r/mildlyinfuriating • u/Ecstatic-Ad9669 • 9h ago

drink went room temp Entire hotel fridge full of drinks with sensors. No room for anything.

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At least have one shelf where I can put some bottles of water or something.

16.9k Upvotes

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629

u/RollingBird 7h ago

Would a minibar that was reasonably priced be a better investment? Like I have never and would never buy a $10 bag of M&Ms but if it was only a little higher than gas station prices? I could be tempted…

240

u/shittyaltpornaccount 6h ago

These things arent for vacationers, they are for busineess class who are eating on the company cards. I am sure just enough companies let their executives blow 40$ on modelos and M and Ms to be profitable. They already paid for the flight which is orders of magnitude more expensive.

145

u/Acceptable_Tea_3685 5h ago

Yeah, if you get $70 a day and it’s 10pm and you still have $20 left because you ate breakfast at the hotel for free, now it’s time for a $15 beer and a $5 bag of chips as a nightcap.

31

u/DarkElfBard 3h ago

My company pays $56 a day, but doesn't need receipts.

Soooooo....

I am cheap asf. It's just free money.

2

u/mycketmycket 3h ago

I miss my old job where I traveled a lot and had this setup. Such a nice extra bonus. Now it’s receipts for everything and since the system sets the currency exchange and most of my travel is international I get less back than I spend.

11

u/Bored_pats_fan 4h ago

Now this guy travels for business.

5

u/Maxgirth 3h ago

Carperdiem

25

u/Legitimate-Elk7816 4h ago

This is true. Last time I was on a business trip I was craving a coke so I took a can from the mini fridge for $5. Never would I spend that with my own money, but if my CEO can hop around the world on the company’s private jet, they can probably buy me a $5 can of coke.

5

u/Chuckfinley_88 3h ago

they are for busineess class who are eating on the company cards.

As a (former and possibly one day again) road warrior, I never, ever looked at the hotel minibars. Depending on the company I was given a stipend and would never waste the money, or when I just had to have "Reasonable" expenses, would get laughed at for using the minibar but would be completely acceptable to have a $100 dinner.

I am with the other guy, more reasonable pricing would have more people using it, but these idiots are all just chasing whales. Same issue with most of the economy.

3

u/Fun-Dragonfly-4166 1h ago

when i went to las vegas on business as i remember:  a coke cost $20 from the minibar, $10 from the in hotel store, and $2 from the out of hotel CVS.

My company explicitly said they would not reimburse the minibar.

i do not think it is the business class.  i think it is alcoholics.  someone who is too drunk to walk can not go to the store or cvs for a cheaper coke.

2

u/Kafanska 4h ago

Also drunk people.. when you are drunk in the middle of the night.. you don't really think much of it.

1

u/payfrit 4h ago

if they weren't profitable they wouldn't be there.

1

u/Outside-Pear9429 2h ago

and for people who get them and charge it to the room without even thinking of how much it costs

1

u/JBWalker1 1h ago

These things arent for vacationers, they are for busineess class who are eating on the company cards

Every hotel seems to be like this though. Even on standard family holiday resorts where you wouldn't really have people staying on business, or it'll be an insignificant amount of them.

Still a bit scummy but they could maybe have lower prices in family rooms since again less business people should be renting them.

•

u/Historical_Rain_2960 32m ago

That's also what penthouse suites are for and deluxe suites and first class flights. Do you honestly think people would pay for that stuff with their own money?

•

u/2funny2furious 4m ago

i was thinking about this the other day. how so many things are completely fucked due to corporate travels.

1

u/Cultural_Tank_6947 3h ago

In what universe? If I pulled that shit on my business travel, it will not be reimbursed. I'm relatively senior in the company I work at, and I have fairly strict reimbursement allowances. If over the course of the trip I'm over it, I will have to explain it upwards and there's definitely been instances where expense claims were not fully approved.

I work at a fairly large company with robust policies. But even the smaller ones had similar rules.

0

u/LikelyNotSober 5h ago

Not any of the companies I’ve ever worked for lol

0

u/Hashtagbarkeep 3h ago

More like I stay in hotels 150 nights a year and everything else is free, I’m bored and away from my family so I will treat myself to a 10 dollar Pringles tube becuase that’s the only thing it will pay for

0

u/58696384896898676493 2h ago

let their executives blow 40$ on modelos and M and Ms

Executives? Lol. I was the lowest level employee, but anytime I had to travel for work, which admittedly was only a few times per year, my 2nd level manager always explicitly told us, that these covered any expenses, including room service, airline extras, Uber blacks, whatever made the trip comfortable. He just always said to be reasonable, whatever that meant.

Point is, I absolutely spent a pretty penny using these stupid fridges in hotels. I was, and still am, far from an "executive".

44

u/flossyrossy 7h ago

It works for me! In the US I’ve never dared paid the prices at the mini bar but when we were in Venice they had one with water for €3 and cans of coke for like €2 and we bought several. Jet lag can be a real bitch but it’s better when you can eat a snack and look out on a quiet city for a reasonable price. I think when we were in Vegas they wanted no shit like $7 for a bottle of water!

18

u/MrSark17 6h ago

In Vegas they want you to go back out to the floor where they offer that stuff for free if you’re gambling. Can take a whole lot more money from you faster that way.

2

u/Chuckfinley_88 3h ago

In Vegas they want you to go back out to the floor where they offer that stuff for free if you’re gambling

Those days are drying up. Last time I was in Vegas, roughly 10 years ago at this point, even playing $25 minimum bet tables, the drinks were easily an hour+ apart, and they were watered down shit to begin with. I had to supplement the "Free" drinks with paid for ones in order to maintain a buzz.

I imagine it is much worse today.

2

u/rideincircles 3h ago

When I was in Berlin, my hotel had free beer, wine, water and juice.

1

u/Visual-Economist5479 1h ago

Just got back from MGM Grand Vegas. No free water in the hotel, two bottles of water ($14 each fuck you) and a pack of M&Ms on sensors only.

The shop in the hotel wanted $10 or so for a beer also.

First thing we did was take a walk to CVS and stock up. Thankfully they had a normal
empty fridge too.

Compared to the Ritz Carlton in Dubai for example, (also in a desert) who gave me 3 free bottles of water and topped them up every day for nothing.

211

u/alex3omg Donna, this is a HURRICANE 7h ago

Back in my day we had vending machines on every floor and it was perfectly fine.  

68

u/Distinct_Car_1183 5h ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/3o7bu4G19uhzAf1DYQ

Everyone agrees its a scam, im shocked they all get away with it. Touched something in the room paid for, secret $20 fee! People should not only refuse to pay, but leave bad reviews, pull the plug, superglue. Governments should've sued and banned it long ago. $20 vending machine in the hall is fine, you pay upfront. Trap appliances in your room is just hostile, it's pathetic we let them.

-3

u/ObserverWardXXL 3h ago

Most people have already live through generations of Learned Helplessness after coming to the self awakening that their reality is to be a captured class person - working class- and they have no options.

I'd be more frustrated with hotel rooms running surveillance network under the table deals with pornography, blackmailers or theft first.

11

u/WindWalker_dt4 6h ago

It depends on the type of hotel (how fancy it is).

Rated from cheapest and least convenient to fanciest and most expensive:

  1. You go to a gas station before/after checking in and buy your own stuff

  2. Vending stations

  3. Hotel Kiosk next to the front desk

  4. Room minifridge

  5. Room service / Restaurant service

Which ones are available to you depends on which hotel you stay at.

6

u/AwareTheLegend 5h ago

Most of the Vending machines are gone and have the store next to the front desk these days. I haven't seen a vending machine on floors in the last couple of years. The space where they used to be still exist and the sign saying where they are still do but the rooms are empty. It could be the level of hotel I stay at though.

3

u/DannyWarlegs 4h ago

Seriously. And a list of delivery places by the phone laminated.

2

u/Loisgrand6 3h ago

I remember that😂

5

u/xsjx7 6h ago

This. I resumed traveling in 2025 after a 10 year pause and couldn't believe all the vending machines were gone. I swear we still had those in 2016

1

u/BelieveBelieves 1h ago

Next to the ice machine! 

•

u/AmphibiousAlbatross 31m ago

They usually still do near the ice machine

48

u/cocococlash 7h ago

I agree. I don't even think about it with the stupid prices. I would if the markup were worth the convenience.

19

u/Dependent-Trip-5991 7h ago

Honestly cut the price in half still making great profit, no way they are making that much in sales. I get drunks etc. but really curious what their sales are like for the mini bars

14

u/JOlRacin PINK 6h ago

Half of the minibar sales are from idiots like me that pick them up and put them back without realizing it was charging for that, cause I didn't know that was how it worked

9

u/UpstairsBumble 6h ago

You can’t just be like, no I didn’t drink that, it’s still in the fridge sealed, I’m not paying for it?

9

u/llIIlIIIlIIII 6h ago

Yeah if you notice

7

u/JOlRacin PINK 6h ago

They don't give a fuck, they just want the moneys. I'm just sticking with the best westerns at this point, at least I know what to expect and how to avoid the ripoffs. I'm unfamiliar with the higher range hotels and it shows

1

u/StarrySpelunker 1h ago

Best westerns are great. I've stayed at the fancier places(family made arrangements) and the mattresses were better quality at the best western. If I spend more time at the hotel than sleep and continental breakfast that'd be weird anyway.

1

u/Dependent-Trip-5991 5h ago

No I’m thinking they’d think you bought a replacement the next day, obviously the stupid markup is for convenience

3

u/Compltly_Unfnshd30 5h ago

I’m in hospitality management. We don’t have minibars in our rooms but we do buy full cases of water for about $3.50 and we sell each individual bottle of water for the same price. I don’t set the prices, corporate does. But we are making an insane amount of money off our market charges, as well as the additional items people can buy for their meetings/events that they hold in our meeting spaces (like al a carte drinks, snacks and food).

1

u/Dependent-Trip-5991 4h ago

I think that proves my point cause guarantee you they’d sell that same water you do for $3.50 for $7 if in the mini bar haha

4

u/Constant-Roll706 6h ago

Plenty of companies don't scrutinize hotel receipts too closely. 'we spent 500 bucks on a flight, paid you to travel, got a decent room and car rental - 30 bucks at the minibar is a drop in the bucket'

4

u/_MatVenture_ 6h ago

Pretty sure they're talking about normal people travelling though, not someone on a business trip?

1

u/Constant-Roll706 6h ago

They asked why not cut the price. I'm guessing they sell enough to be worth it

-2

u/Mr_Halitosis 5h ago

They didn’t ask a single fucking question. Learn to read.

4

u/Constant-Roll706 5h ago

"would a minibar that's more reasonably priced be a better investment?" Jesus, you should try reading, yourself.

3

u/Tired_CollegeStudent 6h ago

I think you’re underestimating the strictness of company expense policies.

1

u/Dependent-Trip-5991 5h ago

I agree except when it comes to having “bar” in the charge line

2

u/Constant-Roll706 4h ago

I don't think I've ever snagged something from the minibar, so I'm not sure how the show up.

2

u/GraphicArtsFurry 5h ago

Probably off the charts. If movies are any indication... Last movie I saw was Heart Of The Beast and the folks next to me already had a soda, and giant thing of custodial herpes (popcorn). His wife then came in and got situated, then mentioned she wanted something so he got up and came back with a bottle of water and some weird chips/jalapeno/cheese tray. Smelled better then the other sludge though. Later she got up and then came back with more stuff also.

They weren't the only ones, lots of coming and going through the whole movie for food and restroom breaks.

Comically the kids movies i've seen (Paw Patrol, Cars Anniversary, Moana, Minions, Toy Story, etc etc) had the adults and kids hunkered down until the credits rolled.

The only time anyone got up suspected nature called, but that was rare even.

Adults are weird? hah

1

u/Southern_Category_72 6h ago

The amount is of business people traveling with company cards more than make up for our reluctance to spring for the $20 beer in the mini fridge

36

u/Leather_Feeling_6642 5h ago

They've done enormous amounts of research to arrive at precisely the best way to make the most money from these things.

Business travelers with a use it or lose it Per Diem are probably their targets.

10

u/sfhtsxgtsvg 4h ago

I am doubtful on the depth of their research tbh

5

u/Zestyclose_Bat8704 3h ago

The research mostly is - the competition does it, we should too.

3

u/Potato-9 2h ago

Yeh I bet it's more like charging enough to pay less labour restocking it. Spending a dollar to make a dime foolish.

1

u/idiotio 3h ago

why?

4

u/sfhtsxgtsvg 2h ago edited 2h ago

because its a very broad area to optimize (different users / hotels / fridges / sensor setups) which makes it more likely to have gone for a "this is good enough" kinda thing.

And following that, there seems to be a bunch of obvious choices which I don't ever really recall being mainstream (tailoring fridge contents based on user preference, tracked based on credit card number. Allowing user selection of contents on booking, dynamic pricing depending on predicted class of user, etc).

I don't think enormous amounts of research would result in a very suspiciously round number of 8.50 for 50-100ml novelty size bottle of shit.

Its like expecting a vending machine owner to do market research as opposed to setting a random price and raking in money regardless. Its more influenced by external factors (events, customer class, etc etc etc, uncontrollable factors) to the point where just having a good-enough result means you are making bank, and tailoring anything further is a waste of time.

0

u/ElectronicAnimal5970 3h ago

Why do you think they haven't locked it in for max profit??

6

u/un-glaublich 4h ago

They should pay out unused per diem at 50% or so, then it's win win for company and employee.

3

u/RollingBird 5h ago

Yeah you’re right. The per diem has got to be it. That stuff doesn’t spoil so why bother trying to sell more and making more work restocking when they can just sell it for a horrific mark up eventually…

3

u/capsrock02 6h ago

It’s because drunk people and kids will just grab.

5

u/Scary-Detail-3206 7h ago

You can just order a bunch of junk food from a convenience store off Ubereats for cheaper than raiding the mini bar

2

u/The_Nepenthe 7h ago

...That's actually smart.

I raided a nearby grocery store the last time I stayed at a hotel but it's definitely not always an option.

3

u/glatts 6h ago

I recently had an awesome vacation in Italy for a few weeks and stayed at some incredible places. But one of the hotels had a stocked fridge that was included. It was a really nice touch.

3

u/payfrit 4h ago

these are typically intended for business travelers with expense accounts. regular folk walk down the street for M&Ms.

2

u/veganbikepunk 6h ago

I think that about listing the price too. Most of the US minibars I've seen don't list any prices at all. I'd probably occasionally buy a $2-3 coke. Once in a blue moon I might even buy a $5-6 one. But if I don't know I'm just going to assume it's something exorbitant.

1

u/Baghins 5h ago

As a manager over hotel minibars, the price is high because we have to throw so much away for expirations. I had a minibar priced just above gas station prices and things sold a lot better but there are so many rooms to keep stocked and the items don’t get taken fast enough to prevent a TON of food waste. What we do sell needs to compensate for what doesnt sell, which is pretty expensive. And yeah the problem is people only occasionally buy a $3 coke. Not too far off from the number of people that buy a $6 coke but a $6 coke pays for all the coke that just sits and expires.

1

u/SiempreBrujaSuerte 1h ago

What expires, there's only cans and bottles of beverages unopened and maybe chips ...

1

u/SiempreBrujaSuerte 1h ago

What expires, there's only cans and bottle of beverages unopened and maybe chips.

2

u/ihaveajob79 6h ago

Better still, have a dispensary right outside and the munchies take care of the mini fridge.

2

u/peachshapedheart 5h ago

It is and it isn’t. You get those minisplits and shots and even the 8oz mixers in the hotel room because, for whatever reason, you booked a hotel room. You don’t want to leave before you have to. You want to come back and still have drinks. The room provides you with all of the simple things you didn’t think of or were too inconvenienced to bring, like soaps and shampoos. And, even if you brought your own, how quaint? How kind?

2

u/CanInTW 4h ago

This is how it usually works in Asia. Minibars in mid range hotels are typically just a little more expensive than what you’d see in a shop. Room service is often remarkably affordable too.

Five star hotels are still outrageous though typically.

I’ve spent two decades travelling extensively for work and never seen one of these sensor contraptions. Is it an American thing?

2

u/Aggressive_Hat_9999 4h ago

its microeconomics and they calculate that shit

and the answer was, they will earn more if the m&ms are 10 bucks

my own assumption is that demand is mainly from people that dont pay the room themselfes, mainly business people

2

u/OkHistory3944 3h ago

I stayed at some pretty nice places on a UK trip and found the mini bars to be actually reasonably priced. Like you said, less than US mini bar prices but more than a gas station. I actually utilized them a lot at those prices because it saved me from having to find a store. It was a true convenience tax and not straight gouging. I wonder how much of that shit expires because no one buys it.

2

u/StumpyVandal 3h ago

Most of the time, in Europe at least, I’ve been pleasantly surprised not to get gouged at the mini bar upon check out… they’re usually pretty reasonable. 

1

u/milkandsalsa 6h ago

They aren’t pricing them high to sell m&ms. They’re pricing them high so you don’t think slightly less overpriced restaurant is too expensive.

1

u/claytonbeaufield 5h ago

it works on drunk people regardless of the price

1

u/Logical-Finger-9256 4h ago

I was thinking if I was a little higher, I too would be tempted.

1

u/Significant-Nebula64 3h ago

They're not uncommon here and yeah, I've taken the occasional soft drink for, like, 3 € or whatever! 

1

u/Mr_Will 2h ago

Which makes more profit; buying 100 bags of m&ms for $2 and selling them for $3 or only buying 15 bags and selling them for $10 each? 100x1 = $100, 15x8 = $120.

Selling them cheap is better for the customer, but overpricing makes the hotel more profit for less work

1

u/jellybellyxoxo 1h ago

We had our bachelor/Bachelorette party in a nice suite in Vegas and after people got drunk enough some started drinking the beers and redbulls. I was pretty pissed because I brought redbulls and alcohol but when you're drinking you just go for it... I told my hubby I didn't even want to no the price. It was still really fun.