stealing or bought?
I was in a discussion a little while ago and the subject of motels and the use of their toiletries came up. I maintained the position that when you rent a room you have the right to use the toiletries that are necessary, but when you leave you leave those items that you didn’t use. However, those whom I was talking to thought that it is perfectly fine to take as many of those little soaps and shampoos that are there because you bought the room. I thought this idea problematic because where do you put on the brakes. Are the pictures, comforter, table and chairs, and trashcan up for grabs too or is there a secret code that says that these are off limits. I’m curious if I’m the only one who thinks that just because you can ask for more soaps when you need them doesn’t mean that you can take all the soaps you don’t use. Some think these toiletries are bought and I think not.
posted by T A Lucas | 12/19/2005
10 Comments:
FWIW - you purchase the use of fixed assets (both real property and personal), but you purchase an ownership interest in the soap and shampoo thingy -- even if you don't use it all.
Q: Do you tithe of your mint, dill, and cumin?
I understand the use of those soaps that you have already opened. But those that remain in their packaging can be used by another. I will have to look up your "mint" question. But I know I haven't seen much of those items in the offering plate when it goes by.
I think the soap, etc, is provided for your use while you are there, and that any toiletries you opened and used are the only things you should take.
Unfortunately, you cannot take the tacky motel art, even if you feel that removing it would be doing future guests a favor.
Think of it this way: Do you want to use a stranger's bar of soap?
(I don't)
I think the best solution is to use the soap gently and then pack it back into its little wrapper. You can also switch the shampoo and conditioner contents. I got to think up this kind of thing while I was employed at the Grand Canyon cleaning guest rooms. Believe me, if a bar of soap is wrapped in something that says Grand Canyon on it, it qualifies as a souvenir and you should take it home with you.
I wouldn't want to labor this overmuch, but the law of God did come up in a conversation about this, so I think I might clarify my position, lest I be thought to be encouraging pilfering. ;^)
In the hotel industry, the term used in referring to this class of items is "complimentary" items. Sometimes the bar of soap or bottle of shampoo will have words to that effect, "Compliments of Sherado Hotel." The items in this class include soap and shampoo/conditioner, but I have seen combs, shower caps, shoe polish cloth, coffee and tea bags. These items are extended by the hotel for your use without stipulation, as a gift. Does this mean I always take these things? No, but if the comb looks handy, I might take it. Or if the tea or the coffee looks good and I might use it later, or at home, sure. When I open the pack, I probably will see the logo or name of the hotel and remember my visit. This is exactly how the marketing people designed it to work. Complimentary means complimentary.
In other businesses they call this sort of stuff "promotional items." Fat Albert's Body Shop has 1000 pens made with their name and logo on them. They place them on the counter for customers to use. If one month after placing the pens on the counter, they still have 1000 pens, they'll wonder what went wrong.
Some people who like to steal don't understand this, so when they take the free things, they act like they really got away with something. If they think they were stealing when they did it, I suppose for them it is, in a way.
Others wouldn't want to call it stealing, but they would probably abuse the system by claiming that they have paid for these things and have a right to them. But no one has a right to something offered as a gift. Taking gobs of stuff is a form of abuse, but that abuse consists in taking advantage of generosity, not in stealing.
This is the kind of area where you can sin, but that doesn't make it easy to draw hard lines for others. You know, if you hadn't wasted so much shampoo yesterday, you might not need to open a fresh bottle today, so your wastefulness is costing the other guests extra. Maybe we could all take shorter showers, too, since the hot water is probably costing the hotel more than the bar of soap.
You can't steal something that is offered to you freely. Stealing hotel towels, sheets, and property is prosecutable by law, but unless you break into the store room, I can't see how the possession of any amount of soap and shampoo that was willingly given to you by the hotel can be a crime. And in most cases, where the person understands that what is put out there is put out as a gift, and he does not abuse generosity, it is not a sin, either. So enjoy the hot shower. And if you see me using a Fat Alberts Body Shop ink pen, I checked, and its OK with Al. Really.
James
I actually agree with the settler's last comments. clears it all up for me.
I like it very much when you agree with me. But, dude, I was going to bring you the beer anyway. ;)
For someone who is concerned about a little bar of soap, you and the phat guy sure do seem rather relaxed about playing football with the motel's TV remote in the middle of the night with the lights out.
football is not quite what happened with that bit of plastic. To be quite honest I was fearing for my life as I witnessed what actually touched me from the ceiling of our room. I tossed that thing as a precautionary measure.
-the beer was great
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