[meteorite-list] Re: Tucson

From: Adam Hupe <raremeteorites_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun Aug 28 18:19:30 2005
Message-ID: <001e01c5ac1e$e13265e0$6401a8c0_at_c1720188a>

Dear List,

Do not stay at, I repeat do not stay at:

ECONO LODGE TUCSON
1136 N STONE AVE
TUCSON AZ US 85705
Phone: 520-622-6714

We booked a three bedroom suite at this rat hole only to find out it is run
by a bunch of Indian con artists. The first thing they did when we checked
in is try to charge us an extra $150.00 for the day before we arrived saying
that we called and wanted the room a day early. We said there must have been
a mistake and showed the female Indian who could barely speak English our
itinerary only to have her say "you pay extra night or no room." She knew
how hard it was to get a room during the show and thought she had us on the
spot. We refused to pay for the extra night and she told us to leave.

We left after some choice words with here and here husband who manage the
place and she billed my credit card nearly a $1,000.00 anyway even though we
were refused service. I reported these con artists to my credit card company
and an eight month battle ensued requiring legal action. She lied and said
we stayed there even though I signed nothing. Luckily I had three witnesses
to the unpleasant event or I would have been out of some serious money. I
booked the room through Hotels.com so be careful.

Take Care,

Adam


----- Original Message -----
From: "Notkin" <geoking_at_notkin.net>
To: "Meteorite List" <meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Sunday, August 28, 2005 2:50 PM
Subject: [meteorite-list] Re: Tucson


> Mark posted:
>
> > Cloud's jamboree has long been a major rock and gem show and combined
> > with the G&LW wholesale show, it provides for many vendors and buyers
> > from around the world, not to mention the tourist trade.
>
>
> Dear Mark and List:
>
> I'm not familiar with Cloud's Jamboree, but would like to be. Do you
> know the dates for that show, or is there a website? If so, please
> forward, I'd like to check it out. Does this show take place in
> Laughlin?
>
>
> > Its too late I'd think to change from Tucson to Laughlin for the
> > upcoming show, but for 2007, I'd like to see some serious thought put
> > towards the move of the meteorite show.
>
> The Gem show has been running in Tucson for 51 years. It's a huge
> moneymaker for the promoters and the city, and it's not going to move
> to another town just so visitors can maybe get cheaper hotel rooms,
> though having paid some hefty hotel bills here in the past, I do
> sympathize with you.
>
> <rant>
>
> Rooms in Tucson are cheap now -- you can get a nice suite next to the
> pool for $49/night. As you know, they go up drastically during the show
> due to the greed of hotel owners and promoters who squeeze every penny
> they can out of visiting dealers and buyers. Even a single at the
> crummy Super 8 on Frontage Road costs $89/night + a high occupancy tax
> during the show -- if you're lucky.
>
> There has been a lot of unofficial grumbling about the show from
> certain dealers, and they have every right to grumble, especially this
> past year (Feb. 2005) when so many were moved to new locations,
> mistreated by promoters, and forced to set up in useless hotels with no
> walk-in traffic, miles away from the main show. In addition, vendors
> are harassed by state officials over the use of non-regulated digital
> scales and sales tax issues.
>
> The Gem show is the biggest event of the year for us here in Tucson.
> Every hotel room in town is booked, and every decent restaurant is
> packed night after night. IMO the city should be very grateful for this
> gigantic income and do more to help visiting vendors, instead of
> hassling them. Also, it would be nice if JUST ONCE they suspended road
> work downtown for those two weeks. Another peeve of mine is the gang of
> urchins who charge $5 to park on some patch of waste ground next to the
> highway which is vacant for the rest of the year. The show promoters
> are making enough money -- they need to provide adequate free parking
> and better shuttle bus service.
>
> </rant>
>
> A few suggestions for show visitors looking to save money:
>
> - Buddy up with two or three of your pals, and get a big suite in a
> nicer hotel. It ends up being cheaper per person, plus you can throw
> some monster parties.
>
> - Stay at one of the motels on the outskirts of town -- off the
> highway (I-10). There are a number to choose from and they are a little
> cheaper (Motel 6 in South Tucson, which we used to call "Motel Hell,"
> In-Town Suites on Ina, etc.).
>
> - Camp outside the city and drive in each day.
>
> - Find a motel in a neighboring town, like Benson, and commute to the
> show each morning by car. You have to really like driving for this to
> work.
>
> - Stay at one of the cheap dodgy "Bates Motel" motels on Miracle Mile
> or North Oracle. Steve Arnold IMB and I had to do that one time and we
> got a room with no bed sheets for $50 cash. I have friends who stay
> every year at the No-Tel Motel on N. Oracle and they always *do* have
> some stories to tell.
>
> - Crash on Blaine Reed's floor (sorry Blaine, just kidding).
>
> - Stay at my house like everybody else -- oops, sorry already full up
> for next year
>
>
> Or . . . do what I did and just move here. Then the room prices aren't
> even an issue : )
>
>
> > With many (thousands) of rooms just in the casino hotels, nearby
> > Kingman and Needles also offer hotels and an easy commute, finding a
> > place to stay shouldn't be the problem like at Tucson
>
> I can hardly believe there are more hotel rooms in Laughlin than
> Tucson. Greater Tucson has a population of ~1,000,000; Laughlin ~8,000.
>
> Another reason the Tucson show is a lasting success is because people
> like coming here, especially in the winter. Tucson is a great city with
> a fascinating history and all kinds entertainment and cultural options.
> No offense to Laughlin, which is fun for a night out at the casino, but
> you can't compare it to Tucson.
>
> Whatever you do, may I suggest that you book your rooms way in advance.
> It is always very difficult to get any kind of a room around showtime,
> and no you can't camp in my yard, sorry. We have wild bobcats and I
> don't want to have to clean up the mess in the morning : )
>
>
> Best wishes, and I hope to see you in February.
>
> Geoff N.
>
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Received on Sun 28 Aug 2005 06:21:24 PM PDT