'I want something classy that isn't embarrassing to be seen at': Cranky hotel guest throws a fit over a campfire, swiftly regrets it

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Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Feb 5, 2023 5:00 PM EST

Hotel clerks have to deal with so many stupid questions. This front desk manager wrote about how they work in a national park at a hotel, and as with most customer service roles, they have some guests that can never be satisfied with their surroundings. 

One guest approached the OP to ask this gem of a question: "I know the county has a burn ban going on right now, but since the lodge is on federal land, it doesn't apply. So I can start a fire on the grass just outside my cabin, right?" The poor OP had to deal with this brain genius, who just could not understand why he couldn't set fire to the grass during a burn ban (meaning no fires whatsoever due to extreme risks!).

Some entitled folks will always believe they're the exception to the rule. It boggles the mind to think someone believes their right to a cozy campfire is worth possibly burning down the entire area they're staying at. This male Karen just didn't think anything through before accosting the front desk attendant, and it really backfired on him. 

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    Cheezburger Image 9731968768
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    Font - Er/TalesFromTheFront Desk Posted by u/TheBlueSully That's a hard no. And again, still no. Yeah, no. Not giving you this one, either. I'll let you leave, though.
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    Font - I had a winner here today. You know they're going to be trouble when they strut in wearing a shirt proclaiming 'public land owner'. My location is inside a national park. So great. They think they own the place. "I know the county has a burn ban going on right now, but since the lodge is on federal land, it doesn't apply. So I can start a fire on the grass just outside my cabin, right?" You meant the dead grass, beside the dead, dry trees coming out of the forest not 20 yards from your ca
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    Font - "Yes, I want to start a campfire that I can enjoy from my porch." NO. NO YOU MAY NOT. You could've walked 40 yards to the fire pits but I'm not selling you any firewood now that you've established yourself as a fire risk in the middle of the f forest.
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    Font - "WHAT?! I WANT TO SEE A MANAGER." Well I'm the front desk and gift shop manager manager, so still no. Same guy: "Y'know, since this is federal land I shouldn't have to pay state and county sales tax. Take it off, or get me a manager who can." Well. I'm still the front desk/retail manager, and also the only manager on duty right now. If you look on that wall right behind me, you'll note that our business license is from the county so you do need to pay sales tax because we are legally requ
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    Font - "But I'm from Oregon and we don't pay sales tax there." Well, you're not in Oregon right now. "Well Washington State lets businesses waive sales tax for Oregon residents! Can you do that for me?" Do you have a tax-free ID from the US State Department? "No" Then no. That'll be $98.73.
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    Font - "But these are 2 for $25!" That promotional price is for the $15 t-shirts. Not the $35 sweatshirts. You do not get 2 $35 sweatshirts for $25. Also, that special is for 2, and you only have one. The total is $98.73. Will you be paying at the register, or charging this to your room? "Actually, I'm just checking out early. I don't care what the policy is, give me my deposit back. This place is a f dump in the woods. I want something classy that isn't embarrassing to be seen at." Well, the ca
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    Font - But, uh, there's an agricultural festival, big bicycle charity ride, a baseball game, and a fishing tournament this weekend. It's not like anybody has any rooms on a summer weekend in a touristy area anyway. But especially this weekend, there are no rooms to be had. So have fun with that! There isn't a room to be had for probably a 2 hour drive. I, uh, may have forgotten to mention that to him.
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    Font - So anyway, 4 hours later he comes storming back in demanding to know why his keys aren't working because he wants his room back. I sold that room 15 minutes after housekeeping cleared it, dude. Now get out before I trespass you. What? You're throwing a fit because I'm going to make you sleep in your car in my parking lot? No, I won't make you do that. It's illegal to sleep in your car inside the national park unless you're in a campsite. It's legal 40 minutes from here, however! So again:
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    Font - Agathasmoon Please behave or I'll send you to your ro... So so stupid! Good on you though for getting rid of his a. Maybe this will be a lesson for him.
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    Font - strangegoo My absolute favorite line will always be "Well then I'll just leave early!" because they think it'll have this magical effect of making us fall on our knees and beg them to stay. I got at least your deposit and if I'm lucky, another night's charge. I'm good. You can go.
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    Font - MoonChaser22. That attitude was especially annoying in seasonal guests. at my old work place. They pay so much for the year and stay until we closed for winter, so some had the idea that because they paid god knows how much to stay that they should be treated like royalty. The kicker was that they pay less per night than any other guest and if their bad behaviour gets them kicked off site they're not entitled to any refund what so ever. We keep their money and can then rent the same pitch
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    Font - ZephyrLegend You can't make this @$#& Up. Washington state resident here: annoys the fout of me when people try to tell me: "But I'm from Oregon/Montana, we don't have to pay sales tax!" Uhm, that's only if you're going to be using the product or service primarily within your home state. Since I can't physically pick up your room and move it there, sorry buddy, you're SOL.
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    Font - Megwen I got that in fast food once. The guy started b ing that the price was higher than he'd expected, I gave him the run through of all his items and the tax, and he bed even harder that we taxed. "In Oregon we don't have sales tax." Good for you, dude. Now pay the 20¢ extra or leave. But hey at least I learned something about Oregon that day.
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    Font - crazyj608 Oregon resident here. Actually along Oregon border many WA businesses DO wave sales tax if you have an Oregon drivers license (specifically Vancouver.) I've never asked for it when I'm in WA but often they will either ask or if they see my id when checking the credit card they will ask if I want to wave the sales tax. Some businesses don't because it's a headache for them because you have to record the customers drivers license number and report it at some point.
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    Font - perfectway76 I'm sad to know people like this exist. Sorry you had to put up with him. You handled the situation really well though! Lol at "why are my keys not working?" Ummm "your keys"?? Excuse me? Seriously??? You gave up those keys when you decided to leave the property!
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    Font - MightyCasey StruckOut "Actually, I'm just checking out early. I don't care what the policy is, give me my deposit back. This place is a fu dump in the woods. I want something classy that isn't embarrassing to be seen at." As do I, sir, which is why I'm gonna have to ask you to leave. Here's your deposit back. You handled the situation with aplomb, OP.
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    Font - TheBlueSully OP If I'm going to sell the room I don't even care about the deposit. And this was a summer weekend. Of course I'll sell the room. I'd much rather have somebody that wants to be there as a guest. So please leave. It helps that our ADR is always fine. So I can sell the room for 80% off and the GM doesn't care if we're at 100% occupancy.
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    Font - o or gen2pop Why did he still have a key? Reply Share 62 PeakySebang Probably a key card, plenty of people don't bother to return them. I guess this douche didn't know that they're deactivated electronically. 98 Continue this thread → bundebuns Reply Share Most hotels use those disposable plastic key cards that are deactivated after the guest checks out. 54 Reply Share Continue this thread → TheBlueSully OP Because key cards are pennies and not worth fighting over.
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    Font - MiraKraz Thank you for putting him in his place. I get the feeling he needed it. Considering that almost a year ago Oregon came very close to losing some of the most beautiful public lands the state has to offer (to the Eagle Creek fire, which was started by a teen carelessly tossing illegal fireworks around), that selfish POS knows better. I'm so glad you didn't give him even an inch of slack.
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    Font - PebbleTown So he checked out and came back later and thought he would still be able to get in??? 10 Reply Share TheBlueSully OP Yep. After he had his money back even.
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    Font - [deleted] People that stupid and rude are the worst. And it's very frightening how easily that dumba would have set fire to your place. Good for you for getting rid of him.
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    Font - Mark_The_Mint_Man So anyway, 4 hours later he comes storming back in demanding to know why his keys aren't working because he wants his room back. Why did he still have keys to the room? 6 Reply Share TheBlueSully OP Not worth hunting down the keycards. That's just inviting unnecessary conflict. I told him to leave them in the room.
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    Font - shiprekked Wait, is it really illegal to sleep in your car at any National Park, or just this one in particular? 3 Reply Share TheBlueSully OP If you didn't pay for a campsite rangers can give you a big fat ticket yeah. But if you park in a campsite, yeah, sure, sleep in your vehicle. Nobody cares for a couple nights unless you're an a And illegal in all the ones I've worked in yeah.
    via r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk

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tales-from-the-front-desk guests employee hotel entitled karen fire camping
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