Jack Tarlin
04-12-2005, 22:23
While it troubles me to bring this up, as I thought the subject was dead and closed, I've heard some disquieting things from several hikers while I've been in Erwin, and I think it's important to mention this:
In recent days, several hikers, upon arriving at the Chestoa Bridge near Erwin, have been informed of various mis-leading or outright false things about conditions at Miss Janet's hostel in the center of town:
*Hikers have been told that there is no hot water at
Janet's, or that the showers and bathrooms are not
functioning or available.
*Hikers have been informed that Miss Janet's was full when
this was not, in fact, the case.
Here is the truth of the matter: While Janet was having trouble with her downstairs bathroom several weeks ago, this problem has been completely taken care of: The main downstairs bathroom has been completely and beautifully
renovated, mainly by Janet herself, and has been up and running for several weeks now. There is absolutely nothing amiss with the hot water, showers, or plumbing. So anyone in recent days who is telling hikers about plumbing problems at Janet's is either woefully mis-informed, or more likely, is outright lying, in order to get
hikers to avoid her establishment.
And while her house has been full most nights, this is NOT always the case. Anyone who has any doubts about this should call her place (423) 743-1932 when they get to town, and they should NOT blindly accept news about her occupancy or room availabily when this information is supplied by others, especially other hostel owners or employees. In point of fact, hikers have been mis-led and outright lied to about the level of services and availabilty of service at Janet's, and this is a sad and pitiful thing to see. There is NO need whatsoever for this sort of backhandedness to go on in Erwin or any other Trail town, and I very much regret having to comment on this subject yet again, as many of us were hapy to see that in recent months, this sort of thing had effectively ceased. As before, this sort of behavior will ultimately backfire, and will only hurt the people spreding mis-truths and lies about other businesses.
To sum all this up: Hikers are once again being mis-led and lied to about facilities in Erwin, and this is being done out of spite, malice, and jealousy. There is NO NEED for this sort of thing to happen in any trail town, and this kind of behavior is universally rejected by the hiking community. The way to improve one's business is to take care of one's customers and their needs, and not to spend countless hours coming up with new and imaginative ways to traduce or malign your competitors.
I trust that hikers planning to visit and lay-over in Erwin either this year or in the future will keep this in mind when deciding where they wish to stay and which businesses they wish to patronize.
Telling tall tales about the facilities available at your competitors, or outright lying to hikers by telling folks that other places are full, is dis-honest, underhanded, and just plain wrong. IF you are told that the plumbing is out of order at Janet's you've been mis-informed. If you're told she's full,you should call and confirm this for yourself.
These sorts of negative campaigns have not worked in the past in Erwin, and while many of us thought this sort of nonsense was over and done with, it will not work in the future either.
In recent days, several hikers, upon arriving at the Chestoa Bridge near Erwin, have been informed of various mis-leading or outright false things about conditions at Miss Janet's hostel in the center of town:
*Hikers have been told that there is no hot water at
Janet's, or that the showers and bathrooms are not
functioning or available.
*Hikers have been informed that Miss Janet's was full when
this was not, in fact, the case.
Here is the truth of the matter: While Janet was having trouble with her downstairs bathroom several weeks ago, this problem has been completely taken care of: The main downstairs bathroom has been completely and beautifully
renovated, mainly by Janet herself, and has been up and running for several weeks now. There is absolutely nothing amiss with the hot water, showers, or plumbing. So anyone in recent days who is telling hikers about plumbing problems at Janet's is either woefully mis-informed, or more likely, is outright lying, in order to get
hikers to avoid her establishment.
And while her house has been full most nights, this is NOT always the case. Anyone who has any doubts about this should call her place (423) 743-1932 when they get to town, and they should NOT blindly accept news about her occupancy or room availabily when this information is supplied by others, especially other hostel owners or employees. In point of fact, hikers have been mis-led and outright lied to about the level of services and availabilty of service at Janet's, and this is a sad and pitiful thing to see. There is NO need whatsoever for this sort of backhandedness to go on in Erwin or any other Trail town, and I very much regret having to comment on this subject yet again, as many of us were hapy to see that in recent months, this sort of thing had effectively ceased. As before, this sort of behavior will ultimately backfire, and will only hurt the people spreding mis-truths and lies about other businesses.
To sum all this up: Hikers are once again being mis-led and lied to about facilities in Erwin, and this is being done out of spite, malice, and jealousy. There is NO NEED for this sort of thing to happen in any trail town, and this kind of behavior is universally rejected by the hiking community. The way to improve one's business is to take care of one's customers and their needs, and not to spend countless hours coming up with new and imaginative ways to traduce or malign your competitors.
I trust that hikers planning to visit and lay-over in Erwin either this year or in the future will keep this in mind when deciding where they wish to stay and which businesses they wish to patronize.
Telling tall tales about the facilities available at your competitors, or outright lying to hikers by telling folks that other places are full, is dis-honest, underhanded, and just plain wrong. IF you are told that the plumbing is out of order at Janet's you've been mis-informed. If you're told she's full,you should call and confirm this for yourself.
These sorts of negative campaigns have not worked in the past in Erwin, and while many of us thought this sort of nonsense was over and done with, it will not work in the future either.