What things are you guilty of nicking from hotels?

[Teadrinker11]

I'm definitely guilty of stealing things from hotel rooms. I never go for anything overly big, usually teabags, toilet roll and the toiletries when I leave.
What are you guilty of nicking from hotels or your workplace?

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

Hotel worker here -

Mini toiletries are included in your room rate - take them if you like
Loo rolls - well, technically they are provided to be used up by you, but it's a bloody weird thing to take
Slippers - if they come in a sealed plastic wrap and have that weird cardboard sole and Terry towelling cover, they are classed as disposable and can be taken
Pens - take

Taking towels, dressing gowns, remote controls, lamps, bins, pillowcases, pillows, hair dryers - all theft.

Ex chambermaid here absolutely agreeing with the above. Would like to add; our bedlinen was on a sort of rental agreement with a linen company, they laundered it weekly. They came in and ergularly did counts.If we hadn't been able to account for all their items the hotel owner would have faced substantial charges.

If there is someone l fancy on reception, l take them home with me! 😂

Individual Toiletries and drink making stuff when I was travelling a lot for work. They were handy for travel as some of the cheaper places didn't provide anything. A "destination" hotel - it's been a long time - but back in the day often there would be paper, envelopes, pen, little sewing and disposable toothbrush kits so all of these were far game too!!

StarlightLady, I know this is supposed to be light-hearted, but speaking as a former receptionist: the number of guests who just so happen to assume that the affection of staff is "part and parcel of the service" is appalling. And it's creepy AF when random guests ask you to "accompany them to their room, please" while leering at you.

Sexual harassment in the hospitality industry is real.

@Dragongirl10

DP and I always take a couple of big towels just because we can😂 they’re always super long and so comfy. I love them lol

This is beyond ignorant and theft ^

I hate people like you, as l run a luxury accomodation small business, do you not realise that every item you steal has to be paid for and puts prices up for everyone else.

I have to calculate, every hour of electric, every bar of soap, l provide expensive high gsm towels and expect that people enjoy them and leave them there, luckily l have a great calibre of guests and very, very rarely have l had towels stolen.
On the odd occasion it has happened l blacklist them and will not allow a repeat booking, if they try they will be told why.
Shame on you for thinking this is so funny.

@Dragongirl10 well it’s a good thing that I only stay in hotel chains as opposed to a small business then😉

Who actually steals anything from anywhere? Honestly would rather go without than be a common thief.

flowervest75, PP have actually pointed this out before, but here we go once again: many "chain hotels" are, in fact, small businesses. The chain brand, in many cases, is a franchise model. I.e.: I can own and operate my own hotel and then franchise branding from, e.g., Hilton. That doesn't make me part of a mega-corporation.

@WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll

This reminds me of the other recent thread about stingey people, where, alongside those being ultra frugal and deliberately going without, there were also stories of plain outright theft.

People who would steal toilet rolls to save themselves paying a couple of quid to buy them, and in so doing, rendering very expensive taxpayer-funded public facilities largely useless - and also most probably ruining the day for a lot of vulnerable people who forgot to check before 'committing' themselves.

Imagine leaving a child crying, embarrassed and really uncomfortable for hours with a pooey bum, just because you felt your selfish desire to save £2 on buying a pack of toilet roll was more important than their needs. Not your proudest moment, I'm sure.

Nicking loo rolls from public facilities is really rubbish....

It's different if it's hotel rooms...

Strange culture that requires use of separate towels for different uses but condones stealing them

@SoManyQuestionsHere - l apologise. It was meant to be lighthearted banter. On this occasion, l got it wrong.

I took a couple of big towels from the pool once. Had just moved back from another country with very little. This was years ago and I still have them now, huge and very good quality. I've no regrets 😬

@Treacleandmustard if you often have loads left over in your hotel then animal charities very often ask for used towels and bedding. I think it’s very kind of you to already give them to charity 😊

@Dragongirl10well it’s a good thing that I only stay in hotel chains as opposed to a small business then

I don't see how this makes a difference? All hotels have to pay for towels (that they presumably budget to be used for x number of times before replacing) whether a large chain or small boutique.

Toiletries, always. Dd loves them so when dh is away with work he always brings them back for her, and if we’re away together I do the same.

Not sure it’s stealing though, unless you’re emptying the room service cart of them on your way past, if they’re in your room they’re complimentary.

@Dragongirl10well it’s a good thing that I only stay in hotel chains as opposed to a small business then

As others have said, these are franchises. The actual business itself, in real terms, is a lot smaller than you think. It's not Big Chain Inc that's paying.

I'm not going to call you names or insult you. But it's been made so clear by so many people that the cost of stolen towels isn't just absorbed without trace by a huge faceless corporation. It's a real problem for real people with real livelihoods that have been hammered over the last two years and there's just no excuse. Please stop doing it.

@tkwal

Strange culture that requires use of separate towels for different uses but condones stealing them

@tkwal again, let’s not do that. If you do something of your free will does that mean your culture ‘condones’ it? Obviously not, let’s not be obtuse

@Teeturtle

I have picked up and taken away pens, also the sewing kits although you don’t see them so much these days.

I have loads of hotel pens, I've not bought a biro for decades although I did notice on our last US trip where most of the pens come from that they are not replaced by housekeeping each day! The little sewing kits are also very useful, I still have a lot of those, love the ready-threaded needles.

I also hope no one here has ever paid for their shopping but purposely didn’t scan the 20p shopping bag they’re meant to pay for. Seeing as ‘theft is theft,’ you’re nothing but a hypocrite🤷‍♀️

@flowervest75

DP and I always take a couple of big towels just because we can😂 they’re always super long and so comfy. I love them lol

If you can afford to stay in hotels with big fluffy towels, surely you can afford to buy that type of towel yourself - sounds like you are a bit of a kleptomaniac.

It's not OK to steal glasses from a pub either! When I was young and sprightly and worked in a pub it used to drive us mad when people stole glasses, ashtrays and bar towels. The publican has to buy new ones you know, they don't grow on trees!

The glasses people steal are branded ones given for free as promotions by the drinks companies. Bar towels are also promotional gifts. In all my years managing pubs I never purchased one. We knew they get stolen so keep some for our own cupboards if they are particularly cool before putting them out. They end up broken eventually anyway as they are rarely as hardy as the standard bought ones. Never drove anyone mad

I’ll also keep enjoying the towels that I’ve taken, thanks bye✌️

I took the TV remote once by accident. It must have just got scooped up when we were packing. Sent it back next day by special delivery.

@flowervest75

I also hope no one here has ever paid for their shopping but purposely didn’t scan the 20p shopping bag they’re meant to pay for. Seeing as ‘theft is theft,’ you’re nothing but a hypocrite🤷‍♀️

You're really showing yourself up on this thread

Do you want to share what else you steal? Throw in a "lol" if you must, just so we know it lighthearted

@flowervest75

I’ll also keep enjoying the towels that I’ve taken, thanks bye✌️

What went wrong with your upbringing that you think it is OK to steal hotel towels?

It is never OK. You must have realised that given all the responses on here.

Toiletries if they’re nice - they’re handy for weekends away to family, sleepovers etc - and tea, coffee, biscuits if they’re fancy. Shower caps, sewing kits, those sponge shoe polishers and pens are quite handy too. Towels and anything else - no. That’s quite cheeky.