'[She was] talking to me like I'm the idiot': Karen goes berserk when the hotel receptionist explains how room service works, realizes her misunderstanding and stalks off defeated

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Nov 19, 2023 9:00 AM EST

Everyone's stayed at a hotel or motel at least once in their life. The magical wonders of continental breakfasts, freshly made beds, and clean white towels get cemented in your memory, making your hotel experience (even the non-luxurious kind), memorable simply because it may be the one time in your life that you're pampered with room service. Obviously, every hotel is a wee bit different, so when you check in for your stay, usually the receptionist will lay out exactly how your pampering will go down. Your hotel experience is designed to go quite smoothly, that is, unless you're a poor listener and a tyrannical Karen. 

In our next story, a monstrous Karen lost her marbles during her check-in briefing, huffing and puffing because she didn't fully understand the simplicity of her receptionists instructions. Scroll for the entire debacle where this hotel receptionist stood his ground, even after being yelled at by an idiotic Karen who just wanted to yell at someone. Fortunately in this story, the Karen gets completely and utterly vanquished, leaving defeated and hopefully a little ashamed at her obliviousness.

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  • 01
    "She actually stomped her foot"
    via u/canva
  • 02
    LED r/TalesFromTheFront Desk 2 Posted by u/Amanda_Jamesss 1 day ago "I have NEVER heard of a hotel doing this!" Medium was just reminded of a funny exchange I had with a guest. A
    via u/Amanda_Jamesss
  • 03
    lady came to check in for a 3 night stay. I told her that we don't have automatic daily housekeeping and it's done by request. To make it even clearer, I explained that housekeeping won't go in her room to clean the next day unless she asks for it. Her mouth drops open in absolute disbelief.
    via u/Amanda_Jamesss
  • 04
    Guest: "REALLY?? I have NEVER heard of a hotel doing that! Even [cheap motel name that has a number in it] does housekeeping!! I'm paying $400 a night and you won't even clean my room?? That's absolutely crazy!! Are you serious??" And so on.
    via u/Amanda_Jamesss
  • 05
    Me: "No ma'am, of course they'll clean the room. You just need to request it, that's all. It's pretty standard in hotels since the p demic. I'll set it up to have them do it in the morning if you'd like. What time would be convenient for you?"
    via u/Amanda_Jamesss
  • 06
    She keeps looking around huffing and puffing in complete shock like I just told her that she'll need to pop out one of her own eyeballs and give it to me as a deposit or something. I was so
    via u/Amanda_Jamesss
  • 07
    confused as to why she looked so horrified and offended by this. Then she looks me in the eye and, very slowly and loudly (like I'm an idiot who needs to be spoken to like a toddler) she says:
    via u/Amanda_Jamesss
  • 08
    Guest: "Well can you clean it NOW, BEFOREIgo in??" Me: "I don't clean the rooms ma'am, and...WHY...?" She actually stomped her foot at this. Then it dawned on me and I understood. And I burst out laughing at this lady.
    via u/Amanda_Jamesss
  • 09
    Me: "Ma'am, the room is CLEAN. Were you under the impression that housekeeping doesn't clean the rooms in between guests?? IM SAYING THAT, DURING YOUR STAY, THEY WILL ONLY GO IN TO CLEAN IF YOU REQUEST IT." (Now it's me talking slowly and loudly because she clearly is dumber than any dog I've known.)
    via u/Amanda_Jamesss
  • 10
    And yes, that's exactly what she thought and that's why she was so horrified. She thought we sold her a dirty room and told her she'd need to ask nicely before we'd clean it. She realized her mistake and mumbled something about being tired and hurried off.
    via u/Amanda_Jamesss
  • 11
    M icepawz36 1 day ago . Ngl, ive had the very same interaction. It's exhausting dealing with people at times
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  • 12
    Amanda_Jamesss OP 1 day ago I love to see the shift that happens when someone is talking to me like I'm an idiot then they realize that they're the dumb one. The worst guest I ever had was this monstrous Karen who was that she had to
    via u/Amanda_Jamesss
  • 13
    stay in a pet friendly room because she had a dog. She did and said plenty of to me and my staff during her stay (that's a tale for another day) but the final straw was glorious. She tried everything to get moved to a better room even though we told her that we were 100% full.
    via u/Amanda_Jamesss
  • 14
    Finally, after harassing me at the desk and calling me a she drunkenly called me from her room at 10:30 pm and smugly said "I need to move rooms, there's a really toxic smell in here. It's given me a headache and my dog can hardly breathe." She really thought she had outsmarted me and now I'd have to move her.
    via u/Amanda_Jamesss
  • 15
    But ohhhh Karen. You up. I said "oh no! Unfortunately, I have no where to move you to because we're completely full..." She starts to shout "then I want I cut her right off and said "as I
    via u/Amanda_Jamesss
  • 16
    said, unfortunately we're full and I can NOT let you stay in that room if you think it's making you and your dog feel unwell. Here's what I can do though, I will cancel your stay free of charge and you can find other lodgings."
    via u/Amanda_Jamesss
  • 17
    She said "I already told you I'm not leaving!" (We had already told her we'd let her leave without being charged at least twice). "But ma'am, what about your dog?? She can't BREATHE!" She hung up and I didn't hear from her again until she checked out without saying a word.
    via u/Amanda_Jamesss
  • 18
    CANOT Chaotic-Stardiver. 1 day ago I had one guy checking in, when I asked for his ID, he said he'd never been asked for ID ever at a hotel to check in. I assured him most places do that, and he insisted, saying something like, "Actually I've been to over 200 hotels and you guys are the first ones to ask me this!"
    via u/Chaotic-Stardiver
  • 19
    Some people just want to go on a power trip, and most people checking in will never apologize for misunderstanding what you said, even when you say it very clearly.
    via u/Chaotic-Stardiver
  • 20
    No-Pizda-For-You- 1 day ago FD: M'am, I'm sorry, but your gonna hafta make your own bed... KAREN: WOTT?!?! Even the cheapest dive makes the bed... FD: As I said, you're gonna hafta make your own bed. Take some of that lumber over there. Here's a hammer and some nails. Grab a mat and some sheets also...and please hammer lightly as guests are trying to sleep!
    via u/No-Pizda-For-You
  • 21
    Less_Jello_2489. 1 day ago Housekeeping seems to be the hardest thing to explain. 22 Reply Share Amanda_Jamesss OP 1 day ago The first time I stayed at a hotel post covid I was surprised we didn't receive HK during my 5 day stay, and it was a very nice expensive hotel (this was before I worked in hospitality and they didn't let us know upon check in). So I understand that it's not traditionally what hotels have done, which is why I let guests know. But I don't think it's so hard to understand
    via u/Less_Jello_2489
  • 22
    ColdstreamCapple 1 day ago "Hands her a Dyson stick vacuum" Go for your life madam se 47 Reply Share Amanda_Jamesss OP 1 day ago I should have grabbed a bottle of windex and a rag and run off saying "right away ma'am!" Then taken a nice little break before going back and saying "all clean now! Enjoy your stay! Don't forget to leave a tip!"
    via u/ColdstreamCapple

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customer service karens hotel hospitality motel front desk tales from the front desk Reddit karen receptionist service industry
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