Thank you, Desiree, for taking the time to share your experience. I sincerely regret that your stay did not meet your expectations. I’d like to address some of the concerns you’ve raised.
First, I must clarify that your stay coincided with an extreme heatwave in Palm Springs, with temperatures exceeding 120°F daily. Government advisories were in place, recommending people stay indoors with doors closed, shades drawn, and keep the A/C between 80-85°F to manage the strain on cooling systems in such extreme conditions.
Regarding the A/C, it is true that upon your arrival, the house was warmer than we usually have it prepared. We did not get an arrival time from you, and thus, couldn’t pre-cool the home in advance as we normally do. Unfortunately, when you plugged in your electric cars, it caused a breaker to trip, which shut down the A/C. This event also caused a fluke issue with the A/C motor. I immediately called an HVAC specialist, who arrived within an hour, and the system was repaired within three hours. During this time, I offered you the opportunity to depart for a full refund and a complimentary meal at a 5-star local restaurant, and you expressed that you were happy and enjoying the pool and going shopping.
The following day, when you contacted me after 3PM to mentioned it was warm again, I reminded you that with temperatures still exceeding 120°F, all A/C units in the area were struggling to maintain cooler temperatures. You had also been using the pool, going in and out, opening and closing the doors, which made it difficult for the system to keep up.
I’m sorry to hear that you decided to leave early. I offered to refund two nights (the current and following night) if you departed, which you agreed to. I did not hear back until after 5 PM, which left me unable to prepare the home for another rental. After your departure, when you called in a panic that your newly booked rental was not cleaned and had issues, I even offered for you to return, but I never received a response.
I truly wish I could have done more to make your stay more comfortable, and I hope you can appreciate the efforts made in a challenging situation. I believe our consistently positive reviews over more than 10 years show our focus on guest service and being responsive when life happens. I refunded the two nights, as discussed, and worked closely with VRBO to resolve the matter. Ultimately, VRBO closed the case in my favor after reviewing the details and communication.
Again, I regret that your stay didn’t go as planned. I hope future stays in Palm Springs are more enjoyable for you.
Best regards, DP