Tell Tom Bodett not to keep the light on for me, because I’m never coming back to their dumpy shitboxes.
I wrote this post on Tuesday and sent the link to Motel 6 Customer Service. I also put it on their Facebook fan page. Four other people sent it to Motel 6 as well and for that I am appreciative. Hours after the post went up, I received an e-mail from Motel 6 apologizing and saying they were looking into it. An hour later, Eric, the property manager, called to say he was shipping my stuff (at my expense) the next day. He did, and I have my stuff. Finally.
If you want to know why this sounds so dramatic, read the blog post.
I made the poor decision to stay in the Motel 6 on So. Lindbergh Ave in South St Louis on June 30. From the moment I pulled into the parking lot at 11 PM, I knew it was a mistake, but I did it anyway.
As we rolled into the lot, there were three large gentleman hanging outside a couple rooms. They looked a bit out of place, but we had a reservation, so I went inside where I was greeted by a very rude guy, who I believe was named Christopher. I checked in and he told me my room number. It happened to be where the people were lounging. I asked that we be put in another room and he said that the guys outside were the hotel manager and a couple friends.
As he was telling me this, he was doing some weird bob of his head, so I looked behind me and there was one of the guys at the door. Apparently Christopher was telling his friends it was time to take off. We entered the room, which had a really shitty lock on it and Drama Queen crawled into bed. I opted to take a shower first.
As I stepped into the shower I noticed a disposable razor sitting on the edge and the shower looked like it had been wiped down quickly, but not really cleaned. My bed also had stained sheets. It was not a pleasant experience. The next morning I spoke with Roxie in the office and she was polite and apologetic. She said she would make sure to tell the manager.
We climbed back in the car and headed to Amarillo, TX. Once we arrived at the motel, I opened my suitcase and found that I left a big stack of books and DVDs on the dresser at Motel 6 and I immediately called and was assured they had them and would hold them for me. I told Roxie I would call her in a couple days with a Fedex account number and an address so they could ship them and she said no problem.
It is a problem. A huge problem. I called and gave her the info and was told they would be sent out. Since then, both The Muse and I have called the motel repeatedly and have been told on most occasions that the manager isn’t available and they don’t have to tell us his name. Seriously? Isn’t this a service industry? Why is the manager hiding? Who does no one at Motel 6 corporate appear to give a crap? Is this what they think of their guests?
One person eventually said his name was Bob and today Christopher told me his name is Eric. Christopher also said that they have my stuff but they won’t ship it. “If you want it, come get it,” he said with a shitty, snotty tone. I told him I would have the police come and handle it and he asked if I needed the address. What a dick.
This is a corporate owned Motel 6 and The Muse has spoken with a District Manager named Jim Wright, but so far he has blown us off and not lived up to what he said he would do. I’ve called and left messages for Jim and asked for his boss. I was put through to the voice mail of a Joy Thompson, but I have yet to hear back from her.
The bottom line is these assholes have possession of about $500 worth of my stuff. Did I screw up by leaving it there? Yes. But they promised me on multiple occasions to send it back. They are in possession of property they know doesn’t belong to them and they are simply being huge cocks. Guess what people, when you treat guests like this you’re going to get bitten in the ass. I’ve gone from being happy that Roxie was going to help me out, to hoping that every last one of them gets fired–Jim and Joy included.
Anyone know anybody at Motel 6 corporate? If so, can you hook me up with their info. I’m about 24 hours away from doing everything I can to blast this place with bad publicity. I’ve also spoken with the local police and they said that what the Motel 6 employees are doing amounts to being in possession of stolen property.
It’s true they didn’t actually rip it off, but they have been given opportunities to return it at no charge to them and they refuse. They even told The Muse they shipped it and gave her a bogus tracking number.
Fuck you Motel 6. Tell Tom Bodett not to keep the light on for me, because I’m never coming back to their dumpy shitboxes.
P.S. I just spoke with Motel 6 customer service and they said if I left property in the room it’s, “Not our problem.”
About J.R. Reed
That, my friend, just plain sucks.
I left a bunch of shit in the Boston Marriott a couple weeks ago when the 6 of us went on vacation. When I called about it, they said they found it and shipped it to our house. However, I wonder if they would’ve told us about it had I NOT noticed and called 5 days later…
Yeah Muskrat, I wonder. These people said they would ship it and I even gave them a Fedex acct number. All they had to do was put it in a box and have it picked up. I just don’t get it.
I say blast them! That’s crappy service!
If you had left anything here, I would have read/watched it all, then sent it back
.
Just sent a email blasting them through there website/Customer service.. Basically telling them to check out this link (to this page) and help this guy out. As I am blasting to all my online (facebook) and offline friends to stay away from motel 6.. If you hear anything. Please let us know.
Right on!! *fist bump*
The way they treated you was horrible and the fact that they flat of lied to me is extremely unprofessional. I think a call to the legal office is in order. Their behavior alone grants a call.
And Liz, *snicker* I was thinking the exact same thing!
What? That is absurd. And they have have always had such a sparkling reputation. You should start a negative publicity campain ‘Leave the Black Light on for me’
Seattledad…that thing you smell is my brain firing up some ideas. Thanks!
Holy shit! Unreal!
I’m thankful that out of the 12 days and 3000+ miles that we’re going to be on the road, we’re only staying in one hotel – somewhere in Indianapolis. At least the rest of the time we’re staying with friends/family so if we leave anything behind, we’ll get it back. (Although if a kid accidentally gets left behind, I may feign ignorance…”Kid? What kid? I’m not missing a kid.”)
As a former hotel employee, we would not send anything to a guest unless he/she requested it – and that was because the person might have been staying there unknown to anyone at his/her mailing address. But, if a guest called and said that they left something, we’d send it to them – even on our dime. Motel 6 sucks. Sorry you went through that BS.
Amy
Call your credit card company and reverse the charges. You were required to pay in order to leave, but they failed to provide the promised service in the advertised manner. Tell your cc customer service rep about the unsanitary conditions, rude behavior, etc. They’ll ask you to write a letter or fill out a form (for them, not for Motel 6). It should be easy and stress-free. It’s best to do it right away, especially before your billing cycle ends.
When I need an inexpensive room by the highway for multi-day drives, I stick with Hampton Inns. They’re run by Hilton, most are quite lovely, and they’re always clean. (Yes, I’m capable of staying in something that’s not a four-star hotel, I just try to avoid it.) Also, their parking lots are usually the most well-lit and safe in the clusters of highway motels near on/off ramps.
Isn’t southern St. Louis a place no one should ever drive through, much less stay in? Maybe I’m confusing it with another part of the city, but the stories I’ve heard are not at all good!
I also sent a message to their Customer Service Department. Let us know if they do anything about it!! Good luck!
Having lived in St. Louis for 20+ years, I can clarify. South St. Louis County is a decent place. People tend to be a bit up on themselves, but overall fairly nice. South St. Louis City, on the other hand, is a different story. Basically, if you are in St. Louis City Limits and aren’t downtown at the landing or in the general vicinity, you’re taking your life and moral values in your own hands. ^_^
If I’m thinking of the right Motel 6, it’s at S. Lindbergh and I-55, which is an area of town known as Mehlville. It’s kind of a pocket of trash in the middle of a decent area, unfortunately.
Just so you know, J.R., you aren’t the only one to swear off Motel 6. About 7 years ago I stayed in one of these “establishments” in Topeka, KS. Or at least I attempted to. When I turned on the light in the room the cockroaches yelled at me to turn it back off. Being a truck driver, I was used to harsh conditions, so I fought my way in and grabbed a shower, left the light on to keep the bugs at bay, and tried to catch a nap (was over my DOT regulated hours, and exhausted to boot). About 2 in the morning, the neighbors down the causeway got passionate about something (not sure if they were fighting or having fun, was hard to tell), and I called the office to complain. Their response was to inform me that the couple in question were regulars and would quiet down soon…
An hour after that, the neighbors either sorted their differences or finished their business, and I attempted to go back to sleep. One of the braver cockroaches crawled up on top of the TV set, and I threw a shoe at him. When he threw it back, I decided that I didn’t care that much about DOT regs and headed back to St. Louis…
–did you send the assholes this blog????????
Kim, not only did I get it to their customer service, but three readers did as well!
Thanks for the clarification, Evil Sheep (awesome name!). I would hate to speak ill of a place which doesn’t deserve it!
If you have to ‘pick it up yourself’ maybe arrangements could be made for someone to pick up your stuff for you and then they could ship it to you? I have friends in the St. Louis area, maybe one of them would be willing to help out?
Jennifer, thanks for the offer, but the blog post got the wheels turning and my stuff arrived today!!’
What ever happened to customer service?? I have been tempted to blog about a Goodyear Tire shop that is attempting to play games with a warranty on a set of tires we bought from them. You’re giving me inspiration here!
May, all I did was stick to the facts and in fact I left out two things that are fact, but which may influence the way someone thinks about it. (Their race). If you do it, don’t put your emotions down on paper. Good luck.