This winter this paper carried an article about a long-time second-home owner who suffered a ski injury and couldn't get help with his luggage at the airport. The airport manager was quoted as saying that he should have known what was and wasn't available. In other words—blame the consumer.
This winter I had a confirmed reservation for an Avis rental car to drive from Hailey to Boise. When I made the reservation on the 800 line I specifically asked if the counter would be open and was told "yes." When I got there the counter was closed. I reached the manager at home, and was told that they do not pay attention to reservations, that I should have known the counter would be closed and that I should never use the 800 number. Blame the consumer.
This week I went to the airport to pick up my 85-year-old mother. The parking lot has signs saying no vehicles over 22 feet long, and I had an eight-foot U-Haul trailer. No signs provide any help, though there is a dirt lot about a quarter mile from the terminal. Not expecting my mother to walk, I went through the gate. When I left, the attendant's only concern was whether I damaged the gate. When I asked what I should have done he replied that wasn't his department. Please don't call to tell me I should have known.
If this community is going to attract the visitors it desires it will need a new attitude and preferably a new set of public servants. Some of us who live here part-time care enough to say something—hundreds more just won't ever come back.
Buddy Paul
Ketchum
