To whom it may concern:
Our recent stay in the Sandman Inn of America's Best Value Inn was a disturbing experience, to put it mildly. We issued a complaint in person to general manager, Krista Ray, who responded without hospitality and with apparent ire at our complaint which was thus:
When we were breakfasting at the hotel after our stay, an hour before the close of breakfast, the bar was sparse, to put it politely; even the water pitcher was empty and the bathrooms were locked. When we went to inquire of the two ladies we had seen earlier cleaning the breakfast bar, neither was there. We rung the doorbell for service and no one answered. Another customer rang the doorbell for service ten minutes later and still no answer.
We decided to use the restroom and get the remainder of our breakfast out, which was disappointing since we had paid for the breakfast as part of our stay. As we were leaving the building however, we saw the entire staff, some 5-10 people, including the two ladies we had seen prior, immediately outside the building, chatting and smoking right next to the door (though the sign on the door said: "No smoking within 10 feet"). My husband pointed out the two ladies he had seen working earlier and when he did, they hustled inside, sensing our frustration that they would ignore their customers.
I proceeded inside, where I issued my complaints that they did not have unlocked restrooms or a stocked bar, had not had someone manning the desk, did not answer the doorbell, and did not leave an indication that they were on break or when they would be back. The manager insisted that she was the only one on the clock (which does not explain why we saw another of the smoking employees cleaning just 30 minutes prior), and that she was "allowed a break." She said she had no sign to leave. When I suggested that she write a sign herself, she angrily responded that she would do that next time.
At this point, since she was the offender and obviously defensive and angry, I requested her superior. She insisted that the owner lived in India and she had no way of contacting him. I asked to whom she reported, and she gave me a number that did not work. I asked for another and after spending twenty minutes looking it up on a computer, she found another number for me.
I was on hold for a good 15 minutes before an employee of your customer relations answered. She insisted she could do nothing for me beyond direct me to file this report, and that she could not get her manager for me, but would have him call me back at a later time. By this point, I began to suspect I was being given the runaround and insisted I speak to a superior immediately which she denied and then, upset by my insistence, hung up on me.
Still at the hotel, I informed the manager, Krista Ray, that the company appeared to not be able to do anything for me and since the hotel was individually owned and operated, that I would like satisfaction from her. Since our stay included a reasonable expectation of prompt and polite customer service as well as a breakfast and the use of facilities, all of which were denied us, I requested a partial or full refund. She insisted I leave the premises and threatened to call the authorities to have me removed. Since we had already checked out at this time and lost an hour of travel time, I decided to oblige her request with the parting comment that: I would hope this experience would enable her to better serve future customers. read more