By Jay Whipple
Trend Magazine Online™
Extended Stay Nightmare!cont'd.
Trend Magazine Online™
Extended Stay Nightmare!cont'd.
The next week after my move in for an Extended Stay
the nosey (just like the reviews stated from Part I) Onsite Manager from Hell was at
it again. It was around noon that next Tuesday when I received a knock
on my door. It was her and one of the housekeepers wanting to clean my room a
week earlier than what she stated during our initial in-person meeting just
four days earlier. I reminded her of this and explained that I was still in the
process of moving in for my six-month stay. She then asked me several times if
I was sure that I did not need room service -- which was quite annoying -- so I
asked for two trash bags just to get rid of them so that I could continue unpacking.
That very next day, Wednesday, around 12:15 pm,
there was yet another knock on my door, and it was the nosey Onsite Manager
from Hell once again. This time she asked me to move my vehicle which was
parked out of the way and in the last designated space at the entrance to the
property. I did and she then questioned why I did not park in the space that
she dictated next to several utility trucks (high vehicle damage area) and
hidden from my room's front window where I could see it. I had to explain to
her again that I was not comfortable parking where she dictated, and I once
again reviewed the property rules to see if parking was designated (it was
not).
That next Monday at 10:06 am, the manager left a message on my
work number regarding clutter in my room. I also provide contract transportation
services and am not able to speak to anyone, other than customers, when on the
job. I returned to my room later that evening and while relaxing and unwinding
from a nearly 12-hour day of driving, there was yet another knock at my
door at around 6:45 pm. It was her again; this time complaining about my
personal and business items that I was still in the process of sorting through
to decide what to keep in my room; put back into storage or discard. She then
began to elaborate on the issue although I let her know that I was watching my
favorite game show and that I was planning on discussing the matter with her that
Thursday when I came in to pay my weekly rent. She then stated that she was
going to put me on a trial basis until I got rid of my personal and business items
from my room. I considered that statement very rude and unprofessional; just
like the reviews stated. I later discovered that my neighbor in the adjacent room
was allowed to keep far more items in his room including bookshelves, a
weight bench, and treading machine. They did their best to hide that fact from
me by keeping his door closed during weekly cleanings, but I managed to snap a quick
picture on one occasion. A clear double standard that was so easily uncovered.
Later that week, after the Manager from Hell's
maintenance inspection, I noticed that my small container of dishwashing
liquid, 3 spare bottle caps, the two coffee bags, two brown pillow cases, and
white toaster (supplied by them) were missing; my large white cutting board, toaster,
mini plastic basketball goal, and coffee maker (supplied by them) were moved;
and my wet/damp towel, wash cloth, and face cloth were sealed in a plastic bag
on the floor causing them to have a foul odor when opened. I travel quite a
bit, have stayed in an Extended Stay for 1 1/2 years, and as mentioned before am
a travel writer for this magazine, and have rarely had an issue with room
service moving or removing my personal or business items.
To add insult to injury I personally witnessed multiple guests moving in and
out of the three Studio Rooms at the end of the property and this one gentleman
in particular, who drove a midsize maroon Chevrolet, was allowed to rent
one of them at will on at least a dozen occasions during my stay and in some
instances for only two nights. All of this after I stated in writing, before
moving in, that I expected to be moved into a Studio Room as soon as one
became available. It was my condition for accepting the larger Standard Room
initially and accepted by management upon them processing my first payment.
After several request to the On-Site Manager from Hell it was clear to
me that she had no intention of renting me the less expensive room per my
repeated request. In fact, she eventually stated that the owner was not going
to allow me to rent one of the Studio Rooms after collecting months of higher
payments.
That very next day, Wednesday, around 12:15 pm,
there was yet another knock on my door, and it was the nosey Onsite Manager
from Hell once again. This time she asked me to move my vehicle which was
parked out of the way and in the last designated space at the entrance to the
property. I did and she then questioned why I did not park in the space that
she dictated next to several utility trucks (high vehicle damage area) and
hidden from my room's front window where I could see it. I had to explain to
her again that I was not comfortable parking where she dictated, and I once
again reviewed the property rules to see if parking was designated (it was
not).
That next Monday at 10:06 am, the manager left a message on my
work number regarding clutter in my room. I also provide contract transportation
services and am not able to speak to anyone, other than customers, when on the
job. I returned to my room later that evening and while relaxing and unwinding
from a nearly 12-hour day of driving, there was yet another knock at my
door at around 6:45 pm. It was her again; this time complaining about my
personal and business items that I was still in the process of sorting through
to decide what to keep in my room; put back into storage or discard. She then
began to elaborate on the issue although I let her know that I was watching my
favorite game show and that I was planning on discussing the matter with her that
Thursday when I came in to pay my weekly rent. She then stated that she was
going to put me on a trial basis until I got rid of my personal and business items
from my room. I considered that statement very rude and unprofessional; just
like the reviews stated. I later discovered that my neighbor in the adjacent room
was allowed to keep far more items in his room including bookshelves, a
weight bench, and treading machine. They did their best to hide that fact from
me by keeping his door closed during weekly cleanings, but I managed to snap a quick
picture on one occasion. A clear double standard that was so easily uncovered.Later that week, after the Manager from Hell's
maintenance inspection, I noticed that my small container of dishwashing
liquid, 3 spare bottle caps, the two coffee bags, two brown pillow cases, and
white toaster (supplied by them) were missing; my large white cutting board, toaster,
mini plastic basketball goal, and coffee maker (supplied by them) were moved;
and my wet/damp towel, wash cloth, and face cloth were sealed in a plastic bag
on the floor causing them to have a foul odor when opened. I travel quite a
bit, have stayed in an Extended Stay for 1 1/2 years, and as mentioned before am
a travel writer for this magazine, and have rarely had an issue with room
service moving or removing my personal or business items.
To add insult to injury I personally witnessed multiple guests moving in and
out of the three Studio Rooms at the end of the property and this one gentleman
in particular, who drove a midsize maroon Chevrolet, was allowed to rent
one of them at will on at least a dozen occasions during my stay and in some
instances for only two nights. All of this after I stated in writing, before
moving in, that I expected to be moved into a Studio Room as soon as one
became available. It was my condition for accepting the larger Standard Room
initially and accepted by management upon them processing my first payment.
After several request to the On-Site Manager from Hell it was clear to
me that she had no intention of renting me the less expensive room per my
repeated request. In fact, she eventually stated that the owner was not going
to allow me to rent one of the Studio Rooms after collecting months of higher
payments.
