Use of hotel minibars

[RooFlyer]

Yes yes, but I'm not actually sure that's legal

edited: I guess the issue is that they probably have the right to put the charge on the bill... but if you haven't consumed the product (or otherwise tampered with it) - can they legally make the charge stick?

Again, not defending, but if they make "you move it, you pay for it" a condition of your stay, and there's a notice in view to that effect, then I reckon they could make it stick. Again, this doesn't include erroneous charges where the bar wasn't touched.

 

[Mattg]

I must admit, I never realised that taking from the minibar and replacing the stock with (much cheaper) identical store-bought products was a thing before reading this thread!

 

[love_the_life]

Or if something hits the fridge with enough force to nudge an item inside off its sensor.

In our case the nuts were not in the fridge but sitting in a tray on the sideboard. Easy enough to be knocked there and a very very small label (no on the front) to say it was auto charge. Considering this was the Sydney Hilton we thought it was very tacky.

 

[JohnK]

Hardly ever use hotel minibars. Too expensive.

Holiday Inns in Bangkok have a can of beer priced around 200baht-250baht for a can. I can buy 4 cans from 7Eleven for ~135baht.

 

[Foreigner]

Pricing may look outrageous but hotels do invest in fridges and pay for electricity to power them, have staff check usage and re-stock if required, allow for expired stocks (nuts, chips, etc.) and also denials.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Again, not defending, but if they make "you move it, you pay for it" a condition of your stay, and there's a notice in view to that effect, then I reckon they could make it stick. Again, this doesn't include erroneous charges where the bar wasn't touched.

Accept what you're saying, but lots of companies say lots of things all the time. The law (consumer and general) often overrule what companies might like to think they can get away with. I have no doubt the hotel can auto-charge, but I doubt the customer actually has to pay for an item not consumed (or tampered with). I'm struggling with the legal basis for that.

There's plenty of internet chatter about auto-charge mini bars. I haven't found anything where the item hasn't been removed from the bill.

 

[aaronm]

I rarely touch the minibar, can't justify spending $7 for a packet of M&Ms no matter how hungry I am. Much prefer it when hotels have vending machines instead, seems quite prevalent in Japan, for example - even at higher end hotels.

 

[dajop]

Pricing may look outrageous but hotels do invest in fridges and pay for electricity to power them, have staff check usage and re-stock if required, allow for expired stocks (nuts, chips, etc.) and also denials.

Although many hotels have fridges in the rooms without minibar. I think that's a cost of running a good hotel....

But I do understand the cost of staff restocking etc. In somewhere like Australia, with high labour costs I am ok paying up to double the 7-11 price. But in countries where labour costs are much much lower, eg Vietnam, $8 for a can of coke (13x convenience store price ) is just too much for me to contemplate, even if work is paying.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Although many hotels have fridges in the rooms without minibar. I think that's a cost of running a good hotel....

But I do understand the cost of staff restocking etc. In somewhere like Australia, with high labour costs I am ok paying up to double the 7-11 price. But in countries where labour costs are much much lower, eg Vietnam, $8 for a can of coke (13x convenience store price ) is just too much for me to contemplate, even if work is paying.

Although 7/11, Coles, Woolies, local corner shop etc also pay staff to stock up the fridge (and pay for the fridge to run and be serviced and tested. I doubt the operational cost is any greater for a hotel......they just have a captive market.

 

[Bolthead]

Having worked on the road in sales for most of my career one company I worked for allowed one drink out of the mini bar per night. (alcohol or soft) All other companies I have worked for would not pay for mini bar. I don't blame them considering the cost, however having said that we were always allowed to have a a few alcohol drinks with our dinner. - within reason. (room service or restaurant)

 

[Foreigner]

Although 7/11, Coles, Woolies, local corner shop etc also pay staff to stock up the fridge (and pay for the fridge to run and be serviced and tested. I doubt the operational cost is any greater for a hotel......they just have a captive market.

Not sure if this is for all those businesses but most suppliers of beverages will supply the display fridges. The hotellier otoh will likely have invested in minibar fridge. I'm guessing that the auto fridge that senses movement may cost around $400 each.

 

[leadman]

on my first trip to Europe and stayed at the Hotel Monopol just near Frankfurt station. The minibar was free, stocked each day with 3 beer 3 soft drink and 3 water. No food. Remember asking the staff, must cost them a fortune, but they said it was build into the cost any I would be surprised how often the bar was empty, less than 10% but over 80% of the time the minibar was untouched. Maybe some hotels might want to start thinking the same.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Not sure if this is for all those businesses but most suppliers of beverages will supply the display fridges. The hotellier otoh will likely have invested in minibar fridge. I'm guessing that the auto fridge that senses movement may cost around $400 each.

My comment was not intended to suggest there is no difference (I actually didn't mention the cost of the fridge).....just not the same kind of % seen in the price difference. My +1 and I owned a business that had two full size double glass door drinks fridges and we purchased them ourselves, simply because the ones given for free ties you to their product at their rate (or at least it did when we had the business). So not everyone uses freebie fridges.

 

[JessicaTam]

[mod hat]
Back to the minibar discussion thanks.
[/mod hat]

 

[Warks]

Many years ago I stayed at a conference at Jupiters or Conrad (whatever it was called in the early 90s). I shared a room with my boss and he grabbed a Mars Bar as he said that $2 on the minibar menu wasn't too bad (he was a sugar addict). What was weird was when they serviced the minibar they changed the minibar menu so now was $3.30 a Mars Bar! From then on it was a case of buying replacements from the store in the lobby which was still much cheaper than that.

 

[Buzzard]

I only ever use the minibar to stock my own items including items from the lounge that happen to find their way to my/our room.
Thanks to CE, I must remember to ensure availability of space for medications

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Many years ago I stayed at a conference at Jupiters or Conrad (whatever it was called in the early 90s).

Conrad Jupiters Casino!

 

[Ausbt]

vending machines instead, seems quite prevalent in Japan

Is there anything better than a beer machine selling 500ml cans of Sapporo just down the corridor from your Onsen? No there is not. Y350 last time I was there, so $4. Happy to pass on hot-coffee-in-a-can though, being a typical Sydney coffee snob.

 

[drross]

Is there anything better than a beer machine selling 500ml cans of Sapporo just down the corridor from your Onsen? No there is not. Y350 last time I was there, so $4. Happy to pass on hot-coffee-in-a-can though, being a typical Sydney coffee snob.

and not keen on the hot soup in a can either.

 

[UP4014]

Never use the mini bar except for bottled water to clean teeth in some part so of the world where I didn't trust the hotel water filters (can count on both hands the number of times used in 15 years).

A bit like I won't use another bank ATM out of principle so the bank doesn't get another $2, or in Sydney now $2.80.