Super 8 Motel ripoff using false advertising ALL NEW ROOMS nothing new Lafayette Louisiana
On May 19th, I arrived at the Super 8 in Lafayette, LA, with reservations for 4 rooms, for 3 weeks. I was there with my travelling work crew to begin a contracted project.
I reserved this motel for several reasons:
I have been very happy with Super 8 overall
They offer microwave and fridge in each room
The property advertises "All new rooms"
I was amazed at how bad the rooms were. All had the smoke detectors removed from the ceilings, with the wires just hanging down. The wall and carpets were badly stained. Two of the rooms had mold in the dresser drawers, and all dressers were dirty. One drawer had a dirty sock.
The bathtubs and sinks all had burn marks from cigarettes, and not just one here and there, but several. One room had a used bar of soap from the previous guest sitting in the shower. One room also had burns in the plastic toilet seat.
The bed box spring in one room was deteriorated to the extent of the fabric laying over onto the floor. And in another, the toilet paper dispenser was gone and replaced with a modified coat hanger. The list could keep going on and on.
I am very forgiving about minor problems in motel rooms, but to have 4 rooms all in such terrible condition was a new occurance for me.
What really made me angry, however, was that the billboard on the interstate advertised "all new rooms". The website listed the rooms as "recently renovated". And even the Super 8 sign in the front of the motel stated "All new rooms." This motel just blatently lies and does not care.
I went to the registration where I checked in, and asked what was new in the rooms, because I cannot find anything. The woman said "Just the fridge and microwaves are new." I truthfully replied, "no, they are not new, as the fridges have rust on the shelves, and the microwaves are very old."
She then just shrugged, and said "I don't know why they put that on the signs. The rooms have been the same since 1988."
I ended up calling the reservation line, and asking to file a complaint. The woman was very nice, and noted all my complaints. I told her my main issue is not that the rooms are old, but that they are being falsely advertised.
I was told the motel had 10 days to respond to the problem. I did make alternate arrangements, and changed to a different motel the next morning.
For the five week duration of my visit to Lafayette, I saw the "all new rooms" sign every day, wondering how Super 8 can allow a motel to lie. I did not think much more about it, until a few days ago, when I received a letter in the mail from the motel. The letter is dated May 25, but the envelope is postmarked July 13.
The letter states, paraphrased; it is the responsibility of each Super 8 to set an image of the highest possible comfort of our guests. This is the image we try so hard to portray on each visit........I am disappointed that, in your opinion, we did not upkeep the Super 8 Motel image. I want to offer you a free night on your next stay at our motel.......Kevin Patel.
What a joke. He implies it is only my opinion that 4 rooms were substandard. One out of he 4 would be one matter, but all 4 were nasty. Then he invites me to stay a night for free! No thanks. I have minimal standards for a motel, and your's does not meet those standards. Plus, clearly you need the revenue enough that you lie to the public.
I ask only for two remedies. Super 8 should do an inspection of this place to see it is not meeting minimal standards, and all false advertising stating "new rooms" should be removed.
The misrepresentation of the rooms is fraudulant, and you seem to have no problem being deceptive to the travelling public. I truly hope Super 8 and Cendant revoke your franchise, as the royalties you earn for them does not make up for the damage you do to the brand.
I look forward to seeing your false ads removed.
Greg
Omaha, Nebraska
U.S.A.
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15 Updates & Rebuttals
Greg
Omaha,Nebraska,
U.S.A.
No, it is the correct motel.
#16Author of original report
Fri, July 28, 2006
They advertise 'all new rooms' right on the sign pole at the motel, under the logo. Now the Super 8 sign in front of the motel does not list the address, but I am sure they are referring to that property.
Also, the billboards with the false advertising listed the exit number. There was no address mix up.
It did not matter if I saw the rooms first. Unfortunately, since many motels have difficulty accomodating 4 rooms at a time, especially on a busy night, I am forced to make arrangements several days ahead of time. So, they already had my billing info.
And on the few occasions I do 'walk-in' with no reservations, I do ask to see the room first. I have travelled Europe, and viewing a room first is standard there.
That is why I like to rely upon franchise motels, as they generally are required to meet basic quality standards.
Greg
Omaha,Nebraska,
U.S.A.
No, it is the correct motel.
#16Author of original report
Fri, July 28, 2006
They advertise 'all new rooms' right on the sign pole at the motel, under the logo. Now the Super 8 sign in front of the motel does not list the address, but I am sure they are referring to that property.
Also, the billboards with the false advertising listed the exit number. There was no address mix up.
It did not matter if I saw the rooms first. Unfortunately, since many motels have difficulty accomodating 4 rooms at a time, especially on a busy night, I am forced to make arrangements several days ahead of time. So, they already had my billing info.
And on the few occasions I do 'walk-in' with no reservations, I do ask to see the room first. I have travelled Europe, and viewing a room first is standard there.
That is why I like to rely upon franchise motels, as they generally are required to meet basic quality standards.
Greg
Omaha,Nebraska,
U.S.A.
No, it is the correct motel.
#16Author of original report
Fri, July 28, 2006
They advertise 'all new rooms' right on the sign pole at the motel, under the logo. Now the Super 8 sign in front of the motel does not list the address, but I am sure they are referring to that property.
Also, the billboards with the false advertising listed the exit number. There was no address mix up.
It did not matter if I saw the rooms first. Unfortunately, since many motels have difficulty accomodating 4 rooms at a time, especially on a busy night, I am forced to make arrangements several days ahead of time. So, they already had my billing info.
And on the few occasions I do 'walk-in' with no reservations, I do ask to see the room first. I have travelled Europe, and viewing a room first is standard there.
That is why I like to rely upon franchise motels, as they generally are required to meet basic quality standards.
Greg
Omaha,Nebraska,
U.S.A.
No, it is the correct motel.
#16Author of original report
Fri, July 28, 2006
They advertise 'all new rooms' right on the sign pole at the motel, under the logo. Now the Super 8 sign in front of the motel does not list the address, but I am sure they are referring to that property.
Also, the billboards with the false advertising listed the exit number. There was no address mix up.
It did not matter if I saw the rooms first. Unfortunately, since many motels have difficulty accomodating 4 rooms at a time, especially on a busy night, I am forced to make arrangements several days ahead of time. So, they already had my billing info.
And on the few occasions I do 'walk-in' with no reservations, I do ask to see the room first. I have travelled Europe, and viewing a room first is standard there.
That is why I like to rely upon franchise motels, as they generally are required to meet basic quality standards.
D
Naples,Florida,
U.S.A.
Peter,
#16Consumer Comment
Thu, July 27, 2006
Peter, it was nice to see that you CAN come up with some helpful comments from time to time, but then I saw your last responce, and I see that you never changed. So, what is the Zip Code for Pony, Alabama. You NEVER did answer that question, did you?
D
Naples,Florida,
U.S.A.
Peter,
#16Consumer Comment
Thu, July 27, 2006
Peter, it was nice to see that you CAN come up with some helpful comments from time to time, but then I saw your last responce, and I see that you never changed. So, what is the Zip Code for Pony, Alabama. You NEVER did answer that question, did you?
D
Naples,Florida,
U.S.A.
Peter,
#16Consumer Comment
Thu, July 27, 2006
Peter, it was nice to see that you CAN come up with some helpful comments from time to time, but then I saw your last responce, and I see that you never changed. So, what is the Zip Code for Pony, Alabama. You NEVER did answer that question, did you?
Peter
Pony,Alabama,
U.S.A.
another hotel perhaps?
#16Consumer Comment
Thu, July 27, 2006
Are you absolutely 100% sure that the Super 8 motel advertising the "all new rooms" is the one that you ended up staying at, and not a different one located a few blocks up the street? Was there an actual street address on the signage advertising such?
Also why did you not ask to see these "all new rooms" prior to putting down your money and checking in? Many hotels are glad to show off their amenities before registering, if only people would ask.
Greg
Omaha,Nebraska,
U.S.A.
Guess I did not answer clearly
#16Author of original report
Thu, July 27, 2006
I would say there is a 100% chance that "victims" of Katrina stayed there, and I understand the suggestion. That would not account for or excuse the problems, however. Most of the problems in the rooms were due to age or lack of cleanliness (neglect).
Dirty clothes and mold in a dresser drawer, deteriorated beds, and a used bar of soap in the shower, for example, would have no link to a room being 'trashed'.
Also, the motel I moved to had housed victims as well, in fact some were still staying there. And those rooms had none of the Super 8 problems. And they had been remodeled in the past couple of years, and it showed.
And again, my complaint is that they are advertising 'all new rooms', when nothing in the rooms was new in the least. And the desk clerk volunteered that the rooms date to 1988.
Peter
Pony,Alabama,
U.S.A.
Response to Greg
#16Consumer Comment
Thu, July 27, 2006
Greg, the reason the previous poster mentioned Hurricane Katrina is NOT because the storm may have hit that particular hotel, but because Katrina "victims" were shipped all over the place and put up in hotels, which many of the "victims" ended up vandalizing/destroying. How are you so sure that there were DEFINITELY no Hurricane Katrina people staying in that hotel at any time?
Peter
Pony,Alabama,
U.S.A.
Response to Greg
#16Consumer Comment
Thu, July 27, 2006
Greg, the reason the previous poster mentioned Hurricane Katrina is NOT because the storm may have hit that particular hotel, but because Katrina "victims" were shipped all over the place and put up in hotels, which many of the "victims" ended up vandalizing/destroying. How are you so sure that there were DEFINITELY no Hurricane Katrina people staying in that hotel at any time?
Peter
Pony,Alabama,
U.S.A.
Response to Greg
#16Consumer Comment
Thu, July 27, 2006
Greg, the reason the previous poster mentioned Hurricane Katrina is NOT because the storm may have hit that particular hotel, but because Katrina "victims" were shipped all over the place and put up in hotels, which many of the "victims" ended up vandalizing/destroying. How are you so sure that there were DEFINITELY no Hurricane Katrina people staying in that hotel at any time?
Greg
Omaha,Nebraska,
U.S.A.
Hurricanes of 2005 not a factor
#16Author of original report
Wed, July 26, 2006
Lafayette had no visible hurricane damage from Katrina or Rita. Lake Charles (70 miles west of Lafayette) still has substantial hurricane damage issues.
I am certain the Lafayette motels were all busy after the hurricanes, but these rooms are just old and dirty.
Cory
San Antonio,Texas,
U.S.A.
By Their Standards
#16Consumer Comment
Wed, July 26, 2006
By their standards, they are new. Anything after 1980 is new. In their defense, I wonder how trashed out the rooms were after Katrina. The local hotels here are still trying to clean up after all the mess left by all the folks who came to stay. Many HAD to renovate after all the destruction.
Giselle
Any City,North Carolina,
U.S.A.
Regarding the smoke alarms
#16Consumer Comment
Wed, July 26, 2006
You should call the local fire chief. He'll come out and do an inspection.