Homeless shelters: does anybody else do this?

[seattleadjuster]

I do a lot of traveling for my business. Many years ago I met an America West pilot who collected the small shampoo and conditioner bottles from fellow pilots returning from trips, and he donated them to a homeless shelter.

Because some years I've been on the road over 275 nights (thank you Marriott for letting me know how often I'm on the road), I too started collecting the shampoo and conditioner bottles and donating them to the local homeless shelter. The first time I did this it was Christmas Eve day, and the look on the shelter manager's face was priceless. It really made me feel good.

I mentioned that on my latest cruise to my tablemates, and they stated that they were doing the same thing: bringing their own shampoo, conditioner, and soap and saving that which was provided by the cruise line to a homeless shelter.

I'd imagine any monetary losses to the cruise line would be much less than from those bringing on their own liquor (in case anybody says I'm stealing from the cruise lines or hotels).

Does anybody else do this? Or, was I miraculously matched up with the only other tablemates that do this?

[98Charlie]

For years I (and others) have collected the miniatures and donated them through our American Legion to the VA hospitals. They are given out to homeless vets and VA residents going home either permanently or on temporary leave.

Holy Cow! 275 nights/year only leaves 7½ nights per month in your own bed.:eek:

I stay at Marriott properties whenever possible also (just not as often as you). The bedding is really comfortable even in the low end properties and the points are a lot easier to redeem than other brands I've tried.

Charlie

[cruznon]

I never have thought of this . What a great idea. Thanks for sharing.

[hammybee]

I have been doing this for the last 20 years. Thank you Marriott.

[Juanita462]

what a great idea - I read years ago that people who say that anyone can be clean hasn't been poor - when it comes to a choice between buying food or soap, food will win out every time.

We donate to the local organization that feed the homeless but this is important too.

Question - can you take the shampoos etc. on the plane?

[RSGS315]

what a great idea - I read years ago that people who say that anyone can be clean hasn't been poor - when it comes to a choice between buying food or soap, food will win out every time.

We donate to the local organization that feed the homeless but this is important too.

Question - can you take the shampoos etc. on the plane?

You will have no problem taking it on the plane, as long as you pack it in your checked luggage.
Ginnie

[realent]

What a FANTASTIC IDEA !!!!! I am going to suggest this to everyone I know!

[hammybee]

You will have no problem taking it on the plane, as long as you pack it in your checked luggage.
Ginnie

Actually we can carry on provided the contents do not exceed 3 ounces. TSA does not care how many 3 ounce bottles we have in our carrry on.
Just another goofy rule that does nothing to make flying safer.

[Sundagger]

A group of people at the company I worked for (until I retired a month ago) collected toiletries plus toothbrushes and toothpaste for a homeless shelter and a women's shelter. It was formally for Christmas, but expanded into year-round donations.

[doctork]

I too have always collected the toiletries from hotels, then when I got home, donated them to the women's shelter for victims of domestic violence.

I think that hotels do not regard this as "stealing." Since the bottles and wrapping have either the hotel logo or the product brand name, it's free advertising, and it makes the hotel and the product manufacturer look generous.

[TravelinGrandma]

We have an annual project bubbles when we collect the soaps, shampoos, travel sized products, etc. for the homeless. By the way, everyday the hotel rooms supply these products as part of your amenities. We put each days supply in our suitcase, and a new set is given to us each day. This is not stealing - it is part of the room rate and is ours to use (or to keep;))!

[realent]

I just sent this out to my entire e-mail list.....let's start a revolution!

[tomc]

Just another goofy rule that does nothing to make flying safer. But it does make it cleaner and a lot nicer smelling.

[DMRick]

We've done it for years. The woman's shelter really appreciates it and since there are usually kids there as well, we always ask housekeeping for extra Disney soaps when we go to Disneyworld, which can be several times a year. They usually give us an extra 25 hand soaps, 25 face soaps and shampoos, and we add to that what we get daily.

[shipmix]

As I was reading this thread I am sorry to say I can not agree with the idea . I do see it as stealing to be honest. If you are talking about a half used container of shampoo that you take to a shelter ( because you did not use it all) then fine. I am sure you are not doing this however. As for the idea that this is also good for hotels and ships when it comes to advertising... I also think that is not true. Are people really going to be impressed that HAL or Hilton has their shampoo there ? If you want to do something for these shelters then SPEND your own money and go to a store to BUY these items and then donate them. If you ran a small family run hotel or chain I am sure you would be singing a different tune when the guest hauled away with as much soap and shampoo as they could for a shelter. Yes you do pay for the use of the room, but this does not give the ok to take as much shampoo, soap, you name it as you can even if it is going to be donated. Let the hotel make the choice if they want to contribute to a shelter and not you stealing. When hotel rates constantly go up, these for sure are part of the reason. I am all for helping others, do it often, but make it come from your own honest efforts and not this kind of example. If all the shampoo, and soap, etc was going to be tossed away at these hotels it would be a whole different story, then of course it needs to go to a shelter but this is far from the case. Please have a moment to think about this before inviting more of your friends to steal.

[SakeDad]

We've been doing this for years. We tour with national and international Broadway tours so we are on the road and living in hotels MOST of our lives. We sometimes don't see home for 6-9 months at a time. Broadway shows have an organization called Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS that does alot of good work. It also works closely with the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative. We have been donating these items for many years whenever and whereever we can. The hotels are aware of this for the most part and actually do give huge donations of them as well on occassion.
These are not only good for homeless shelters, but shelters that deal with run-away teens, drug addict treatment centers and local AIDS hospices.
But I must admit I did not take my own shampoo etc on the HAL cruise as I read they had fabulous stuff on board so I was selfish and used it everyday...and it WAS fabulous! Especially loved the bodywash that "tingled"....oops...sorry...I strayed:rolleyes:

[Krazy Kruizers]

I use to collect all the shampoos and soaps and we gave them to nursing homes. Now that I bring our stuff, I don't even think about collecting them anymore. Plus, it is just that much more weight in the suitcases.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I use to collect all the shampoos and soaps and we gave them to nursing homes. Now that I bring our own stuff, I don't even think about collecting them anymore. Plus, it is just that much more weight in the suitcases.

[cp556]

Actually we can carry on provided the contents do not exceed 3 ounces. TSA does not care how many 3 ounce bottles we have in our carrry on.
Just another goofy rule that does nothing to make flying safer.


I thought all our 3-oz things had to fit into one quart-sized Ziploc bag....

[u4ea]

If I may opine on this on, I’d say you heart is in the right place, but your way off. I know the ideology that every bit helps, but this is like saying “You ever put out a fire with an eyedropper?”
I was homeless for almost a year, I don’t know about shelters, there weren’t any where I was in a rural area, but I can tell you I didn’t need soap or shampoo, I needed food and shelter, gimme a break. A bathroom with soap is easily found for free in this country. Sadly the poverty in the world blows our mind.:( We do what we can to mentally deal with it, and philanthropy and benevolence are part of that. IMHO, if you can afford to cruise…………..
Mark

[jtl513]

As I was reading this thread I am sorry to say I can not agree with the idea . I do see it as stealing to be honest.To the vast majority of hotel and cruise guests - and management - taking ash trays, towels, or other such things as souveniers is stealing, but taking free consumables such as note pads, pillow chocolates, or toiletries is not.

[sail7seas]

I don't see it as stealing if it has been placed in our room for our use.

IF we were to remove soap or shampoo etc from the service cart, that would be stealing.

I feel that once a consumable has been placed in our room by hotel staff for our use, it is ours to do with as we wish.

I'm very sorry if I have a poor perception in this regard. I don't help myself to these things. They are given to me by housekeeping.

[midwestsolo]

If I may opine on this on, I’d say you heart is in the right place, but your way off. I know the ideology that every bit helps, but this is like saying “You ever put out a fire with an eyedropper?”
I was homeless for almost a year, I don’t know about shelters, there weren’t any where I was in a rural area, but I can tell you I didn’t need soap or shampoo, I needed food and shelter, gimme a break. A bathroom with soap is easily found for free in this country. Sadly the poverty in the world blows our mind.:( We do what we can to mentally deal with it, and philanthropy and benevolence are part of that. IMHO, if you can afford to cruise…………..
Mark

I beg to differ. Nearly 20 years ago I was in a shelter with two small children. All I went in with was 2 garbage bags of clothes and the kids most favorite toys. The little money donated to the program went for things such as food, phones and other things needed to help battered women. When I read this thread, I was so excited. My employer has a charity group. I am taking this idea to that group. I think it is wonderful! And this was in IOWA!!!

[ANSalberg]

Several ladies groups I belong to support "shelters" of various kinds [ Battered Women & Homeless] and we ALL do that
Anne
I'm talking about shampoo/hand lotion/ conditioner etc - NOT "stealing" towels etc....

[jtl513]

Another thing you can do with them is give them to groups that prepare Christmas goodie packages to send to children in impoverished coutries.

[gg3]

When I get a lot of these little toiletries saved up, I put a soap, a shampoo, a conditioner, a lotion, a bath gel, and sometimes a toothbrush and paste into a clear cello bag (available cheap at the dollar stores), then tie up with a piece of ribbon or twist tie. I donate these to our shelter for abused women and children and the directors sure do appreciate them. They told me that most women and children flee with nothing more than the clothes on their back, so they can hand them one of these baggies as they check in. I also donated about 50 new beannie babies and bears that I had collected and stored and they were thrilled with these. They hand one to each child who comes in or they take them to the hospital to children of abuse. Also, our local police appreciate new bears, as they hand them out to children of violence. Touches my heart to help these folks who have endured so much. gg

[Briny]

I am a volunteer at a local United Way agency that provides help to the less financially fortunate of our county. We have no government-supported homeless shelter in our area. Many of our clients make do with living in tents in the nearby state forest, or if they are especially lucky, in a small run-down RV in someone’s back yard. It is all we can do to keep ourselves supplied with food for distribution for our clients. I can assure you that toiletries, when we can get them, are MOST welcome by our clients. Thanks to the OP for his generosity and for raising this issue.:)

[Homosassa]

I take the small bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and lotion and the bars of soap to our local domestic abuse shelter.

The shelter manager told me the small bottles are really appreciated as so often the women and kids leave without anything but the clothes on their back.

[gg3]

shipmix:
Please...give us a break about the stealing from the hotels. You are way off base. I am as honest as they come and by gosh, by golly, I pay for those toiletries in my room. As housekeeping puts out fresh toiletries each day, I save those for the shelters. And for years, I have supported shelters financially, but this is just a little addition. And believe me, the shelters are thrilled to get these items. It saves on their expenses. Of course, for those who want to go out and buy the items.....go ahead, but why not make really good use of something that WE HAVE PAID FOR. And just a side note.........I do not reuse my towels in hotels or ships. I want fresh towels for every bath........heh - how do you know which end you used for your face and which end you used...............:D gg

[Mary Ellen]

It is NOT stealing. The toiletries are given to me (well, actually paid for with my room) for my use. How I use them is MY business. If someone were to take towels, spare rolls of tp, ashtrays.... that IS stealing.

I belong to a (well-known) lineage society. Our chapter collects these, along with other free samples we receive in the mail and other items members do buy, for donation them to VA shelters/rehabs/hospitals. Donations are also sent to schools around the county the society sponsors.

[u4ea]

I beg to differ. Nearly 20 years ago I was in a shelter with two small children. All I went in with was 2 garbage bags of clothes and the kids most favorite toys. The little money donated to the program went for things such as food, phones and other things needed to help battered women. When I read this thread, I was so excited. My employer has a charity group. I am taking this idea to that group. I think it is wonderful! And this was in IOWA!!!

I see your point, and am sure shelters would welcome anything to help. :cool:

I think I was feeling “what about those not in the shelters (like I was)?” You can’t eat shampoo.:( That was my point, but off the specific subject.:o
The reality of some things can be a lot to get your mind around. Maybe that’s why I’m jonesin’ for a cruise.;)
Mark…

[dakrewser]

How cheap can you get?

You want the benefit of being thought of as a charitable giver without any of the cost. There is a cost, of course, but it's borne by everyone who stays at that hotel!

If you really want to be a "charitable Charlie," take 20 bucks, go to the corner drug store and buy a bunch of travel size toiletries - then donate them. But don't reach into my wallet for your donation.

[gg3]

How cheap can you get?

You want the benefit of being thought of as a charitable giver without any of the cost. There is a cost, of course, but it's borne by everyone who stays at that hotel!

If you really want to be a "charitable Charlie," take 20 bucks, go to the corner drug store and buy a bunch of travel size toiletries - then donate them. But don't reach into my wallet for your donation.

For such a smart fellow, you are way off base here, dakrewser. Cheap....what the crap does cheap have to do with taking something that you don't use and giving it unused to a group that is so appreciative of that. I do not want the benefit of being thought of as a charitable giver......I want the benefit of knowing that just by a lot of folks doing a really small thing.......it can make a difference to a lot of people who need anything they can get. When I pay $250 a night for a hotel.........I HAVE BOUGHT THAT STUFF. I am not reaching into yours or anyone else's wallet for anything. You are assuming that everyone on this board is just taking unused toiletries and donating them to groups and that is their contribution to society. You have no way of knowing what so many of us do yearly for a lot of groups and organizations and private individuals, both locally, statewide, and nationally. Heh, if you don't want to do this, don't.......but if you want to know if it is appreciated......pick up the phone and call some of your local shelters and ask them if they could use some toiletries from hotels and cruiselines. You will get a resounding "ABSOLUTELY". :) gg

[dakrewser]

When I pay $250 a night for a hotel.........I HAVE BOUGHT THAT STUFF. I am not reaching into yours or anyone else's wallet for anything. You are assuming that everyone on this board is just taking unused toiletries and donating them to groups and that is their contribution to society. You have no way of knowing what so many of us do yearly for a lot of groups and organizations and private individuals, both locally, statewide, and nationally. Heh, if you don't want to do this, don't.......but if you want to know if it is appreciated......pick up the phone and call some of your local shelters and ask them if they could use some toiletries from hotels and cruiselines. You will get a resounding "ABSOLUTELY". :) gg

Not only are you paying for it, though, but everyone who stays at that hotel is - or do you see a seperate line item for "toiletries used"? The room rate is calculated on the base cost for the room - which include the number of "little bottles" that have to be supplied annually. If you take them every day, then that annual cost is much higher than if they were only replaced every third or fourth day. Which translates into a higher cost for the room. Which means everyone who stays in that room pays a bit more, and contributes (without their knowledge) to your favorite charity. I'd much prefer to actually choose which charity I contribute to - and do so, directly.

This reminds me of those well publicized campaigns by consumer goods vendors who say something like "part of the proceeds directly benefit <hot-cause-of-the-moment> charity!" Well, yeah - they raise the price a dime, donate 8 cents to charity - and take a big tax deduction (as well as reap lots of good publicity). You've probably seen the pink cans of Campbell's soup in grocery stores recently. As a story in Advertising Age reported: "Breast Cancer Awareness Strategy Increases Sales of Campbell's Soup". Their profits increased tremendously. Was the charity happy? Of course, But what, actually, did Campbell's do? They took money from my pocket and gave it to charity (after deducting a bit for 'expenses'.) I'd much rather (and do) take the money from my pocket and give all of it to the charity.

And of course the charities appreciate it - they appreciate anything you give them.

[WillieF]

Not a new idea to me.

For years I was in the travel business and have always donated all the soaps, t'paste, brushes, shampoos, combs etc. etc.etc. to local shelters. The agencey's clients, mostly business travelers, were encouraged to do the same - almost all did - there was usually a full garbage bag delivered locally every month.

Most certainly it's not stealing!

[u4ea]

It is NOT stealing. The toiletries are given to me (well, actually paid for with my room) for my use. How I use them is MY business. If someone were to take towels, spare rolls of tp, ashtrays.... that IS stealing.

So, taking the soap is ok, but not the tp. OMG :eek:
The reality is, just ask the hotel manager what you can take and the moral dilemma is over.

And you think this is driving up fares? I have new for you, cruise ships are NOT the models of efficiency. Where do you think those buffets go when they close? The crew doesn't eat it. It all gets tossed.
I do agree with you Dave on the cheap part though in principal. I mean if your of means and am going to burn gas to get to the shelter to give, at least make it worth the trip.
Mark….

[pms4104]

I thought all our 3-oz things had to fit into one quart-sized Ziploc bag....
Indeed, the sky is not the limit ... everything in one ziploc, one bag per passenger.

[SakeDad]

Indeed, the sky is not the limit ... everything in one ziploc, one bag per passenger.
This applies to carry-on but you may CHECK as much as you like....up to 50 pounds per bag:D

[PDAZ]

:cool: Kind of with Shipmix and Dakrewser on this one...

Seems a bit cheeky! The intentions are great, but I'm pretty sure the toiletries are placed in our rooms for a different reason. I know they're a consumable, but so are the toilet paper and the tissues -- are you taking those too?

If the hotel/cruise line wants to donate their toiletries, that's one thing. If I want to make a donation, I'll purchase the items myself instead of taking them from the hotel/ship -- I honestly don't see how this isn't stealing.

[cp556]

OK, so here's my take:
If I use the toiletries, the steward replaces them as needed.
If I DO NOT use the toiletries, I leave them undisturbed and take them home at the end of my stay. What I do with them then is my decision.
JMHO

[seaisme]

yes, have done so for years. donate to a Woman's shelter. We're annual passholders at Disney and stay on property frequently. The "Mickey" soaps and shampoos are especially appreciated by the children at the shelter.

And the ladies at work have a "Christmas project" for the shelter as well. Generally, when a woman leaves a violent household, she doesn't take much with her, if anything. When I asked the shelter director what items do they need, she said "UNDERWEAR". So the women I work with get together each December, have a nice little shopping outing, buy scads of bras and panties in all sizes, have lunch, and then the shelter director picks up the donation the following week.

Glad to hear that so many of you support so many worthy causes. Just goes to prove, cruising folks are just so darn NICE!

[cruznon]

After all that's been said here, I STILL think it's a great idea and plan to pass along the idea to others.

[Jade13]

I too have always collected the toiletries from hotels, then when I got home, donated them to the women's shelter for victims of domestic violence.

I think that hotels do not regard this as "stealing." Since the bottles and wrapping have either the hotel logo or the product brand name, it's free advertising, and it makes the hotel and the product manufacturer look generous.

It definately is not considered stealing after you have paid $150-$500 plus for the room.

[defaultet]

This thread is getting kind of ridiculous. I don't see what's wrong with bringing your own toiletries and then taking the ones provided by the hotel or the cruise ship.

Picture it this way. If you didn't bring your own toiletries, you would surely use the ones provided, right? Most people are not going to go 7-10 days (god forbid a WORLD CRUISE!) without taking a shower with soap, brushing their teeth, etc.

By bringing your own supplies you are essentially relieving the cruise line/hotel of the responsibility of providing these items. You are not obliged to give them back their sample-size toiletries just because you decided to provide your own supplies. Your hotel/cruise stay includes the toiletries, and it is assumed that you use all or most of your toiletries every day (provided you don't bring your own)

It'd be the same difference as if you're a Mariner and you get the little ceramic tile. You paid for that tile in your cruise price. You can give it back if you want to (and it would theoretically help the cruise line keep costs down). I'm sure they'd appreciate it.

If anyone has the slightest doubt if this is ethical, I'd ask the front desk staff or even the manager. I'm pretty sure you're just going to get blank stares. They buy all this stuff in bulk. I'd be surprised if the total came to more to more than $1 a day for all the toiletries.

How much does it cost the hotel/cruise line to clean your room, launder your towels, have the room steward make towel animals, etc? Probably a minimum of $20 a day. So if you want to help the cruise line keep costs down, make your own bed, reuse your towels, request no towel animals, etc. While you're at it, stop ordering multiple entrees at dinner, you're driving everyone's cruise prices up.

The toiletries are always going to be chump change to a hotel or cruise line. For every person that takes the toiletries and gives them to charity, there's someone else who blows $50 on the airport sized booze in the mini-fridge, racks up a $150 phone bill, and eats in the hotel restaurant three times a day at vastly inflated prices (on a company expense account).

I really like this idea, and if I can remember not to be selfish in the future, I'd like to start doing this. Question, I normally donate to places like Goodwill. Does that do as much good, or is it better to donate directly to homeless shelters, etc?

[shipmix]

Wow... guess I should have known this would be some hot topic. Let me add this. ok.. lets replace stealing with another word... "take" fine.. but my points are still these. I do not feel that because you have paid for a room , and or cabin, that it gives you the right to fill your bag with as much soap and or shampoo that you can haul out the door with. I have worked in this field before and I know for sure that hotels are constantly looking at the cost for these items. Why do you think more and more hotel chains have replaced soap and shampoo with dispensers so that people are not just hauling off with it all. It is a big added cost for them. As I said I am all for helping others, but I still find it odd that most people feel it is ok to "take" extra items from a hotel to donate. The hotels do not support this at all I know for sure. Are they going to say something to a guest , no... but this does not mean they are also fine with it as some have said here. They simply put up with it and raise the room rates to adjust to the loss. I mostly have a problem with that attitude of " I have paid money for the room and I can do as I feel fit! It is my right!". If you really want to help then have it come from your heart, your pocket book, and not simply take it from someplace else and to make yourself feel good. As I tried to express before it is one thing if these items were going to be tossed out, but they are not. They are intended for guest to use why they are at the hotel. If you do not agree with this then by all means start taking the toilet paper, ( from lobby toilets as well of course) you paid for that too! Then go around and pick up all the pens, note pads, matches, hangers, etc because the shelters will be more than happy to collect those items as well.

[defaultet]

@shipmix,

I can see sorta see where you're coming from. I'm sure the toiletries do add up and are reflected in hotel costs. That is not the traveler's problem. If the hotels want to stop giving out free toiletries, that's their prerogative.

I guess my point is... if you don't bring your own stuff, you'd be using your room toiletries every day, right? I just don't see what's wrong with keeping stuff that you would've normally used anyway.

Say, if you go into a bowling alley and rent a lane. You don't like any of the balls there so you bring your own. You're not entitled to any sort of refund just because you've brought your own ball. The price of bowling includes use of their balls, but you don't have to use them.

The hotel/cruise room includes a daily set of toiletries. You can not use them but you aren't entitled to any refund. Why not use all of your resources? You're paying for them. The price of a cruise is based on people eating multiple entrees, people drinking too much free champagne at the art auctions, people ordering every other meal from room service.

All these costs are balanced by people buying things at the art auction, people buying gold by the inch, casino profits, etc.

I know the hotel industry in general is going through a rough patch right now. But to blame that on people taking toiletries seems a little myopic to me. Maybe if they didn't charge $4 for bottled water people would start using their restaurants and min-bars, etc. more than they currently do.

[defaultet]

I just want to add that I think it is only acceptable to take the single service toiletries from the room (shampoo, conditioner, etc) that are provided every day from housekeeping.

Most hotels will give you a comb and toothbrush/toothpaste if you ask. I think this would NOT be ethical to take, unless for your own personal use.

Ashtrays, towels, certainly rolls of toilet paper, you should not be taking these things!

What about pens and note pads at fancier hotels? My wife likes to take these, but I wasn't sure if that's okay. What does everyone think?

[WillieF]

OK, so here's my take:
If I use the toiletries, the steward replaces them as needed.
If I DO NOT use the toiletries, I leave them undisturbed and take them home at the end of my stay. What I do with them then is my decision.
JMHO

My HO also!

The 'kleenex' (I grab a few each time I leave the cabin so the box is not long lived) and the TT is not worth bothering about! They're not really portable anyway. I certainly wouldn't pack them!!!!!!!

[hammybee]

I do not feel that because you have paid for a room , and or cabin, that it gives you the right to fill your bag with as much soap and or shampoo that you can haul out the door with.

What with this "all or nothing" thinking message?

No one is talking about filling their bags with as much soap/shampoo as one can haul out the door, let alone the TP, hangers or anything else not nailed down.

It really is as simple as using one's hand soap to shower and saving a bar to take home. In the better hotels, the partially used soap bars, shampoos and lotions are replaced daily, by housekeeping. The cost is factored into the price of the hotel room.

[shipmix]

Hello Defaultet.
I think both sides of course have valid points. I had to laugh at the bowling alley idea because I was instantly thinking that I can perhaps also take a ball next time I go bowling if I bring my own ? But I do not think that was your intention. Let me say this. Your point is well taken and everyone has to do what they feel is right. I still have a problem with people feeling just because they have paid for something it gives the ok to take take take. My example in the previous comment about go for more than soap then! Fine so be it. I will say this however. Cost of these items may appear small but adds up. Do you know American Airlines a few years ago made a choice to not serve black olives on salads on their flights. Sounds cheap ? sounds like nothing ? sure... but by them making this one small change it saved $40,000 daily in food cost. If you look at the sheer nunbers of the larger hotel chains and cruise lines these cost do add up. I did not blame that rates have risen based only on soap and shampoo.. that is crazy of course, but it is a business cost for them. Also... if a hotel has a high mark up on water, mini bar, etc it does not make it then ok to "take" because you feel they rip you off in other areas. This is the same story of a person working in an office and being uspet they feel they do not get paid enough so they "take" pens, paper, make long distance phone calls because #1) the company will not miss it, and #2) if they paid me more I would not do this.
In the end it is all about balance and doing what each of us feels good about. I feel I have said my points at this time.

[DMRick]

The hotels I stay at replace my toletries everyday..so I'm not sure what you are getting at. I know the Disney housekeeping always gets a phone call from me for extras (and they know why), and they are given gladly. This is pretty much the silliest thing I have heard. We are already paying for the toletries they are dumping daily, why not take them with you to help someone out, and keep the dumps free from the filled containers.
Next thing I know, someone will be telling me they go around and pick up the unused paper napkins on the tables in the bars of the cruise trips rather than tossing them.
Hmm..I wonder if AA lowered my airline ticket price, once they started taking away the olives.

PS even the kleenix boxes and notepads get dumped at Disney inbetween guests. I've never gone it and found a partially used box or partially used notepad. They even toss the unused still wrapped plastic cups.

[SDHALFAN]

We are already paying for the toletries they are dumping daily, why not take them with you to help someone out, and keep the dumps free from the filled containers. They even toss the unused still wrapped plastic cups.

This actually makes a lot of sense. If one does not use the toiletries provided (and for which we have most certainly paid - they are part of the hotel rack rate) then the hotels would have to dump them, given the number of "nut cases" loose in the world today.

It would be very easy for some aforementioned nut-case to contaminate them in some way so that the next unfortunate occupant of that room could be harmed. Sounds implausible maybe, but remember the Tylenol horror some years back?

I am thinking, therefore, that the hotels do dump even the unused toiletries just as a matter of public safety. As DMRick says: let's keep them out of the public landfills.

Valerie:)

[joyous]

Not only do I "take" the stuff home, but I donate it to our church with our clergy's approval. Holy smokes!! That means our clergy approve of my "stealing". I think shipmix is full of shipmix. I bring my own and take the small stuff back in packed luggage for the shelters. Do you really think that if we didn't use it our cruise fare would go down? I've got a bridge for sale. joyous

[98Charlie]

Just a note to some who have suggested that we (the ones who use save the provided soaps and shampoos) use our own money to provide the same supplies:

Where has it been said that the toiletry donatations are all that we do? If we donate cash, products and time (DW & I do all three) where is the problem with taking the consumables that are provided on a daily basis by the hotels? On the occasions when I have used the soap/shampoo and left it in the bath it has been replace by housekeeping.

This means that the soap (enough for several showers) was used to clean one body and the shampoo (enough for several shampoos) one head. The rest went into the trash.

Charlie

[sail7seas]

If housekeeping places it in my hotel room for my use, the hotel has given it to me. Once given, it is mine to do with as I wish.

IF I were to take it off a service cart myself, without the approval of a housekeeper/hotel employee, that would be wrong.

What can possibly be wrong with keeping something that is given to me?

[seattleadjuster]

If housekeeping places it in my hotel room for my use, the hotel has given it to me. Once given, it is mine to do with as I wish.

IF I were to take it off a service cart myself, without the approval of a housekeeper/hotel employee, that would be wrong.

What can possibly be wrong with keeping something that is given to me?



Short and to the point. I like it.

Thanks everybody for the other thoughts. I never realized that victims in domestic violence shelters often leave with only the clothes on their back. I hope I'm never homeless to experience firsthand these realities.

[seattleadjuster]

Duplicate post

[serendipity1499]

[quote=sail7seas;10510645]If housekeeping places it in my hotel room for my use, the hotel has given it to me. Once given, it is mine to do with as I wish.

IF I were to take it off a service cart myself, without the approval of a housekeeper/hotel employee, that would be wrong.

What can possibly be wrong with keeping something that is given to me?

/quote]

Agree with you completely Sail...These little things are given to us to do what we want with it...To me this is not stealing! And unless I learn otherwise, believe the idea of giving these little toiletries to charity is wonderful !

Perhaps we could get a Cruise Critic Group participant to pose this question to a HAL Hotel Manager while you are in your meet & greet meeting on board...It would be interesting to see what their answer would be..There would be many people that could vouch for his answer..;)

Just a thought..Betty

[richwmn]

This morning I spoke to a friend who is a manager in the Housekeeping department of the local franchise of a major, mid price, hotel chain.

Any Items that are unopened are left for the next day, and next occupant. So taking the items does increase, although very slightly, their cost of doing business.

On the other hand, any box that the labels are cosmetically damaged are donated by the hotel to local shelters. In addition, they get new sheets on a regular basis, and the old ones (and any similar item) are also donated to shelters.

Not an answer from HAL, but at least from someone in the same situation

Rich