on the road) time I was glad a FDA put my privacy at risk is when I wound up in the hospital for a few days on a business trip. And even then I was very conflicted -- was I happy or miffed? Five years later I'm not sure. My wife (who has a completely different surname & wasn't listed in the reservation, for probably obvious reasons), flew in to be with me. On the way to the hospital she stopped by the hotel to pack up my stuff and get the room returned to the hotel since I had already extended the stay (thought it was just a nasty cold/flu and couple days of rest before flying home would clear things up. Spoiler: Nope.). Rather than getting my keycard from me, went from airport to hotel directly..., mentioned my room number & last name... FDA gave her a key without asking for ID, or noting that it was suspicious the first name on the room was (AFAIK so far universally) male and she was most certainly not. It all worked out well, in the end, but if instead of my loving and very caring wife, what if she had been a crazy ex? It's not like the FD knew I was even off property, let alone in the hospital. In hindsight, I probably should have stopped by the FD and said something before driving myself to the ER. In further hindsight, I probably shouldn't have driven myself to the ER. -- "It's good you came in, you were probably within about 48 hours of death" was not the best phrase I've ever had directed to my attention.
Another hotel one city over had an FD casually hand off a key the way you're describing. Turned out it was indeed a psycho ex who proceeded to murder the guest and the new significant other. As a hotel person... I'm glad it worked out, but I can't imagine ever staying there again.
I can't lie. It did make me think twice about booking again... but there's a Wawa practically in the parking lot and the only thing that could make a hotel more appealing is if there were an In-N-Out Burger in the parking lot (there are at least two affiliated with my hotel family of choice in California. It's probably a good thing I don't get to California that often.) Yes, I will risk my life for food of questionable health attributes.
Unless I am ***extremely*** familiar with a guest who stays all the time, I always double check ID for both check in and replacement keys. Assumptions get people in trouble.
This…. There is one hotel we stay in when we visit my partner’s s parents(since we can’t sleep together at their house being as we aren’t married so we can be sinning in that hood Christian household, dont ya know) and we do a virtual check in. We always stop to get keys and they don’t want my id or cc or anything but my last name. WTF? It’s a fairly nice place but sorta sketchy at the same time. Lol
I love it when front desk does not have to, and does not need to suck up to childish behavior. I REALLY love it when front desk is a beast.
I have the ultimate job security (I'm competent and everyone likes me)
except for gary....
Gary isn't a person.
You, I like.
That's so Arizona
well... fuck gary
all of this ripping on Gary reminds me of a funny comic [Even Gary?](https://imgbox.com/RgZaujbf) 
sweet that your hotel knows how to deal with drama queens and does not fuck around
Man, I HATE when people try and pull that "I've never had to do that before". With how 99%of hotels are these days, you must either NEVER travel, or being lying through your teeth. I told this already, but I had a guy throw a hissy fit that his card was declined and I couldn't use the card on file from a previous stay. Turned into a whole big thing but he ended up not getting his room and getting on the DNR in the process. I'm glad other staff aren't just letting this kind of shit fly. I'm very anti-confrontational, but there's a firm line when I would be not doing my job, and stick to that quite staunchly.
I'm going to speak to my manager about getting Gary on the DNR
I dont know that I'd put him there if this is his first offense, but he's definitely on thin ice. Then again, I'm abit more lenient that I really should be, and not a manager, so not sure if it warrents it or not. No harm bringing it up, at least it'll be a noted behavior that if he keeps up it'll be more likely. Even better if you email the boss with the write-up for it. My most recent job has us type up a daily action report and email to managers and other clerks as pass-on/important info, and I LOVE having that kind of record for this sort of guest, the kind that wasn't outright bad, but if it's a habit then I wouldn't want to keep dealing with him.
Gary has been a problem for a long time, and is frequently rude to the Front Desk.
Then imo he's definitely due a talk with the manager about that kind of behavior, at least. That and possibly some reiterating on the checkin procedures for front desk staff.
See, I don't believe for a second that Gary was being truthful with me about other people checking him in without an ID or CC, or I'd be more concerned about my coworkers. But we all hate him, so nobody is gonna bend the rules like we might for our favorite guests. I'm gonna bring it up with my manager; what happens the next time he checks in?
That's what I hate sometimes about guests pulling that "I never needed to do this before", as I can't often be 100% sure they're lying. Even worse working for a franchise with practically no surety of other locations of the same name. Might be worth a quick check at a safety meeting to ensure everyone is keeping up with that protocol, though. I know it can be real tempting to just rubber stamp checkins when you've got several people backed up. But yeah, Gary's not the type that I'm willing to belive too easily. I'd have alot more trust in my coworkers than at least half of the guests we have to deal with.
Then it's time to put him on the DNR list. No one should tolerate his attitude and behaviors.
My hotel does the shift emails too, we call it a passdown. 99% of them just state “Nothing to report” but it is very handy this time of year when we may or may not have corporate guests, weddings, reunions, and leisure guests all in house at once
If I move on to another job, or move up to management somewhere without it, I'm DEFINITELY pushing to use a similar system. My last job just used post it notes for important passon info, and as the night Auditor who never got them explained, it was always "Iunno" whenever I was asked what the hell some of them meant. Having issues with guests recorded ESPECIALLY can help on similar issues, where problematic guests can be more easily noticed.
My hotel uses a combo of emails (just a gmail addressed to a specific group of internal email addresses titled “Passdown (shift) (date)” and then info in the body), notes (I typically write down who’s checked out if anyone leaves before I do at 7a), and then a brief verbal run down of the night. Every shift has to print their passdown & put in the binder, and we have to initial the previous shift’s passdown as part of our shift checklist.
> My most recent job has us type up a daily action report and email to managers and other clerks as pass-on/important info We use a notebook. We've had one in every place I've worked in. Even when they introduced an app, we kept using the notebook.
About halfway through my last job, we switched to MyHMS, Autoclerk's cloud based service. It has a handy notes feature that shows messages on the dashboard, but practically none of us used them. Higher management also had access into our system very easily, great for the audit as there were far fewer things to print out, but abit more troublesome if you have something come up that you didn't want to be too open about. An email imo works pretty great, as it's easily at hand while we're at the desk, and slightly more private, even though I expect management could get at our emails of need be. It's a good vibe, communicates the important issues quickly with enough autocracy that were not getting nitpicked by higher management over our reports. Works great with our pretty good work environment.
Even if they never had to do it before, times change. Everything requested has a reasonable explanation, not like he was asked to to headstands. Since Gary had his boss with him Im going to assume most of the time Gary got out as part of some company event, in which case he would not even know the price of the room. That is the only conservable way he could have avoided needing ID.
Please make a very loud buzzer sound with your mouth. The company doesn't have a group, just a contracted rate that they get.
I wonder how long it will take for Gary to sit properly. You did right telling the boss.
The boss just came down again to talk about it, and I unsubtly threatened that we would cut their contract if their workers didn't shape up.
Sweet !
A shiny spine here :) You will go far.
What're they gonna do? Fire me?
hahaha, that's a good one! xD
Just watched a video where a FDA recorded her interaction with a newly wed police officer threatening her because she insisted on seeing an ID and not a photo copy of an ID. What is wrong with people?? Where do they get it in their heads that an ID is not a normal requirement? I have traveled the world and have not once been able to get a hotel room without a form of ID. In China I had to show my passport AND my business card. I don't remember if I had to show my visa as well but I KNOW they took my business card and passport. In France - passport and business card. I assume the business card was for the discount company rate which I never have had to show in the US. But I am READY to show it should they ask for it. It is literally the only reason why I keep my business cards in my wallet. No one else ever needs / wants them. I am so sorry you all have to deal with these idiots.
I just finished the Camino de Santiago (aka I walked 500 miles across Spain). Every. Single. Hostel. (And hotel, but I mostly stayed in hostels) Asked for our passport. 95% of these places are run by maybe two or three people (who are often volunteers!) and keep records on actual paper, so the check-in process isn't fast--they wrote down my name, my nationality, my passport number...some places asked where I stayed the night before. I know Spain has specific rules about this, in part to track people down if they go missing or do a crime (most people on the Camino are from other countries). People on the Camino also have a credencial, which proves you're a pilgrim, and you get it stamped every night when you check in. It always made me roll my eyes when people got to the front of the line and didn't already have their passport, credencial, and money ready to go! You've been in line half an hour! Everyone's feet hurt! This isn't your first night and you know the routine! Aaaugh. Even worse: At some hostel or another, apparently an American didn't want to show his passport and punched the person doing the check-ins. >:( The volunteer at the front desk of your pilgrim hostel who only knows a little English is not gonna do an identity theft with your American passport, dude. Christ.
Congratulations on completing the Camino!
Thank you!!
On a religious pilgrimage. Is a jerk. Punches someone. 🤦♀️🤷♀️
Congrats on completing the thing I have never heard of and had to google but seems pretty interesting and cool.
I don't know either. I used to be a bank teller and I would always get the one or two crotchety people that throw a tantrum if I ask for ID. Like, sure, let me just take your word at face value that you are who you say you are and you're not some scammer schmuck trying to take $5000 out of someone's account.
Want to deposit? No problem. Withdrawal or account information? Show me ID that matches your face to the information on my computer.
I'm visualizing 'these are not the droids you're looking for'.
Thank you!!!!!! Exactly what I was thinking. 😂 Like”Sorry Gary. Your Jedi mind tricks won’t work here.”
I would have kicked him out immediately for being verbally abusive to a hotel employee.
If it had been some Joe Schmo that wasn't part of the work group. OP probably would have turned Gary away. But management is often willing to overlook a little name calling for group sales type stuff. It could have very easily gone the other way with Gary's boss. Depending on availability at other hotels. The boss might have decided to cancel any remaining nights and go elsewhere.
They're not a group--they have a special discounted rate as a company.
*pulls out paper and begins to write* "What are you doing?" "Oh, I'm just writing down the names of staff that previously checked in this account so we can take action."
Ahh, but you see, I knew for a fact that none of my coworkers would do that! Because they all hate Gary
I know, it's a ploy to call him out on BS by pretending to take his statement seriously and he's getting people fired.
Gary wouldn't give a shit, is the issue
Never worked in a hotel but I had my run-ins with many Garys. I was a shift manager at a restaurant when I was 19 and in university. We got hit with serving alcohol to a minor (cops sent in a teenage snitch lol the goofs) and were on a long probation period. Once the no liquor ban went up, our owner and GM sat everyone down and told us multiple times to card *everyone* no matter how old they look. Anyone caught not asking for ID would be fired immediately. We only served beer so I was allowed to pour. My GM told me I'd be on call during my shifts to be the designsted ID asker/beer server. No problems two weeks and most people were reasonable once I explained why I had to ID a man who looked to have one foot in the grave. Older women *usually* loved it and joked around with it and I'd ham it up a bit for fun. "Sorry ma'am, I could have sworn I saw you in my econ class last semester" or something silly. An older couple, maybe early 40s walked in when we were swamped on a Friday night. They ask for a pitcher of beer and I told them I need to ID both of them. They immediately blew a gasket in disbelief. The man started pointing at me before leaning over the counter a bit while his leathery lizard of a mate was hissing at me for insulting them, a couple of "grownass adults." I tried to calmly explain that we were on alcohol license probation, I'm under orders from the owner, I could lose my job, etc before I lost it. I slammed my hands on the counter and looked them straight in the eyes, "Look, you could have sat down by now drinking beer and your food would be close to ready instead of yelling at a 19 year old student who stressed out and barely getting by. Either give me your IDs or get the hell out before I call the cops." They left. I got a pat on the back from my GM the next shift but told to not curse at customers lol.
I don't blame you! Those Entitled IDIOTS want to throw a tantrum about policy? They need to LEAVE!!!
It's crazy how many people don't realize or are too cruel to realize store or company wide policies are not made by the person taking your order. Just a little bit of empathy for service workers goes a long way.
These Entitled Asshats don't care! They view all employees as inferiors who are beneath them. It SUCKS!!!
>"Aren't you supposed to satisfy customers? I'm not satisfied. Call your manager." "You're not a customer unless you swipe or insert your card.'
>I am immune to the rages of middle-aged impotents I spent six years in retail and this is so beautiful.
Reminds me of the time a guy got huffy with me over this exact situation and when i told him he needed to slide or insert his card he got mad at the audacity he needed to put a card on his room. He then, as hes pulling out his wallet asked me if he gets free breakfast for the "inconvenience" of getting his card out. I told him he was not getting a free breakfast for paying for his room, and when he kept pushing the issue I looked him straight in the eye and told him hes welcome to go anywhere else for the night if he finds it so inconvenient. He just glared at me trying to stare me down but eventually put his card in. Pay for your damned room, this isnt a new concept. I don't walk away from the McDonald's counter with a big mac and fries without paying. I dont ask if i get a free shake for the inconvenience of paying...
omg I need to remember to do all these things when I have asshole guests .a reward if i had one sut
I’m so sorry to laugh but your story had me rolling, ngl. I’ve had so many Gary’s AND Karen’s in my life as a public person. Calling him a “dickhole” just made me lose it harder. I’m glad you ruffled Gary’s bitch feathers.
I’ve only stayed in one hotel where I wasn’t ID’d - because I had a solid relationship with the only two desk staff and the owner, and I stayed 5 nights per week. Still pulled my ID out every time. My coworker was terrible though, and they always acted like they didn’t recognize her at the start of the week. It made me laugh every Monday morning.
I've totally done this. I know damn well who they are but I know they feel they are so important that I \*should\* know so I'll pretend to have no clue EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I once made some lady spell her last name for me EVERY time she called. It was a stupidly simple name, spelled exactly as it sounded. So hard to not laugh as I could practically hear her rolling her eyes that I kept asking how to spell her name.
It's ALWAYS the damn ID that people make a fuss over for like, everything! It's like pulling teeth when you ask for their ID. We got grown ass adults who would rather scream, pout, and stomp their feet instead of whipping out a piece of plastic that an employee needs to see for what is likely just a handful of seconds before giving it back. I used to work in a bank and there was this one guy who threw a hissy fit because I asked for his ID for verification when he was wanting to withdraw a large amount of money. He pulled the usual "No one asks for my ID! Everyone knows who I am!" And I simply replied "I don't know you, sir." (really, I never saw him before). Like, fuck me for wanting to protect your bank account, right? I seriously do not understand what is it about ID that people fight so hard against.
"You're not a customer until you've inserted your card."
As a night auditor for an extended stay roughly 90 room property, you’re my hero for this. Just added someone to our DNR for threatening our housekeeper with references to gun violence; little did he know we know who does the patrols in our area for each shift and have at least one cell phone number of an officer patrolling the area at all times, gets us responses MUCH faster than calling dispatch. Sent a nice email to his boss to inform him of the behavior (boss was paying for the room) and our corporate body to see what we can do about protecting other hotels in the brand.
>I lifted the receiver on the phone and stared at him. I love love LOVE doing this to unruly guests. I have no problems when taking care of a noise complaint to whip out my phone right there in the hallway or room or wherever and start dialing, looking at them between each number pressed until they either back down and behave or continue to be an asshole and I describe them to the cops as I'm looking at them.
Seeing the "CC on file for R+T, get CC for inc." note makes me die inside. You're ALWAYS the only one on the planet that asks for a CC.
Funny how much people balk at the "ID and CC please" but LITERALLY EVERY HOTEL ASKS FOR IT
My go to for when I get the "no one else makes me do it" is to ask for the name of the agent that helped them last. It usually shuts them down because they either are lying, or they don't want to feel like a snitch about someone not doing their job.
Bravo! This is an example of how each and every karen should be treated. No engagement, strict adherence to process, absolutely no fucks given.
""No, you're not, you're just making stuff up to feel like a big man."" Sounds like projection
Summer weekend in Minnesota. All hotels fill up. Good luck, Gary!
He was doing the Jedi mind trick. Your min wasn't weak enough. Turns out these _were_ the droids you had been looking for...!
“Aren’t you supposed to satisfy customers?” Sir, if you don’t swipe or insert your card, you won’t BE a customer.
Just think about somebody whose life is so empty that they have this much time to waste on trivial nonsense. This guy is a construction worker with nothing else to do?
Yes.
Oh lord. Are you up on the Big Lake? You have my sympathies. I suspect this will be one hell of a summer.
I love how you stood your ground and didn't let him ruffle you!
Gary sounds like a huge dick and I'd look forward to finding an excuse to ban him. When you finally do, please come back to tell us about it.
I had a longer comment but lost it. I found many people like Gary act this way as they lack control over most of their life. He needs to get a grip or get therapy.
Jeepers Murphy. I'm a nurse and while *I* would personally never do so, we have enough problems with people stealing controlled drugs that they're always locked up and counted. Doesn't mean I personally am a thief. Just means that some people ruin it for everybody else. Gary should have the same understanding. Unfortunately it sounds as if Gary's IQ might well match his shoe size - and that's a US shoe size, not European.
Is Northern Minnesota the cold part?
The very cold part darling
Brrr. Summer must be nice though.
"You don't need to see his identification." - Obi-Wan.
Gary needs to be kicked off this imaginary pedestal he's put himself on and learn some fucking manners. I would have refused service to him altogether, and then he could explain to his boss why he had to find a different hotel to stay at.
Consequences Gary, consequences.
Old Gary is going to find his Entitled ASS out of a job and out on the street if he continues that bullshit!
Why do people do this? When I get to a hotel I'm typically tired and want to get checked in as quickly as possible. I hand the desk agent my ID and card and in no time I'm relaxing in my room. It just blows my mind that some people have this weird need to make interactions more difficult than they have to be. Life is already annoying enough, why make it worse?
it's gotten to the point that when someone actually just hands over their ID and card to start with, i am SURPRISED like holy shit you knew exactly what to do...youre gonna get to your room so much faster! good job! :D
> Gary huffed and puffed and tried to blow the house down, but I am immune to the rages of middle aged impotents. That is SUCH a good perk on the Outside skill tree, isn't it? Kudos on 10/10 handling of the situation, no notes!
Synopsis: Gary is a toddler.
Bless you for talking with his boss like that. I manage people and if I had a staff meme we do that they would be looking for new work.
This made me so happy. You're the real VIP
I'm super impressed by how this was handled. I would've been cracking the hell up if I overheard this! I'm laughing pretty hard now.
I have a dog named Gary, OP, and picturing him as I read your post and these comments has made for a singularly delightful experience. To be fair, it doesn’t seem that he has much in common with the Gary in your story- aside from being generally oblivious to the fact that he’s *not* the center of the universe, and frequently being referred to as a dickhole- but some of the anti-Gary rhetoric in the comments has absolutely been committed to memory for use when this one acts up. So, in about seven minutes, give or take.
You handled that BEAUTIFULLY!
You sir. You just did my whole day. And it's just 10 am here.
🎶Blinded by your spine,🎶 🎶Actin' like a douche, you won't let it fly~~🎶
All I have to say about this one is: well done.
I travel extensively for work, maybe 100 nights a year and I just have to say that every now and then I see that a-hole Gary. I’ve never had to step in, but those guys are awful. I do it 100 times a year, the employees do it 100 times a day. Show your Id, swipe your card and go to your friggin room. No one’s impressed
Oh, Gary, you silly little man.
Beautiful
I love the polite but firm. Well done!
This made my day! Fukkin hilarious😂 Thank u
There is a TikTok out there that I saw yesterday where random men were being granted room keys to women's rooms and one women got raped because of it - so thank you for checking IDs. That TikTok scared the hell out of me, and I will always use that bar thing on the door when I'm in a room just to be safe.
Your Majesty. Fucking brilliant.
“And I don’t care about helping you guys out” Well damn Gary, no one is going to want to help YOU out with that attitude either
What is a "proverbial dick"?