Club Carlson - Left item at hotel but didn't get it back

Last friday(Feb. 3), I stayed at Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, Newark, Delaware. Just 20 minutes after I checked out(Feb. 4), I found I left my iPod touch in the room. As I was already on highway to another place, I asked my wife called the hotel front desk, a lady answered the call, my wife told her we will be back on Sunday (Feb. 5), she told us she will keep it at the front desk if found.

Unfortunately when I was back to this hotel on Sunday(Feb. 5), another lady from front desk told me they found nothing in the room. She said what she could do is to give me the owner of the hotel and asked me to contact him directly.

After back home, I sent the email to the owner but didn't get response until now(Feb. 12). Also, I sent the email to Club Carlson and got response to tell me the first lady said she contacted us after she went to room but found nothing. In fact, no one contacted us until we went back to hotel on Sunday(Feb. 5).

I knew I was wrong because I trusted Carlson Group as a big hotel group. But, in fact, the Club Carlson Corporate Customer Service Specialist told me that "All of our hotels are independently owned and operated", that means Carlson just composed hotels into a group which including many small hotels.:td::mad:

I knew I was wrong because I trusted Carlson Group as a big hotel group. But, in fact, the Club Carlson Corporate Customer Service Specialist told me that "All of our hotels are independently owned and operated", that means Carlson just composed hotels into a group which including many small hotels.

So how is Carlson different than any other chain? They all franchise. You are more likely to stay in a franchised property than a corporate one, regardless of brand. While it is disappointing that it wasn't returned, the ultimate responsibility is with you to make sure you don't leave it behind.

Note to self, do an inventory before leaving the room. Put a passcode on your ipod. Not being able to get into it will make a dishonest person more likely to turn it in. I would have been calling MYSELF, not delegating to my spouse, ALL DAY until I knew it was returned. The fact you were coming back the next day isn't relevant. And if you were back the next day, why did you not speak with the manager directly? Why leave a message? Be the squeaky wheel.

That being said, if you are certain you left the item in the room and it wasn't returned to you, why not name the hotel? If nothing else, it will get Carlson's attention, as well as the manager of the property. If nothing else it's a good story for the manager to share with the staff that they all look like thieves, when only one might be.

I forgot my ipad at a HHotel in Boston, called back the next day...guess what? Of course no one found anything.
Can I blame them? No.
Can I judge them for not returning it? Yes.
Though it was passcode locked, it never got returned.
After all, it was my fault, even though it leaves a bad taste in the mouth.