VRBO Response: was I too honest?

[78Southwind]

So I had a booking request come in a couple weeks ago to rent my River Front Condo up in Bullhead. They wanted to bring their Wakeboard Boat and leave it in our Marina. They also wanted to know if this was a good spot to do some Wake Surfing behind their boat. I answered their questions but no reply yet.

This is part of my response...

I wouldn't wake surf on the river since it's pretty narrow. I would probably take the boat to the lake where it is a little safer and the wakes wouldn't cause damage to docks and other boats. If you have any other questions please let me know.

 

[Mototrig]

Legitimate answer. Honest and to the point

 

[78Southwind]

Legitimate answer. Honest and to the point

It's bizarre how some things that look so obvious to yourself, are so foreign to others. I once had a friend tell me that Wakeboard boats need smooth water too, that's why they choose the river over the lake. I was thinking to myself, if I was going to Wakesurf I would find an empty large protected cove at the lake and have at it.

 

[guest hs]

Excellent response

 

[Mototrig]

It's bizarre how some things that look so obvious to yourself, are so foreign to others. I once had a friend tell me that Wakeboard boats need smooth water too, that's why they choose the river over the lake. I was thinking to myself, if I was going to Wakesurf I would find an empty large protected cove at the lake and have at it.

Every boater wants smooth water, as does every surfer at the beach which is where the surfers belong.

I would have told the perspective renter to take his boat to the marina in long beach and surf in the ocean.

 

[Taboma]

Oh man, spoken truthfully and politely, but come on, you know you wanted to tell em " Nope, don't rent to no damned wake surfers"

 

[RichL]

Excellent response

Agreed

 

[Dettom]

So I had a booking request come in a couple weeks ago to rent my River Front Condo up in Bullhead. They wanted to bring their Wakeboard Boat and leave it in our Marina. They also wanted to know if this was a good spot to do some Wake Surfing behind their boat. I answered their questions but no reply yet.

This is part of my response...

I wouldn't wake surf on the river since it's pretty narrow. I would probably take the boat to the lake where it is a little safer and the wakes wouldn't cause damage to docks and other boats. If you have any other questions please let me know.

Hell, I would’ve added a few lines, such as, “accelerated shore line erosion, douche-like arrogance, and really, the place to surf is at the beach”. But, I know you’re in business so, gotta do what you gotta do. Just my .02.

 

[78Southwind]

Long rant...

Back in 2012, I was kind of new to the vacation rental game and I had someone request a snowbird rental for January and February. Since I already had March and April covered I figured that will work. The guy says he is a retired engineer which I have heard can be the worst or best renters. He sends me a deposit (I was too green to take the full payment upfront).

About two months before he is supposed to move in he cancels January and tells me he's got a three month contract to do some engineering work. I am thinking to myself this guy told me he was retired (wtf). If anyone rents to snowbirds they know it is almost impossible to find a replacement a couple months before the season starts (snowbirds plan about a year ahead of time).

I suck it up and tell the guy that's fine but you need to pay me for February upfront. He pays and sure enough the guy wants to cancel February about a week before the move-in date. He tells me his wife had a heart attack. I feel bad for the guy (hoping he is not scamming me). But I keep thinking of the old saying, "Fool Me Once, Shame On You, Fool Me Twice Shame On Me." So I tell the guy, I am sorry about his wife but I am not going to return the payment (since I had a one month no cancelation agreement) but I would allow him and his wife (when she was doing better) to stay the following November (which is a slow time for rentals). He agreed and stayed that November.

To make a long story... longer, after that, I learned to be real upfront and honest about my reasoning for my payment in full policy and my two or four month no cancelation policy. I have even discounted my rent to those snowbirds that are returning renters so that they can buy vacation insurance to protect them against missed vacations due to health and other problems. You would be surprised how some still want to bargain against or manipulate my policy.

 

[Carrera205]

Wake surfers. Not welcome

 

[Water Romper]

I would spin it, mentioning the river is to shallow, crowded, fisherman and jet skiers everywhere and the current is to swift for good wake-boarding. Tell them Kathlyn's Landing (Lake Mojave) is just up the hill and they can find perfect coves to wake board till their hearts content plus, good docks, restaurant/ store and gas.

 

[HBCraig]

No, it was perfect. These ass hats dont care that these wakes are busting up docks. They dont care because its not their dock.

 

[Gonefishin5555]

the river is for jet boats. Also it’s really crowded with jet skis and the water is cold. I’d tell them to use the lake.

 

[Groper]

I would spin it, mentioning the river is to shallow, crowded, fisherman and jet skiers everywhere and the current is to swift for good wake-boarding. Tell them Kathlyn's Landing (Lake Mojave) is just up the hill and they can find perfect coves to wake board till their hearts content plus, good docks, restaurant/ store and gas.

Haha how about the exact opposite:

Lake Mohave is too windy with boat wakes that will make wake surfing difficult, it's always crowded with fisherman, boaters, jet botes', jet skis, waverunners everywhere and houseboats not too mention the fees for launching and day use with at least an hour wait to launch. The marina is a shit hole with a shity restaurant and docks that will damage your Bote'.

It would be best to wake surf in the early mornings a few miles south of the casinos mostly on the Ca side where the river is the deepest continue to travel a few miles further south for fuel docks, snack bars and five star resorts with five star dining, soft white sand beaches, free beaching and cabanas for family to take a break from the sun. There is a concierge service available for cocktails for full body massage's with a happy ending for as low as $29 an hour