A few threads going on right now discussing hotel shampoo bottles, ketchup packets and such.
I Figured I’d try to make a poll on the subject.
Anything that has no direct cost to you can be included. I think of napkins and condiments but things like free water bottles at a sporting event or redbull give aways are fair game.
I try to take as little as I needed. Usually my predictions are pretty good but sometimes I’ll regret my decision when I have a handful of items but can’t open my car door because I refused a free bag or I’ll finish my lunch and have to go back into the sub shop because I didn’t take enough napkins to clean my hands.
I get odd looks from my friends at restaurants with free refills when I request a half glass to finish off the meal. Where most would just request a refill and leave a half glass on the table. I’m also frustrating to drive fast food employees when I ask for a packet of ketchup they automatically give me a handful. I take the extra and put it back on the counter.
I really don’t like to be personally responsible for any waste. There is plenty more I could do to follow the philosophy but I have arbitrary limits I set.
I’m not bothered by the people taking more then they need as long as their intent was to use it there. I am bothered when they do so to add to their cupboards. That puts me in an odd position where I would rather people be wasteful and through out what the didn’t use then take the extra home.
Yeah my mom used to hoard hotel soaps and at last check she had an entire drawer of them, some from hotels that are no longer in business. If you’re going to swipe something then use it! I’ll take home the bar I’ve already opened and use it to spot treat laundry or something, (and the lotion if it’s a scent I like for my purse,) but I don’t go grabbing everything that’s not nailed down on the way out.
I move pretty often and have given up any packrat tendencies I might otherwise have as a consequence. The idea of taking stuff just to have it because it’s free is anathema to me.
In hotel rooms, I take all the small bottles/soaps offered. I figure they are essentially charged to the room anyway.
I collect them and once or twice a year donate them to “Inn from the Cold”.
A charity to help homeless folks in our city.
These toiletries are one or two-time use-sizes and are so very handy for homeless or less advantaged people.
I do not consider it “stealing” - I have always thought hotels factored this usage/ "keepage"into the room rate.
All of my “freebies” end up in the Salvation Army or, here in Calgary, the Mustard Seed, for folks not so able to afford to buy shampoo, soap, conditioner etc.
I have absolutely no guilty feelings for packing into my bags small bottles of shampoo, tiny bars of soap, disposable razors, toothbrushes or anything else.
I feel I have paid for them with my room-rate and can do as I choose with them.
I choose to donate them to charity.
No thievery considered here.
KB.
I usually take hotel soaps - those always get used at home.
I rarely take hotel shampoo or lotion - I rarely stay at a hotel unless I’m flying, and I usually do carry-on only, so then it’s often too much of a pain to fit it in the baggie with my contact solution. The one exception would be when I did site visits to a particular site at my last job - the hotel there had the most amazing shampoo and lotion - I’ve still got a couple bottles I’m hoarding. It’s Bath and Body Works Aromatherapy in Orange Ginger. I could go to the store and buy it, but it’s an arm and a leg per bottle, and I’m unemployed now.
As far as fast food packets go, there’s only one I take more of than I need. Taco Bell - I use the leftover packets to season chili. Yeah, it’s cheap, but it’s tasty! But ketchup, mustard, soy sauce, etc… those usually end up sitting in the fridge for three (or more) months until the next time I clean it out, so I try to avoid picking them up in the first place.
Usually I take a little more, just in case. I hate getting back to work from a lunch run and finding that they didn’t give me any ketchup, napkins, straws, whatever, so I keep a stash of all that stuff in my desk. If I have a lot stashed away I’ll take less for a while, if the stash is shrinking I’ll take a bit more.
If I’m going home instead of back to work, I don’t care. I’ve got anything I might need in the fridge.
I also keep Taco Bell sauce packets, but that’s because they always dump a ton in the bag whether you ask for them or not.
When eating out, my husband will usually pick up more sweet n low packets than we need for our tea, and I always feel guilty because I’d like to put the unused ones back when we’re done but often they are wet or otherwise “yucked up” from being on the table. Plus it’s kinda gross to think about using someone else’s “used” condiments.
The one thing we do take a lot of is napkins. I tend to USE a lot of napkins when eating, plus I’m a klutz so you never know when I’ll knock over my drink or something. But we always take what’s left of our pile of napkins with us to keep in the car, and will occasionally get more to go if we’ve used more than we expected.
I take what I need, and that’s it. I don’t really have much to say here, except that your last poll option made me laugh. I think I’m going to steal it.
I typically take the upper range of what I think I’ll need. Once in a great while I wish I’d taken more, but very rarely. I keep a small stash of travel-size toiletries, but if that’s pretty topped up I don’t bother with stuff from hotels.
Individually wrapped stuff just seems wasteful to me, so taking more than absolutely necessary seems wrong. But try to give back some catsup packets at a fast food place sometime. They jam in a dozen packets for one serving of fries and when I try to give them back the clerk acts like I’ve injected poison into them in the two seconds they’ve been in the bag.
I find little soaps, tiny shampoo bottles, packets of salt/pepper/ketchup/catsup to be a huge pain in the ass. I have big bottles of ketchup, soy sauce, full sized bars of soap, etc and can’t be bothered to mess with the single use items.
I used to know a woman who went to an upscale restaurant one Sunday a month for their heavily discounted brunch. While dining, she would go to the ladies room and fill her huge purse with tampons that were free for the taking in a basket. They would last her about a month, then she would have brunch again. Disgusting, IMHO.
I have condiments at home so I rarely take or ask for any if I’m getting takeout. I wouldn’t want to use the shampoos provided by the hotels because, let’s face it, I doubt you’re getting much quality. When traveling I usually take smaller bottles of what I normally use. I have sensitive skin and don’t want to get an allergic reaction during a vacation.
Taking extra just seems like you’re asking for an accumulation of junk.
The only thing I take lots of are napkins. I admit I can be a prissy eater sometimes and hate having dirty hands. So I end up wiping my hands 1000x times. But yes, I use them all there.
I take more than I need and then I share it with those that didn’t think in a similar vein.
Why yes, Batman is one of my heros.