The other day a lady calls me and wants to come this summer with her daughter…
Very nice at first, she says she has seen some pictures, that it is her daughter who has told her to book… she asks if I can explain how we work, what services there are, if there is room… and she wants the biggest room with a terrace. 😎🌿
I ask for dates. I look.
Yes, there is room.
– And what is the price?
– 140€ per night, plus breakfast ☕🍞
– And how much do the dogs pay?
– 6€/dog/day 🐶
– Wow, very expensive!
– Well… that’s what we charge 🤷♂️
– So if I go for 10 days… how much does it cost?
– Well… 140 x 10 = 1.400€, plus breakfasts, plus the dogs.
– Man… you have to have breakfast…
– Then it will cost you about XXXX€ total.
– TRUTHFULLY! I think it’s very expensive for what they offer.
– Ma’am, I am not going to argue with you. Those are the prices.
– And it can’t be cheaper?
– Yes, of course.
– I thought so!
– Taking a cheaper room… or coming for fewer days.
– Man! That’s not cheaper, that’s less money.
– Well… but it costs less, right?
– I’ve seen…
– Yes?
– I’ve seen cheaper places!
– Well, no problem, ma’am, book at those places. No problem.
– Yeah, but my daughter…
– I don’t know, ma’am… you can do it yourself.
– Yeah… but it just seems so expensive for what it is…
– Don’t worry, there are plenty of other places. Call anyone.
– Yeah… but my daughter…
– I understand.
– I certainly wouldn’t pay that. Especially not there.
– Well, nothing, madam. I wish you luck and may you find what you are looking for.
– Ya…
– Good afternoon.
Several hours later… 📞
The phone rings.
Ella again.
– Good afternoon, it’s me.
– Hello… ME.
– Look, I’ve been asking other places… and yes, they are cheaper.
– That’s great! Lucky you. And…?
– Well, I wanted to let you know.
– I think it’s great. I hope you enjoy it.
– Yeah… but there is a problem.
– What?
– The dogs.
– What about the dogs?
– They only let me take the little one, the poodle 🐩
– And how many do you have?
– I have the poodle, my daughter two Golden and a Labrador. 🐶🐶🐶
– Ah!
– And they can not be loose, neither in common areas, nor in the pool.
– AHHHHH!
– So I will have no choice but to book with you…
– No, ma’am, do not worry. Search! There are plenty of places. Rural as mushrooms 🍄
– Yeah, but I don’t want to do my own thing…
– AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
– And you don’t know of any others?
– Look, I’ll give you the association’s phone number. Call, leave them the data, and if someone has something, they will contact you.
– Ahhh yes… How kind you are!
– Note 📞
Next day. 9:00 a.m.
– Hello, it’s me.
– HELLO ME.
– Nobody called me…
– Ma’am, you called at 9 o’clock in the evening. Give them time…
– Okay, okay… I’ll tell you something.
– No, don’t tell me anything. Tell your daughter.
CHAO. 👋
That same afternoon. 20:00. The phone rings… 📱
– Hi, it’s ME.
– Hello ME.
– No, we don’t have what we want. So I book with you.
– Well… it’s not going to happen. It’s already booked.
– HOW??? BUT HOW CAN IT BE????
– Well, they booked this morning on the web 💻
– And now what shall I tell my daughter?
– Honestly…
– Yes…
– No idea.
– She just wanted to come here.
– But there’s no more room for her. 😅
Ten more minutes of conversation: that if so and so, that if so and so, that if the daughter is going to be angry, that if there is no room…
I tell her that I’m sorry, that everything is full. But if she leaves me the data, if someone cancels, I call her.
And that’s it.
The next morning… daughter calls.
– Hi. Look, my mother told me…
And it’s mostly true… except for most of the details. 🙄
Then I tell him my version.
And he says:
– AHHHH MY MOTHER!
– Yeah… that’s what mothers are like. 😅
– But mine…
– AY si te contara yo de Marichón…
– So, no room?
– The only thing I have left is one on the top floor, without elevator. And with three dogs, I’d better get one with a terrace.
– Well, yes… the truth. I kill my mother!
– Don’t worry, if someone cancels, I’ll let you know.
– But can you reserve that one for me for now? And if the other one is released, you change me.
– Done. But know about the stairs.
– She is agile.
– OK.
– A thousand thanks… and sorry for my mother 🙏s… What if the daughter gets angry, what if I can’t make room for her, what if I can’t make room for her, what if I can’t…
Reflection: Expensive, cheap and the value of things
Some people are not looking for a place to stay. They are looking for a price battle. They don’t want to enjoy, they want to bargain. They don’t value cleanliness, attention, tranquility, or that someone makes their bed or prepares their breakfast with care. They want all that, yes… but for free, or almost for free.
They say it is expensive, without stopping to think how much it costs to maintain a well-kept place, with staff, with rules, with respect for animals and humans. They want everything: the biggest room, the terrace, the perfect breakfast, that you accept their four dogs, that they don’t bark, that they don’t bother you, that there is a microwave, and that they like you.
And when you tell them what it’s worth, they compare it to something that has nothing to do with it. As if booking on Booking an apartment with no sheets, no attention, no common area, and absurd rules were the same thing. As if the price was everything.
But there is something they often forget: value is not what it costs. It’s what you get.
And what you don’t value in time, someone else reserves. And then there is nothing but complaining, moaning and “it’s me” calls in the background.
It’s not that there’s no room.
It’s that there’s no room for all that they don’t want to pay for, but they do want to demand.
And no, it’s not expensive. It’s fair.
What’s expensive is having to explain yourself every time you do your job well.
______
From MasTorrencito we wish you a good day and may your dogs be with you!!!!
—
If you want, you can see our vouchers for weekends, retirees vouchers, at an incredible price… go to www.mastorrencito.com or if you want you can read more history and anecdotes that have happened to us in MasTorrencito… Click here … https://casaruralconperrosgirona.com
