'This is unbelievable': Local hotel manager deals with Karen customers after storm hits

Author image for Ben Weiss
Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jul 21, 2023 2:00 PM EDT

First, there was an actual storm, but then there was the storm raged by a sea of Karens. These Karens were demanding answers and hotel rooms, and they were not taking no for an answer. It's remarkable how hotel employees have to deal with the wrap of guests and customers who are truly just upset about something that is so far beyond the control of any hotel employee. We're talking about the weather, of course. The weather coupled with poor planning on the part of the Karen guests. Just because they couldn't plan well enough in advance (and mind you, this particular storm was well-documented in the media) does not mean that they can throw a tantrum at overworked, powerless front desk agents. 

 

If we take a moment to look a bit deeper into the psychology of these disgruntled Karens, it doesn't take long to consider how these folks are really just mad at themselves for not having better contingency plans. The frustration of screwing up your own travel is definitely real, but the difference between a normal person and a Karen is the ability to recognize that a front desk agent like this Redditor is certainly not at fault here. 

 

Keep scrolling below for the full story and for the best reactions in the comments section. For more stories like this, feel free to take a look at this post about a general manager's unhinged texts.

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  • 01
    Product - "Your poor planning does not count as an emergency for me"
    via Marquise de Photographie
  • 02
    Font - Your poor planning does not count as an emergency for me Medium Good lord. This post is my crescendo from 12 straight 3-11 shifts. I work as Ops manager for a small hotel in Vermont. Over the passed 10 or so days we have experienced torrential rains to the point where FEMA was involved.
    via u/whobroughttheircat
  • 03
    Font - The first night the rains came we were already sold out. At one point during that night all 8 of my call in lines were lit up with people asking for rooms. I do not think there was a 2 minute gap where I wasn't answering the phone.
    via u/whobroughttheircat
  • 04
    Font - "No, sorry we are sold out" was said by me so much that my voice was hoarse. The walk-ins for the most part were understanding and most left after hearing me on the phone telling other callers we were sold out.
    via u/whobroughttheircat
  • 05
    Font - A few walk-ins thought they could outsmart the system, I had a few doozy's "Oh sold out? But I'm an Iridium member we always have rooms, I'll just take one of those" Sorry sir but every room that we have available is already occupied by other people. Is the best way I can respond to that one.
    via u/whobroughttheircat
  • 06
    Font - or "WELL I NEED A ROOM I CANNOT GO HOME THE ROADS ARE GONE, CAN YOU CALL SOMEONE'S ROOM TO SEE IF THEY'LL LET ME STAY IN THEIR ROOM?" Like what lady? It's in all caps because of course she is yelling at me.
    via u/whobroughttheircat
  • 07
    Font - It settled down a little bit before shift change and I had few stranded members hanging around the lobby. One was a nice lady who was just trying to get home. I let her use a pillow and blanket and she stayed in her car parked out front. She was nice. I hope she made it safe.
    via u/whobroughttheircat
  • 08
    Font - So ever since the first night, we have been sold out every night since then. FEMA, insurance adjusters, road repair workers all looking for rooms to help with the disaster, I am thankful they were here.
    via u/whobroughttheircat
  • 09
    Font - But that left one problem, all the regulars coming in for their week of work couldn't make reservations. Some of my favorites: "Hi, I stay there every week and for some reason I can't make a reservation"
    via u/whobroughttheircat
  • 10
    Font - Yes I am sorry about that, but due to the flooding and the disaster we are sold out until the 18th. "Ok, but I stay there every week... I am already up here and I drove for 6 hours. What am I supposed to do?"
    via u/whobroughttheircat
  • 11
    Font - I do not know, all I know is we are sold out due to the flooding. "Well, I'm going to cancel my membership, this is unbelievable" I'm sorry but your poor planning means nothing to me... is what I really really want to say.
    via u/whobroughttheircat
  • 12
    Font - Another good one was that this nice older couple came in last week from Virginia for vacation, apparently they have not watched the news in years, and had no idea what was happening up here.
    via u/whobroughttheircat
  • 13
    Font - The night they checked in was fine, but the next afternoon the woman was unbearable... she was constantly complaining that nothing was open and they couldn't get to a few of the landmarks they wanted to see due to road closures... she then had the gall to ask me why we didn't call her to inform her of the flooding... like are you kidding me? LMFAO. The sheer entitlement I have dealt with the passed 12 nights has been nothing short of eye opening. We truly are doomed if this is the crop of
    via u/whobroughttheircat
  • 14
    Font - I have many many more stories from this show of a week(s). I forgot to mention that I was also by myself every single night, due to other employees not being able to make it in. Why do we do this to ourselves? It most certainly isn't for the money. end
    via u/whobroughttheircat
  • 15
    Font - LOUDCO-HD 12 hr. ago +3. I had one guy once in the wintertime, there was a big snow storm, who wanted his room back. He checked out right at the start of my shift and I noted his address was in a city about 300 kms south of us, I asked if he was driving home, he was. I had watched the news before coming to work and one of the big stories was the literally 100's of vehicles in the ditch on the highway he was about to take. I let him know this and wished him safe travels. He told me not to
    via u/whobroughttheircat
  • 16
    Font - He left and I thought no more about him, we had a convention checking in that day and I was hopping, with over 250 arrivals to our 313 room hotel. We were SRO that night (Sold Right Out!). About midway through my shift Mr. 4x4 was back, he told me the highway was too treacherous, he had only gone about 25 kms in 2 hrs so he turned around and came back.
    via u/whobroughttheircat
  • 17
    Font - He said "I need my room back." Well, it doesn't work like that, you checked out so it's not your room anymore, in fact if you had asked to extend when you were here, we would have had to say no as we have a big convention checking in. He told me he had kept one of his key cards so he was going up to his room. Again, it doesn't work like that, your key is deactivated when I check you out. Well, I need a room he yelled!
    via u/whobroughttheircat
  • 18
    Font - It was tempting to yell back "We don't have any" but I, barely, kept my composure and professionalism. I calmly told him I couldn't help him at the moment, there was a big lineup forming behind him, but if he had a seat I would get the Concierge to call around for him. Ultimately the Concierge found him a motel room on the outskirts of town. Luckily it was before the days of in-line reviews, we never heard from him again.
    via u/whobroughttheircat
  • 19
    Font - Different Special577 14 hr. ago Oh god! I feel for you... A hotel is already hard to run and manage without these awful diesters that are going on.
    via u/whobroughttheircat
  • 20
    Font - whobroughttheircat OP • 14 hr. ago I had a lot of guests arriving call and ask how we are affected. Which I appreciate. But nothing I can do if you blindly show up, ignorant to what's happening in area. It's like the time I worked for a news paper call center and had to call people on Houston TX about renewing their newspaper subscription.... During a cat 4 hurricane. I got cussed out a lot.
    via u/whobroughttheircat

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customer service karens hotel tales-from-the-workplace customers karens in the wild entitled reddit thread Reddit karen entitled people
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