Mini bars in your hotel room

[suenmike32]

We just returned from a great weekend in New York City, but this morning when I found my express checkout bill (that was slid under my door), I had a bit of a shock.
There was a charge of $32.00 on my bill for items that I did not use from my mini fridge. I call the desk and advised that this was an error. The hotel operator asked if I had "moved anything in the fridge"? I owned up and said yes. I also explained that I did so to check the code on a couple of items in the fridge. The operator indicated that if you even move items in the mini-bar... (let alone remove them), you are charged for them!
Apparently, there is some sort of magnetic or sensor device that lets them know that something has been moved.
They, removed the charges from my bill with no problem...but I was quite surprised and somewhat embarrassed at the same time.
My habit of checking codes came from an incident several years ago, where I removed and drank a bottle of beer that was 2 years old. Anybody ever run into this?
Mike

 

[normab]

This is quite common in the new minibars--I have colleagues who buy their own stuff and put it in the minibar, thereby moving the items around. They have also had to ask for the charge to be removed. In fact one of them was telling me about such an episode for a charge over $100 recently.

I generally do not touch the minibar--I refuse to take the key so there can be no mistake. Just as an aside, if you do need a mini fridge, many hotels will provide one for the asking.

Norma

 

[Icarus]

Anybody ever run into this?
Mike

Yeah, all the time. You have to watch for hotel delayed charges on your cc statements and question them. Usually, the hotel will just remove them. The sensor method is pretty common.

I've also seen stale items in some hotels.

Nothing to be embarrassed about.

-David

 

[lvhmbh]

Usually there is a small sign telling you that if you move, or remove and replace and item, it will be charged to your room.

 

[wackymother]

Hyatt Regencies almost always have that sign. And they say if you even break the seal on the minibar, you'll be charged $25 per day. Even if you need to keep something in the minibar, like medications, then you will be charged (and, P.S., they point out that the minibar is not cold enough for medications). They offer to RENT you a small refrigerator for $25 per day.

 

[tlwmkw]

I know someone who's kids played "shop" with the minibar- taking everything in and out and pretending to sell it to their siblings and parents. There were no warning signs but they found out when the checkout bill came with $5000 worth of charges for mini bar items!!! Needless to say their kids are forbidden to touch, go near, or even look at a mini-bar now. The charges were removed but it took some effort on their part- hadn't happened to that extreme before at the hotel and they didn't quite believe it. Best thing is to just leave it all alone.
We recently stayed at a Marriott and on top of the dresser was a selection of water, iced tea, and nuts all sitting on a sensor pad. We didn't touch or move them but it was nerve wracking because we were afraid something might accidentally set off the sensor. Luckily it was OK. No warning signs but we had had the heads up from our friends.

 

[wackymother]

I had no idea they could FIT $5,000 worth of items into a minibar!

 

[djs]

I had no idea they could FIT $5,000 worth of items into a minibar!

At $8 a beer, and $7 for a small container of Pringles, it can add up pretty darn quick. Still, that's over 600 beers; must have happened over multiple days, or if something was removed, put back and removed again.

 

[cdn_traveler]

The last time we stayed in a hotel, it was the Westin in Whistler.
We pulled all the drinks out of the fridge so that we would not drink them by mistake. I didn't get any charges that time so I'm thinking that they didn't have sensors. Which hotel chains have sensors?

 

[suenmike32]

This one in NYC was a Marriott. They had no sign, nor did they have a seal on the fridge.

The last time we stayed in a hotel, it was the Westin in Whistler.
We pulled all the drinks out of the fridge so that we would not drink them by mistake. I didn't get any charges that time so I'm thinking that they didn't have sensors. Which hotel chains have sensors?

 

[wackymother]

Mine was the Hyatt Regency Chicago, and we had seen a similar arrangement at the Hyatt Regency in Washington, near Union Station.

The one in Washington wasn't quite as emphatic as the one in Chicago, where the check-in clerk had us sign a waiver saying that we understood we would be charged a fee if we opened the minibar. I think I asked if they could remove the minibar entirely, since I was traveling with my children, and they said no.

 

[tlwmkw]

The kids were putting the items in and out of the minibar and triggering the sensor multiple times. They never actually used any of the items. The mini bottles of alcohol seemed like great playthings to the kids. It added up very quickly but yes they did play with it over a few days. This was at a Marriott hotel. In my experience they don't warn you about the charge incurred by opening the minibar or moving the items.

 

[Icarus]

Hyatt Regencies almost always have that sign. And they say if you even break the seal on the minibar, you'll be charged $25 per day.

I've never seen that or heard of that. I stay at two Hyatt's rather frequently, but neither have minibars. Both have refrigerators in the room, with a couple of bottles of expensive water in them. (the normal bottled water with tags hanging on them).

Hyatt Santa Clara and SFO are the ones I frequent. Both have been updated to the new minimalist interiors. Both are good properties. (Though for some reason, SFO didn't update their TVs during the last renovation. They still have tubes.)

I also stayed at the ones in Manila, Hong Kong and Singapore recently. No problems there either. Those properties are much nicer than the domestic properties. It's a whole different level of service in Asia, especially if you stay on the grand club floors.

-David

 

[NTHC]

Glad we aren't the only ones this has happened to. Hubby and I were staying at the Mayflower in DC a few years ago. We moved the items in and out of the mini bar throughout the weekend as we added our own beer and mixers. Surprise Surprise when we went to check out and received a bill for $184. I will never forget the look on my husbands face when he looked at the front desk clerk and said "$184 for a bottle of water????."

They of course credited us back immediately, but there was nothing anywhere that stated if you moved the items you would be charged for them.

Now we know so we just slide the items from one side to the other when we put our own things in the mini bar.

Cindy

 

[ladycody]

Many regular travelers ask for the minibar to be empty at check-in. If you just make sure that the empty minibar is noted at check-in, it prevents oops charges from being placed on your account and provides a fridge for personal use during your stay. (not to mention, it will save you from losing the battle with will-power and indulging in a $34 dollar can of macadamias.)