FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Hotel charges that "hide" in plain sight
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Old Mar 22, 2003 | 2:21 pm
  #20  
Steve M
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Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Canarsie:
Usually when I am signing off on the rate whenever I check into a hotel, I notice that in fine print at the bottom, there is an agreement to have a newspaper (usually USAToday) delivered to your room each day. If you wish to refuse delivery of the newspaper, US$.50 will be deducted from the daily room rate.

Ironically, in most hotels there is a stack of newspapers on the counter at the front desk, so if newspaper delivery is indeed refused, you can usually save US$.50 per day and still get your newspaper.
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The somewhat odd policy regarding hotel newspapers may have more to do with the newspaper than with the hotel. If you have the option of refusing the newspaper and having 50 cents deducted from your bill, then the newspaper can count all of the ones that do get delivered as "paid readers" rather than give-aways, even though in fact they may be giving them to the hotel for free in return for supporting the "refuse and credit me 50 cents" procedure. The more paid subscribers a newspaper has, the higher they can charge for advertising.
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