what's the most high-tech mini-bars that you've seen in hotel rooms?
Feb 2, 2016, 2:16 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 370
what's the most high-tech mini-bars that you've seen in hotel rooms?
what's the most high-tech mini-bars that you've seen in hotel rooms?
I just checked into my hotel a couple of hours ago. They have RFID
chips on all sodas/beers/snacks and the mini-bar apparently tracks
them as soon as they are removed.(with immediate billing, so putting
them back doesn't make any difference
)
I just checked into my hotel a couple of hours ago. They have RFID
chips on all sodas/beers/snacks and the mini-bar apparently tracks
them as soon as they are removed.(with immediate billing, so putting
them back doesn't make any difference
)
Feb 2, 2016, 4:37 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: DL Plat; SPG Plat
Posts: 60
What hotel are you at?
I don't particularly like that approach. Sometimes I empty the mini fridge for my own use, then put everything back exactly where it was before I leave.
Or what if I grabbed something out of the fridge and then didn't immediately consume it and later decided I didn't want to consume it at all, so I put it back? Instant billing sounds like it will result in a lot of people calling for refunds.
I don't particularly like that approach. Sometimes I empty the mini fridge for my own use, then put everything back exactly where it was before I leave.
Or what if I grabbed something out of the fridge and then didn't immediately consume it and later decided I didn't want to consume it at all, so I put it back? Instant billing sounds like it will result in a lot of people calling for refunds.
Feb 2, 2016, 5:13 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 370
What hotel are you at?
I don't particularly like that approach. Sometimes I empty the mini fridge for my own use, then put everything back exactly where it was before I leave.
Or what if I grabbed something out of the fridge and then didn't immediately consume it and later decided I didn't want to consume it at all, so I put it back? Instant billing sounds like it will result in a lot of people calling for refunds.
I don't particularly like that approach. Sometimes I empty the mini fridge for my own use, then put everything back exactly where it was before I leave.
Or what if I grabbed something out of the fridge and then didn't immediately consume it and later decided I didn't want to consume it at all, so I put it back? Instant billing sounds like it will result in a lot of people calling for refunds.
out. But I can say that it's in Midtown Manhattan.
The hotel does have pretty large signs clearly visible on the minibar
cautioning guests not to remove any items, unless he/she intends
to consume and pay for it.
I usually don't touch the overpriced stuff in the minibar anyway,
unless I have a hot date or a female prostitute in the room.
Feb 2, 2016, 5:59 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: La Jolla, California
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold, SWA CP
Posts: 1,123
MO NY had this in the minibar. During my last stay, my SO moved some stuff around in the minibar to make room for some chocolates she had bought. The MO automatically ran the bill up to $300 of items that had not been removed and forwarded this information automatically to the credit card company. The cc was promptly frozen. It took me 30 minutes at checkout to straighten the mess out and some amount of time on the phone to unfreeze the cc.
MO NY had other issues and I'll never return.
High Tech minibars, such as the ones at MO NY are disasters. Tracking items in this manner is simply not a task that improves with technology.
MO NY had other issues and I'll never return.
High Tech minibars, such as the ones at MO NY are disasters. Tracking items in this manner is simply not a task that improves with technology.
Feb 2, 2016, 6:05 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 370
MO NY had this in the minibar. During my last stay, my SO moved some stuff around in the minibar to make room for some chocolates she had bought. The MO automatically ran the bill up to $300 of items that had not been removed and forwarded this information automatically to the credit card company. The cc was promptly frozen. It took me 30 minutes at checkout to straighten the mess out and some amount of time on the phone to unfreeze the cc.
was the card issued by AA? (not the airline... Alcoholics Anonymous,
which helps people quit drinking)
Feb 2, 2016, 6:22 pm
#7
Moderator: Information Desk, Women Travelers, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 15,637
Personally, I've charged $4K at a single restaurant and $3K (deposit) for a new car on my Amex without a problem, but had Amex freeze my account when someone used my stolen card number to purchase $105 for Domino's pizza. Credit card companies are really sophisticated about knowing a card holder's purchasing patterns and identifying anomalies.
Feb 2, 2016, 7:29 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 370
I suspect it wasn't the amount of the charge so much as the nature of the charge. If it was out of line with the poster's typical spending habits it wouldn't be uncommon to freeze the card.
Personally, I've charged $4K at a single restaurant and $3K (deposit) for a new car on my Amex without a problem, but had Amex freeze my account when someone used my stolen card number to purchase $105 for Domino's pizza. Credit card companies are really sophisticated about knowing a card holder's purchasing patterns and identifying anomalies.
Personally, I've charged $4K at a single restaurant and $3K (deposit) for a new car on my Amex without a problem, but had Amex freeze my account when someone used my stolen card number to purchase $105 for Domino's pizza. Credit card companies are really sophisticated about knowing a card holder's purchasing patterns and identifying anomalies.
Feb 2, 2016, 11:47 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: It's hot here
Posts: 4,284
what's the most high-tech mini-bars that you've seen in hotel rooms?
I just checked into my hotel a couple of hours ago. They have RFID
chips on all sodas/beers/snacks and the mini-bar apparently tracks
them as soon as they are removed.(with immediate billing, so putting
them back doesn't make any difference )
I just checked into my hotel a couple of hours ago. They have RFID
chips on all sodas/beers/snacks and the mini-bar apparently tracks
them as soon as they are removed.(with immediate billing, so putting
them back doesn't make any difference
)
Feb 3, 2016, 2:53 am
#10
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: SMF
Programs: Hilton Diamond-Marriott Platinum-life
Posts: 1,015
Quote:
I'm still in the hotel, so I won't reveal the location until I'm checked
out. But I can say that it's in Midtown Manhattan.
The hotel does have pretty large signs clearly visible on the minibar
cautioning guests not to remove any items, unless he/she intends
to consume and pay for it.
I usually don't touch the overpriced stuff in the minibar anyway,
unless I have a hot date or a female prostitute in the room.
I'm still in the hotel, so I won't reveal the location until I'm checked
out. But I can say that it's in Midtown Manhattan.
The hotel does have pretty large signs clearly visible on the minibar
cautioning guests not to remove any items, unless he/she intends
to consume and pay for it.
I usually don't touch the overpriced stuff in the minibar anyway,
unless I have a hot date or a female prostitute in the room.
Last edited by mike2200; Feb 3, 2016 at 3:42 am
Feb 3, 2016, 6:55 am
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 370
Feb 4, 2016, 12:34 am
#12
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: BOS
Posts: 314
Most decent hotels will refund any minibar charges without any question because even lower-tech minibars tend to have erroneous charges. If not, that's an easy credit card company dispute.
Feb 4, 2016, 4:53 am
#13
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,900
I've seen this in Vegas - Cosmo, Vdara and Aria - all three feature this stuff. Also they charge $30 'resort fee' daily as well. I would not recommend to stay there.
Feb 5, 2016, 1:54 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: DEN, or so it says...
Programs: UA1K/RCC, Avis CHM, NWA Plat, SPG Plat
Posts: 2,885
I would not appreciate that system.
For starters, I have never consumed anything out of the min-bar at any hotel. Also, I like to use it to keep some stuff cool.
For starters, I have never consumed anything out of the min-bar at any hotel. Also, I like to use it to keep some stuff cool.
Feb 8, 2016, 9:20 pm
#15
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 283
Not the most high tech, but the pressure sensitive bottles of pop and the electronically locked minibar is fairly unusual.
Something else I saw which was pretty neat was the note "The first bottle of water is free. If you touch, drink or move the second bottle on this table, you will be charged 7.00". Again, pressure sensitive.
Chuck
Something else I saw which was pretty neat was the note "The first bottle of water is free. If you touch, drink or move the second bottle on this table, you will be charged 7.00". Again, pressure sensitive.
Chuck
