MSPeconomist

This isn't always easy or practical--for example, the OP could be leaving the hotel (and the city/country) early the next morning. It's not unreasonable to plan to take the pants to one's own trusted dry cleaner upon return home, at one's convenience. It's also easy to underestimate the extent of the damage and perhaps (for example, if hosting business guests or simply to attempt to enjoy the remainder of a special meal or evening) to try to minimize the incident when it occurs and not make a fuss at the time.

Helpmeout

You can dissect this any which way.
The pants were definitely new-ish.
Was just curious to see what others thought they will be giving with regards to point amounts.
Will report back.

margarita girl

I would ask for the equivalent of one free night. Cat 6 is 50K pts, cat 7 is 60K pts and cat 8 is 85K pts.

SacTownGuy

It's an interesting situation.

Though I can afford it I can't imagine spending $700 on a pair of pants. Lol. Once you do that you take on some risk of life. This was a simple mistake and mistakes happen. It sucks for everybody involved - OP, hotel, busboy, etc.....

Having said that, my first instinct is 50k points. Not enough to really pay back for the pants but a nice gesture.

Eujeanie

I have no knowledge of whether soy sauce permanently stains or not, but you can sure tell its aroma. I'm surprised you could sit in soy sauce and only think your pants were "wet". I agree that negotiating in the moment is always best - asking up front for cleaning would be the first course of action. Let the hotel take care of it with their in-house cleaning services. Then they could see themselves that the stain was permanent, and I then think your starting point for negotiating a settlement would have been much stronger.

The problem with Marriott is that I've been promised points on several occasions (nothing as serious as this) and even after following up they have never appeared. I will also be waiting to hear the outcome - not just the promise of points, but whether you actually get them.

pfreet

Gonna agree with an above responder. A restaurant cannot possibly take responsibility for $700 pants. Even if they were at fault, it would seem their maximum expected liability would be for far lass than that. Offer something fair, but not $700.

Helpmeout

Not sure I agree with taking responsibility part. Frankly that is their job.
Had they adequately taken care of the situation I would not be in this situation.

Any rate points are what I will be getting.

TeddyBoomBoom

I’m going to go against the grain and disagree here, with *no* disrepespect intended.

If I’m out and about and a waiter accidentally spills some wine on my $50 jeans, I’m not demanding compensation from Chilis.

Similarly, if I’m at a more expensive establishment and an honest-to-goodness-accident results in the loss of more expensive clothing, I’m not going to lose my cool over it.

As long as it is a legit accident, then I’m going to file it under “unfortunate but 🤷”

I’m not going to start being “that guy” just bc my clothes are more expensive.

cmd320

I’m going to disagree. OP didn’t wear his $700 pants to a pool bar at some trashy Sheraton and get chlorine on them. This was a fine dining restaurant at an RC, where you likely don’t leave for under $150-200 a head. Restaurant/hotel is completely responsible for this, the absolute least they could offer is a comp night and an apology from the manager asking the guest to give them another chance.

Eujeanie

The more I think about it, wouldn't the hotel's insurance cover reimbursement? It truly was their fault. This was not "bad service", this was really getting an expensive pair of pants ruined. They should have taken that table out of service or made sure it was clean and dry.

They are at an advantage because by giving you points, you will again stay at one of their hotels and spend money. They have not lost anything. But the OP would still have to spend $700 if she indeed wanted to replace those pants.

ryan754

I was at a Waldorf where there was a flood in the shower. I had my clothes cleaned and they ruined my pants. $200 AG’s. Offered me a free for all in the boutique to replace them. Didn’t find anything suitable. So went to Nordstrom bought a new pair and got the cost taken off my bill. Quite fair. Also a nice upgrade after the shower accident.

howtofreetravel

You can get travel insurance that covers your clothes, it costs maybe 10 dollars at Hathaway Berkshire

Annalisa12

Replacement of pants.

Keyser

happened to me many years ago at a st regis that i was staying in for the first time....my wife had hung her suede/leather branded bag (a fairly expensive one) behind her chair while we were having dinner....the waiter was serving guests at the table just behind us & dropped the tray of food, most of which landed on my wife's bag, completely ruining it in the process....the hotel was very apologetic & eventually the manager decided to comp us our 2 night stay....which in turn was still less than the value of the bag but given that the bag was a couple of years old, we decide to take that as acceptable compensation....

Often1

This is not about points and comped nights, it is about reimbursing OP's loss.

OP should have turned the pants in at the front desk along with a forwarding address if necessary. A decent property would have either attempted cleaning and shipped them to OP or determined that the pants could not be cleaned and then reimbursed OP for the FMV of the pants. For something expensive, I would expect to supply a receipt or live with something more reasoned. The reimbursement ought to be in cash unless one agrees to take it in points or whatever.

If not turned in and handled as above, then I guess you just hope for something as a customer service gesture. "Demand" is a terrible term to use in the context. I would simply supply the cost and age of the pants and leave it at that.