Fort Myers tourism rudeness.. .vent!!!

[Fabooliss]

I can't believe it!!! I have been looking at staying on the Gulf coast for a few days after our Disney trip and requested packages from Sarasota, Tampa and Fort Myers. I got an email back from Fort Myers tourism requesting $20 for their package.
I was a little shocked (and a little impolite and replied that I would go somewhere else then, that wants tourists!!)

What gets me is the reply:

It cost us to send things to you. If your out of the country I'm sorry, Its not are fault. We would like you to visit Fort Myers, but things aren't free these days. Get use to it!

Hmmm... first the grammar, then the really BAD customer service...
Sigh... OK... vent done now,
Thanks for listening!!!!

 

[pxlbarrel]

I can't believe it!!! I have been looking at staying on the Gulf coast for a few days after our Disney trip and requested packages from Sarasota, Tampa and Fort Myers. I got an email back from Fort Myers tourism requesting $20 for their package.
I was a little shocked (and a little impolite and replied that I would go somewhere else then, that wants tourists!!)

What gets me is the reply:


Hmmm... first the grammar, then the really BAD customer service...
Sigh... OK... vent done now,
Thanks for listening!!!!

Wow...that's amazingly stupid for somebody in the tourism business to say to a potential tourist. It's like saying, "things are expensive here so if you're going to visit, you better get use to it." Geez. Ummmm...a lot of tourists are out of country...especially for Florida. Perhaps THEY should get used to it.

Are you sure you got somebody from their tourism department or some petulant child???

I think you better take your very valuable tourist money to another city...one that appreciates visitors.

 

[mickeywho?]

I would forward your correspondence to the Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce.
http://www.fortmyers.org/contact.htm (website contact)
They would certainly tell you whether or not you received your replies from a legit company and I'm sure would appologize and help you with any information they could.

 

[trivial]

That's deplorable. Thanks for the warning. Looks like you're going to have fewer customers Fort Myers, get used to it!

 

[Miandrea]

My parents' condo in south of Fort Myers in Estero...and generally I've had great service. I would definitely email tourism florida and tell them your experience and then ask them to suggest another location in Florida (tourism dollars are important!)

 

[Disneyjosh229]

My parents' condo in south of Fort Myers in Estero...and generally I've had great service. I would definitely email tourism florida and tell them your experience and then ask them to suggest another location in Florida (tourism dollars are important!)

Yup, we used to own a house in Punta Gorda and have had no problems with customer service. Most of the people in that area realize that without tourism, they would be in trouble....

 

[riu girl]

Wow, that would be a huge turn off. Sorry you were treated like this. If you go to www.flausa.com you can get a ton of information on different regions of Florida. It might help you decide what region is the best for you, at that point you can email/call that region direct to get an info. packet. I have done this on numerous occassions and have always received an info. package without any difficulties.

We spent the last two weeks of 2005 in Siesta Key (very close to Sarasota). We had a wonderful time and found every local person we met to be very genuine. We had such a great time that we are spending two more weeks there this year!!!

If you are looking for information on the Siesta Key area you could try the Siesta Key chamber of commerce web site. They sent us a very good guide book and map of the area. I found the hotel prices to be high though in the area and ended up renting privately from an owner on www.vrbo.com.

 

[Fabooliss]

I had another look at the site I requested the info from and to be fair, it does say that it costs $10 to ship priority post, $20 internationally... however it is right underneath the spot it says that it is free if you choose bulk mail.
Looking through the website, it is obviously an amateur job, with some broken links, grammatical errors and other mistakes. I guess the "free if you choose bulk mail" is a mistake, or only within the US, although it doesn't read that way.

Interestingly, when I replied to the email I posted above, objecting to the rudeness and mentioning where I was going to post this (here) I got a VERY polite, almost gushy email back apologizing for "coming off as seeming rude".

Well, I found someone else in Fort Myers that will send me tourist info (free!), I'm sending the link to the original emailer too.

 

[Fabooliss]

Thanks... I'll look at Siesta Key too.

 

[coastgirl]

That email is just awful, and I think you should follow up with someone else as well. That is just insane.

I remember some years ago we received a tourist package from NS with a bill enclosed--I think they were trying it out to see if anyone would pay--but I think they' ve given it up, it's so insane!

Glad you got better service elsewhere.

 

[Northstar]

That's like those fancy catalogues that try to charge you for a "subscription." Hey, it's advertising... put it into your cost of doing business!

But it sounds as if the place you ordered the info from doesn't have much of a budget (for either hiring competent customer service staff or for mailings) and they don't get the big picture.... like their whole reason for sending out the stuff in the first place is to attract tourists!

My mom has a condo in Fort Myers and I like that area too, but driving anywhere becomes insane during spring break times! (February and even more so March). Or is it just that I've gotten used to living someplace where the population density is so much lower? Well, come February or March and sitting in a car in the HOT SUNSHINE in Fort Myers heading for the BEACH looks like a much better deal.