Dear Barry,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We truly understand your frustration and wish the situation had unfolded differently. Of course, the fact that you stated on Google that it would have been a 5-star review had it not been for an issue outside of our control is comforting - we can only control what we do, not what a contractor does when an appliance breaks. It seems like the one star should be for the AC installer rather than for us!
In this case, the AC had been installed recently, and understandably, the owner preferred to have the original installer return to address the issue under warranty. It's important to clarify that we weren't "blaming the owner," but the owner was handling the repair through the installer, so we had little control over it except for what was communicated to us. While that choice is not uncommon—especially with new equipment—it did mean that we had to wait on their availability rather than rely on our usual, faster-response local technicians. The installer assured us that the repair would be completed promptly, but as you experienced, those promises were not fulfilled in a timely manner. Once it became clear that delays would continue, the owner authorized us to move forward with our own technicians, and the repair was completed within 24 hours of that decision.
Throughout the process, we did our best to keep you informed with the information we had. Unfortunately, when we’re not directly in control of a repair, we’re at the mercy of third-party scheduling and updates, which can be frustrating for everyone involved. That said, we made every effort to keep the home comfortable in the meantime. We promptly delivered a high-end 14,000 BTU portable AC unit, which is more than sufficient for the home’s size. When you requested a second unit, we agreed to provide one—even though the team on-site found the home cool and comfortable (in fact, he said he was comfortable in a sweatshirt, and added that it was rather cool even outside). Let's please note that the high temperature on the day you requested a second unit was 67F, after a low of 51F. Given that we knew there wasn't a good place to place a second unit AND the fact that AC was not even needed at all in those temperatures, you can see our hesitation. But we did it anyways for your benefit. You wanted it to cool the bedroom but not be in the bedroom, and our team used what I find to be a rather creative solution to meet your needs. i appreciate your desire to add pictures, but that solution was achieved with you present and upon your request, so it seems a bit misguided. You told yourself to one of our team members that you knew that there was no good way to achieve what you were trying to do, so it seems a bit strange to post pictures of their solution and put it in a negative light when you yourself asked for it and recognized that it was the only way to achieve your desired objective, Of course, you also mentioned to one of our team members that you were quite comfortable, as the house was cool, but that you wanted "to make us miserable." Our goal was always to ensure your comfort, not to debate the technical adequacy of the solution - and I'm not sure that any solution would have been adequate given your objective of "making us miserable." We were informed that the issue would be fully resolved the next morning, and it was. At that point, the home had working central AC in addition to two portable units, but we understand you decided to leave anyway. We believe the compensation offered was fair given the temporary inconvenience and the efforts made to address it.The statement that the house "lacked AC" is incorrect, as you had 26,000 BTUs of AC - which is enough to keep the house downright cold in our mountain climate. Our team members worked hard to assist you throughout your stay, and while we always welcome constructive feedback, we hope guests will also recognize the commitment and energy our staff puts into resolving issues—especially when circumstances are out of our control. It is also to be noted publicly that after all of this, you reversed payment on the entire reservation, which I find highly unethical and immoral, given that you enjoyed a stay at the unit for over a week. I hope this serves as a warning to other owners that are looking to host you.
Thank you again for your time, and we hope that despite this issue, you enjoyed other aspects of your time in the area.
Warm regards,
Alex
Bretton Woods Vacations