Leola
Starling of Ribrock, Tenn., had a serious telephone problem.But unlike most
people she did something about it.The brand-new $10 million Ribrock Plaza Motel
opened nearby and had acquired almost the same telephone number as Leola.From
the moment the motel opened, Leola was besieged by calls not for her. Since she
had the same phone number for years, she felt that she had a case to persuade
the motel management to change its number. Naturally, the management refused
claiming that it could not change its stationery. The phone company was not
helpful, either. A number was a number, and just because a customer was getting
someone else's calls 24 hours a day didn't make it responsible. After her pleas
fell on deaf ears, Leola decided to take matters into her own hands.At 9
o'clock the phone rang. Someone from Memphis was calling the motel and asked
for a room for the following Tuesday. Leola said, "No problem. How many
nights?"A few hours later Dallas checked in. A secretary wanted a suite
with two bedrooms for a week. Emboldened, Leola said the Presidential Suite on
the 10th floor was available for $600 a night. The secretary said that she
would take it and asked if the hotel wanted a deposit. "No, that won't be
necessary," Leola said. "We trust you."The next day was a busy
one for Leola. In the morning, she booked an electric appliance manufacturers'
convention for Memorial Day weekend, a college prom and a reunion of the 82nd
Airborne veterans from World War II.She turned on her answering machine during
lunchtime so that she could watch the O.J. Simpson trial, but her biggest
challenge came in the afternoon when a mother called to book the ballroom for
her daughter's wedding in June.Leola assured the woman that it would be no
problem and asked if she would be providing the flowers or did she want the
hotel to take care of it. The mother said that she would prefer the hotel to
handle the floral arrangements. Then the question of valet parking came up.Once
again Leola was helpful. "There's no charge for valet parking, but we
always recommend that the client tips the drivers."Within a few months,
the Ribrock Plaza Motel was a disaster area.People kept showing up for
weddings, bar mitzvahs, and Sweet Sixteen parties and were all told there were
no such events.Leola had her final revenge when she read in the local paper
that the motel might go bankrupt. Her phone rang, and an executive from
Marriott said, "We're prepared to offer you $200,000 for the motel."Leola
replied. "We'll take it, but only if you change the telephone
number.":)))) Maybe , it is ruthlessness to hotel owner,her action led to hotel's bankrupt.On the other hand, i can understand her because I've been witness to such case.It really makes you very angry when you are besieged by calls not for you. Additionally,this is so funny story, i enjoyed very much while i was reading it,hope you will enjoy too!
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