Please Give Me a Refund!
Often, I receive emails from vacation renters but a recent email request has been on my mind of late. The renter simply wanted a refund. What most travelers do not realize is that once a booking is made by a traveler for a rental home, cabin or condo the owner’s home is taken off the market. This means it is no longer for rent. It is unavailable period. Could you imagine showing up at the home only to find another family is cooking dinner and enjoying their stay? What a mess!
So, let’s assume for a moment that a traveler books a vacation rental for Christmas week in the middle of November. This amounts to one and a half months prior to their booked arrival date. Over the next forty five days inquires will no doubt come in for that same home (that is off the market) and other inquires for different rentals listed on the ReserveMyHome site. Many folks will still inquire about the unavailable home that has been booked. These travelers are turned away from the booked rental because it is simply unavailable. Some renters will move on to the next home or website to seek a similar home.
Unlike a hotel room, a vacation rental cannot be switched around to accommodate a renters request of an ocean view, a deluxe room with two king beds or perhaps a request for a higher floor.
The vacation rental is selected and booked ahead of time. Typically a renter will research and accept suggestions and agreements from family and friends, agree on a location and the amenities that come with the rental. After all this sharing and research is complete a decision is made. Friends and family are advised of their secured accommodations and other travel plans are made to complete the trip. Using this example above and can consider the rental booked. Then tragedy happens and the renter that booked the home or cabin months ago can no longer honor their agreement and requests a cancellation and refund.
They know the refund and cancellation policy, they know it’s a long shot, but what they may not know is how many bookings have been turned aside since their original booking. This is why ReserveMyHome has a refund and cancellation policy. It is used to protect the owner of the home from loss. It is used to clearly define the process if tragedy happens. It is upheld by our company to ensure the home is available. In a perfect world we could make everyone happy (and we try very hard to do just that).
ReserveMyHome is not in the business of giving out refunds or switching around rooms like a hotel. When a renter books it they can trust in it. The home will be there for them and their family and friends when they arrive on their confirmed dates.
Recently, a request for a refund came in. Tragedy had struck and they simply could not attend. In this case, a new renter wanted the same home which resulted in this email from the original renter…
‘To Reserve My Home,
I recently booked a house with ReserveMyHome. We had a serious family emergency that came up two weeks prior to my arrival date. I contacted Zoe Avery and advised her of my situation. Zoe informed me of the cancellation policy and notified me that it was not in the agreement to refund the payment of the house.
Despite the policy Zoe and ReserveMyHome went above and beyond to work with me in regards to the payment of the house. The compassion and excellent customer service your company has shown is greatly appreciated. I look forward to doing business in the future with you and would recommend this company to anyone I know. I appreciate all that help you have extended to me in this tough time. Thank you again Zoe and ReserveMyHome.’
Sincerely,
W. Padilla Jr.
I wish it was this easy all the time! But the fact is… It’s not.
Tags: Accommodaitons, Christmas in Lake Tahoe, Travel, Vacation Rental Blog, Vacation Rental Refunds, Vacation Rentals
thanks for that
I was searching on yahoo when I found your site. So much of what you say is true. I got alot from this post, I’m going to add your rss feed to my Google reader. Thanks!
I just had to take a minute and let you know that I’ve been enjoying reading your posts over the last few months. I have a blog of my own, and would love to switch links with you if you’re interested. You can check out my blog at Scar Removal.
Great Post! This might be a little off topic but has anyone ever been to an island Boracay? Its like that movie The Beach with Leonardo Dicaprio!
Good points raised here. I am grateful to you for that, however you deserve more thanks than that. I suffer from color blindness (deuteranopia in my case). I mainly use Opera browser (no idea if that changes anything), and a considerabland a number of web sites are challenging to comprehend thanks to a careless range of colours used. However, here, as the range of colors is good, the design is extremely tidy and pleasant to comprehend. I don’t know whether it was a premeditated and conscious undertaking, or just the ‘luck of the draw’, but I still thank you.
It is nice to know this. Thanks for the time and effort. It is well appreciated. More to come.
Free Green tea
Free Green tea
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