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Original poster

Hotel gave our gift to the wrong people

82 replies

Horriblewoman · 27/09/2021 15:28

This is incredibly outing so hi to anyone I know, you guys are amazing!

We got married recently, my best friend gave the hotel we were staying in after the wedding a very special package to put in our room which included gifts for our honeymoon.

The hotel put it in the wrong room (of another bride and groom staying there) even though she'd given them our names.

The other bride and groom took it (!!) Even though it had our name on and a card written to us.

I'm appalled at how awful the hotel dealt with this, they gave us a voucher as a replacement )for a beauty treatment which we'd both never use) and were basically like I'm really sorry but there's nothing we can do.

We'd paid for the hotel in advance so couldn't ask for a discount but is there anything else we can do? Am I just being angry for the sake of it? I'm just really sad that my beautiful friend put so much effort into something that we aren't going to enjoy because we left for our honeymoon shortly afterwards.

OP posts:
LIZS · 28/09/2021 15:40

The other couple may not have realised if it were say, flowers, luxury food, champagne. toiletries, robes etc. They may have assumed it was part of the hotel's honeymoon package. It would be difficult to prove the label was intact.

LaBellina · 28/09/2021 15:55

There was a card included with the OP’s name on it, with a message from their friend.

PlinkPlankPlunk · 28/09/2021 15:59

@PegasusReturns

I don’t know what the answer is but I overheard a conversation in a hotel I was staying at where a gentleman had travelled up to discuss with the manager the fact that he had arranged for a bottle of champagne that had been bought on the day the bride was born and was appropriately expensive and engraved with their wedding date or some such had been left in the wrong room and been drunk by the wrong guests.

He was distraught and the manager unhelpful. Rather put me off the hotel to be honest.

That is so bad it’s almost funny - but not quite Shock No wonder he was distraught!
PegasusReturns · 28/09/2021 18:29

To those commenting on my (indirect) experience it was so awful.

They didn’t afford him the courtesy of a private meeting and he’d clearly travelled a long distance to try and rectify the matter face to face because he’d had no luck on the phone. It was horrible to witness.

maslinpan · 28/09/2021 18:37

Champagne does not improve with keeping. A bottle that was that old would be quite unpleasant to drink.

MydogWillow · 28/09/2021 18:55

The instruction was between your friend and the hotel. As they've admitted liability I'm guessing she would need to claim against the hotels insurance?

MydogWillow · 28/09/2021 18:56

Congratulations btw Smile

PegasusReturns · 28/09/2021 19:00

@maslinpan I suspect the plan was not to drink it and it was the sentimental thought that counts 🤷‍♀️

Or I could have misinterpreted it as being champagne and it was in fact wine or whisky.

But thanks for educating us all Smile

prh47bridge · 28/09/2021 19:21

There is no way the police would get involved in this. Theft requires criminal intent, so the prosecution would have to show that the other couple knew the gift(s) were not theirs but took them anyway. That would be impossible in this situation. They went into their hotel room as a newly married couple and found a gift intended for a newly married couple. It is not unreasonable for them to assume it was theirs and that the incorrect names (assuming they noticed them, which is not guaranteed) were a mistake.

HouseOfFire · 28/09/2021 19:33

@NaturalStudy

Tell the hotel that unless they provide you with the details of the other couple you will pursue them for the value of the gift. If they give you the details ask the couple to return the gift otherwise you will report to the police/pursue them for the value.
They cannot give anyone the details of the other couple.
MaryBoBary · 28/09/2021 19:34

I think it's annoying, but what are the hotel supposed to do apart from apologise. They offered you a spa treatment. If you don't want it then that's your choice. That aren't going to reimburse because you're friend could pluck any number out of the air. I think they've done enough and it's just very unfortunate.

MaryBoBary · 28/09/2021 19:37

And anyway, surely you should be passing on the spa treatment to your friend who actually lost the money?

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 28/09/2021 19:39

@prh47bridge

There is no way the police would get involved in this. Theft requires criminal intent, so the prosecution would have to show that the other couple knew the gift(s) were not theirs but took them anyway. That would be impossible in this situation. They went into their hotel room as a newly married couple and found a gift intended for a newly married couple. It is not unreasonable for them to assume it was theirs and that the incorrect names (assuming they noticed them, which is not guaranteed) were a mistake.
Really? The OP says Even though it had our name on and a card written to us by her best friend, so presumably a very personal message. Unless both couples have the same name, and the other couple by an incredible coincidence have a best friend with the same name as OP's, how could they possibly be confused and think OP's BF's gift was meant for them?
LIZS · 28/09/2021 19:41

Or the card became separated from the gift?

burnoutbabe · 28/09/2021 19:54

How would the friends be able to prove the value of the package? It could be an old board game from a charity shop (sentimental) or something very expensive. No proof either way!

Chloemol · 28/09/2021 19:58

Tell the hotel to get in touch with the other bride and groom and explain and ask them to return your gift

Or tell the hotel what it was so they can replace like or like

RiverSkater · 28/09/2021 20:02

I would post on social media far and wide, ask people to share it so the hotel is shamed and the thieving couple are shamed. Somebody will know them, somebody will have been to their wedding.

Do it in a way that you aren't accusing anybody but would dearly love your gift back. Grin

I'm so sorry this happened to you.

genericuserneeded · 28/09/2021 20:05

@NaturalStudy

Tell the hotel that unless they provide you with the details of the other couple you will pursue them for the value of the gift. If they give you the details ask the couple to return the gift otherwise you will report to the police/pursue them for the value.
The hotel can’t do that - GDPR?

They likely aren’t legally liable for the value of the gift either, so your post is a non-starter

SequinsandStiIettos · 28/09/2021 20:07

What's in the box? Wink Grin

pinkyredrose · 28/09/2021 20:12

Why didn't the hotel ask the other guests to bring the gift back?

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 28/09/2021 20:18

If it was flowers, champagne, chocolates or whatever (as opposed to obviously personalised gifts), the other couple quite probably assumed it was 'from the hotel' i.e. part of the bridal package that had been paid for and just ate/drank/used/packed it without a moment's thought.

Yes, there was a card with it that likely made it into their luggage, but nobody gets excited about (or even bothers to read) what they assume will be a generic printed card from a company - same as with corporate Christmas cards.

Chances are they either never read the card or, otherwise, read it much later, back at home, and were extremely embarrassed to say anything. Not that it's any consolation to you, OP, but it probably also put a big downer on the other couple's wedding memories, when they realised what had happened and were (I'm guessing) mortified.

DressedUpAtAnIvy · 28/09/2021 20:18

Some types of champagne improve with age.
The other bride and groom will have packed the gifts up without individually checking each tag, it isn’t their fault. You would never think that a wedding gift in your hotel room on your wedding day mightn’t belong to you.

Staffy1 · 28/09/2021 20:38

Is it a gift that could be replicated? If so the hotel should arrange and pay for it.

GoWalkabout · 28/09/2021 20:50

Mistakes happen. You need to be gracious here and super thankful to your friend but laugh it off, the other couple probably took it on face value or were baffled, the employee probably feels awful. The hotel made a generous offer and shouldn't be out of pocket because it was not their product.

Tilltheend99 · 28/09/2021 21:19

It’s unlikely they would give you the details of the other couple as it would break data protection laws. Perhaps they could contact them on your behalf?

I had a couple of problems with the hotel where my reception was held. I sent an email explaining what I was unhappy about and why (I wasn’t rude) and they refunded some uncorking costs and offered us a free night on our anniversary. Ironically everyone constantly tells us what a good time they had and no one noticed the issues.

It might seem like a good idea to leave bad reviews everywhere but I think they are more likely to compensate you further if you keep things civil. I would only leave a bad review if they have been genuinely rude to you.

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