Larry Bodine Law Marketing Blog : Law firm marketing, legal editor, legal marketing, attorney marketing, business development, marketing consultant, legal consultant, business development

Don't you hate it when an extravagantly expensive hotel nickel and dimes you with surprise charges?

This morning I self-parked my rental car at the Key Biscayne Ritz at the Marketing Partner Forum.  A valet came up to me and handed me a blue ticket, saying there was valet parking only.  I asked if there was a charge.  He said if I was there for the "legal conference," it was complimentary.

So as I left at the end of the day there was a different guy working the dispatch desk.  He told me the charge was $18, even though they didn't do anything, because I had parked the car.  I beefed, saying I was told it was free.  He said "no."  So I pulled out a $20 and gave the change to the driver who  brought out the car.  I figured it wasn't his fault that I got ripped off by this overpriced faux chateau with its quasi-classic oil paintings and imitation mahogany Colonial furniture.

Remind me never to stay at these overpriced travel traps that send out their managers who talk at marketing seminars about supreme customer service and then pick the pockets of visitors who fall for the phony pitch.