Taking Pens & Paper From Hotel Rooms

[Neil_Anthony]

I used to always take the pen with the hotel’s name on it home with me after I stayed in a hotel. If I needed some paper I’d take the paper pad with me too. I just assumed these were free gifts they were happy to give away for the free advertising. (their trademark and name is on the items).

But then someone told me this is STEALING, the same thing as taking towels from the hotel room! Or the alarm clock!

What do you think? Is it Okay to take those hotel pens home with you? Or is that stealing?

 

[ComputerGeek25]

I think taking the pen and paper is fine. Think of it as marketing for the hotel.

Taking towels, pillows and other more permanant fixtures or things that are re-used would be steeling.

 

[Newbie2]

I agree…if you go to the desk and ask for a pen and pad of paper, they’ll give you one to keep. It’s advertising.

 

[petitfleur]

They offer those things for advertiseing…its not like you went to the maids trolley and stole the whole box-(see post on ketchup thread)

 

[Neil_Anthony]

They offer those things for advertiseing…its not like you went to the maids trolley and stole the whole box-(see post on ketchup thread)

Thank you. My girlfriend at the time gave me a real guilt trip over it. But maybe its just because she wasn’t catholic and you know how non-Christians like to call Christians hypocrities

 

[Caesar517]

I think it’s fine to take any item that can be considered disposable. You pay for a disposable item when you rent the room. As far as non-disposable items, you are paying for their use only.

 

[SarahR]

My mom has a whooole lot of unwrapped bars of hotel soaps, unopened hotel shampoos and conditioners, too. Ya just never know when you’re going to need a half-palmful of Best Western conditioner.

 

[kage_ar]

My mom has a whooole lot of unwrapped bars of hotel soaps, unopened hotel shampoos and conditioners, too. Ya just never know when you’re going to need a half-palmful of Best Western conditioner.

LOL!!!

Are we sisters?

 

[Neil_Anthony]

I think it’s fine to take any item that can be considered disposable. You pay for a disposable item when you rent the room. As far as non-disposable items, you are paying for their use only.

I dunno… I think they provide the soaps for your use while in the room. Since they provide a shower, they also provide soap. I never take soaps or the little shampoos.

Would it also be okay to go to the front desk and ask for more soaps? Just to take them home?

But the pens seem like a give-away promo item.

 

[Joe_5859]

I think it’s fine to take any item that can be considered disposable. You pay for a disposable item when you rent the room. As far as non-disposable items, you are paying for their use only.

Nicely put! I was trying to come up with a way to phrase it, but I was coming up empty.

I dunno… I think they provide the soaps for your use while in the room. Since they provide a shower, they also provide soap. I never take soaps or the little shampoos.

Would it also be okay to go to the front desk and ask for more soaps? Just to take them home?

But the pens seem like a give-away promo item.

If you ask at the front desk, they’ll also give you a toothbrush or a comb or other such items. I don’t think they want them back!

Are you talking about any bottles of shampoo or soap, or only those that remain unopened? If the bottle is already open and half used, I would assume they would throw it out if you didn’t take it with you. Even if it wasn’t opened, you would think they might have to pitch it anyway just in case it was used (unless there’s some seal on the bottle where you can tell if it definitely has not been opened).

Geez, I’ve spent probably more time than I should analyzing this scenario! Ah well, tis all in good fun!

 

[Neil_Anthony]

Nicely put! I was trying to come up with a way to phrase it, but I was coming up empty.

If you ask at the front desk, they’ll also give you a toothbrush or a comb or other such items. I don’t think they want them back!

Are you talking about any bottles of shampoo or soap, or only those that remain unopened? If the bottle is already open and half used, I would assume they would throw it out if you didn’t take it with you. Even if it wasn’t opened, you would think they might have to pitch it anyway just in case it was used (unless there’s some seal on the bottle where you can tell if it definitely has not been opened).

Geez, I’ve spent probably more time than I should analyzing this scenario! Ah well, tis all in good fun!

There are seals on the little shampoo bottles that show if they’ve been opened.

If you stay for more than one night at the hotel, every day they will replace things you have used. If you use half a bottle of shampoo, they don’t need to replace it. Butif you take all the little soaps and shampoos and hide them away in your luggage, they will assume you ‘used’ them all and replace them all. Then you can keep hoarding them away for your whole vacation and go home with a suitcase full of soaps and shampoos. I think thats dishonest. They’re meant for your use while staying as a guest at their facility.

(Sure, if youw ant to take the partly used bottle of shampoo and bars of soap home, that’s fine

 

[Joe_5859]

There are seals on the little shampoo bottles that show if they’ve been opened.

That is true of some hotels, but not all hotels. I’ve been to plenty of hotels that do not have any seals on their bottles to indicate if they’ve been opened or not.

If you stay for more than one night at the hotel, every day they will replace things you have used. If you use half a bottle of shampoo, they don’t need to replace it.

Not always, though. I’ve been to hotels that put out new soaps and shampoos every day, even though the partially used ones were in plain sight.

(Sure, if youw ant to take the partly used bottle of shampoo and bars of soap home, that’s fine

Thank you, I will.

I think the real sin is the hotels charging upwards of $100 a night for a hotel room! At that price, I won’t worry too much about the $0.10 bottle of shampoo!

What about the coffee packets? While in the room, you are more than welcome to use them (and ask for more and use those as well). But what if you aren’t in the mood for coffee at the moment and want to take the packet home? Is that stealing?

 

[Neil_Anthony]

What about the coffee packets? While in the room, you are more than welcome to use them (and ask for more and use those as well). But what if you aren’t in the mood for coffee at the moment and want to take the packet home? Is that stealing?

You have to brew the coffee in the room if you want to use it. However, it’s okay to brew it in the room then take the coffee with you in a cup as you leave for the day. That’s my theory anyway

 

[Joe_5859]

You have to brew the coffee in the room if you want to use it. However, it’s okay to brew it in the room then take the coffee with you in a cup as you leave for the day. That’s my theory anyway

Sounds like a good rule of thumb. Does that mean it’s not okay to take the coffee pot, either?

Here’s another one I thought of. Is it okay to take the Bible left in the nightstand drawer? Do the people at Gideon’s want people to take the Bibles (and thus spread the word), or is it only intended to stay in the room (chained to the lectern, so to speak, and thus remain available for all)? I wonder if they periodically check and replace any missing copies?

 

[Mary_Gail_36]

Pens and paper are complementary…so you may take it.

Also, the toiletries are complementary…you make take them (they are covered in the cost of the room)

The towels, robes, paintings, coffee maker, furniture etc belong to the hotel . If you take them they often charge your credit card or bill you for these items. (I’ve seen signs in hotels saying this.)

 

[CB_Catholic]

I don’t think it’s stealing. You have paid for this stuff in your enormous bill. I don’t usually take this stuff home with me, though, because I have an invisible pen and paper breeder in my house that is filling all my junk drawers and is threatening to take over my house.

I usually bring my own soap and shampoo whenever I go anywhere and don’t need to use the hotel ones. But from past experience, these things breed too.

 

[bilop]

Sounds like a good rule of thumb. Does that mean it’s not okay to take the coffee pot, either?

Here’s another one I thought of. Is it okay to take the Bible left in the nightstand drawer? Do the people at Gideon’s want people to take the Bibles (and thus spread the word), or is it only intended to stay in the room (chained to the lectern, so to speak, and thus remain available for all)? I wonder if they periodically check and replace any missing copies?

Yes. The Gideons want you to take the Bible and read it.

I have seen maids carts with extra Bibles to replace them.

God Bless

 

[graceandglory]

But then someone told me this is STEALING, the same thing as taking towels from the hotel room! Or the alarm clock!

What do you think? Is it Okay to take those hotel pens home with you? Or is that stealing?

What? You mean we’re NOT supposed to take the alarm clock?
I thought it was the old “take anything that’s not nailed down to the floor” rule.

 

[teachccd]

At $200+ a night, I’ve little concern about a pen and a few sheets of paper. Trust me, you paid for it…teachccd