Is this the normal practice?

[MadPadraic]

This is much ado about nothing if you ask me.

First, it dumped 2 feet + in April, not many places are going to have as much regular staffing that time of year. Especially in the east coast, mtns just cant afford to keep full staff for the last month when the mtn might only need it for 1 weekend.

Second, I have never once heard of a mtn shoveling out your car for you, especially on a pow day. Im frankly pretty suprised you actually expected them to do so. You obviously dont get out much on the good days.

Its a pretty big deal if you ask me. I probably would have threatened the manager that I would instruct my credit card issuer to refuse chargers because service wasn't rendered.

I've never heard of an inn NOT clearing the parking lot, let alone packing you in.

 

[klrskiah]

Its a pretty big deal if you ask me. I probably would have threatened the manager that I would instruct my credit card issuer to refuse chargers because service wasn't rendered.

I've never heard of an inn NOT clearing the parking lot, let alone packing you in.

This is sugarloaf you're talking about, just be thankful they even plowed the road!!

2+ feet of snow with your car snowed in and a lift out your backdoor, what more could you ask for...

 

[AdironRider]

Its a pretty big deal if you ask me. I probably would have threatened the manager that I would instruct my credit card issuer to refuse chargers because service wasn't rendered.

I've never heard of an inn NOT clearing the parking lot, let alone packing you in.

Well I took it as they cleared the lot while he was out skiing....

that being said I think its pretty lame that hes shocked his car was snowed/plowed in. Are you saying they should pay 20 guys to constantly be shoveling out customers cars at the loaf?

 

[MadPadraic]

Well I took it as they cleared the lot while he was out skiing....

that being said I think its pretty lame that hes shocked his car was snowed/plowed in. Are you saying they should pay 20 guys to constantly be shoveling out customers cars at the loaf?

No, I'm saying they should pay 1 guy to plow the parking lot properly before guest have to check out of their inn. Perhaps I misunderstand what happened.

 

[Plowboy]

From the pic I see they pushed the snow to right of his car. Maybe they could have gotten closer to the back bumper. With that much snow, depending on what size the plow is, you have roll over. So, if he got closer to his bumper there could be even more snow behind his bumper.
There are not to many places that will clear the snow in between cars or clean your car off for you.
I would not leave 8' of snow behind your car, but hey sometimes we get overwelmed by the amount of snow and do what we can .
Pack a shovel and sweat it out, could be worse(rain).

Plowboy

ps
OM I was only busting your boy's. Now, if I had gotten warm BEER that would be a differant story.

 

[deadheadskier]

I hear a lot of people in here making excuses about being short staffed. That's the nature of the business during down times and during those times, its up to management to step up and make sure their customer is taken care of. That might mean the GM being out there shoveling people out OR it might mean giving OldSnowboarder a free night's stay next season.

I work in the biz and he clearly wasn't compensated properly with service. if he's not clearly compensated monetarily - then he should take his money elsewhere next time. The key to a well run hospitality business is problem resolution. Those that do it the best are successful - those unwilling to make that commitment don't see return visits / money and ultimately fail.

I think you have a worthy gripe OldSnowboarder and if I were you and this place you visited didn't do what it took to compensate you for the inconvenience you expereinced - I'd take my money elsewhere.

 

[ckofer]

I'd have to say that I've seen some of the worst customer care attitudes toward the end of the season in this industry. I remember sitting at a restaurant at Okemo waiting forever for service while the waitstaff gabbed. It was nearly a form of protest on their behalf. It is possible/likely that this is a response to what some feel are premature layoffs...

 

[riverc0il]

First question (and I think a very important one) did the manager say or did you ask why the lot wasn't plowed?

Just to play devil's advocate, many plower drivers around here had already taken the plows off their trucks this past storm. It left many scrambling to reload the plow onto the truck and many didn't even bother. So there is a possibility that the business was stiffed by the plow driver. It is hard to believe an Inn wouldn't have a dedicated person to plow the lots, especially after a big storm. No one plows for an inch or two up here, but for a foot or two everyone does, especially businesses.

And as a suggestion, if you are traveling to ski country, you should always have a shovel in your car. Not excusing the Inn keeper for not making ready whatever he had without question, but be prepared.

 

[riverc0il]

After rereading everything it sounds like the lot was plowed but an eight foot difference between the plowed section and your car. Perhaps this was the plow drivers fault and the owner didn't know how bad it left certain cars? Perhaps you were just in a weird spot in the lot? Just wondering about this one, I don't know many business owners that would shoot themselves in the foot that bad the way you describe it. They are certainly under no obligation to help dig you out, but eight foot difference between the plow path and edge of cars is a bit much...

 

[threecy]

Is it possible there was a wind drift? Two storms ago the wind really piled up a lot of snow around my truck - a heck of a lot more than fell - but it wasn't actually from the snow plow.

 

[MRGisevil]

From a liability standpoint, that sounds like something that manager should have been much more concerned about. I worked for a property management firm for a number of years and "they already took the plows off the trucks" wasn't an option. You either have someone on staff or you call around until you find someone who can do the job right. Safety for your patrons is a top priority, no excuses. If someone on your property hurts themselves shoveling or slips on an icy walk, at least in CT, you're up a certain creek w/o a paddle.