NY2CA commented on 'Not such a fine idea: 7 reasons why that Guest House story blew up'

2014-08-06T12:35:30Z

May I offer my own reasons why the story “blew up”?

REASON #1: The place is run like an afterthought or a hobby, and not a business.
The reviews (and most of them are actual reviews) describe a situation that sounds like the place is the owner’s private home with all kinds of goings-on and he’s just letting people stay there -– for $250 a night. A very uncomfortable night.

REASON #2: Possible fraud.
The reviews on TripAdvisor go back several years, and there are repeated comments about overcharging, double-charging, etc. Too often to be ineptitude or coincidence. I wonder if Consumer Affairs or the D.A.’s office will look into this . . .

REASON #3: The misanthropic attitude.
I get that he needs to have a payment policy (I’m a business owner myself and I really do get it), but the statement on his website is nitpicky and harsh. What’s really scary though are his responses to online guest complaints; the responses run from defensive to obnoxious.

REASON #4: The experience is a guest’s existential nightmare.
To paraphrase that old TV commercial: “Guests don’t check in, and they don’t check out.” Because there’s nobody at the front desk when they get there. And keys aren’t left for them. And they have trouble getting help when they need it. Sometimes they have trouble finding a staff member at all. And nobody answers the phone or returns calls. (Emails only, please.) And there’s nobody at the front desk when they check out. So I imagine that weary guests, far from home, must be asking themselves: Who am I? Why am I here? What is the meaning of this? And why the hell am I paying $250 a night for it?

Just some thoughts.

GwynethJones commented on 'Not such a fine idea: 7 reasons why that Guest House story blew up'

2014-08-05T17:32:53Z

I am reading the negative reviews on TripAdvisor that pre-date this report -What is more telling than the reviews of bad service are the (hilarious) sanctimonious & sarcastic replies from the OWNER!

Example:

"We are so sorry these guests did not like our cancellation policy. if there's any way to make it up we would have but it wasn't to be...."

--- If there was a way? There is! It's called a REFUND! LOL

and

"Wow. We are so sorry you thought we had "attitude". The only reason we don't always answer the phone is because we all like to use our devices to respond to our visitors more quickly and have a record of what everyone has said."

---Can you hear the actual air quote around "attitude?" I can!

Speaking of WOW...just WOW!

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g47931-d490934-Reviews-Union_Street_Guest_House-Hudson_New_York.html#REVIEWS

By the way, the new wrinkle to this story that I found on the Interwebs "The USGH’s longtime owner, former 3rd Ward Alderman Chris Wagoner" (Thank you!) are you kidding me?

The owner is a local politician? That's just astounding? Or, unsurprising? Hmmm food for thought.

But srsly, I think the Union Street Guest Hous needs to either sell up or hire a hotel manager... you know, someone who will answer the phone, take cancellations graciously, and be...welll, hospitable! Nice thing for a GUEST HOUSE! LOL

Comments on Not such a fine idea: 7 reasons why that Guest House story blew up

NY2CA commented on 'Not such a fine idea: 7 reasons why that Guest House story blew up'

GwynethJones commented on 'Not such a fine idea: 7 reasons why that Guest House story blew up'