How do you handle hoarders?

[Innkeeper To Go]

People are more likely to steal the turn down chocolates if found than something expensive. It is the same who think taking all the scotch tape in the office at Christmas time is not stealing. Have I got news for you on that one! Stealing is stealing. It is against the law to steal, anything, pilfering or not.
But IF YOU PUT IT OUT FOR GUESTS then it is theirs to take, if you put out more, then there is more for them to take.
Not sure why innkeepers put stuff out and then get angry when guests take it. Every soap and shampoo IN THEIR ROOM is for them. If they take them from your cleaning cupboard, then they are stealing. Obv we teach our children to "take one and leave the rest for others" greed is a natural instinct, just like lying. We have to be taught it is wrong or we will do it willingly. People lie all the time and try to justify it. They lie on this forum. Don't believe everything someone tells you..

I think the difficult part is the lone guest who thinks everything that is put out for ALL the guests is put out solely for THEM. In the rooms, yes, take the soaps and enjoy them. Take the make up wipes and use them at home. (I've given them away to guests who loved them. 'Here, take these.' They are appreciative.)
In the guest pantry? No, all 40 tea bags are not for you, they are for everyone. Someone cleaned me out of granola bars the other day. I refilled and the next day all of those were gone. So, 10-12 granola bars and probably one guest took them all. It's odd when that happens. And it is so infrequent that it really isn't a big deal. But there's always that feeling that someone probably knows they shouldn't take all of them, but they do anyway.
.

To me, that's always the biggest frustration when they clean out the common guest supplies I worry that another guest won't have been able to have a cup of tea or hot chocolate or whatever.
If it's in the guest room, sure, it's theirs.
But in the common area? No. There are other guests who also expect those amenities to be there.

 

[Copperhead]

I know you have these things out not only for the convenience of the guests but for you (or staff) as well but, if this is something that is common practice at your inn, you could change the arrangement a little. Instead of having the cereals displayed on the buffet, have a nicely printed sign by the cereal bowls stating the types you have on hand, and stating the staff will be by the table to fill your request. Less convienient for you but no more hoarding either.
Or maybe go to something like these - some of these are very reasonable, others quite on the expensive side.

No hoarding with these!!!

 

[The Farmers Daughter]

I know you have these things out not only for the convenience of the guests but for you (or staff) as well but, if this is something that is common practice at your inn, you could change the arrangement a little. Instead of having the cereals displayed on the buffet, have a nicely printed sign by the cereal bowls stating the types you have on hand, and stating the staff will be by the table to fill your request. Less convienient for you but no more hoarding either.
Or maybe go to something like these - some of these are very reasonable, others quite on the expensive side.

No hoarding with these!!!.

I know you have these things out not only for the convenience of the guests but for you (or staff) as well but, if this is something that is common practice at your inn, you could change the arrangement a little. Instead of having the cereals displayed on the buffet, have a nicely printed sign by the cereal bowls stating the types you have on hand, and stating the staff will be by the table to fill your request. Less convienient for you but no more hoarding either.
Or maybe go to something like these - some of these are very reasonable, others quite on the expensive side.

No hoarding with these!!!

True, but its hard to put tea bags in them.

 

[Morticia]

I know you have these things out not only for the convenience of the guests but for you (or staff) as well but, if this is something that is common practice at your inn, you could change the arrangement a little. Instead of having the cereals displayed on the buffet, have a nicely printed sign by the cereal bowls stating the types you have on hand, and stating the staff will be by the table to fill your request. Less convienient for you but no more hoarding either.
Or maybe go to something like these - some of these are very reasonable, others quite on the expensive side.

No hoarding with these!!!.

With a plastic bag I could have those cleared out in no time! (You know people do that.)

 

[Copperhead]

I know you have these things out not only for the convenience of the guests but for you (or staff) as well but, if this is something that is common practice at your inn, you could change the arrangement a little. Instead of having the cereals displayed on the buffet, have a nicely printed sign by the cereal bowls stating the types you have on hand, and stating the staff will be by the table to fill your request. Less convienient for you but no more hoarding either.
Or maybe go to something like these - some of these are very reasonable, others quite on the expensive side.

No hoarding with these!!!.

With a plastic bag I could have those cleared out in no time! (You know people do that.)
.

Maybe we should request a tweek on these dispensors by adding a slot for a token... 1 token = 1 serving
LOL, this would go over big with hotels!
Never saw anyone do that but yep, sounds like some people!

 

[Emily Spiers]

I've been to a B&B that puts pennies on the night stand and a little (filled) penny gumball machine in the room...super cute idea.
**Disclaimer: not sure about the rate of theft of the pennies...just a comment about the cuteness of the idea**

 

[wendydk]

Haven't had that trouble here...but the last hotel I worked at saw many busloads of casino gamblers, and those blue hairs stole everything in site...the breakfast room was a free-for-all. Cereal boxes, tea bags, creamer cups, sugar packets...anything they could stuff in their purses, they would....and that doesn't even include what went from the rooms...

 

[Innkeeper To Go]

Haven't had that trouble here...but the last hotel I worked at saw many busloads of casino gamblers, and those blue hairs stole everything in site...the breakfast room was a free-for-all. Cereal boxes, tea bags, creamer cups, sugar packets...anything they could stuff in their purses, they would....and that doesn't even include what went from the rooms....

Haven't had that trouble here...but the last hotel I worked at saw many busloads of casino gamblers, and those blue hairs stole everything in site...the breakfast room was a free-for-all. Cereal boxes, tea bags, creamer cups, sugar packets...anything they could stuff in their purses, they would....and that doesn't even include what went from the rooms...

I do have to say that the only ones I've ever caught red-handed (and it's happened several times) have been the little old ladies. Just can't stand to leave those teabags, cream, or sugar packets behind.

 

[JBloggs]

Re little purple haired ladies
when they carry a a wad of ziplock baggies in their handbags, you know why!
I see them at restaurants, they ask for tea and the server brings out a selection and comes back to an empty basket with one lipton floating around the bottom.

 

[gillumhouse]

Haven't had that trouble here...but the last hotel I worked at saw many busloads of casino gamblers, and those blue hairs stole everything in site...the breakfast room was a free-for-all. Cereal boxes, tea bags, creamer cups, sugar packets...anything they could stuff in their purses, they would....and that doesn't even include what went from the rooms....

Haven't had that trouble here...but the last hotel I worked at saw many busloads of casino gamblers, and those blue hairs stole everything in site...the breakfast room was a free-for-all. Cereal boxes, tea bags, creamer cups, sugar packets...anything they could stuff in their purses, they would....and that doesn't even include what went from the rooms...

I do have to say that the only ones I've ever caught red-handed (and it's happened several times) have been the little old ladies. Just can't stand to leave those teabags, cream, or sugar packets behind.
.

Gotta stretch that SS check somehow......

 

[The Tipsy Butler]

I've been to a B&B that puts pennies on the night stand and a little (filled) penny gumball machine in the room...super cute idea.
**Disclaimer: not sure about the rate of theft of the pennies...just a comment about the cuteness of the idea**.

LOVE IT. I have a big, old gumball machine in my formal living room. To be perfectly honest it's there because I love it, it's unexpected and only a total weirdo would put a gumball machine in a formal living room.

 

[Innkeeper To Go]

Haven't had that trouble here...but the last hotel I worked at saw many busloads of casino gamblers, and those blue hairs stole everything in site...the breakfast room was a free-for-all. Cereal boxes, tea bags, creamer cups, sugar packets...anything they could stuff in their purses, they would....and that doesn't even include what went from the rooms....

Haven't had that trouble here...but the last hotel I worked at saw many busloads of casino gamblers, and those blue hairs stole everything in site...the breakfast room was a free-for-all. Cereal boxes, tea bags, creamer cups, sugar packets...anything they could stuff in their purses, they would....and that doesn't even include what went from the rooms...

I do have to say that the only ones I've ever caught red-handed (and it's happened several times) have been the little old ladies. Just can't stand to leave those teabags, cream, or sugar packets behind.
.

Gotta stretch that SS check somehow......
.

There you go.

 

[Samster]

I've been to a B&B that puts pennies on the night stand and a little (filled) penny gumball machine in the room...super cute idea.
**Disclaimer: not sure about the rate of theft of the pennies...just a comment about the cuteness of the idea**.

LOVE IT. I have a big, old gumball machine in my formal living room. To be perfectly honest it's there because I love it, it's unexpected and only a total weirdo would put a gumball machine in a formal living room.
.

We had a Jelly Belly machine in our guest service area. No pennies required.