No Free Internet at Your Business? I’m Not Buying
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I recently visited a hotel in Chicago. I picked the hotel because it advertised that it had wireless Internet. I get there and attach my laptop to the network only to find they want a credit card number from me. Are you kidding me? I pay over $100 for a room and have to pay extra for Internet when I can walk up the street to a coffee shop and get it for free after buying a $1.00 cup of coffee? Are you kidding me?
This is not 1995. I should be able to get free Internet at any hotel I choose. I should also get access at any restaurant, coffee house, bar or other business where I spend money. Charging extra for Internet is like charging extra to watch the local sports event at a bar. It’s extra entertainment you can provide your customers while you try to overcharge them for a cappuccino or appetizer. The notion that businesses can gain extra revenue by charging for something like an Internet signal turns me as a consumer off. I won’t even consider doing business with you again. You’re better off not even offering the service.
3 Comments
Marcus Hamaker
September 24th, 2008
at 12:24pm
Wow, do I ever agree with this one! There are still hotels around my area that charge for internet, some up to $30 per day. In my opinion if the Motel 8 can offer it for free then so can the Hilton!
Aryeh Goretsky
September 24th, 2008
at 10:44pm
Hello,
In my experience, the more expensive the hotel, the more likely they are to charge for Internet access.
When travelling, if I am unsure of whether the hotel provides network access, I typically bring a 3G modem card and use that.
Regards,
Aryeh Goretsky
Robert Glen Fogarty
September 25th, 2008
at 2:41am
I’ll bet I’ve stayed in that exact same hotel! What was its name? Go on, you can tell us!
I agree with the sentiment, though — charging extra for Wi-Fi in this day and age is akin to charging extra for having a bathroom in your room.