#114 – “Horrible Hotels, the Best Listing Duration for eBay Auctions, Easy Market Research, and a BIG Marketing Lesson from Virgin Media”.
July 7, 2010Episode #114 – “The One With the Horrible Hotels 
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Feedback / Questions: Send me a message or question about your business, you just need a webcam connected to your computer. It’s fast, easy, and free. Note: You might be famous! In submitting a video, you agree to the possibility of having your video shown in a future episode of the show. Click on the ‘reply’ button below…
July 7th, 2010 at 1:32 pm
Ever stayed at a hotel like the one I described? Let me know, share your experience here.
Regards
Andrew
July 7th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
I am soooo with you about hotel power sources. I have sleep apnea which means I cart a little machine around with me to help me breathe at night while I’m asleep. I always have to pull out the bed and crawl around and fight to find an outlet close enough so I can plug in and sleep.
The bathroom light is another thing…if it isn’t the blinding lights it’s the “always on” night light that is pretty bright, too.
Loved the photos of the hotel…. what kind of drugs were the designers on???
July 7th, 2010 at 1:54 pm
In relation to the hotel feedback. Marketers should keep this in mind when building websites and creating products as well. Don’t create products and websites for YOU but create them for your visitors and potential customers. Make them easy to use and understand. Try the visiting and buying process yourself as if you were the customer.
On Ebay. 7 day auctions are best started and ended IMO on Saturdays. This is when most people have time on their hands to bid and browse ebay for your goodies.
July 7th, 2010 at 2:14 pm
Over priced hotels with no amenities for travelers is just ridiculous. No power plugs should not even be able to exist. So many people need to plug things in from medical devices to cell phones. Lighting is another issue for all of us either the bulbs are too bright or they are not available. Maybe the folks designing this hotels should interview those who stay in these places and what they need.
July 7th, 2010 at 2:29 pm
Hey Andrew,
I found this weeks show to be less interesting than some of your previous shows. Maybe it was the subject matter for me, I don’t know. I’m sure the next one will be more in tune with what I’m interested in.
As for your hotel stay, some are just as you say, they seem to be looking for some award for design and not convenience for their customer. I always stay at a Marriott property. Marriott Resorts, Courtyard by Marriott or Residence Inns. They have many of the conveniences you mentioned already there. The soft lighting in the bathroom, extra plugs, etc. And if they don’t have it in their room already, all you have to do is call on the concierge and you’ll have it quick enough. I’ve been a member of Marriott’s Guest program for 21 years. I found Hilton Hotels with similar conveniences. Those are the only two hotels I stay with, unless there isn’t one in the town I’m visiting.
The next time you’re in Los Angeles and you don’t want to stay at the Marriott or the Hilton, I recommend the Bonaventure Hotel. Those elevators are very cool to ride in.
Looking forward to your next show.
Regards,
Hal
July 7th, 2010 at 3:29 pm
Your assessment of the ebay auctions is bang on but unfortunately the ebay gravy train has left. Even if you want to use ebay as a marketing tool, its not worth the time anymore.
July 7th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
It is an outrage how hotels do not provide simple things like electrical outlets! In this day and age no one travels without a cell phone to charge!
July 7th, 2010 at 4:17 pm
My cell phone might not be as fancy as yours, but it will charge through a USB port!
July 7th, 2010 at 4:56 pm
Come clean Andrew… what really bugs you is you can never find a place to plug in your Hair Curlers.. right?
July 7th, 2010 at 6:31 pm
Hi Andrew.
Hotels – I hate them. They’re always waaaaay too hot, well they are here in the UK anyway. Very uncomfortable. And then there’s the bedding – usually just one very thick layer. At home we have multiple layers than can be added or shed according to the temperature. In hotels it’s generally one very thick layer or nothing at all. (Or you can pull the duvet out of its cover, throw it on the floor, and just use the cover – that’s what I usually do!)
AnswerBag – thanks for that – looks very useful and something I can really use.
July 7th, 2010 at 8:35 pm
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July 7th, 2010 at 8:38 pm
Wow. You make so many good points! Those artsy hotels are cute but not practical in the least. I totally agree about the power strips, its pretty ridiculous. As far as bidding goes, I think 10 days is the best. c:
July 7th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
I do feel you on the hotel service, but it’s like that with anything. Most people who have services to help people usually leave out all of the obvious things.
July 7th, 2010 at 9:48 pm
Andrew Sir is really amazing.The issue he discussed about the hotels are real.I have never seen any hotels which really think about the switches and light system of bathroom.
July 7th, 2010 at 10:00 pm
This is very interesting and funny video. I really enjoyed this video.
July 7th, 2010 at 10:05 pm
I like this video.
Video of Andrew Lock is very good.
Here is good sound.
July 7th, 2010 at 10:10 pm
hi, andrew lock
i have understand your theam & motive its very nice and experianceable. i have interested also.
thanks
July 7th, 2010 at 11:56 pm
hi andrew sir your speech about the issues about hotel was real.By seeing this hotel owner shall change their plan and reconstruct.and some of the valuable sites you showed also usefull
July 8th, 2010 at 3:33 am
it sounds good but i should get a detail idea the video is short and not desciptive
July 8th, 2010 at 5:46 am
This video explains the expectations of a traveller in a hotel and also how important is online marketing.The online reservation facility and also the website gives good idea about hotel and the facilities they offer.Market research is very simple because of internet and it helps the enterprenurs and marketing proffessionals.Nice and informative video.Thanks.Expect more
July 8th, 2010 at 5:58 am
I totally hate hotels.Because there is always something wrong either in my room or in the mini frigde.And there are always bad channels on tv and the room is very cold during thw winter.
July 8th, 2010 at 6:07 am
Video good. I like. Help me in economy.
July 8th, 2010 at 6:27 am
This video is interesting. You are good Andrew Lock. Please make more to help me in my business ventures.
July 8th, 2010 at 9:26 am
[...] #114 – "Horrible Hotels, the Best Listing Duration for eBay … [...]
July 8th, 2010 at 9:52 am
My number one pet peeve about hotels are the beds. I recently stayed at a four star resort in Mexico. The resort was absolutely gorgeous with awesome amenities… however, my stay was miserable because the beds were so hard it felt like I was sleeping on the floor. I was so miserable, in fact, that I was willing to pay anything to sleep in a nice comfy bed. So, I spoke with hotel management about upgrading to their “nicer” rooms, only to find out that they, too, had the same hard beds. I requested a simple mattress pad and was told they had none. So, I finally trekked out to the local super store and purchased my own mattress pad. The rest of my stay was great, but I will never visit the resort again because of the beds.
I had a similar experience here in the states. I stayed in a nice hotel with bad beds. However, I filled out their survey and explained that I would never stay in the hotel again because of the beds. I was surprised when the hotel manager called me to apologize. He explained that they were investing in new pillow top beds and offered to comp my next stay at the hotel. Needless to say, I am a loyal patron to the hotel because they listened to me and fixed the problem.
July 8th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
I know!!! Sometimes it is SOOOO hard to find a hotel. Especially some of the trendier ones–it is true, a lot of the time I wonder if the people who made them have ever stayed at one before!!! Thanks for the webisode, man, it is great!
July 8th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
[...] #114 – "Horrible Hotels, the Best Listing Duration for eBay … [...]
July 8th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
Like Ken and many others I too have sleep apnea and need to plug in my cpap machine whenever I stay at a hotel or motel. I am all too familiar with the “move the entire bed to locate an outlet” scenario! Even worse for my machine is that it has the 3 prong plug and many of the hotel outlets are only 2 prong, so I have learned to carry a 3 prong adaptor and power strip with me wherever I go. I’m sure it would make a fire marshal cringe, but it gets the job done. Oh, and on decor…it has always appeared to that the bigger the reputation of the decorator, the higher the price and the more insane the results!! Good show, Andrew.
July 8th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
I don’t want to be a party pooper but Ebay is in decline. Every veteran Ebay seller knows this. I really feel sorry for any new people or people with a few things to sell. I used to use Ebay as a marketing tool but now my sales don’t even cover my expenses. Ebay is focused on the big time seller. Sorry but my two cents.
As for hotels, they are a hit and miss. Don’t forget that these chains are franchised so while many things are the same, they are just as different too at the same hotel chain.
July 8th, 2010 at 6:37 pm
I enjoy saving money as much as the next person, but this past weekend, when I selected a hotel and then found out there was no wireless internet, I was tempted to cancel my reservation and find another place to stay. In today’s world, I believe it’s absolutely crucial for hotels to provide access to wireless internet, especially to guests. They’re probably in an unfamiliar area – who wouldn’t need directions?!
July 9th, 2010 at 8:12 am
Hotels that have awful WIFI connections and those that do not acknowledge their participation in the chain rewards programs even they are clearly listed as a participating hotel — these are some of the things that really annoy me about hotels.
July 9th, 2010 at 9:31 am
This is a very interesting video. I really enjoyed it very much.
July 9th, 2010 at 3:00 pm
I agree 100% with your hotel story, I am glad to hear that I am not the only wako (who knew?)
The nifty click was awesome, excellent resource.
July 9th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
U’re so damn right about the power socket, I mean, everything is digital right now! & the light switch, yeah.. I tripped my feet on my way back to bed the last time I stayed at *piip* (can’t mention the hotel name here) We don’t need a Bruce-Almighty-switch (clap, clap!) but we sure need another source of light..
July 9th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
ok very good . ITS REALLY GOOD YOU ARE HELPING OTHERS OUT OF THE TROUBLE
July 9th, 2010 at 11:04 pm
This is the first I’ve come across this website – and I loved the video! I absolutely agree about the horrible hotels, and the ebay tips about auction length were really helpful.
July 9th, 2010 at 11:41 pm
Hi Andrew, U great guys entertain everyone watching this show.Ive seen this for the first time and guess what? i like it a lot.You seem to look very energetic and fresh all the time which in turn make everyone to have a fresh feeling.Good I appreciate each and every part of your video and especially u great guy being a marketing eBay expert i love the marketing tips.Thank you.Keep entertaining.
July 10th, 2010 at 12:51 am
Hi Andrew lock, the news you gave about hotels was very true, am an indian even here many hotels don’t have proper facility to charge our cell phones and laptops, it is difficult for the professionals to search a hotel with plug point. I will send this link to my professional friends to watch this video. I enjoyed it, the pictures shown by you was superb. Thank you.
July 10th, 2010 at 3:45 am
Hi Andrew, U great guys entertain everyone watching this show.Ive seen this for the first time and guess what? i like it a lot.You seem to look very energetic and fresh all the time which in turn make everyone to have a fresh feeling.Good I appreciate each and every part of your video and especially u great guy being a marketing eBay expert i love the marketing tips.Thank you.Keep entertaining.
July 10th, 2010 at 4:04 am
[...] #114 – "Horrible Hotels, the Best Listing Duration for eBay … [...]
July 10th, 2010 at 4:33 am
You made some good points there.I hate hotels!Don’t get me started on Ebay…I really enjoy watching your videos.Kudos!Keep on the good work!
July 10th, 2010 at 6:19 am
[...] #114 – "Horrible Hotels, the Best Listing Duration for eBay … [...]
July 10th, 2010 at 8:23 am
I hate hotels too.. This video reveals the real situation of many hotels.. no power sockets.. too horrible.. however.. the video was good.. thanks..
July 10th, 2010 at 10:16 am
this made some good points there.I hate hotels!Don’t get me started on Ebay…I really enjoy watching your videos.Kudos!Keep on the good work!
July 10th, 2010 at 10:18 am
haiiii…this is nice…..fantastic…This video reveals the real situation of many hotels..
July 10th, 2010 at 11:10 am
Excellent presentation.The video reveals the real situation which one faces in many hotels. The video was very interesting. Thanks Andrew Lock for sharing with us.
July 10th, 2010 at 1:23 pm
hiiii…. this is very nice,this video says the real things happens in hotel,that’s i came to know,thanks for andrew to share this excellent video with us!
July 10th, 2010 at 4:40 pm
I could really relate to the hotel bit. The last hotel i went to I had to unplug things to plug other things and it was really a pain. At least give me 2-3 sockets for the money I am paying for my stay. The eBay info was very helpful. Great video.
July 10th, 2010 at 6:40 pm
[...] #114 – "Horrible Hotels, the Best Listing Duration for eBay … [...]
July 11th, 2010 at 4:38 am
Hey Andrew,
Rightly said about problems of charging. Have you heard of Electromagnetic Charging Pads ? Look what I found here “http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-9667152-1.html”.
Hope to solve all the problems of charging your appliances if this technology succeeds. However you still need 1 power socket though.
July 11th, 2010 at 6:38 am
[...] #114 – "Horrible Hotels, the Best Listing Duration for eBay … [...]
July 11th, 2010 at 11:41 pm
Very entertaining and relate-able. I’ve experienced many of the same things at hotels that i’ve stayed at – and your comment on the blinding light is right on. Those lights are so bright you can literally see every imperfection of your face. Of course, u forgot to mention how close they put the air conditioner to your bed, which can be highly uncomfortable.
July 12th, 2010 at 2:25 am
It is a very nice and informative video. It gives the information about hotels and what actually happens in the hotels. Thanks for such an informative video.
July 12th, 2010 at 2:50 am
I have to agree on the Hotel comments. Hotels are generally generic, ill designed, and full of wannabe chic stuff. After travelling around Europe for several months, I think it is safe to say that the hotel industry is in serious trouble. In many cities people are starting to rent out their spare rooms as a quasi-hotel room. Yes, it will never catch on with the business travellers and and well-to-do types, but many young 20 somethings are open to the idea of staying in a proper apartment with a local resident of the city. As time goes by, the 20 something generation could gradually shift away from hotels, leaving a major major hole in the hotel industry.
July 12th, 2010 at 10:46 am
Hotels now are so expensive and really harsh on the amount of food they provide. Thus the power sockets should be present for all of us who own a phone or a laptop. But many people are willing to sacrifice the charging of their phones to stay at this overpriced hotels all over the country.
July 13th, 2010 at 1:10 am
Hi Andrew..This is the first time I am watching your show and I really liked it. Its an interesting video and I was able to relate myself to the hotel part, especially the blinding lights in the bathroom. Also, thanks for the excellent tips on marketing. Keep up the good work and hope to see more.
July 13th, 2010 at 2:35 am
Saw the full video content its was very informative,you showed the hotels interior that was amazing. it really gives me the experience of being in that hotels.all your tips are useful. Thank you..
July 21st, 2010 at 6:46 pm
Hotels, where to start? The lighting in some has bothered me. I am talking about those that use 30 watt bulbs. Like many people I use my time in hotel rooms to catch up on work. Paperwork and such. Good lighting is very important, but some hotels are set up that when every single light in the room is on, it is still dim. At one hotel I got bitched at by the manager for taking the shades off the lamps to give more light. Also the noise. Some hotels have the thinest walls, doors gaps under the doors. One hotel that I stayed at I could hear the guy across the hall talking on his phone. He didn’t even seem to be talking very load. Every time the person above me walked across the room I could hear it, and I could even hear the people checking in from the lobby from my room. I understand that things like the low watt bulbs and thin walls and bad insulation are in order to cut costs, but they are also enough to keep people from coming back. If you cut costs to the point that you are cutting off your income, then it defeats the purpose. And yes the modern conveniences are now a neccessity. Proper outlets and free wi-fi (along with a dsl connection) are a must nowadays.
July 29th, 2010 at 10:03 am
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I want to quote your post in my blog. It can?
And you et an account on Twitter?
July 31st, 2010 at 3:33 am
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Is this possible?