Guests who steal food!

[Audrey Forrest]

We have a couple staying here and she is pregnant. We stock our guest refrigerator with yogurts, muffins, fresh fruit, cereal, etc. Its self serve. When they check in we explain the food is for breakfast and enough for all the guests.
Much to my astonishment I found all the yogurts except one, all the muffins except one, and quite a bit of fruit, disappears during the day. I discovered this couple were helping themselves without any regard for the other guests. I discussed it with them and she offered $30.00 to cover it. Not a lot but at least she made the offer.
I would like to know if any of you have experienced this. She also went into my
personal refrigerator and helped herself! I managed to control my temper because I dont want them to do damage but I decided to not get anymore yogurts until after she leaves on Saturday, and filled the refrigerator with more muffins, puddings and
hard boiled eggs!!! My agent says I should put a lock on both refrigerators but
I am reluctant to do that. What do you think? I havent had anyone do this before.

 

[Morticia]

It probably won't happen again. Some people are like that. It's rude, but it happens.
We've had guests go into the fridge, but not often enough to inconvenience ourselves by putting locks on the door.

 

[Generic]

What does it have to do with being pregnant? Is that some sort of excuse for being a schmuck or a thief? That being said, this is another example of your price point bringing in the wrong people.
When I started I wanted heads in beds and my price was quite a bit cheaper. I got some backpackers and people who thought that I was some sort of "splurge" for one night when they usually travelled super cheap. My price went up and the backpackers disappeared. We changed to a 2 night minimum and the "splurge" people disappeared and we have been a lot happier since then. Our least expensive room brings in the younger couples who want a place to enjoy the city and our most expensive room brings in the older people. The adventurous take our middle priced room.

 

[EmptyNest]

You should not let your guests have free access to your refrigerators. Just put stuff out for breakfast in the morning. Don't tell them they have access. Again your price point is driving these kinds of people to you who think everything is free game because they pay your cheap rate.

 

[TheBeachHouse]

My suggestion is that you stock the refrigerator in the morning for that day's breakfast and put the food away around 10 or 11. Instead of leaving the breakfast food available all day.

 

[user 26]

My suggestion is that you stock the refrigerator in the morning for that day's breakfast and put the food away around 10 or 11. Instead of leaving the breakfast food available all day..

Agree. Someone on low budget who is hungry is going to forage ... maybe anticipating you'll put it down to 'all the guests'. $30+ worth of food just sitting there all day for the taking is quite a lot.
Are you there with them at breakfast or just at checkin?
This is why buffet breakfast did not work for me with eight rooms of people. I discovered some were loading up for the day and later boasting they wouldn't need to buy a lunch.

My suggestion is that you stock the refrigerator in the morning for that day's breakfast and put the food away around 10 or 11. Instead of leaving the breakfast food available all day.

 

[Lee2014]

Raise your rates and the cheap skates will disappear into history.

 

[Aussie Innkeeper]

If you're not on premises, people are going to snoop around.

 

[Jcam]

sorry but guests have no access to breakfast food after breakfast - that's it door is locked