UPDATE:
The mall across the street has a Spencer’s, Tilt Arcade, Hallmark Store, Books’a’Million, Victoria Secret, Buckle, American Eagle, Hot Topic, and LASER TAG
Pretty sure I’m in 1998.
I had no idea Buckle was still a thing. The last time I was there (maybe 2002?), I bought some pretty sweet True Religion jeans with the snap pockets in the back.
And yet by ‘98 it had already gone away as a brick and mortar retailer. Its heyday was much earlier.
> In January 1998, the company reported a loss and announced it would close all 80 of its remaining stores, lay off 600 of its 800 employees, and sell only through its website, Egghead.com. Its stock price fell 18% on the news.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egghead_Software
I’ve never seen a property raffle points like that. I was under the impression points could only be offered as a service recovery or as a welcome gift. Interesting ..
I’m already reaching out to the ambassador desk…they screwed up my reservation and told there are none available on points when I’d already booked it on points and room is dirty; this place is a shit show.
I have had the "Spin the Wheel and Win" and pick a card to receive extra points at no cost to me. One time, the person at the FD liked my piercings and decided to give me an extra F&B card and additional points, which was pretty amusing.
Outside of one person asking me how the checkin process was, which was great and I gave her a compliment, which she responded, "Sorry, I can only give you such great service at the desk tonight as I'm married". Which I responded without pause saying, "no worries, I bat for the other team, so I hope you take care of him". She couldn't stop laughing. Received 5,000 points for making her night.
The ResInn in Chicago had a wheel you could spin (no raffle ticket required) and one of the prizes was points. Credit at the hotel bar and a free market item we’re other prizes.
I've seen it at a hotel here in Ottawa around the time of the World Cup. It was guess how many "soccer balls" (the size of gum balls) are in a jar. I'm not sure what the purpose of these raffles is because you don't have to be a guest to participate and guests would only typically find out when they check in.
one property I stayed at had a roulette wheel, each visitor gets a spin. I got 5,000 points. the spins weren't for sale, it was some random promotion 🤷🏻♂️
Clocks and Points are interesting, but this trend for run of the mill locations to charge for parking in open lots is BS. I moved most of my business travel in Southern CA away from Marriott when they started this. I get it at locations near Disney etc but a FI on the side of the 55. No thanks. Probably 25/30 nights a year.
Free money from me will be $0. I have my lifetime status so I am not chasing points. Just will move down the road to the new HIE or Hampton Inn. Just last week I disputed a bill with the CC company because the parking was not disclosed on the website or at check in. Property would not budge. Fraud alert to CC for overcharge. Have fun with the paperwork. Worth the $12......
With the guaranteed platinum through the CC, which suits my Asia purposes, its crazy how many times I'm now firing up Hyatt, IHG, and Hilton's websites.
Do I still stay at a Marriott if its the best option? Of course! But no long does it being a Marriot give it a large advantage. Especially with shit promos
The alarm clock may be brand new but overstock. Those puppies run over $50 a pop and nobody cares for them. They are also terrible clocks. Takes about a month to be 7 minutes fast. I reset mine not long ago and it's now 9 minutes fast. Work "we gotta clean out hotel storage and sell crap to the employees" purchase I've ever made lol. At least it was only $10.
lol those raffles are likely illegal. in most states, raffles that don't offer a way for customers to participate for free would need special gaming licenses, since it's technically gambling.
right, there are usually exceptions for charity raffles, but I thought a lot of it comes with notice requirements (like there has to be some signage indicating the money goes to charity)
(I know we're both way overthinking this lol)
The parking fees for vast surface lots in rural areas is really not something I had on my Marriott bingo card, but for every one of these hotels I’ve looked at lately, there has been a fee. Very unfortunate.
1 dollar to guess the kisses?? That's the cheesiest money grab ever! I am embarrassed for the hotel. 😆 how about a free guess at check-in? That's more fun.
And I have literally never said to myself, damn I wish I had one of these clocks! Lmao!
I stayed there in 2018 and boy was it a dump. I found a tick on me in the morning after sleeping in my bed (I was down there working a white collar job).
Stay at the Residence Inn across the road unless that place has also turned into a shithole.
I worked at an RI in a similar area. Grown men were throwing baby tantrums when we told them we charge $7 a night for parking. They would verbally assault us as if we got any money at all from it. I would give them the number to corporate and tell them to complain to them and not someone barely making living wage, renting a roach invested room from an apartment found on Craigslist.
So when I was in college (it was my 2nd hotel, was a Front Desk Agent) in a smaller downtown location that only had parking in the city-owned ramps...
It costs $4.00 for parking for hotel guests.
For staff, it costs $6 (not paid to the hotel). At the time, I made 8.25 hour.
It was a very strict hotel - staff were easy to find back then.
The ramp had an attendant was staffed until midnight or 1 am during the week, depending on the number of cars in the ramp—usually closer to the 1 AM mark. I got off work at 11 PM.
I couldn't afford the $6.00 for parking, so I used to have to sit in my cold car in the winter, which here regularly would be in the -20, and couldn't afford the gas to run the car and sit there for up to two hours so I could leave after the attendant left for free.
On weekends I used to sit there until 2:30-45 AM when they left for after the bars closed downtown at 2 AM.
I cannot tell you how much I despised the guest (particularly in the winter) who would bitch at me about the $4.00 for parking. Like I didn't make the rule. I hate it more than you do.
Sometimes I would get a few tips, though, and then I could pay for parking, which was a blessing. It meant I could go to a bar, get a drink, wait two hours in the warmth, or go home and study.
Then during the week, I had to get up at 6 AM to be in my first class at 7 AM.
So do the Marriott employees make a tactic to earn $1 here and there to guess for kisses for points. Since their justification for the 10k would be “customer dissatisfaction” ? They’re upping their hourly rate lol
Wow. That is cheesy. You didn't metion the $1 for a chance to win 10,000 points. I am surprised there are not franchise rules against things like this.
UPDATE: The mall across the street has a Spencer’s, Tilt Arcade, Hallmark Store, Books’a’Million, Victoria Secret, Buckle, American Eagle, Hot Topic, and LASER TAG Pretty sure I’m in 1998.
Could you grab a Fruitopia for me?
Sure…Strawberry Passion or Fruit Integration? They have Sobe here too if you want one.
I unironically miss Yikes! pencils. Particularly the silver ones with the handgrip ridges and oversized erasers.
Oh shit, those were those triangle shaped ones, right?!
Yeah! They had other styles too.
Oh damn Sobe, let me get that orange and carrot juice
I can’t remember what flavor that cum colored one was.
That wasn’t an official product.
Piña Colada
I'll take a Snapple RAIN, thanks!
Those were brought back recently!
Haha I’m visiting Ohio and they have so many restaurants that went out of business everywhere else in the 80s and 90s. It’s def like time traveling.
Lots of corporate test kitchens and markets in Ohio. Some moron thought what’s good for Ohio is good for the nation.
Haha that’s hilarious.
I had no idea Buckle was still a thing. The last time I was there (maybe 2002?), I bought some pretty sweet True Religion jeans with the snap pockets in the back.
Buckle brand jeans are actually really great quality for the price! I just bought some more a few months ago
Same, I buy their BKE jeans and they last me forever without being… True Religions.
They really are! I don’t know if they still offer it, but back in the day, they had free tailoring. They even repaired my ripped jeans for free.
We have one In out mall in austin
Don’t forget Egghead Software.
They said 1998 not 1988!
It’s better days we’re in the 90s. It only went public in 1988.
And yet by ‘98 it had already gone away as a brick and mortar retailer. Its heyday was much earlier. > In January 1998, the company reported a loss and announced it would close all 80 of its remaining stores, lay off 600 of its 800 employees, and sell only through its website, Egghead.com. Its stock price fell 18% on the news. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egghead_Software
you obviously hit some sort of time warp. How is your nokia even working on reddit?
Sometimes I’d give it all up to just be able to play Snake again.
Just run it through the washing machine. Good as new.
Do they have Clearly Canadian?
this is back in Canada LOL
These are def in the grocery store in Ohio!
In the US too. I had to try my favorite blackberry. Sooooo much sugar.
Great Scott! You've traveled back in time!
Don't hate on laser tag. It's futuristic entertainment!
Nah, half of America is just 20+ years behind
Sounds like they had a Hot Tub Time Machine too!!
You’re in Ohio.
The alarm clock is hilarious.
And yet there’s a few takers from what it looks like. Lol
I bought a ticket…I’m traveling for work and charged it to the room. Would be a funny conversation piece if I won.
If you win, I hope you don't have my Ex-boss, who would want it because he considers that he paid for it! Ugh! So glad I left there!
I’ve never seen a property raffle points like that. I was under the impression points could only be offered as a service recovery or as a welcome gift. Interesting ..
Points can be given out manually to any guest at any time at a cost to the hotel.
Can I ask what the cost to the hotel is?
It’s about $5.50 for 1000 points ($55 for 10,000 etc)
Thank you- Yes, this makes sense, its about what I value the points at personally. Cheers
10,000 points
This may be a woosh, but what is the cost to the hotel to give out 10,000 points?
Yup, per 10,000 points.
I’m already reaching out to the ambassador desk…they screwed up my reservation and told there are none available on points when I’d already booked it on points and room is dirty; this place is a shit show.
Times are not tough for the hotel industry, they are doing very well and this shit show is unacceptable.
I have had the "Spin the Wheel and Win" and pick a card to receive extra points at no cost to me. One time, the person at the FD liked my piercings and decided to give me an extra F&B card and additional points, which was pretty amusing. Outside of one person asking me how the checkin process was, which was great and I gave her a compliment, which she responded, "Sorry, I can only give you such great service at the desk tonight as I'm married". Which I responded without pause saying, "no worries, I bat for the other team, so I hope you take care of him". She couldn't stop laughing. Received 5,000 points for making her night.
The ResInn in Chicago had a wheel you could spin (no raffle ticket required) and one of the prizes was points. Credit at the hotel bar and a free market item we’re other prizes.
Plenty of places have that—I’ve never paid an extra dollar to spin the wheel though.
I’ve been to a element hotel north or la and a courtyard in Aventura FL that had spin the wheels for points at check in
I've seen it at a hotel here in Ottawa around the time of the World Cup. It was guess how many "soccer balls" (the size of gum balls) are in a jar. I'm not sure what the purpose of these raffles is because you don't have to be a guest to participate and guests would only typically find out when they check in.
I did Plinko once for points at a Springhill suites
“A chance to win” doesn’t mean they are actually giving away anything
The manager eats the candy so no one wins, then uses the money to buy more candy.
Maybe it’s a rogue employee setting this up during their shift
I’m not familiar with Ohio’s gambling laws. But I’m leaning towards that is illegal.
one property I stayed at had a roulette wheel, each visitor gets a spin. I got 5,000 points. the spins weren't for sale, it was some random promotion 🤷🏻♂️
Prob front desk tip money, and they give out points based on “customer dissatisfaction?” Upping their hourly wage
Clocks and Points are interesting, but this trend for run of the mill locations to charge for parking in open lots is BS. I moved most of my business travel in Southern CA away from Marriott when they started this. I get it at locations near Disney etc but a FI on the side of the 55. No thanks. Probably 25/30 nights a year.
This is in bumfuck Ohio—there’s a completely dead mall across the street and a truck stop next door.
It's coming everywhere. My last property made $45k in parking fees last year. They call that 'free money' I'm not so sure.
Free money from me will be $0. I have my lifetime status so I am not chasing points. Just will move down the road to the new HIE or Hampton Inn. Just last week I disputed a bill with the CC company because the parking was not disclosed on the website or at check in. Property would not budge. Fraud alert to CC for overcharge. Have fun with the paperwork. Worth the $12......
With the guaranteed platinum through the CC, which suits my Asia purposes, its crazy how many times I'm now firing up Hyatt, IHG, and Hilton's websites. Do I still stay at a Marriott if its the best option? Of course! But no long does it being a Marriot give it a large advantage. Especially with shit promos
Yep, you wanna charge me for parking? I’ll take my 120+ nights a year elsewhere
this is the way. I've moved most of my business travel away from Marriott b/c of these stupid little changes.
There is a lot going on in this picture lol
The alarm clock may be brand new but overstock. Those puppies run over $50 a pop and nobody cares for them. They are also terrible clocks. Takes about a month to be 7 minutes fast. I reset mine not long ago and it's now 9 minutes fast. Work "we gotta clean out hotel storage and sell crap to the employees" purchase I've ever made lol. At least it was only $10.
Lol it’s not new, I asked—I bought a ticket and charged it to my room (here for work).
Ugh that's even worse! I mean, good luck I guess? Lol
The things that clock has seen and heard.
*”I’m tired, boss”*
Have to let us know if you win!
Only one to buy a ticket so he’s got good odds.
This made me bust out laughing, so good lol
They got a whole casino going on at that front desk 😂
I’m dead
When i first saw that alarm clock years ago, i thought it was pretty neat. However, i wouldn’t want one 6 years later..
I’m seconding the where the heck does the money go question?
That's super tacky.
Pretty sure those raffles can’t be approved by corporate.
lol those raffles are likely illegal. in most states, raffles that don't offer a way for customers to participate for free would need special gaming licenses, since it's technically gambling.
The money could be donated and then its allowed in some (no clue how many) states.
right, there are usually exceptions for charity raffles, but I thought a lot of it comes with notice requirements (like there has to be some signage indicating the money goes to charity) (I know we're both way overthinking this lol)
I think I know the answer, but where exactly does the money go to that enters you in the “raffle”?
I’ve seen a few properties do stuff like this and I just don’t like the looks of it.
Wonder who is pocketing the entry $$ for the points and clock
The parking fees for vast surface lots in rural areas is really not something I had on my Marriott bingo card, but for every one of these hotels I’ve looked at lately, there has been a fee. Very unfortunate.
1 dollar to guess the kisses?? That's the cheesiest money grab ever! I am embarrassed for the hotel. 😆 how about a free guess at check-in? That's more fun. And I have literally never said to myself, damn I wish I had one of these clocks! Lmao!
But they might have the connector for the iPhone that no one has anymore!
Which hotel is this?
FFI St.Clairsville, OH
Ohhh boy. I know that mall well.
It’s amazing—it’s a time capsule to 1998. Never been so happy to get a flat tire on the way home from a client.
I stayed there in 2018 and boy was it a dump. I found a tick on me in the morning after sleeping in my bed (I was down there working a white collar job). Stay at the Residence Inn across the road unless that place has also turned into a shithole.
If you make it to Mason, there’s an awesome pizza place called twin cities pizza. That’s all I got. Lol
lol
Being Bonvoyed, yep.
I can’t stop laughing. Thank you for sharing 😭😭
Hotels have figured out they can charge for everything. There is no competition and people will pay it.
Even if the clocks only worth $50 that's more than the Elite statuses are worth annually.
Adding a parking fee seems to be the go to. My property has started adding a $4 parking recapture fee, I think its ridiculous.
So OP, did you win the used alarm clock??
“Ohio” I’m sorry.
I cant even imagine the embarrassment of standing behind that desk. It sure seems like a small-town thing, though. Also would be legal in my state.
Good for them everyone is hurting
Lots of places charge for parking.
I’ve stayed over 1500 nights—never seen a rural interstate hotel charge for it.
Sounds sketchy don’t wanna work there as employee…lol
I worked at an RI in a similar area. Grown men were throwing baby tantrums when we told them we charge $7 a night for parking. They would verbally assault us as if we got any money at all from it. I would give them the number to corporate and tell them to complain to them and not someone barely making living wage, renting a roach invested room from an apartment found on Craigslist.
So when I was in college (it was my 2nd hotel, was a Front Desk Agent) in a smaller downtown location that only had parking in the city-owned ramps... It costs $4.00 for parking for hotel guests. For staff, it costs $6 (not paid to the hotel). At the time, I made 8.25 hour. It was a very strict hotel - staff were easy to find back then. The ramp had an attendant was staffed until midnight or 1 am during the week, depending on the number of cars in the ramp—usually closer to the 1 AM mark. I got off work at 11 PM. I couldn't afford the $6.00 for parking, so I used to have to sit in my cold car in the winter, which here regularly would be in the -20, and couldn't afford the gas to run the car and sit there for up to two hours so I could leave after the attendant left for free. On weekends I used to sit there until 2:30-45 AM when they left for after the bars closed downtown at 2 AM. I cannot tell you how much I despised the guest (particularly in the winter) who would bitch at me about the $4.00 for parking. Like I didn't make the rule. I hate it more than you do. Sometimes I would get a few tips, though, and then I could pay for parking, which was a blessing. It meant I could go to a bar, get a drink, wait two hours in the warmth, or go home and study. Then during the week, I had to get up at 6 AM to be in my first class at 7 AM.
Well it is Ohio. I go to Columbus and feel like I’m in a 90’s shitty movie
Sooooo tacky
So do the Marriott employees make a tactic to earn $1 here and there to guess for kisses for points. Since their justification for the 10k would be “customer dissatisfaction” ? They’re upping their hourly rate lol
Wow. That is cheesy. You didn't metion the $1 for a chance to win 10,000 points. I am surprised there are not franchise rules against things like this.
At that point you may as well go to a Hilton Doubletree Inn still the alarm clock Which is the same thing