Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Dear TripAdvisor

Dear TripAdvisor,

I'm breaking up with you. I want to say "it's not you, it's me", but that's not true. It is you. I don't want to be in this relationship anymore.

We had many good years. You won't remember, but we met in 2000 when you first came to town. I was different back then. You were too. I met you in another state, and you were the cool kid. It was sweet. It was new. We helped each other out. But I said good-bye in 2009 when I moved away. 

I came back to you in 2011. I needed you. I knew you were a player, but you filled a need. I was willing to pay for your services. The cost was $288 in 2011; $326.78 in 2012; and $524.14 in 2013. In 2014 you wanted $1,800. We negotiated and you said you could continue to give love for $900. That was too much for my tastes, so I said "no".

Then you called a few months later to say you wanted me back. You wanted $3,450. Nothing changed other than I rejected you and you were insulted. You took away my past client discount. If I wanted to have you again, it would cost - an increase of 558% to be exact. Nothing new, nothing different. Same services but at a very different price. I said no.

You called again, and again, and again.

Each time, I relived and rehashed what I didn't like about our relationship. I told you I was willing to reconsider, but you weren't willing to change. You wanted $3,450. The discussions were heated and sometimes you hung up on me; sometimes I hung up on you. This is not healthy.

This last conversation, I said we are at an impasse. I won't be told how wrong I am, how I'm making a bad decision, how I just don't understand how important you are. I won't be bullied, shamed, or guilted into taking you back.

I belong to a support group with many who have said good-bye to you. We talk....a lot. We share details on how each of us fared in our relationships with you. It's been helpful, cathartic, and reaffirming. We shouldn't be taken for granted. We want to be heard. We want to be with you, but we just can't put ourselves through this anymore. This relationship does not work.

Since we've split, I've grown - by 14.2% to be exact, and I did it all on my own. You didn't like this. You told me I'm making a bad decision. You said I still need you, but I'm doing fine without you.

It's been almost a year that we've been having these conversations but it is time for my exit. I think you have value, but I also know you don't treat me well. This dysfunction has to end.

We were friends once, but things change. Let us part and move on.

With sincerity,
Donna Olney Kohler
+Fig Street Inn 
Cape Charles, Virginia


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