Please eliminate all the rocks outside, thank you.

[Getoutofmylobby]

This is probably the weakest attempt at getting a free stay I have ever witnessed.

SC: "Yes, i have a problem"
Me: "What can i do to help you?"
SC: "My son keeps bringing in rocks from outside."
Me: "ok..."
SC: "And i have to take them back outside."
Me: ...
SC: ...
Me: "So..."
SC: "So what can you do about that?"
Me: ...I would suggest keeping him indoors."
SC: "No, I asked you what YOU can do about that"
Me: "I don't really see what we can do about that, maybe i can send maintenance to dispose of all the rocks in the the parking lot and the grounds..."
SC: "You think this is a joke! My son could hurt himself!"
Me: "I'm sorry but--"
SC: "Do you think this is funny? I have an 800 number here i can call to report your ass, we'll see how funny you think that is."
Me: "But ma'am--"
SC: "Do I have to remind you about your 100% guarantee? Whatever, you better call your manager!"

I get a bit steamed but just ignore it. Her complaint is so ridiculous and there really is nothing i can do about it. And the chances of her really following through with her threat and calling the 800 number were slight. But 15 minutes later i get a call from Quality Assurance.

QA guy: "I have a complaint from a customer about unhelpful desk staff, are you the manager on duty?
Me: "Yeah, i think i know the customer you're talking about, did she explain to you what she is complaining about?"
QA: "No she just said she had some problems with her stay and nobody is doing anything about it. She also mentioned she was laughed at."
Me: "She called to tell me her son keeps bringing in rocks from outside and that he could hurt himself and she wanted to know what i could do about it.
QA: "Rocks?"
Me: "Yeah, What can i possibly do about that?"
QA: ...
Me: "Weird huh?"
QA: "Never heard that one before."
Me: "Me either."
QA: "I have to keep the ticket open because she is a Diamond member..." (figures)
Me: "She's checking out tomorrow morning, i'll just have our manager handle it when she leaves."
QA: "Works for me.. wow that's weird..."
Me: "And she's a parent..."

I lucked out and got a reasonable QA person, some others would probably have had me work out some sort of solution other than Ignore It.

And sure enough, i'll bet our spineless manager gives her something for free.

[Imogene]

QA: "No she just said she had some problems with her stay and nobody is doing anything about it. She also mentioned she was laughed at.

Oh yes, she's a force to be reckoned with, chickening out and twisting the story so she's the one being wronged.

[Apathy]

She'll probably come in screaming that her child ate a rock and is now choking. Of course, she'll be doing this to get free stuff as opposed to soliciting medical attention.

[BookstoreEscapee]

I'd think if they're calling to complain about the staff being unhelpful they should have to tell the QA people exactly what it is they want help with. So they can laugh too determine what kind of help is needed.

[TTAZ]

How old was her son? If he was 2 or something, then she should be watching him like a hawk regardless of what he's doing. If he's closer to, say, 12, then I doubt those rocks really pose much of a threat to him, his mom on the other hand may want to sleep with one eye open.

[tropicsgoddess]

Oh yes, she's a force to be reckoned with, chickening out and twisting the story so she's the one being wronged.

The ever popular SC way of finagling their way into getting discounts or freebies from spineless management (if there is any at the establishment). I hope management didn't give into her.

[Snowbird]

SC: "My son keeps bringing in rocks from outside."
Me: "ok..."
SC: "And i have to take them back outside."
Me: ...
SC: ...
Me: "So..."
SC: "So what can you do about that?"
Me: ...I would suggest keeping him indoors."

"I would have you tell him not to do that again, ma'am."

Honestly! This made my brain hurt.

[South Texan]

SC: "So what can you do about that?"
Me: ...I would suggest keeping him indoors."
SC: "No, I asked you what YOU can do about that".

"I guess I could come up to your room and act the role of parent. Then I could tell him to stop playing with the rocks and to stop bringing rocks into the room, and that if he doesn't obey his parents as he supposedly should have been raised to do, there will be a punishment for it like losing all his video games for a day - even though that would mean the parents would have no choice but to interact with him that day. Would this be along the lines of what you need?"

[friendofjimmyk]

Owie. I am wondering if SC's can be sued for mental anguish. This one is beyond me.

How old is her son?

Why is he outside in the rocks? Is he outside by himself? Is she watching him? If so, why is she allowing him to pick up rocks if she doesn't like that behavior?

I need to reboot my brain now...

[Apathy]

Would this be along the lines of what you need?

ACTUAL PARENTING!? Sweet merciful crap! No one does that anymore. Kids basically raise themselves these days, right? Right?

[blas]

Don't give me ideas....

I am so calling the property management company today and demanding they remove all the decorative rocks outside, or ELSE!

[Geek King]

And sure enough, i'll bet our spineless manager gives her something for free.

Well, honestly, I would give her something free.


A pet rock.

[cloudiko]

She'll probably come in screaming that her child ate a rock and is now choking. Of course, she'll be doing this to get free stuff as opposed to soliciting medical attention.

hahahaha, probably.

[NateTheChops]

Oh yes, she's a force to be reckoned with, chickening out and twisting the story so she's the one being wronged.

That's about 99.99999% of all customer complaints to management or hire up. Because all SC's are holy and blameless creatures and would never falsely accuse an innocent employee who is only trying to keep food on the table and a roof over his head.

[Dips]

SC: "Do I have to remind you about your 100% guarantee? Whatever, you better call your manager!"

This is the second story I've read today where a hotel has a 100% guarantee and the guest makes an impossible-to-fill demand so he can capitalize on it. The other one, I believe, complained that the view in Montana looked like [gasp!] Montana.

I know I read on here some weeks ago that some members on this site got word of a hotel having 100% guarantee and were certain that it would turn into an open invitation for scammers.

Maybe corporate marketing types need to pay more attention to people like our members. It would save money and heartache.