By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .
Sign up with Google Sign up with FacebookQ: Cheated by hostel, where to turn?
Hi,
A friend of mine has been living in a 6 bedroom dorm in a hostel for quite some time. Now in winter the room has been around 11-13 degrees, complaints have been made to the manager and the reception desk but they have always disregarded it by saying "This is how warm it gets, if you dont like it move away" which is true but still unpleasant to hear from a foreigner owning a hostel.
Today he went online and looked for a new hostel to stay and he realized that for these months he has been paying more then it actually costs to book from the internet. When talking to other people in the hostel, they have been given the amount shown on the internet but not him. Is it legal for the hostel to do this? And can we do something about it?
The manager of the hostel refuses to listen and say "it is what it is" but that cannot be fair, or can it?
11 years 16 weeks ago in Visa & Legalities - Beijing
I know this may sound cruel, but the hostel owner is right. If your friend can't be bothered to look for lower prices, it isn't the owners job to tell him about ways to pay him less.
If I were him, I would either re-register through the internet in order to get the lower price, or I would find another hostel to stay in.
But the hostel owner told everyone else that has been staying for a long time, I know it sounds childish but isnt there something that can be done?
Xpat.John:
If the owner is charging more than the posted rate, then maybe. But if he chooses not to tell you about the cheaper rates, then no. Time to find another hostel I guess.
fredrikappelgren:
Ok, then I will tell him to go somewhere else and that there is nothing to be done.
By the way, a short survey of the hostels nearby showed that the price they had in the hostel is the same as on hostelworld, however, this hostel for example has prices that is kind of strange. When booking online on any site you get to pay 140 for a double / twin room, when coming to the hostel it costs 240.
Fredrik, why would anyone stay in a hostel in Beijing for six months that costs RMB 240 per night? That means a monthly total of RMB 7,000+ per month and even in Beijing that amount would get you a reasonably OK apartment, or a share in a very nice apartment, etc., etc.
Even if he were to pay RMB 140 per night, that is nearly RMB 4,200 per month and that would also EASILY get him a share in a nice Beijing apartment. Lots of foreigners and Chinese are looking for apartment mates in Beijing -- try the www.thebeijinger.com and other places.
The math just isn't there in this case.
fredrikappelgren:
I. dont know why he choose thia but he did and he is my friend so i dont question it i just try to help.
WHAT? For 240 kuai a night he could get a whol Chinese hotel room to himself. Your friend is a chump.
very simple, you can't be stupid and then want to blame others. it is 2012. who doesn't check the internet first? even if i'm in front of the hotel, i call elong and book through them . i get the lowest price without the hassle. and the fact that your friend didn't move out or even search online for a cheaper hotel is more stupidity. hotels in beijing are cheap. i could find a room with a window for under 130rmb a night.
there is nothing you or your friend can do. accept the fact that some people simply do not have the mental capacity to do what is necessary in order to avoid being taken advantage of.
happywanderer:
Au contraire, I always try and blame my stupidity on others.