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To Artists, Suiters, and Con Goers in General
12 years ago
Hey guys, I've just gotten back from MFF recently, and I'd like to share an important story with everyone who brings anything of value - whether it be monetary, one of a kind, or sentiment to you please don't make the mistake I did.
Now before I go into details, I am NOT bashing the hotel we stayed at. For all intent purposes they handled this the best they could I believe, and it's still being followed up with their insurance department. So I'm not trying to bash this particular hotel, it could happen anywhere, and at any hotel.
When we were checking out our bellhop "T" showed up promptly and loaded everything onto the cart. He stood in our doorway for a few minutes, and it was rather awkward as we realized he wanted a tip. Mind you we do generally tip, and would have gladly tipped "T" when we got down to the hotel lobby and had the time to break our bill. One of our roomates was forced to give a 5 dollar tip, so he would leave. I'm including this as this is exactly what happened. I cannot say for sure this had anything to do with the events following it...but it was strange as no where have I ever been to a hotel where the bellhop stands in the doorway for 1-2 minutes and makes awkward remarks as we are scurrying to pick trash up and look for items we may have missed in packing...
Anyway so "T" leaves and we shortly follow. I'd say no more than 10 minutes passed before we left the room for final. On our way to the elevator we noticed a stray Copic marker, and thought that was rather odd. Friend even jokingly said "Oh hope it's not yours"
Well...when we got down to our luggage to my shock and horror my marker bin (a custom built box that has individual slots for each marker, and locks on each side) had been dumped, and sloppily put back on top of the luggage. Markers where sticking out of the slots everywhere.
I had to quickly get myself together and talked with the Manager. After some back and forth, she found out that "T" says the markers fell off the luggage cart, and he picked them back up. That's fine and dandy but...
1) based on the marker we found RIGHT outside our hotel room it happened right there? Probably? Why not...knock on the door and say I'm sorry this is what happened...and take care of it?
and
2) "T" left the markers (luggage in general) unattended, and just...sticking out everywhere literally for anyone to see.
After counting my markers, a grand total of 142 were gone.
This..as many of you know is not something to be taken lightly. I was completely honest with insurance in that I had mixed Prisma and Copic, and had no way of knowing the exact amount of which is which, only that my box holds x amount, and x amount is missing. Also that they are used items.
I'm willing to bet 8 out of 10 con goers know what a Prisma or Copic marker is, and what their value is. The way those things were sticking out and just...on top of the luggage makes it easily accessible for anyone to just grab them and go. No one was standing out there, not a single mention or any sort of apology.
So...a long story short. If it's important to you...do NOT place it with Bellhops. Yes..this is a "horror" story, this is not typical. Again I am NOT bashing the hotel, it was handled the best they could, however "T" is another story I could keep going on about. The management staff handled it well.
But as con goers, we understand the value of these markers, or of these fursuits, or special plushies/sketch books and what not. Others may not. I had to specifically tell management the value of these markers to get them to understand that oh hey, this isn't just some crayola crap you can buy for 20 dollars and have hundreds of them. 20 dollars may get you 2 Copics. Anyway...
Valuable lesson learned, at a horrible price for me. I hope this can be a lesson for others as well.
Now before I go into details, I am NOT bashing the hotel we stayed at. For all intent purposes they handled this the best they could I believe, and it's still being followed up with their insurance department. So I'm not trying to bash this particular hotel, it could happen anywhere, and at any hotel.
When we were checking out our bellhop "T" showed up promptly and loaded everything onto the cart. He stood in our doorway for a few minutes, and it was rather awkward as we realized he wanted a tip. Mind you we do generally tip, and would have gladly tipped "T" when we got down to the hotel lobby and had the time to break our bill. One of our roomates was forced to give a 5 dollar tip, so he would leave. I'm including this as this is exactly what happened. I cannot say for sure this had anything to do with the events following it...but it was strange as no where have I ever been to a hotel where the bellhop stands in the doorway for 1-2 minutes and makes awkward remarks as we are scurrying to pick trash up and look for items we may have missed in packing...
Anyway so "T" leaves and we shortly follow. I'd say no more than 10 minutes passed before we left the room for final. On our way to the elevator we noticed a stray Copic marker, and thought that was rather odd. Friend even jokingly said "Oh hope it's not yours"
Well...when we got down to our luggage to my shock and horror my marker bin (a custom built box that has individual slots for each marker, and locks on each side) had been dumped, and sloppily put back on top of the luggage. Markers where sticking out of the slots everywhere.
I had to quickly get myself together and talked with the Manager. After some back and forth, she found out that "T" says the markers fell off the luggage cart, and he picked them back up. That's fine and dandy but...
1) based on the marker we found RIGHT outside our hotel room it happened right there? Probably? Why not...knock on the door and say I'm sorry this is what happened...and take care of it?
and
2) "T" left the markers (luggage in general) unattended, and just...sticking out everywhere literally for anyone to see.
After counting my markers, a grand total of 142 were gone.
This..as many of you know is not something to be taken lightly. I was completely honest with insurance in that I had mixed Prisma and Copic, and had no way of knowing the exact amount of which is which, only that my box holds x amount, and x amount is missing. Also that they are used items.
I'm willing to bet 8 out of 10 con goers know what a Prisma or Copic marker is, and what their value is. The way those things were sticking out and just...on top of the luggage makes it easily accessible for anyone to just grab them and go. No one was standing out there, not a single mention or any sort of apology.
So...a long story short. If it's important to you...do NOT place it with Bellhops. Yes..this is a "horror" story, this is not typical. Again I am NOT bashing the hotel, it was handled the best they could, however "T" is another story I could keep going on about. The management staff handled it well.
But as con goers, we understand the value of these markers, or of these fursuits, or special plushies/sketch books and what not. Others may not. I had to specifically tell management the value of these markers to get them to understand that oh hey, this isn't just some crayola crap you can buy for 20 dollars and have hundreds of them. 20 dollars may get you 2 Copics. Anyway...
Valuable lesson learned, at a horrible price for me. I hope this can be a lesson for others as well.
I'm really sorry this happened to you :( I appreciate you sharing this as a warning.
Really sorry this happened to you, dear!
1. Im sure you know this, but never, EVER leave your luggage out of your site while with a bell hop. For example- If they say they -have- to take the employee elevator, GO WITH THEM. They will use opportunities like that to rummage, pick-pocket & steal.
2. Copic and Prismas, yes, while different, I back you, they are both costly! And while you have no idea what got lost exactly, even at at minimum prisma price of lets say $5 a pen, that's still $500+ worth of merchandise= a very easy Misdemeanor offence.
I am very sorry for your loss. I will be sure to spread the word to fellow artists I know about this specific incident. While it may or may not be isolated, it is definitely worth keeping up, & informing others. Thank you for sharing your story, and best of luck replacing all those markers, sadly, over time D:
I appreciate it though! Hopefully if anything, it will serve as a valuable lesson for others as well. Could have easily been a fursuit, or something else of any amount of value. And thanks, waiting to hear from their insurance company, I imagine i probably won't get any kind of reply until next week since Thanksgiving im sure they are all shut down.