Very Strange Email Conversation

[NotQuiteCockney]

Ok, I'm still (sorta) flailing about, trying to get acommodation for next week, in Toronto.

I found a posting on Craigslist for a luxury apartment that sounded ok. Posting said $X, I figured that couldn't be weekly, had to be daily. A bit pricey, but I'd expect to pay $X*5/week at least, so not outrageously expensive.

I emailed asking if the place was practical with kids etc etc, and was it free for my dates.

They emailed asking how many dates my visit was for (because that wasn't obvious by math?) and saying they'd check.

I answered.

Then I got an email saying:

"NotQuiteCockney, the listing I believe may have misled you. Did you realize it's $X a
night?

I'll be in tomorrow afternoon, if you'd like to chat."

WTF?

If I had loads of accommodation options, I'd just blow these people off, because wtf? wtf? wtf? But I don't, we're currently booked into a luxury hotel at $X*2.5 per night, so $X is quite a good deal, from where I'm sitting.

I mean, I guess I'll call, but how do you start that conversation?

how to start that conversation? Hi I'm NQC and can you please confirm how much exactly it will cost me ...

But I know how much it will cost me. And yeah, it's not cheap, but it's fine. It's certainly loads cheaper than what I'm currently booked into!

LOL yes you do know how much it will cost you but sounds like the the Toronto person is wondering whether you are clever enough to work it out ;). If you don't want to call just send back an email saying yes I am aware it's per night. Did he actually answer the q's re kids?

No, no answer to the qs re: the kids.

The silly thing is, $X per week would be a market rate for a normal rental property, on a yearly rental or whatever. So there's no way a holiday/temporary rental would be offered at that rate!

I will probably call. I mean, if I get the feeling, on the phone, that they're mad, then I'll leave it be, but I'd rather not drop a chance to pay a lot less for accommodation, and not be in a hotel.

Um why are you cross? am dim- don't understand, do you think they don't want you cos of the kids or something?

I'm not cross so much as confused. Firstly, they haven't answered my questions re: kids, beds, etc. If kids aren't welcome, then could they just say so, rather than assuming I'm a moron about $$.

Second, assuming I'm a moron about $$ is weird, and kinda rude - like they think I can't afford it? If they were worried about a misunderstanding, surely saying "6 nights would be $X*6" would be the straightforward way about it.

I've answered the email saying:

Yes, of course I realise this. $X/week would be ridiculously cheap. I expect to pay at least $X*5 for accommodation for a week in Toronto, so this isn't surprisingly expensive to me.

And discussing options for calling.

I'm confused too NQC, I don't think they're assuming your dim, just checking. They've probably suggested a chat as it's easier to get it all sorted out over the phone.

"you're..." of course

I guess, I'm just concerned I'll call up and they'll say, "oh, but we don't have any space for those days". They seem about that clueless.

I just don't know why they'd think I thought it was $X per week. Maybe they've had other people think it was $X per week? Most apartments are posted with a weekly rate. I should probably assume the least-offensive explanation.

I'll talk to them later, anyway - I trust my instincts re: them being or not being nutters much better over the phone.

Also, a phone conversation can iron out small details better, anyway - I've had one accommodation I'd nearly agreed to contact me to say, "oh, it would maybe be easy for the kids to fall down the stairs" and send photos making clear how easy, so I had to pull out of that one (in a different city). This way I can ask about the bedroom/living room configuration, in case there's just a curtain or something between the two ...

Well, good luck with it, NQC. Hope it works out to be a good place to stay. Sounds like moving on is a priority?

Moving on?

This is a holiday rental - we leave on Monday. We had flights etc all booked, and then last Sunday, the accommodation for the first 6 nights fell through.

So we're in a bit of a rush about it. Although we can stay in the hotel I've booked, I'd rather not. ($Xx2.5 per night is rather a lot!)

from the hotel, I meant.

Well, the hotel might be ok, but I hate daily housekeeping and I don't see the point to having breakfast served to me somewhere - just means I have to get everyone up and dressed before I get any food!

ooh NQC all your X*2/3(2-4) scares me a bit

takes me back to marhs lessons

[bewildered emoticon

Sorry.

The hotel is $5/night. This flat is $2/night. We would expect to pay $10/week, at least, and the flat will be $12, so it's not that expensive.

(I don't know why I don't put in actual numbers, as none of it is in £ anyway, but I prefer to be a bit vague, probably because all the amounts, but particularly the hotel, are silly-big.)

Honestly, it sounds like they have had previous bookings where perhaps people (obviously much dimmer than you!) assumed the rate was a weekly one. Having done quite a few house rentals for holidays in FRance, I've found that owners base most of their interactions with new bookings on previous experience which can lead to some bizarre conversations about things which, to me, would seem completely obvious.

Anyway, you can see when you phone them if they are ok or mad as snakes! Good luck and what a bummer about your original accommodation. AS if preparing for a holiday isn't stressful enough, especially after yesterday!

Yeah, that probably is the problem - I realised while I was typing the previous reply.

I've had one accommodation in Toronto who wouldn't let me use her washing machine as previous occupants had machine-washed a pillow. Who machine-washes pillows? Weirdos.

This year, I'm feeling like a travel agent, I've organised trips to Mexico (nightmarish flight choices, hard time getting accommodation), France (train, hard accommodation hunt in Paris with things falling through, train, resort, flight), and now Canada (flights, really hard accommodation hunt with things falling through at last minute, resort, reasonably hard accommodation hunt).

Washing a pillow eh? Makes me wonder why it was so dirty?! Yuck!

I am sorry your travel has been so trouble laden but have to admit to a little jealousy also! Sounds like you have been a bit of a jet setter this year!

Dying for an update NQC! Yes, you are dead right, I have nothing better to do!

Oh, finally we sorted it out, and we're staying there. They've been a bit random and crap, and are clearly not used to renting the property out. But they seem nice enough.

(Random and crap, because I said I needed the actual address, so we could, you know, go there, and I had to hassle and call and email to get it.)

ha ha ha we have no cot.

I'm also not sure whether we have a bed for DS1, although he could probably camp on a sofa or something.