VERY RUDE owner

[TravelinGal]

While we are VERY happy with the home we are booking in Emerald Island, with all the Windsor Hills homes being mentioned lately, I was curious what there was over there. I submitted a generic online form and mentioned the total we were currently quoted for a 6 br 5.5 bath home. I didn't say we were trying to find a lower price. I was letting people know the range we were looking at. No point responding to my inquiry if you charge $300 a night during low season - type comment.

The owner of one home (Windsor Hills Villa . com) responded VERY rudely to me - and I think that is a good sign of just what kind of service you would get if you rented their home.

" Buyer" (or renter) beware! I see your true colors.

-----Original Message-----
From: Sunresortvillas@XXX.XXX
Sent: Wednesday, June 13, 2007 9:34 AM
To: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Subject: Re: WindsorHillsRent.com 5/6 beds Enquiry Sep 22 2007 -

why don't you accept the already excellent offer that some owner is desperate enough to give you? That's the problem with enquiries like yours, no matter how low an owner goes you are never happy and still want to pay less. I hope that whoever has offered you this deal sees your enquiry and withdraws it.

To top off this nasty attitude, the owner REQUIRES you pay only by credit card and then charges you a 4% surcharge to cover his/her costs for using the card they just forced you to use. Also, where most owners only charge a cleaning fee if you're under 7 nights - this person charges a cleaning fee for under 10 nights.

 

[rosiep]

Wow! That was rude. While i don't use vacation homes, I appreciate your post. I wonder how many places realize there are boards like these where we share such information?

I have been waiting for six days for the Royal Plaza Hotel to confirm changes to my reservation and am still waiting for a response. I sent a second email today and if I don't hear back by tonight I'll call tomorrow...but the lack of a timely response worries me.

 

[mbb]

I'm glad you found a great home for your vacation

That's too bad, though, that you received a not-so-polite reply to your general inquiry.

I would hope someone is just having a bad day, and sadly, you bore the brunt of their exasperation

In all the GIs we've ever sent out, we only received one response that was unfavourable. We had submitted a list of our wants/needs along with it (which I thought was a good thing to do), and an owner replied with a nasty little note that we wanted "everything" under the sun.

We reported/copied the note to the forum administrator - you may want to do the same

Understandably, owners must get tons of emails every day, that must get overwhelming...but being in the rental business, they really have to treat each customer as if they're the only ones that day.

 

[BonnieA]

I also got a very rude answer to an enquiry to Windsor Hills. Maybe it was the same guy. Sounds very familiar. I wrote back to him and commented on his "nice" answer. There's somebody I don't want to rent from.

 

[scrapbookworm]

How rude! There is absolutely nothing wrong with researching other options. I would be very surprised if someone rented the first and only place they priced.

 

[Mainebound]

Yikes!! What a way to attract business! Everyone has an off day. I hope that's the case here, rather than his normal mode of dealing with people.

You are entitled to make any inquiries you like, for the current trip or for future reference. Owners are entitled not to respond, due to lack of availability or any other (legal) reason. That would have been a much better choice in this case.

oh, and a snarky PS: I just looked at the home. What should really be two separate living areas (front and back) and two dining areas has been turned into one living area. Not a great move, I would say as a renter, since a major plus of 6 most bed homes in WH and EI is the TWO living areas.

 

[KayR]

Gosh,

I am sorry that you received such a reply. There is no excuse for replying in such a manner.



As an owner, I can understand the frustration in his/her reply. It does get frustrating when you have your home and set a fair rate for it only for someone to offer less. Owners who rent out their homes directly put all their heart and soul into a home and when something happens like someone damages the home or asking for huge discounts, it can feel like a personal attack. At that point the owner needs to put on their business hat and deal with the issue professionally.

Again, I am sorry. There is no excuse.

Enjoy your time at Emerald Island! Sounds like you got an excellent rate and I wouldn't try to better it!

-Kay

 

[kimbac3]

Thanks for the heads up!!

Kimba

 

[Doesney]

Not a nice way to do business.


Can you tell me what website you can send for a general inquiry? That would be great.

Thank you.

 

[sympatico]

The website for general inquiry for Windsor Hills is www.windsorhillsrent.com
But when you put in your inquiry you should narrow it down a little so that you won't get a flood of replies: like how many bedrooms or if you need a games room etc.

 

[CoralCayTownhome]

There really was no need for a reply like that

That is certainly not the way to instill any confidence from a potential renter whether you can offer what they are looking for or not. He can obviously afford to get a somewhat poor reputation - I just don't know who would want to rent from someone like that It is not the way we have started with our rental home and will NOT be what we turn into!

So glad you have something sorted from a nice owner

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Wow! That e-mail just amazes me. My parents have been renting out a vacation home in California for over 30 years. They get all kinds of questions from people wanting them to drop the price, allow pets, etc. But, they're always nice. They just politely say, "No, we can't do that." There's no reason to be unprofessional!

 

[horseshowmom]

I like to get "last minute" discount pricing to save as much money as possible and indicate that when I send out my requests (generally with a disclaimer that I'm not trying to insult anybody, just trying to get the best deal I can find). I've had that kind of email a couple of times. The owner is taking it personally and allowing themselves to be insulted.

I handle it pretty easily though. I delete the email and move on to the next one.

 

[tonyjameswright]

I am the 'very rude owner' that this topic refers to, as the original poster has been kind enough to share my response with you, its only fair that you get to see their response to me....after all, there are two sides to every story!!

Let me just say before I post, that I didn't think my posting was rude at all, I was merely pointing out that as they had already received such an excellent offer then they should take it instead of trying to get a lower rate. There is no mention in the general enquiry that was sent that it was a travel agency (although not hard to distinguish from their e-mail address), nor was there any mention that they were looking to compare prices WH against EI, in fact their own comment was 'best offer so far'.....to me that was inviting lower offers!!!

As private owners on expensive gated communities that offer resort style amenities, we have all paid a hefty price for our homes. Let me assure all of you, that owners on Windsor Hills are very proud of their homes and of the amenities the community offers (including myself). It is a fabulous community with terrific facilities and outstanding homes. We have all had continual praise for our homes and for the facilities on offer at Windsor Hills.

So now you have both sides of the story, over to you to be the judge of who is actually rude!!!!

Copy of original enquiry:

Nights: 15
Checkin: Sep 22 2007
Checkout: Oct 07 2007
Pool Heating: yes
Currency:dollar
Comments:

copy of my response:

why don't you accept the already excellent offer that some owner is desperate enough to give you? That's the problem with enquiries like yours, no matter how low an owner goes you are never happy and still want to pay less. I hope that whoever has offered you this deal sees your enquiry and withdraws it.

copy of their response back to me!!!...who is the rude one here??

Bugger off you rude pig.

Off to post on a HUGE international board how bloody rude you are!

They aren’t desperate – it’s a beautiful home – I was just wanting to see what the difference was between Emerald Island and WH for my clients. Obviously if all WH home owners are as RUDE as you, I don’t want to be anywhere near that community. Jerk. I’ll offer my clients the EI quote since that owner is kind and courteous. And, as a travel agent, I’ll be sure to send all my Disney clients that direction. (and I book a LOT of Disney)

 

[Mainebound]

Sheesh. Do we have some mole on this DIS board who is constantly alerting owners about posts regarding their management companies, etc.????

Sorry this turned out badly for both of you. On to the next topic, shall we???

 

[sympatico]

I see your point, Tony. There's definitely two sides to every story. I'm sorry that you had to defend yourself in your first posting on the Disboards. Hope you will continue to participate here. There are a number of owners on here and they are very valuable sources of information on renting and the area in general. Although you can't promote your own home you can promote WH and the whole idea of vacation home rentals.

 

[utahkennedys]

Yikes, I guess I am glad to deal with DVC and Interval International where I am always treated in a professional manner and with respect.

 

[aynt79]

So now you have both sides of the story, over to you to be the judge of who is actually rude!!!!

Sorry, I still vote that you were the rude one . If the general enquiry works the way I think it does, if you didn't have anything to offer the potential renter - you didn't have to reply. I don't think you're doing a very good job of defending yourself.

Yes, the OP could have taken the high road and ignored you (but I probably would have given you the same reply).

 

[HeatherPage]

Sorry but I'm having a hard time believing someone from Colorado replied to you using those terms. Now if the OP's location said Jolly 'Ol England, tea and scones, Big Ben and all, then I might give you the benefit of the doubt. Plus that reply just seems to contrived, if it had said screw you *****, you're toast after I post this all over the internet it might have been a little more believable, good try though

 

[DianeV]

I was kinda thinking the same thing besides I may have responded the same way given that kind of comment

And really..who felt the need to alert that guy anyway?