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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