What an amazing day! We spent many hours outside, cleaning our Studio so Sven can move over as soon as the weather improves substantially. I am afraid the warmth is just a tease, that winter will soon return. Ho-hum. Reservations certainly started off slow this year. We have a real sense that people are feeling the recession. Lots of requests for one night, which we don't do.
A woman called up Saturday from the Left Bank Gallery.
“I hear such nice things about your B&B from Martha,” she said in a friendly voice, very mellow and focused. “I would love to stay a night or two.”
Martha is the manager at Left Bank.
I imagined her talking up Chez Sven from behind the counter, surrounded by incredible works of art, her deft fingers slipping a Visa card into the credit card machine, or putting the final touches on a wrapped gift. (Left Bank now has an annex, a smaller gallery at the corner of Main and Holbrook, which specializes in small works and affordable pretty things.)In this business, one has to make split-second decisions. Should I accept this person, or say no? Was there reason enough to make exception to the rule? Often you only have a few words and the tone of voice, if the request comes via telephone. I imagined a patron of the arts, with money to spare, hair permed or neatly frizzy, Vuitton bag, sunglasses, flowing skirts, elegant scarf draped over one shoulder, size 14 to 16, using an iPhone to make the call. I explained what we had available: everything!
“Unfortunately, I’m on a tight budget,” the woman said.
Whoops! Wrong stereotype. Think thirty years younger, a real artist perhaps, in jeans and black turtleneck, with a black and white scarf coiled around her neck, more a size 4 to 6, who had borrowed Martha's cell.
I cleared my throat. “Meaning?”
“I found a place to stay in Provincetown for $59 a night.”
“Grab it, then!” I said.
There’s no way we can offer a room for $59.
If she decided to remain a second night,
I hope beachcombing, while on the Cape, was part of her agenda. The ocean has calmed down and lapped at the shore yesterday afternoon. We saw more evidence of erosion at LeCount Hollow. Check out this pipe, which used to be buried in the dune.Over the past few days, I booked every remaining week in July for Seagull Cottage, so there is only one August week left for our busiest two-month period.
As Sven and I walked along and experienced all the beige and blue, I thought back to the young artist. Wherever I looked, there was beauty, created by the tide, or by the wind ...
If you had been the innkeeper and your lowest off-season rate was $130, would you have made an exception?
16 comments:
I experienced something similar in my own work. I selling my work at an Art Market, but there was another vendor-obviously a hobbyist- selling felted scarves for an outrageously cheap price. Her price would have barely covered the cost of materials, much less labour. She was essentially paying people to buy her work. I can't afford to do that and won't devalue my work and expertise. You are in the same situation. Hold Fast!
I agree with Frugal Kiwi. In very rare cases you can make an exception- but there has to be more to the decision then just someone wanting something for a cheaper price.
Isn't it soo nice to have some warm weather, especially unexpected? And to get a big cleaning project done?
I am not an inn keeper so I have no idea but I do think sometimes (sometimes) an exception is a good idea.
Wow that Seagull Cottage is all booked up. The tide is turning, yes? I hope you're feeling more sanguine about this year's business?!
I just left a comment and then got an error, so I don't think it took. If you get two from me, it's not because I'm feeling self important.
I think you did the right thing. I sort of think it was rude of her to expect you to lower your prices so much. A 10 percent discount is one thing. More than half off is quite another.
That would be quite a steal for a room at a B&B unless she thought she was sleeping in the broom closet! But sometimes I think it makes sense to make an exception. The question would be, would you make a profit on that rate? If not, I wouldn't do it.
Hmmm...a tough question. I probably would be tempted, but would be hesitant to lower my price all that much. And if you did, you'd probably resent it and it might even reflect on the interaction with this woman.
Is $59 for an occupied room better than $0 for an unoccupied one, or is your time and effort not worth expending for so low a fee, when there are off-season projects to occupy you productively? Plus there are all the associated problems (or benefits?) if word gets around that you'll discount that deeply if asked. Not being in the business myself, I can't say what I'd do.
I am intrigued though by your evolving mental pictures of this woman - particularly that they included specific dress sizes!
I'm fascinated by how varied your comments are on this topic! Especially, Sandy Shoes on dress sizes.
I should have asked where she had found a $59 rate in P-town, really incredible, even in winter. I can only imagine one of the guesthouses, with multiple rooms, was offering a broom closet, as Marthaandme suggested.
I should probably add that I have, in the past, allowed artists to stay for nothing or given them a free night, if our schedule allows
Writers, too, are sometimes asked to write for free or for very reduced prices, and whether to do so or not is a subject of great debate. I think there are some situations where it might make sense, and others where it simply wouldn't at all. I'm sure you followed your gut instinct on this one and that it was the right decision for you.
I think SandyShoes and Christne both have the right of --it is your work and you know best when to make exceptions.
on my last several trips to Ireland, I've not been able to afford my favorite b&b so I've stayed at a hostel in the area and budgeted for one or two nights at the b&b at the end of my trip. when I first started doing this I told the b&b owners what I'd planned, not in the sense that I expected them to change their rates, but so they'd know it was not out of any dissatisfaction (I'd been returning there for a number of years). it was a good conversation -- and they did ask me what the hostel charged, which I thought a wise move on their part.
I think you made the right decision. All of us work from some business model, business plan, and if you cannot offer what someone seeks, I think it's OK to say no.
I'm inclined to think you made the right decision -- but have to say I'm curious about your prospective guest. Sometimes people with plenty of money can lowball you. Do I sound cynical?
In a word, Ruth, YES! Over the years we have not had many guests of this type, although they probably do exist.
Like Ruth, I'm curious about your guest too. I'm also wondering if this is the first time this has happened. I'm not sure what I'd do, but I will say that I wouldn't feel comfortable calling a reputable B&B and requesting a room at less than half their normal rate.
I found your blog while looking into the Nstar issue (trying to drum up awareness UpCape here in Falmouth) and am really enjoying it! (I'm going with the other artists, wouldn't go that low for no good reason- I must be a skeptic too, I think they may not have that rate elsewhere at all, they are just saying that to get you to agree!)
This is a tough call. While I do like the idea of a reduced rate for struggling artists (but then what about struggling farmers, cleaners, bartenders etc.) it was such a big difference in your regular rate.
It's probably harder for small inn keepers but do you have reduced rates for repeat customers or an arrangement with local organizations or some such?
In the end, as most folks have suggested, only you know what's right for both yr biz plan and gut instincts. Go with those.
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