# Not that I'm complaining, but why do hotels . . . **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 20, 2000, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-that-im-complaining-but-why-do-hotels/41930 "2000-11-20T04:25:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-that-im-complaining-but-why-do-hotels/41930/1 "2000-11-20T04:25:22Z")
Charge you one rate ($45.00) but list some ungodly higher rate on the little card on the back of the door ($149.00) in your room? Am I missing something? Tripler Just one of the nuances I noted on my trip. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-that-im-complaining-but-why-do-hotels/41930/2 "2000-11-20T04:30:29Z")
To make you think you got a good deal, would be my guess. ---
**Author:** ![Whammo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8dc957/32.png) [@Whammo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whammo)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-that-im-complaining-but-why-do-hotels/41930/3 "2000-11-20T04:31:40Z")
…and why do they advertise an extreamly low price in permanent neon lights ($29.95/night single!!) but then claim the price is REALLY $49.95 when your checking in because of taxes and corporate pricing and special promotionblaa blaa blaa blaa blaa… …and then the back of the door thing too… Maybe maximum price they can charge??? ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-that-im-complaining-but-why-do-hotels/41930/4 "2000-11-20T05:58:54Z")
The card has a bunch of legal crap on it. Hotels were once highly deregulated, and in many cases, firetraps and clip joints. Now they are regulated, and are required to inform guests certain details of the room, such as checkout and checkin times. The card usually also lists the maximum price the hotel can legally charge for the room, based on different occupancies. ---
**Author:** ![SuperNelson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@SuperNelson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuperNelson)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-that-im-complaining-but-why-do-hotels/41930/5 "2000-11-20T06:13:54Z")
I’m not certain, but I believe it has to do with innkeeper’s laws. I think that most states have traveller’s rights laws that require that a room’s rate be posted prominently in each room. However, supply and demand fluctuate greatly (I’ve been told there’s nothing as perishable as a hotel room - if it goes vacant, there’s no way to sell that room twice the next night to make up for it). So the room rates fluctuate accordingly. It’s not feasable to re-post the room rates each time they change, so the hotels start with a basic rate (referred to as the “rack” rate). This is kind of like the sticker price on a car in the dealer’s lot. By law, since they’ve posted this rate, they can’t charge you any more. However, there’s nothing that says they can’t charge you less – which they will, if they feel they can’t get the full rate. In short, the rate posted inside the door is the highest possible, peak season, no-room-at-the-inn-rate. It’s the highest possible rate the owners forsee ever charging for the room under any circumstances, because once they’ve posted that rate, they are committed to go no higher. This is just my best recollection. However, next time you’re in a hotel room, read the whole card. It’s explained in the fine print (yes, I was that bored one night, but it’s been a very long time – these days they have pay per view). ---
**Author:** ![zyzzyva](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@zyzzyva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zyzzyva)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-that-im-complaining-but-why-do-hotels/41930/6 "2000-11-20T19:01:51Z")
The rate on the door is the maximum rate that can be charged for that room, as determined (i think) by law. Since hotel rooms fall into the law of supply and demand, you’re not likely to ever see this price charged for real unless there happens to be an Olympics or an electoral recount going on in town.