Rudi Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 I just wondered whether people nick towels! When you stay at a fully furnished holiday house where towels are provided, do you think it's ok to steal them, or is it just me?! My last lot of guests took 5 hand towels and one bath towel home with them :arghh: !!! I am very unimpressed! I do not charge a deposit because I know people hate them....but I think I am going to have to start having a flat rate if people want towels, as this is happening all too frequently! RANT OVER!!! :mad: Love Rudi x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Pom Queen Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Umm Rudi We have been in the same situation and unfortunately now take bonds, some of our property owners have had kettles go walk about, iron burns on the carpets etc One even had their portable tv go walkabout. I understand what you say about people not wanting to pay a bond but let's face it who is likely to loose the most a couple who have paid $700 or the landlord who has just gone to the property to find all the furniture has been stolen (which has happened here in Melbourne a few years back) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DadAgain Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Nope... I thats rude... it theft and quite simply unacceptable. I pay too much for holiday rentals as it is without having the price increase more than necessary because the owner has to spend $$$$'s on towels every year. I'd be pissed off if I were you and writing a polite letter which even a fool would be able to read between the lines: Dear xxxx, Thank you for staying at xxxxxx recently, I trust everything was to your liking and you enjoyed your stay. <insert more fluffy generic waffling about how you hope they'll come again and/or mention to any of their friends how good thei holiday was> Our post-rental audit of the apartment revealed a shortage of towels. We'd be grateful if you could quickly check to see if you *accidentaly* packed some of ours with your luggage and return them to us at the address below. xxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxx Thank you once again for staying with us. xxxxx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petals Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 I think bond is the only way to go or put up rate to include losses. To answer the question, no we do not take anything. Enough rubbish of our own usually. :smile: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest proud2beaussie Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 An ex girlfriend of mine was the head housekeeper for a large 5* hotel in Melbourne who were always losing towels and fluffy bathrobes,they fixed the problem by putting up a big notice in the room advising that the towels were hotel property and if guests like them so much they can buy them. maybe worth a try for you Rudi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudi Posted October 13, 2009 Author Share Posted October 13, 2009 Just want to add......it's not anyone who booked via Pomsinoz!!!! It was through Stayz!!! Our English guests do not seem to take stuff.....it is the Aussies!!!!!!!!!! 1 hand towel I accept could be an accident, especially when you have kids and they just shove everything into their bags.....but it was too many this time to be a mistake!! The thing is, they would know I wouild know it was them. They left a lovely comment in my guest book and said "we'll be back" :goofy: LOL! UM no, I will blacklist them!!!! Love Rudi x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calNgary Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 LOL, I find the UK to Oz travel adapter plugs and tea towels always go walk-abouts from my houses,lol, i think sometimes people are just so busy packing up they don't realise. Cal x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Pom Queen Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Nope... I thats rude... it theft and quite simply unacceptable. I pay too much for holiday rentals as it is without having the price increase more than necessary because the owner has to spend $$$$'s on towels every year. I'd be pissed off if I were you and writing a polite letter which even a fool would be able to read between the lines: Great idea:wubclub: Like Rudi says it is usually not the people from overseas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gary12 Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 That is terrible. Our kids broke a vase whilst we were in ours we phoned the guy and he said no problem but I still replaced it with an identical one ( Good old Salvos!). You must charge a deposit, they are not worthy of a booking if they are not prepared to pay one. Either that or only supply crap towels!!! Michelle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sk1nny Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Don't supply any towels, or have supplied for a fee....all my stayz bookings have asked for a booking fee Rudi & I've paid. From the flip side, it p.....s me off when they dont' repay the bond quick enough....like take 2 weeks to reimburse!! The place I book for a month on Central Coast last year wanted 50% bond on top of all four weeks money up front... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windswept Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Hubby and I rent fully furnished places too, and we've had all kinds of stuff either get broken or go missing. Some of it really bizarre too - I hate to think how somebody could've possibly broken the pedestal of the toilet? Must've been a very big night!! So yes, we do ask for a bond now. That said, we don't look to keep it, I always say to people that if they hand the place over neat and clean (with everything in it!) they will get their bond back in full. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aldo Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Just want to add......it's not anyone who booked via Pomsinoz!!!! It was through Stayz!!! Our English guests do not seem to take stuff.....it is the Aussies!!!!!!!!!! 1 hand towel I accept could be an accident, especially when you have kids and they just shove everything into their bags.....but it was too many this time to be a mistake!! The thing is, they would know I wouild know it was them. They left a lovely comment in my guest book and said "we'll be back" :goofy: LOL! UM no, I will blacklist them!!!! Love Rudi x I've got a rental apartmet here fully furnished and i swear the theiving bstards will nick anything, I have a book shelf that was fully stacked with books, dvds, videos and they seen to think they can help themselves, one lot even took a gas bottle and a bag of charcoal!! Shouldn't realy cast aspersions but you can usually tell by the accent the ones to watch.:wink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest30038 Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 I knew it wouldn't be the poms..............they don't wash :tongue::biglaugh: kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tracy123 Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Cant but help take an embossed towel with where I've stayed logo on it, if it's plain whats the point???? The last towel came from the hotel I stayed in at Seoul. I won't say anymore for the fear of being told off. I guess I can't help it, it's in my convict nature :mask: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunkaren Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 I can't believe people would do that! We did a house exchange two years ago and the first cup of tea I made cracked a cup - I spent the next 4 weeks trying to find one the same. I also replaced an orchid whose flowers had dropped off whilst we were there - only to be told by my Mum that's what happens, but hey thats the kind of person I am!! As someone who will probably be in need of short term fully furnished accommodation, the thought of a bond just adds to the cost (although as the property owner I have to agree it probably is the way to go), still if you don't break or lose anything then you get a bonus at the end to spend on your new place!!! I suppose there will always be those people who will steal anything that isn't nailed to the floor - even then they will have a go!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudi Posted October 13, 2009 Author Share Posted October 13, 2009 Thanks for all the replies. I too have always been really careful to clean up and replace everything. At a furnished rental we stayed at for a few weeks my dog completely wrecked the mesh in the screen door!!! We left $50 and a note to say please contact us if the repair cost more. The owners were lovely and actually returned $20 to us!!!!! Ah well, I guess you live and learn. We are quite new to this so it's a learning process. It's funny how some people are. These people who nicked off with the towels also left a few dirty dishes in the sink which is not really a problem, but I would just never do that!!!! I am going to try charging a flat rate per visit if people want towels provided. I'll do the bed linen for free, but give them the option to pay for towels. That way they can choose to provide their own if they want. It's an evolving process, so that may change again!!!! Love Rudi x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aldo Posted October 14, 2009 Share Posted October 14, 2009 I knew it wouldn't be the poms..............they don't wash kev Bit racist dont ou think? I think oter races are much more smelly than pomsbut wouldn't dare say so:tongue:.:policeman: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest9973 Posted October 14, 2009 Share Posted October 14, 2009 I just wondered whether people nick towels! When you stay at a fully furnished holiday house where towels are provided, do you think it's ok to steal them, or is it just me?! My last lot of guests took 5 hand towels and one bath towel home with them :arghh: !!! I am very unimpressed! I do not charge a deposit because I know people hate them....but I think I am going to have to start having a flat rate if people want towels, as this is happening all too frequently! RANT OVER!!! :mad: Love Rudi x Not on your own Rudi,we have the odd towel go missing - and we charge a bond! We use plain towels - from now on we should use some garishly tacky patterned ones then they might not go walk about!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudi Posted October 17, 2009 Author Share Posted October 17, 2009 OK......so I am currently eating the most MASSIVE piece of humble pie ever!!!! I went over to the house today to finish the cleaning ready for our next guests......and guess what I found!? Yep - the "missing" towels, all put away neatly in a cupboard because they hadn't been used. Bless them!! SO SORRY TO THE PEOPLE WHO I WRONGFULLY SAID HAD TAKEN THEM!!!!!!! Luckily I hadn't followed it up with them!!!!! My faith is restored!!! Love Rudi x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest proud2beaussie Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 You just have to have all your towels monogramned with "This towel was stolen from XXXXXX(Insert name of property)"lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudi Posted October 17, 2009 Author Share Posted October 17, 2009 LOL, I reckon it would be cheaper to buy new towels each time rather than have them monogrammed!!! I reckon people are proud to carry stuff around that says that sort of thing!!!! Love Rudi x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunkaren Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 Glad you found them!! I expect they thought they were being helpful - note to self if use short term let leave towels in conspicuous place!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tracy123 Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 LOL, I reckon it would be cheaper to buy new towels each time rather than have them monogrammed!!! I reckon people are proud to carry stuff around that says that sort of thing!!!! Love Rudi x count me in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 i would make them pay a deposit like in a rental that way if you do an inspection and anythings missing they dont get it back that will sharp stop them lesley x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basil Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 Quite a few places I've stayed at haven't taken a deposit but have supplied an inventory. On arrival it is the guests responsibility to check and inform if the inventory has errors (but really it's always correct as housekeeping know from having made up the room). Everything has a price next to it and if something is missing at the end that is what the guest will be charged......i have no idea if this is a preventative thing to stop people nicking or if they actually charge as personally I'm not a thief. Glad you got your towels back....this time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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