Another Hilton clock experience
 

I plugged in my mp3 player, turned it on, turned to the clockradio to AUX ... and could hear only the faintest whisper of my audiobook. Adjusting the radio volume didn't work; cranking the player up to max voilume produced a somewhat louder whisper.

I called downstairs to mention that my clock volume control didn't work. The clerk informed me that it "wasn't supposed to [had been deliberately "disabled] to prevent guests from 'playing it too loud'." Repressing (barely) a remark that this reflects upon the guests they attract, I expressed my intense dis-satisfaction; the young woman immediately switched me over to her supervisor, who repeated that, yes, the volume had been intentionally "locked"; however, he elaborated that the AUX feature shouldn't have been affected, and promised to "send up someone from engineering" to look into it. Roughly 10 minutes later, a housekeeper arrived bearing a replacement unit, whose volume control was unlocked (for both radio and AUX).

I've noticed a very low max volume before at a couple of places, but thought those were just a few "defective" units. For those who've used screwdrivers to get at the time re-set, did you notice a volume lock in there? I'll start carrying a small phillips if that's the case.

My point of posting is that I found that action incredibly "nanny-ish" of the management. You, too?

I've stayed in the same HGI a number of times. On the first visit the volume controls didn't work, and the radio was quite soft. I chalked it up to being tired, and went to sleep. On subsequent visits the volume controls all worked. Up until now, I'd assumed it was either a defective clock or defective fingers (mine).

Has any one figured out how to change the time. I had some last month that were an hour off for day light savings and was never able to change it.

I typically notice the clocks at HGIs to be off about 10-15 minutes.

I'm sure you could have just notified the front desk about daylight saving adjustments. I'm sure they would have done something if they knew.

More than half the time, the Hilton clocks are not set for the correct time. Most of the time they seem to be off by 7 or 8 minutes. I had one clock off by about an hour. I called the front desk and they said they would send up a maintenance guy. He arrived within a few minutes of the call. He then took out a small screwdriver and opened up the back of the clock radio. He then depressed a small button behind the cover and started to adjust the time. He said this is the only way to fix the time.

These clocks are a good idea gone bad.

Not just a Hilton thing though. A little bit of difficulty in changing clock times can be a good move though since many hotel guests deliberately put the clocks a few minutes fast so they won't run late, then don't bother to readjust them before they check out. These are the kinds of unconscionable people who do the same to your car dashboard clock when you're not looking, and have their clocks at home fast.
Anyway everyone should always travel with a small screwdriver (even if you can no longer carry it onto an aircraft in your handbag).

The inability to easily change the time is a good thing IMO. I've rarely seen a Hilton clock off by more than five minutes, and I stay in a Hilton property almost every week and have for several years now. When I've been in some other hotels, I've had clocks that were so easy to change that just barely touching the hour or minute button on top of the clock when shutting off the alarm in the morning advanced the time and hour or several minutes. I've generally seen the time more off in hotels where guests could change it than I have in Hilton properties. Only once has the time been so far off (more than 10 minutes) at a Hilton property that I called to have them send someone up to fix it.

However, I love the consistency of the alarm. Too often at other chains, radios are a crap shoot, and usually look like a product of the 70s.

I know how to operate the Hilton clock and actually USE the clock instead of my BBery which I'm forced to do at all other chains. Whether it's an HGI, an ES or a Hilton, I know my clock will be the same.

I like that.

Well I feel better now. I was at HGVG on the strip & the clock hadn't been adjusted for daylight savings time. I looked all over & could not figure out how to get the time changed. I even had a tech friend look at it - with no joy either. Didn't realize I needed an engineer to make the switch; something learned. Kind of stoo-pid though. I just ended up relying on my wristwatch & cell phone. Cheers.

Maybe we should make this thread a sticky http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...ighlight=clock ;) but saying the policy is stoo-pid is too kind. :)

as for the volume, I find that it is just fine as long is there is no one in the room talking or moving around. When it is dead quiet, the radio is ok, otherwise plugging an mp3 player into the clock is a waste of time.

Preventing people from changing time is a very good policy. 99% of the time, my clock has been right. The fact that people CAN'T change them, helps keep them right.

Well perhaps if they're adjusted for DST when it changes I would agree w/ you ;) But given I stayed at the hotel 4 weeks AFTER DST went into effect, I would have expected the clock to have been changed by that point. Also I would have no problem w/ the time not being able to be changed if they had a note on the side of the clock saying if there's a problem w/ the clock/time call engineering. I do think it's ridiculous (is that better than stoo-pid ;) ) that any clock has to have the top or back or whatever screwed off to make the time change! Cheers.

I will admit I had problems with the DST change over as well. Overall, I like the idea of not having to mess around with the clock, and knowing it's not been messed aroud with. I've been at Hyatt's where the time is AM when it's supposed to be PM, off by an hour, off by 30 minutes, blinking 12:00... Really, aside from maybe 1 or 2 DST related problems, and most clocks being about 4-7 min fast, not too much to complain about. (which, there's nothing wrong with if it gets the hibitually late to work on time ;)).

I agree and am happy they are all the same. I just wish it was easier to change the time. Calling the front desk late at night is a pain, since I do not notice until I am ready to go to bed.

For the most part, I like the clocks. I rarely use the alarm and rely solely on my cell phone and a wake up call. Works beautifully! ^

On a side note, I've stayed at a couple of Marriott properties lately around the country and all of them (including full service Marriotts) had clock radios that looked like they were straight out of the 70's. Sure, I could change the time on them if I needed to; but I also had to play "spin the dial" to get a radio station to come in clearly. I'm glad Hilton has joined the 21st century and has digital tuners in their radios, at least!