Our tow vehicle broke down 4 days before our scheduled arrival, stranding us until it would be ready. We called to change our dates and were told we would lose our deposit and have to make a new reservation. The deposit would not be applied to a new reservation, it would be lost. When we asked for an exception under these unexpected circumstances(particularly because we still planned to stay with them for the same amount of time, just later when our truck was repaired), we were told that they only make exceptions for hurricanes and that we agreed to these terms& conditions when we made our reservation. I said that we didn't know when we made the reservation that our truck would break down and have no way to get there. The woman hung up on me. My subsequent email pleading for an exception went unanswered.
In 8 months of full-timing, we have not encountered such a strict, intractable policy or a more rude, less empathetic person. Just like the people at North Beach, I'm also a business owner so I definitely understand the need to protect one's bottom line, but unlike North Beach, I also understand the value of a little kindness, understanding, and just basic customer service.