Sometimes it pays to ask.  Literally.  Looking on the internet for a hotel for me and the kids in Greece this summer, I stumbled across one that ticked all the boxes.  It had the pool, it had the inoffensive design features, it had a view, it was close to the town, it was kid-friendly.  Just one problem. The price.  

When I spoke to the hotel directly they could do me a double room and stick an extra bed in it, for 220 euros a night. Unsure, I played about some more on the internet (anything to put off doing any actual work) and found Hotels.com, who could offer me the same hotel, but in a junior suite, which meant two rooms instead of the one, for - get this -  £40 less.  What’s not to like?

Today, while shopping for a swimsuit for said holiday, I ran into Myla where I’d seen a rather lovely purple one on sale last week.  Amazingly, it fit and you know the saying… if the swimsuit fits, BUY it!  Only the 30% off had finished a week ago, the 30% was now back on.  

The manageress was nice but firm. No they couldn’t give it to me at last week’s price.  ”Why not?”  They tried to explain that this was a promotion, not a sale, but frankly, this seemed like commercial madness to me.  ”It’s the same swimsuit! Why would I want to pay 30% more for it this week?”  I left the shop empty handed. I’d like to think I was making a stand, fighting for a principle, but I suspect it’s also known as cutting off your nose to spite your face.

When I got home a postcard from Myla sat on my doorstep - I’m on their mailing list. A sale starts tomorrow - 50% off.  So now the swimsuit I could have bought for 30% off last week, but was 30% on this week, would be 50% off tomorrow?

Ever so slightly INCENSED by now,  I called up their head office and spoke to Matthew who very kindly checked it all out for me.  The swimsuit wasn’t going in the 50% sale, and yes I’d missed the 30% promotion, but he’d meet me halfway and give me 20% off instead of 30% off.  RESULT!  

It’s a consumer’s world right now, and all I have to say is: power to the people.. And Matthew at Myla.