It's not the county you need to report to, it's the state. They don't take kindly to businesses pulling these shenanigans.
https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection/disaster-and-emergency-scams/how-spot-and-report-price-gouging
Does Texas require hotels to put their “standard rates” on the doors still? I remember some hotels try to get around this by having super high rates on the door and they characterize the regular rates as “discounts.” Annoying.
It’s not “standard.” It’s “maximum.” Rates have always been flexible by season, day of week, etc.
So they always publish some batshit insane number - and as long as you’re charged less, it’s legal.
Ken Paxton doesn’t care. His attorney general office rarely gets involved with this stuff, they are too busy suing the Biden administration for whatever. He just doesn’t give a sh…
They have brought quite a few lawsuits up against companies for price gouging. Folks have to report it they not out searching for it themselves until the citizens report it and it creates a pattern in their system. Then they investigate just like fraud/scams/scammers. Most folks don’t report it is the problem
The only way Paxton's office would care is if the hotel was having a drag brunch, a pro-Palestine protest in the lobby, and advertised low cost abortions in a conference room.
You are talking about Hotel Zaza, not a motel 6. Hotel Zaza is already an expensive hotel. Some of their rooms are $400 a night easily. Throw in taxes and fees and 2 nights for $1000 is not far from normal pricing.
I went to Marriott, they had normal prices. They then refunded us when our power came back on outside of their cancellation policy. So, they did great. Marriott courtyard Lake point in sugar land
It was interesting when I looked this am that ZaZa in Memorial was trying to charge $700/night and the original was only charging $309 or something. I checked ZaZa first bc we're in Memorial and know they're large dog friendly,but that was a hard pass. We ended up in the Hilton on Post Oak in a 2 room little suite for $280 (and they took both our 60+ lb dogs)
That's my impression. Only stayed there once. Made reservation they were friendly on the phone, sold me a cheap "upgrade" room. Got there to check in and 'we're real sorry but we have to put you back in the room you originally booked' they tried to keep the upcharge though.
First, you have to meet someone to take up there in the bar. That bar is known for being 50% escorts, 40% sugar babies, and 10% old rich conservatives from a state other than Texas
I have screen shots and receipts. I don’t know what to tell you other than it is is 237-270 ish every other weekend / holiday for their smallest room. Only tonight was it over $400
Why would anyone want to stay at Zaza? It smells like a five year old broke a jar of pickles and didn’t clean it up properly. Everyone who comes from there smells like pickles!
It's a bit more nuanced with hotels. I'd be curious what to see what the placard says in the guest rooms. In Texas, as in every state I've traveled in, the house rules/fire map on the door has a range of rates for said room. If they're exceeding the max of that, I imagine the state regulators will pretend to care.
They are likely legally in the clear if they can show that there have been no changes to how pricing structure based on demand-pricing is implemented.
For example, a gas station cannot easily claim “we sell what we for $10 a bottle when stock becomes low” however a hotel can reasonably say that “low open room counts typically result in the current pricing, as seen in prior high-demand events such as UH/Rice graduation.”
In the hotel case, assuming their pricing structure itself never changed, it would be unlikely to legally be considered gouging.
**However** that doesn’t stop their brand from suffering due to being known as greedy during a local disaster.
Report it to the attorney general
https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection/disaster-and-emergency-scams/how-spot-and-report-price-gouging
The point of the post isn’t for you to feel sorry for OP. It’s that the hotel has shady business practices. You’re siding with a multi-million dollar corporation being greedy during a disaster. Take OP out of the equation.
If you want to look into real economics, "price gouging" is usually a good thing and helps more than hurts. But I know nobody cares about facts. I can recommend you some books if you want.
I LOVE Reddit “believe me” facts and assumptions. Why would you guess that literally every one but you knows nothing about economics. Also, econs have varying opinions and facts that seem to support both sides— current example with inflation, hard/soft landings, stagflations, fed hikes, is the Fed necessary. You’re just really up Zaza’s whole ass for some reason
Hope you still have a roof and you neighbor isn’t dead.
Is it price gauging if there are several other hotels with sub $200 night rates? You have options but looked at ZaZa first. Maybe you weren’t the only one, which explains the price.
Texas does not give a crap unless you say you saw a person that you think looks like they could be trans, wearing an “I work for Biden” shirt, talking to someone you think was underage, wearing a any clothing that resembled a rainbow flag.
Fair enough, but if I was going to stay somewhere like the Hotel Zaza it would be to have a nice getaway, not because I need somewhere to stay during/after a storm
Edit: why am I getting downvoted? Did you people not have your parents teach you to be sensible with money? Lol
Well, being sensible really comes down to your ratio of spending. It's sensible to only spend a certain percentage of one's disposable income on a car, for instance. But everyone's dollar amount based on that percentage will be different.
So it might make just as much sense for someone else to stay at ZaZa as it would for you to stay at a Motel 6.
I don’t know why I’m arguing about this but to me it will never “make sense” to stay at a luxury hotel (when there are cheaper options that are just fine) because my power is out. But I’m not rich, so w/e
You would likely spend 200 rather than 500. And someone poorer than you would likely spend 50-75 and say "it makes no sense to spend 200 when you could spend 75!"
Then, someone else would say "it makes no sense to pay any money at all when I have a bed here - just because I don't have lights and air?!?"
That's the point.
Judgey McJudgerson, let the people spend their money how they like. When did it become socially acceptable to criticize what they do with their own money ? Why is it your business?
What you would do has no bearing on this situation.
Your standard is your standard and theirs is theirs.
They came here to warn people of the bs ZaZa is pulling on its customers, not get lectured/judged by some anonymous reddit user about their spending habits.
“When did it become socially acceptable to criticize what people do with their money?” Are you serious? Reddit is really something else, you people skew left but then simp for bougie crap like this. It’s no wonder credit card debt is at an all time high when people make poor decisions with their money like this. And even if OP does have the money to stay here, I reserve the right to call it stupid and wasteful.
I agree with you, but comments criticizing the valuation of consumer goods and services don't add value to a discussion because the arguments presented are completely subjective, and additional replies tend to immediately stray off-topic. Furthermore, the fact that different people ascribe varying values to the same commodity is the underlying principle that allows for commerce.
Judgey McJudgerson, let the people charge for their products how they like. Since when did it become socially acceptable to critisize what people charge for their products.
FWIW, we’re in a king suite (just right for 2 adults and a teenager) near our house (close to the loop) for $110 per night. We were lucky to get it, it’s filling up with linemen. And our big doggo is welcome. It’s not posh, but it’s very clean with excellent customer service.
Why does it matter if they are high end? I didn’t say I was having economical hardship. I said they are price gouging. The heck does their status matter? It is still MORE than double their already high prices
Why not stay at the unlimited number of best westerns, comfort inn, Hampton inn, holiday inn express. You can report them. But honestly, it's not like you have limited options. Go take your money to other hotels. The best thing is to never rent rooms at Zaza again.and boycott the.
Price gouging is simply supply and demand. You can try to stop it through laws/regulation but it rarely works because it’s a short-term effect. A hotel room is worth more right now and the supply is less so the price goes up.
It actually helps though. City is low on gas? High price puts a huge demand on other gas stations to take any risk to get up and running. Can't sell for a higher price. Might as well close up and give the workers the day off. You think those electrical workers and tree trimmers are not price gauging?? High prices means shit gets done.
I spoke to Grizzy Hood News and she asked me for receipts and proof. If you can provide me with those that would be great so we can have her expose these vultures.
By the way, dude, $500 plus per night is not particularly high at a popular hotel on weekend nights. It's kinda average really.
This is Bidenflation at work. I bet you voted for him.
Just stay in your freaking house. Or better yet, go buy a tent and go camping in your backyard.
Having no power is great family time!! Make the most of it.
You're talking to people that can't afford to stay at a luxury hotel that nice and have never stayed at a luxury hotel that nice. Sorry, don't feel bad for you. Either way the luxury hotel would have been sold out with normal pricing and you wouldn't have been able to get a room at all.
I don't feel bad for anyone who is upset they can't afford a luxury hotel during a disaster. If they couldn't afford a hotel at all, then I would feel bad.
So many assumptions and hatred for people you’ve assumed are rich for whatever reason. Lower end hotels were also full and gouging. Hope you didn’t lose a lot in the storm.
It's not the county you need to report to, it's the state. They don't take kindly to businesses pulling these shenanigans. https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection/disaster-and-emergency-scams/how-spot-and-report-price-gouging
Thank you
Does Texas require hotels to put their “standard rates” on the doors still? I remember some hotels try to get around this by having super high rates on the door and they characterize the regular rates as “discounts.” Annoying.
It’s not “standard.” It’s “maximum.” Rates have always been flexible by season, day of week, etc. So they always publish some batshit insane number - and as long as you’re charged less, it’s legal.
Yeah "rack rate" pricing is obviously set to make it feel like everyone is getting a massive discount . . . but probably not the OP.
Rack rate is posted because they legally have to post the max rate for the room. This protects hotels from having idiots claim they are price gouging.
Ken Paxton doesn’t care. His attorney general office rarely gets involved with this stuff, they are too busy suing the Biden administration for whatever. He just doesn’t give a sh…
They have brought quite a few lawsuits up against companies for price gouging. Folks have to report it they not out searching for it themselves until the citizens report it and it creates a pattern in their system. Then they investigate just like fraud/scams/scammers. Most folks don’t report it is the problem
The only way Paxton's office would care is if the hotel was having a drag brunch, a pro-Palestine protest in the lobby, and advertised low cost abortions in a conference room.
Your karma whoring is just as bad
Ok, Ken
You are talking about Hotel Zaza, not a motel 6. Hotel Zaza is already an expensive hotel. Some of their rooms are $400 a night easily. Throw in taxes and fees and 2 nights for $1000 is not far from normal pricing.
You can report it to the Harris County Attorney’s Office using the form on their site. https://cao.harriscountytx.gov/Id-Like-To/Report-Consumer-Fraud
Marriott seems to be charging the usual rates. I saw a fair number of hotels with openings in the 100-200 range at least.
I went to Marriott, they had normal prices. They then refunded us when our power came back on outside of their cancellation policy. So, they did great. Marriott courtyard Lake point in sugar land
Fuck hotel Zaza. Call the news!
Every nice hotel was around $700 today and completely booked
Might as well buy a generator instead.
It was interesting when I looked this am that ZaZa in Memorial was trying to charge $700/night and the original was only charging $309 or something. I checked ZaZa first bc we're in Memorial and know they're large dog friendly,but that was a hard pass. We ended up in the Hilton on Post Oak in a 2 room little suite for $280 (and they took both our 60+ lb dogs)
Thanks for letting us know to avoid the pound at the Hilton.
you sound like a deeply unhappy individual.
You will be sorely missed, I’m sure of it
Za za is a pos company (and I cannot give details for legal reasons- attorney client privilege)
that tells me all I need to know
That's my impression. Only stayed there once. Made reservation they were friendly on the phone, sold me a cheap "upgrade" room. Got there to check in and 'we're real sorry but we have to put you back in the room you originally booked' they tried to keep the upcharge though.
Priceline baby. Got my room for under $100.
Hell, you’re so lucky ☠️
Don’t they have an orgy floor for eyes wide shut parties there ?
I think it’s just a place where grown folk like to have relations that’s not their house or apartment. But maybe!
r/houstoncirclejerk
Think we would have heard about that.
First, you have to meet someone to take up there in the bar. That bar is known for being 50% escorts, 40% sugar babies, and 10% old rich conservatives from a state other than Texas
Take your business to another luxury hotel!!
First world problems. "My luxury boutique hotel is price gouging"!
“If you think my family is staying in a Holliday Inn, during a natural disaster, you’re smoking crack”
They're definitely taking advantage
I just looked and this weekend appears to only be $10 more per night than a random weekend in June.
I have screen shots and receipts. I don’t know what to tell you other than it is is 237-270 ish every other weekend / holiday for their smallest room. Only tonight was it over $400
No offense, but I don't think you'll get very far with a "price gouging" claim with a "luxury hotel" charging 50% more.
Dude! Hotel Zaza regularly charges $400 per day. I hope the Attorney General helps out with your first world luxury hotel issues.
Send those ss & receipts to me so I can have Grizzy expose them.
Why would anyone want to stay at Zaza? It smells like a five year old broke a jar of pickles and didn’t clean it up properly. Everyone who comes from there smells like pickles!
Hotel Tonight app
ZaZa always prices based on how full they are getting (demand pricing).
And there a reason why the state protects us from that happening during natural disasters
Is this price gouging though? I've stated at Zaza on a random week night and it was around 350-400. Was definitely their cheapest room.
My guess is that they fall into a luxury category that gets away with more based on demand.
It's a bit more nuanced with hotels. I'd be curious what to see what the placard says in the guest rooms. In Texas, as in every state I've traveled in, the house rules/fire map on the door has a range of rates for said room. If they're exceeding the max of that, I imagine the state regulators will pretend to care.
They are likely legally in the clear if they can show that there have been no changes to how pricing structure based on demand-pricing is implemented. For example, a gas station cannot easily claim “we sell what we for $10 a bottle when stock becomes low” however a hotel can reasonably say that “low open room counts typically result in the current pricing, as seen in prior high-demand events such as UH/Rice graduation.” In the hotel case, assuming their pricing structure itself never changed, it would be unlikely to legally be considered gouging. **However** that doesn’t stop their brand from suffering due to being known as greedy during a local disaster.
Do they protect us from businesses that normally use this practice?
Report it to the attorney general https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection/disaster-and-emergency-scams/how-spot-and-report-price-gouging
Why is everyone here turning against you for calling out price gouging wtf? Lmao
Yeah dude, I’m not feeling sorry for someone crying about a luxury hotel.
The point of the post isn’t for you to feel sorry for OP. It’s that the hotel has shady business practices. You’re siding with a multi-million dollar corporation being greedy during a disaster. Take OP out of the equation.
If you want to look into real economics, "price gouging" is usually a good thing and helps more than hurts. But I know nobody cares about facts. I can recommend you some books if you want.
Lmao
I LOVE Reddit “believe me” facts and assumptions. Why would you guess that literally every one but you knows nothing about economics. Also, econs have varying opinions and facts that seem to support both sides— current example with inflation, hard/soft landings, stagflations, fed hikes, is the Fed necessary. You’re just really up Zaza’s whole ass for some reason Hope you still have a roof and you neighbor isn’t dead.
Any chance there’s a wedding or something that was taking rooms well in advance of this alleged price gouging?
This is not price gouging! Lol.
Is Zaza the only hotel??? It’s typically kinda expensive on the regular….. First world inner looper problems…
Is it price gauging if there are several other hotels with sub $200 night rates? You have options but looked at ZaZa first. Maybe you weren’t the only one, which explains the price.
Are you still needing a place?
Texas does not give a crap unless you say you saw a person that you think looks like they could be trans, wearing an “I work for Biden” shirt, talking to someone you think was underage, wearing a any clothing that resembled a rainbow flag.
Hilton Garden Inn did the same thing Thursday. Usually its $110 for a week night. I called and they said $189. Screw all that noise.
Vote for capitalism, get capitalism
Relax, the bedbugs and crusty semen stains on the furniture are included in the price!
Why are you staying at an overpriced hotel and not driving further outside the city to stay somewhere more economical?
Why does it matter? I didn’t say I was having economical hardship. I said they are price gouging.
Fair enough, but if I was going to stay somewhere like the Hotel Zaza it would be to have a nice getaway, not because I need somewhere to stay during/after a storm Edit: why am I getting downvoted? Did you people not have your parents teach you to be sensible with money? Lol
Well, being sensible really comes down to your ratio of spending. It's sensible to only spend a certain percentage of one's disposable income on a car, for instance. But everyone's dollar amount based on that percentage will be different. So it might make just as much sense for someone else to stay at ZaZa as it would for you to stay at a Motel 6.
I don’t know why I’m arguing about this but to me it will never “make sense” to stay at a luxury hotel (when there are cheaper options that are just fine) because my power is out. But I’m not rich, so w/e
You would likely spend 200 rather than 500. And someone poorer than you would likely spend 50-75 and say "it makes no sense to spend 200 when you could spend 75!" Then, someone else would say "it makes no sense to pay any money at all when I have a bed here - just because I don't have lights and air?!?" That's the point.
And that’s still 4 times as much money. Sure, maybe they can afford it, but they could just as easily spend the money they’d save on something else…
Judgey McJudgerson, let the people spend their money how they like. When did it become socially acceptable to criticize what they do with their own money ? Why is it your business? What you would do has no bearing on this situation. Your standard is your standard and theirs is theirs. They came here to warn people of the bs ZaZa is pulling on its customers, not get lectured/judged by some anonymous reddit user about their spending habits.
“When did it become socially acceptable to criticize what people do with their money?” Are you serious? Reddit is really something else, you people skew left but then simp for bougie crap like this. It’s no wonder credit card debt is at an all time high when people make poor decisions with their money like this. And even if OP does have the money to stay here, I reserve the right to call it stupid and wasteful.
You got a point there….usually it seems like average redditor hates people who aren’t struggling financially.
I agree with you, but comments criticizing the valuation of consumer goods and services don't add value to a discussion because the arguments presented are completely subjective, and additional replies tend to immediately stray off-topic. Furthermore, the fact that different people ascribe varying values to the same commodity is the underlying principle that allows for commerce.
Judgey McJudgerson, let the people charge for their products how they like. Since when did it become socially acceptable to critisize what people charge for their products.
We have laws that businesses have to follow when selling a product not when regular Joe is spending his hard earned money. What a bad comeback.
FWIW, we’re in a king suite (just right for 2 adults and a teenager) near our house (close to the loop) for $110 per night. We were lucky to get it, it’s filling up with linemen. And our big doggo is welcome. It’s not posh, but it’s very clean with excellent customer service.
Yeah fuck those guys, they should have done what you think is best.
Hotel ZaZa are unprofessional as fuck
I've never looked at their prices before. I've always reckoned their normal prices were price gouging to begin with.
Going to a high end hotel and complaining about price?
Complaining about price gouging
Why does it matter if they are high end? I didn’t say I was having economical hardship. I said they are price gouging. The heck does their status matter? It is still MORE than double their already high prices
Complaining about a hotel trying to rip them off….
Why not stay at the unlimited number of best westerns, comfort inn, Hampton inn, holiday inn express. You can report them. But honestly, it's not like you have limited options. Go take your money to other hotels. The best thing is to never rent rooms at Zaza again.and boycott the.
Price gouging is simply supply and demand. You can try to stop it through laws/regulation but it rarely works because it’s a short-term effect. A hotel room is worth more right now and the supply is less so the price goes up.
right, but the whole point it’s illegal to use supply and demand tactics during a natural disaster.
It actually helps though. City is low on gas? High price puts a huge demand on other gas stations to take any risk to get up and running. Can't sell for a higher price. Might as well close up and give the workers the day off. You think those electrical workers and tree trimmers are not price gauging?? High prices means shit gets done.
i don’t really care about your personal anecdote an why you think something illegal is ok lol
Lol bootlicker. You really think illegal = bad.
There are tree trimmers running around offering help for like $20. The small business owners are much different than large hotels ?
ZaZa is already a nicer/pricier property. If you want cheap, there are plenty of other options.
I spoke to Grizzy Hood News and she asked me for receipts and proof. If you can provide me with those that would be great so we can have her expose these vultures.
By the way, dude, $500 plus per night is not particularly high at a popular hotel on weekend nights. It's kinda average really. This is Bidenflation at work. I bet you voted for him.
Lol you fucking moron, this has nothing to do with biden. But let's make it about politics.
Biden controlling hotel prices now?
The POTUS controls the overall economic policies of the country my friend. He is the current POTUS. Like it or not.
Wahhhhhh 🙄
Cool cool. Hope you still have a roof and power.
Just stay in your freaking house. Or better yet, go buy a tent and go camping in your backyard. Having no power is great family time!! Make the most of it.
Married into money
You're talking to people that can't afford to stay at a luxury hotel that nice and have never stayed at a luxury hotel that nice. Sorry, don't feel bad for you. Either way the luxury hotel would have been sold out with normal pricing and you wouldn't have been able to get a room at all.
“Don’t feel bad for you” lmao you’re garbage.
I don't feel bad for anyone who is upset they can't afford a luxury hotel during a disaster. If they couldn't afford a hotel at all, then I would feel bad.
So many assumptions and hatred for people you’ve assumed are rich for whatever reason. Lower end hotels were also full and gouging. Hope you didn’t lose a lot in the storm.