A Note on Euopean Customer Service

A Note on Euopean Customer Service
One thing that we were reminded about on this trip is that the idea of Customer service is not really the same here in Europe as it is in the good ole USA. The people are wonderful and kind and very loving and the closer you can get to working with the actual owners of an enterprise the better experience you will have. We had a great experience in the apartment that we stayed in in Rome. The Owner met us there and showed us around the apartment and showed us how everything worked etc and had chocolates on our beds and a large basket of Italian specialties like pasta, sauce, olive Oil, and wine and coffee that we left for someone else. They were happy to be of service and brought us their stroller to use when Heather's stroller was lost in luggage for a couple of days. They also let us keep our luggage in the garage so that we could continue to enjoy Rome after we checked out. They never asked for extra money for all these nice gestures.
But we also experienced businesses that expect to be paid extra for things that most Americans expect as "normal" For example at resturants don't be surprised if there is a charge for water and bread. At our Marriott hotel at the airport they don't honor the gold reward member benefits of free breakfast, business benefits etc. You pay about 18 dollars for internet, the same if you want breakfast etc. etc. We were afraid to ask for an extra blanket. They don't have extra anything unless you pay extra. I think I even saw a place to swipe a credit card on the kleenex dispenser JK. They charged my brother in law an extra $75 because he had his 2 children with him and they werenlt listed on the reservation.
Dave left to go and get the rental car at the airport. The charge for the 1.5 mile hotel shuttle was 9 dollars. When he walked out to get the shuttle the front desk person "assumed" that he was checking out so she deactivated his room key which immediately disactivated our lights in our room (you have to put a room key in a slot by the door for the lights to work.) I was in the shower at the time and the lights went out. I thought Devin was messing with the key card and so I yelled for him to turn the light back on. I finished my shower in the blackness and tried to call the front desk. They didn't answer. After several tries I asked them why the lights were out. The sent up a new room key. Did they apologize or offer us a basket of Ialian goodies or free wifi, NO!! Did they care? Who knows. It is good thing that we are too cheap to pay for internet because I would be tempted to change the 2 more nights we have booked here in the near future :)