Lennart Petersen

"chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn"
<[email protected]> skrev i meddelandet
news:1gnah4f.1wlof4we2d1neN%this_address_is_for_sp [email protected]...
    > Tim Challenger <[email protected]> wrote:
    >> On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 10:14:35 +0000, chancellor of the duchy of besses o'
    >> th' barn wrote:
    >> > Tim Challenger <[email protected]> wrote:
    >> >
    >> >> On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 09:35:35 +0000, chancellor of the duchy of besses
    >> >> o'
    >> >> th' barn wrote:
    >> > []
    >> >>> Then I would ask if you understood it. Another hint- "quite
    >> >>> astonished
    >> >>> at some of the merchandise people return for credit." It might be
    >> >>> that
    >> >>> I'm missing some amazing nuance here, but that indicates that you can
    >> >>> "return" goods. And, I answered the question for you, so I don't see
    >> >>> the
    >> >>> point in it remaining.
    >> >>>
    >> >>> David
    >> >>
    >> >> It might be implied that it's astonishing that people return goods,
    >> >> not
    >> >> just the condition they're in.
    >> >
    >> > Not in the context- go back to Douglas Hoyt's somewhat tongue-in-cheek
    >> > suggestion, and then read Evelyn's reply. It's really obvious I think.
    >> Obviously not. Going by Lennart's posts.
    > Yes, he obviously doesn't read for content and context! :)
    > David
Now you seem to be rude and arrogant. What's the reason ?
Yes I've been reading what Evelyn said.
Then I asked if "open buy" exist. In that case the shops are obliged to
take back items simply as they've promised so.

Ellie C

Frank F. Matthews wrote:

    > EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) wrote:
    >
    >> Frank F. Matthews wrote:
    >
    >
    >>> These are probably the nut cases that try to charge you for looking
    >>> at the contents of something in the mini bar.
    >
    >
    >> What do they do about the guests like me who use the mini bar mostly
    >> as a refrigerator for the cheese and stuff I keep in my room for
    >> impromptu meals?
    >
    >
    > You will get an automatic charge for anything that you move. They are
    > quite clear that Sofitel does not want you to use the fridge for
    > anything of yours and such use is not permitted.
    >
What a mean and stingy attitude. Note to self - never stay at a Sofitel!

Chancellor Of The Duchy Of Besses O' Th' Barn

Lennart Petersen <[email protected]> wrote:

[]
    > Now you seem to be rude and arrogant. What's the reason ?

Because you're being awfully dense on this one.

    > Yes I've been reading what Evelyn said.

Uh-huh.

    > Then I asked if "open buy" exist. In that case the shops are obliged to
    > take back items simply as they've promised so.

Yawn. All of this came out of a light-hearted remark where a poster
'recommended' buying a fridge and then returning it. The "You might want
to return it because it is too loud. Not that I've ever done this" is a
hint that this is not entirely kosher behaviour, but you'd quite likely
get away with it. Evelyn then follows up and adds to the idea of
consumers taking return policies to unreasonable lengths. Fine so far.

So, you then explain that Sweden has a policy where you can return
something provided that-

"The product must not be used and original packing must be returned."

Well, it might very well be that the poster who suggested someone buys a
fridge for the weekend intended for them to just sit and stare at it for
the weekend, but in the likely assumption that the fridge was used, then
your question, based on the policy _as you word it above_ is irrelevant,
isn't it? That is, it's _used_ already. Now are we clear?

David

--
David Horne- www.davidhorne.net
usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk

Frank F. Matthews

dgs wrote:

    > chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn wrote:

    >> EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) <[email protected]> wrote:

    >> [...]

    >>> Strange.... one would assume that the "top-end" hotels would be more
    >>> tolerant than the lesser ones, since they're getting so much more
    >>> money for the room itself.

    >> My experience is that it tends to be the opposite! The mor they charge,
    >> the more they want!

    > Indeed. It is the norm in Europe for the smaller, family run hotels
    > to offer reasonable rates on comfortable, simple accomodations that
    > include breakfast. The fancy expensive places not only charge high
    > prices for lodgings, but also charge exhorbitant rates for what they
    > consider to be additional items like breakfast, not to mention the
    > absurdly overpriced junk in their minibars.

I don't see the connection, even in europe. I would count the Sofitel
at CDG as fairly expensive yet our room there came with two very
extensive breakfast buffets. I agree there is a great deal of
difference in the expensive places. It may be that the more business
oriented places have included breakfast while the pure luxury places do
not. Or, perhaps, that breakfast is one of the early add-ons that come
into play in special rates before they get to prices I can afford at
expensive hotels.

Chancellor Of The Duchy Of Besses O' Th' Barn

Frank F. Matthews <[email protected]> wrote:

    > dgs wrote:
[]
    > > Indeed. It is the norm in Europe for the smaller, family run hotels
    > > to offer reasonable rates on comfortable, simple accomodations that
    > > include breakfast. The fancy expensive places not only charge high
    > > prices for lodgings, but also charge exhorbitant rates for what they
    > > consider to be additional items like breakfast, not to mention the
    > > absurdly overpriced junk in their minibars.
    >
    > I don't see the connection, even in europe. I would count the Sofitel
    > at CDG as fairly expensive yet our room there came with two very
    > extensive breakfast buffets.

What I've noticed is that if the breakfast isn't included in a hotel's
price, it is usually more expensive depending on the general price and
class of the hotel, even if what you get is basically the same. Similar
thing for things like dry-cleaning, drinks, etc.

David

--
David Horne- www.davidhorne.net
usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk

Kim Dyer

    >How would you get it past reception? :)

With the box and the receipt. Remember, we're talking about hotels that DON'T
have 'em in the room anyway.
-- Kimbis

Al

"EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
    > Frank F. Matthews wrote:
    >
    > > These are probably the nut cases that try to charge you for looking at
    > > the contents of something in the mini bar.
    >
    > What do they do about the guests like me who use the mini
    > bar mostly as a refrigerator for the cheese and stuff I keep
    > in my room for impromptu meals?

I've started seeing hotels (Hyatt, Chicago) charging to use the
minibar fridge for personal items. Now I bring a softsided cooler that
rolls up like a duffel. This will work until they start charging for
ice.

Al

"Lennart Petersen" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
    > "EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)" <[email protected]> skrev i meddelandet
    > news:[email protected]...
    > >
    > >
    > > Douglas W. Hoyt wrote:
    > >
    > >>>>>>>I do so like those cheaper hotels in places like Miami, and also on
    > >>>>>>>Greek Islands etc., that think it's perfectly normal to give you a
    > >>>>>>>fridge in your room!
    > >>
    > >>
    > >> And in Miami, if you didn't get a fridge, you could go to a local major
    > >> discount outlet and purchase one, keep it for the week or weekend, and
    > >> return it after you are done with it for a full refund. You might want
    > >> to return it because it is too loud. Not that I've ever done this.
    > >
    > > Those of us who hold reasonable views on what is "returnable" would be
    > > quite astonished at some of the merchandise people return for credit (and
    > > actually GET credit) after using it long enough for "wear and tear" to be
    > > no more than normal. A friend worked in the furniture department of a
    > > large department store, and some of the tales she told..... (And the
    > > store, if really large, finds it easier to issue credit than risk a
    > > "frivolous" lawsuit.)
    > In Sweden it's quite usual that shops offer an "open" buy.
    > That means you may return the product within a reasonable time.
    > The product must not be used and original packing must be returned.
    > Isn't that available in US ?

Some stores in the US have an amazingly liberal return policy. There
is no question almost all stores will accept the return of a small
fridge if it's only been a week or two. The question is an ethical
one.

Miguel Cruz

chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn <[email protected]> wrote:
    > Frank F. Matthews <[email protected]> wrote:
    >> dgs wrote:
    >>> Indeed. It is the norm in Europe for the smaller, family run hotels
    >>> to offer reasonable rates on comfortable, simple accomodations that
    >>> include breakfast. The fancy expensive places not only charge high
    >>> prices for lodgings, but also charge exhorbitant rates for what they
    >>> consider to be additional items like breakfast, not to mention the
    >>> absurdly overpriced junk in their minibars.
    >>
    >> I don't see the connection, even in europe. I would count the Sofitel
    >> at CDG as fairly expensive yet our room there came with two very
    >> extensive breakfast buffets.
    > What I've noticed is that if the breakfast isn't included in a hotel's
    > price, it is usually more expensive depending on the general price and
    > class of the hotel, even if what you get is basically the same. Similar
    > thing for things like dry-cleaning, drinks, etc.

What I've noticed is that if the breakfast isn't included in a hotel's
price, you can almost always get the manager to throw it in anyway.

miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos from 32 countries on 5 continents: http://travel.u.nu

Chancellor Of The Duchy Of Besses O' Th' Barn

Miguel Cruz <[email protected]> wrote:

[]
    > What I've noticed is that if the breakfast isn't included in a hotel's
    > price, you can almost always get the manager to throw it in anyway.

It depends. High end hotel needing custom, absolutely, but good luck
trying to get an Ibis or Travelodge to give you a freebie!

David

--
David Horne- www.davidhorne.net
usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk

JohnT

"chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn"
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:1gnbcqc.1g1irh21rny04pN%this_address_is_for_s [email protected]...
    > Miguel Cruz <[email protected]> wrote:
    > []
    >> What I've noticed is that if the breakfast isn't included in a hotel's
    >> price, you can almost always get the manager to throw it in anyway.
    > It depends. High end hotel needing custom, absolutely, but good luck
    > trying to get an Ibis or Travelodge to give you a freebie!
    > David
If Miguel has ever negotiated a free breakfast at a Wyndham, a Holiday Inn or a
Westin then I should be grateful to know how he achieved it!

JohnT

nitram

On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 22:40:03 -0000, "JohnT"
<[email protected]> wrote:

    >"chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn"
    ><[email protected]> wrote in message
    >news:1gnbcqc.1g1irh21rny04pN%this_address_is_for_ [email protected]...
    >> Miguel Cruz <[email protected]> wrote:
    >> []
    >>> What I've noticed is that if the breakfast isn't included in a hotel's
    >>> price, you can almost always get the manager to throw it in anyway.
    >> It depends. High end hotel needing custom, absolutely, but good luck
    >> trying to get an Ibis or Travelodge to give you a freebie!
    >> David
    >If Miguel has ever negotiated a free breakfast at a Wyndham, a Holiday Inn or a
    >Westin then I should be grateful to know how he achieved it!

One way is just to walk in and help yourself. In some control is
pretty lax.
--
Martin

Chancellor Of The Duchy Of Besses O' Th' Barn

<[email protected]> wrote:

    > One way is just to walk in and help yourself. In some control is
    > pretty lax.

When I first stayed in Amsterdam, I was 15, and travelled there with a
friend of mine. We stayed at the Kok Hotel in Vondel Park. Titter,
titter! Anyway, they had three classes of hotel- first, tourist and
budget, right next to each other. They had no rooms left in budget, but
they had a budget room at the top of the first class building, and we
were allowed to have breakfast in the first class hotel. Wow. We were
frequently the only two people there, and overwhelmed by the generous
smørgåsbord on offer! The waitresses were from Portugal and Glasgow
repsectively, so it was just a big chat session, and they'd run off and
make us omelettes and stuff.

David

--
David Horne- www.davidhorne.net
usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk

Erilar

In article <[email protected]>, Ellie C
<[email protected]> wrote:

    > Frank F. Matthews wrote:
    >
    > > EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) wrote:
    > >
    > >> Frank F. Matthews wrote:
    > >
    > >
    > >>> These are probably the nut cases that try to charge you for looking
    > >>> at the contents of something in the mini bar.
    > >
    > >
    > >> What do they do about the guests like me who use the mini bar mostly
    > >> as a refrigerator for the cheese and stuff I keep in my room for
    > >> impromptu meals?
    > >
    > >
    > > You will get an automatic charge for anything that you move. They are
    > > quite clear that Sofitel does not want you to use the fridge for
    > > anything of yours and such use is not permitted.
    > >
    > What a mean and stingy attitude. Note to self - never stay at a Sofitel!

Same here. I also put my own stuff in them 8-)

--
Mary Loomer Oliver (aka Erilar)

You can't reason with someone whose first line of argument
is that reason doesn't count. Isaac Asimov

Erilar's Cave Annex: http://www.airstreamcomm.net/~erilarlo

EvelynVogtGamble

chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn wrote:

    > EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) <[email protected]> wrote:
    >
    > []
    >
    >>I DID stay in a hotel in Paris, once, that claimed to
    >>provide "kitchenettes" in their rooms, These consisted of
    >>an all-in-one unit of two-burner electric stove (cooker),
    >>sink and refrigerator. Of course they failed to provide
    >>anything to cook IN, and it was an otherwise decidedly
    >>crummy hotel. I prefer to stay at the clean, comfortable
    >>Bastille Speria, and make do with the minibar's limited
    >>empty space for refrigeration.
    >
    >
    > Likewise, the fridge is more important for me than the kitchen, as I
    > don't tend to want to cook much when I'm travelling, but I want to have
    > some food and drink ready if I want a snack, lunch, etc. I can make
    > coffee (another essential for me!) with a boiling implement and travel
    > cafetière, as mentioned in a post a while back.

I use a Melita type cone that fits over a cup (it takes less
room in my luggage than even a small cafetiere), but I agree
about the essential nature of coffee!