Appropriate compensation for in room lamp explosion?
 

Just checked into the Holiday Inn Hangzhou CBD and went to try to figure out how to turn on the desk lamp. I moved it literally an inch and heard a loud bang and a bright explosion, leaving the lamp broken and a black charred spot about 2 inches in diameter where the explosion occurred on the desk. I immediately called the front desk who says they don't know how it happened but they'll get another one.....not sure if I trust it though.

What should I do? Move hotels? Ask for comped night, free food, discount, points? What would you consider appropriate service recovery for this pretty scary incident?

(PS got a pretty nice upgrade but probably won't be staying here again after this)

Honestly...

Only an apology and a replaced lamp.

Best case scenario a free drink in the bar.

I don't see why you should get anything else... in my opinion!

You were not hurt, received a shock, nor in danger. I have had bulbs, chairs, glass table tops break over my 20plus years in hotels. I would not expect compo for flawed item breaking (or maybe mistreated by prev guests item breaking), and in same vein not expect to be charged to replace such items.

Just report to frontdesk asking for a replacement. No need to worry about a repeat or changing hotel. I'd put it down to lamp being abused by a prev guest.

No compo due, you should not even be considering you should get something. Based on your location (SFO) I'd say you are jumping on the current USA compo entitlement culture at slightest chance.

Well...this is China where skimping on maintenance is the norm....although one would hope that a western branded hotel wouldn't have such issues.

It was clearly maintenance, not previous guest abuse, as the whole set of outlets on the panel where the lamp was plugged in could no longer be used after the explosion and I had to move rooms.

I think I won't say anything for now but complain to the service center because they need to know if this hotel is skimping on maintenance.

Submit your medical bills, a calculation of the days of work missed as a result, and any other relevant expenses and ask that they be paid in lieu of having to file a lawsuit to recover your losses.@:-)

Submit an itemized bill for losses incurred due to lamp downtime

I don’t get these “I’ll never stay here again” comments when it’s a minor hiccup. B double O, H double O. :rolleyes:

In the "room preferences" section, make sure you include a note asking for a room without an exploding desk lamp. Properties are in the hospitality business and room assigners try to accommodate customer preferences.

Were you injured? If not an apology, room move, and your choice of some points or f&b credit is due. Things break. Its a fact of life.

so any tine anything ever happens at a hotel or a plane (other other places too) why is it that some people are all about asking for compensation?
no injury , nothing happened to Op but hey I need to made whole? from what?

Entitlement with a side of western elitism is always a solid indication of a reasonable person. :rolleyes:

If you got an upgrade as a result of the lamp/room change and you did not suffer any injuries, then it seems like a good outcome and customer service measure to me. Thank goodness you were not hurt - then you'd be entitled to comp, but not being injured seems like a better outcome overall.