Interesting thread.

I'm going to put my head above the parapet here and say that he doesn't deserve your business Jinky (a conclusion it appears you've already reached without my unrequested intervention).

What I find a little odd is people who are completely unrelated to him, bending over backwards to excuse his slow response.

The way I look at it is; if he doesn't want to take your money, I'm sure there are 1000 other (+/- a reasonable amount) of guides in Paris that are as good, if not better than magical Mr. Osman who will respond swiftly and politely to a request to pay for their services.

seafox - can I ask why you've been using him for many years as a guide? I posted a similar question on this board a little while ago, and am just intrigued why people use guides, particularly to places they've been numerous times before.

Jay-G, it's a good question and one I'll try to answer. We've been to Paris over 20 times. So, the regular haunts for tourists are far behind us. What I like about Michael is I can throw out an idea and he is able to mold a fun day around it. For example, one year I wanted to get a sense for what Paris looked like before the Haussman renovation. Last year we exchanged e-mails about grafitti and the mixed reviews it gets (I happen to see it as new art form)... he built a day around exploring grafitti in the city ... not your run of the mill art museum tour. There are also the practical sides, this year he is taking us to Giverny for the day. While I can certainly find my way there and I can certainly read the guide books, having him take care of the details, guide us along and fill us in on info.takes a bunch of stress off my shoulders. Call me lazy, but it makes my vacation easier and more fun.... those are just some examples, I'm sure other can add more.

And I'll add that I used him when we took our whole family and I didn't want to be the "tour guide/director". Ideas come better from a third party,PLUS Michael DOES know more than I do about Paris although maybe not as much as Jay-G does. Maybe he could be Jinky's guide.
In this day of cyber mail, many things can go wrong with getting it, and I thought Seafox ALSO bent over backward to help jinky.
Our family LOVED him, including the son in law that I was sure would opt out of a "tour"--he having lived in Paris for a little while. But he was right up at the front!!
And maybe we are not "unrelated" to Michael, counting him as a friend, more than a guide to be hired.

We do exactly what Seafox does. Over the years Michael has developed tours for us based on Hemingway, Toulouse Lautrec, the Marais, Canal St Martin, etc. He has also accompanied us to the Sunday flea markets and guided us to a vintage Louis Vuitton umbrella a friend wanted.....we never would have found our way through the maze to this particular vendor!
We always learn something touring with Michael or Scott and we find their guidance enriching and fun.

I have not been able to reach him either. I have been following this thread, and have also emailed and sent a message to him on Facebook. We will be there in April. I have only tried twice though in the last three weeks. Seafox, might you ask if he has gotten anything from an email address with a 9 at the end?
Also my Facebook name starts with a G, and is hyphenated. I don't mind being a bit more patient!!

Jay-G, we aren't related to him, but we have used him as a guide. As you can tell, those who have met Michael and spent time with him see value in his services, and yes, we like him too. I answered you on your other thread, my perception is that you just don't care to use guides, and again, that is fine. Different things work for different people. However, those of us who have spent time with Michael have really benefited from that time.

This is an unfortunate circumstance with Jinky, but I don't really think using a paintbrush to say he doesn't deserve her money is fair either.

seafox - thanks very much for your response, laziness is a reason I can get behind!

Your response really makes it clear why it works for you and if you can find anything that helps make your trip more fun, then more power to you.

Gretchen - glad your family "love" your "friend". Does your "friend" charge you for his services? I think how you answer this will let you know if he sees you as a "friend" or a "client".

Judy - thanks for your experience too. I get the impression that Mr. Osman (I don't know him well enough to call him Michael) gives people the feeling that he's tailored his tours individually for them even if he's taking you down a very well worn path. Would you agree with this? Just curious...

springfling - can I ask why you're happy to wait so long for a response?

This is possibly a personal thing, but if I hadn't heard back from a business that I'd been trying to get hold of for three weeks, I'd stop trying.

I met Michael through the AOL Francophile board many years ago. When our family was going I contacted him and Yes, he charged me. I believe people can be friends also. You are quite the hair splitter. It is obvious you have a low opinion of guides and people who use them for any reason. Michael took us on a tour of the vintage clothes shops for our DD. I have been to Paris many times, but because I don't have a specific interest in that, could not have done that.
What does "taking you down a well worn path" mean to you. If you live in a city, yes, there are "well worn paths", but sometimes people don't know to ask for them.

Although I have to say this recent thread about him has me worried:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...mendations.cfm


Someone said, "my impression from various things I've read about him is just that he has a lot of business and doesn't care about being polite to people he doesn't intend to do business with (ie, doesn't respond if he doesn't need the work). That's just his business model"


Maybe Jinky has an ax to grind, or maybe this guy really is too busy

Time to say "Nothing to see here folks--just move on".

>>Time to say "Nothing to see here folks--just move on".<<


Why?

I'd still like to reach him. I'm hoping seafox will see my post and ask him for me. I'd be very much obliged. Perhaps his aol is not functioning correctly and I got sent to spam.

I read that thread. Seems rather mean spirited, especially from people who have not met him.

Yes, hopefully seafox will see.

Meanwhile, I, too, am done with this thread. I've tried to offer input and suggestions and possible reasons. People can read them with an open mind or not.

I will say one last thing. One thing that stuck with me from a class I took many, many years ago was why we are mad when people are late and don't call. It's normally because we are worried and start making up scenarios, but one of the scenarios we make up to protect ourselves is that they are just rude (not hurt, dying, bleeding, etc). The point is, we get mad without really knowing what has happened. Better to wait until you know the actual circumstance before getting angry. THEN maybe you can be mad. Until then, reserve judgment.

springfling--I WANT you to continue. Seafox has also tried to get folks connected, and Toucan has offered a great connecting thread. Mine was to those who need to deride. I hope you have a great time with Michael. 'O)

Gretchen - I have neither a low opinion of guides, nor the people that use them. As I said to seafox, if you can find something that improves your holiday, than so much the better.

I am possibly splitting hairs, but your supercilious tone got my back up. I'm assuming that you're being facetious regarding "well worn paths" as well. Areas that were referred to above (such as the Marais and Canal St. Martin) have been attracting visitors for hundreds of years, but the poster that mentioned them got the feeling that the tour had been tailored just for them. If this is the case then I take my hat off to Mr. Osman and his well-honed skills.

>>Time to say "Nothing to see here folks--just move on".<<

Sticking your head in the sand is never a solution.

As with all things, some people will like it (and be happy to wait months for a service that other people can provide) and others won't.

I'm fairly certain that if this was any other service (airport shuttle/bus tour etc.) people would be decrying them from the rooftops about their slow response time and "unreliability"...

Jay_G, poor posting on my part....should have said that we had some specific places we wanted to see in the Marais and Canal St Martin area and Michael was able to fit all of our requests into a very long day. I am aware that those two areas are not unknown to tourists.

Actually Jay, it is YOUR supercilious condescending tone of this thread and your original thread on "why you use a guide" that has gotten my hackles up enough to bother to reply to you. As for well worn paths, some are well known and some aren't to me--as a tourist. And you seem to discount that Michael did a pretty nice "tour" for us, based on what we wanted. As for a friend, yes, he is a friend, and yes, we will pay him for his services. I might even ask him to do a tour for us of the Marais and Canal, since I know very little about them after numerous visits--maybe as Judy did.

My physician and my attorney are personal friends of ours and I certainly wouldn't expect free services from them. I am a friend who also happens to be a patient/client, just as many of us may be Michael's friends but also his clients.

I heard from Michael! :D

Not sure if you talked to him seafox, but I certainly appreciate it if you did. He sent me a very nice email telling me he has been busy and apologized for the delay. Very sincere. He also said he was glad that I messaged him via Facebook. So if anyone needs to find him, perhaps that is a good option.

Thank you everyone for your thoughts and help. I am happy to book a tour with Michael for myself and we will look forward to spending the day with him.

Now, I will happily write him back and book a day with him. So excited!

Any advice on special things to see? So far we have Père Lachaise Cemetery, The Paris catacombs, and The Louvre as possibilities.

spring - since this is a Michael Osman thread I'll post some of my Paris favorites on your Paris on a Budget thread. I think that's a better way to do it since input may get buried on this thread.

He is excellent in the museums, since he is an artist in his own right--and looks much like Auguste Renoir!! I am not a fan of the Louvre, but he offered his two hour "tour". We did the Davinci Code tour, the current exhibit, Mona, and the hit was the basement to see the construction of the chateau. The tour of the Orsay was sort of a "development of the modern art movement" among other things.
I don't know what he would tell you about teh Catacombs that you couldn't learn on your own, but that isn't my forte. I am sure Pere Lachaise would be good, but again, maybe something you could do on your own with a map.
SO glad you've reached him. you'll have a good time.