# Why do they mark up the items in mini bars SO much? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 11, 2014, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-mark-up-the-items-in-mini-bars-so-much/685843 "2014-04-11T01:56:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-mark-up-the-items-in-mini-bars-so-much/685843/41 "2014-04-12T01:27:12Z")
> [@Sarcasmancer](#): > > This, exactly. People who’ve never worked in a hotel probably don’t think along these angles, but one of the metrics that hotels are judged by is the number of customer complaints. The more amenities you offer, the more people complain about the amenities being lacking or imperfect. So the hotel is incentivized to take its ball and go home, as it were. > > (and IMHO this is one of the ways the hotel industry has shot itself in the foot, but that’s a rant for another day) This is very interesting. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-mark-up-the-items-in-mini-bars-so-much/685843/42 "2014-04-12T01:37:55Z")
Foreign guests may also be a factor. It takes a while to get a feel for what is and is not a good deal when you are converting money in your head, and you may have a different reference point for what is expensive. I’ve bought stuff from the mini-bar now and then, usually if I’m traveling for work, would like to unwind with a beer after a long day (or a long flight), would rather not wander an unfamiliar area/country at night and don’t want to be mistaken for a local prostitute at the hotel bar. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-mark-up-the-items-in-mini-bars-so-much/685843/43 "2014-04-12T02:17:27Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > They should have condom dispensers that charge $5 each, for when you just can’t wait… For what I’m paying, the condoms are always gratis. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-mark-up-the-items-in-mini-bars-so-much/685843/44 "2014-04-12T02:52:33Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > They should have condom dispensers that charge $5 each, for when you just can’t wait… > [@silenus](#): > > They do, sorta. > > At least at Palazzo and Wynn Las Vegas there is a “Pleasure Pack” in the mini-bar. It has massage oil, condoms and a few other items to enhance your pick-up experience. > [@leahcim](#): > > Where I stayed, the term was “Intimacy Kit”. > [@Superhal](#): > > For what I’m paying, the condoms are always gratis. Over here, you’ve just got the little bellhop/room-service boy asking if you need a condom. Or asking if you need a girl if you appear to be alone. (Like that one time in Loei province up by Laos, when the kid delivering my beer asked me if I needed a girl, and I declined, mentioning that the wife was in the bathroom. Or in China, where it’s common for male guests to receive telephone calls out of the blue from “masseuses” looking for customers.) ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-mark-up-the-items-in-mini-bars-so-much/685843/45 "2014-04-12T15:11:35Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > I hope I’d figure it out when I opened up my Intimacy Kit, but what’s a “vibrating couples ring?” I’m guessing it’s one of those stretchy rubber rings the guy puts on his penis and it has a vibrating nub that stimulates the clitoris during intercourse. Not really much for the guy but value-added for the lady. The ring itself isn’t one of those ejaculate-preventing cock rings but rather just something to put the vibrator bit in place. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-mark-up-the-items-in-mini-bars-so-much/685843/46 "2014-04-12T15:21:24Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > For what I’m paying, the condoms are always gratis. 🙂 I read this as a joke about hookers, not hotel prices. > [@Jophiel](#): > > … The ring itself isn’t one of those ejaculate-preventing cock rings but rather just something to put the vibrator bit in place. This is definitely a hijack but my understanding was that the rings help prevent blood back flow, ie, help keep you hard. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-mark-up-the-items-in-mini-bars-so-much/685843/47 "2014-04-12T15:30:31Z")
We’ve gone from: > [@Anamorphic](#): > > I’m sitting here in my room in the Mandalay Bay, getting ready to shower and get dressed and go out for the night. I am a bit parched. I usually don’t even bother glancing at the mini bar, but the tap water here isn’t very good, and I was eyeing the bottle of Fiji water sitting there. Then I looked at the price list… $8 for a smallish bottle. > > I know that the obvious answer is, “well, they mark it up that much because people pay it. And a lot of people are on business expense accounts, so they don’t care.”. But, wouldn’t it make sense to mark the items up SOMEWHAT, so more people buy them? If the bottle of water had been, say, $4, I just might have grabbed it. That’s still a pretty hefty markup for an item that usually goes for around $2, and profit for the hotel. But at that price, I wouldn’t even think about it. Likewise with the small bag of $13 cashews. I know I’m not alone on that. > > I know outrageous mini bar prices are kind of a given a bit of a joke to most people, but really, wouldn’t it make sense for the properties to go with a smaller, but still sizable markup, rather than an absolutely outrageous one, and get more volume? > > Or am I underestimating the amount of people who will pay $11 for a small bag of snack mix? to: > [@Jophiel](#): > > I’m guessing it’s one of those stretchy rubber rings the guy puts on his penis and it has a vibrating nub that stimulates the clitoris during intercourse. Not really much for the guy but value-added for the lady. The ring itself isn’t one of those ejaculate-preventing cock rings but rather just something to put the vibrator bit in place. Is this one of the weirdest tangents a thread’s gone off on? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-mark-up-the-items-in-mini-bars-so-much/685843/48 "2014-04-12T15:34:15Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > This is definitely a hijack but my understanding was that the rings help prevent blood back flow, ie, help keep you hard. Could be. Cock rings are out of my usual bailiwick. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-mark-up-the-items-in-mini-bars-so-much/685843/49 "2014-04-12T20:09:18Z")
I wonder if the prices are partly driven by the fact that hotels don’t make much money on phone calls any more. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-mark-up-the-items-in-mini-bars-so-much/685843/50 "2014-04-14T04:25:42Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > I’ve bought stuff from the mini-bar now and then, usually if I’m traveling for work, would like to unwind with a beer after a long day (or a long flight), would rather not wander an unfamiliar area/country at night and don’t want to be mistaken for a local prostitute at the hotel bar. Why do you think people would mistake you for a local prostitute? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-mark-up-the-items-in-mini-bars-so-much/685843/51 "2014-04-14T04:34:07Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > Why do you think people would mistake you for a local prostitute? I don’t know what country she has in mind, but in some hotels in Panama (and other countries I’ve been too) single women hanging out in the bar are frequently (in some hotels almost invariably) prostitutes. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-mark-up-the-items-in-mini-bars-so-much/685843/52 "2014-04-14T06:08:48Z")
> [@randompattern](#): > > It’s Vegas baby! > People are on vacation and splurging…not to mention drinking and picking these drinks up without a second thought of the price. > At least not until they get their bill at checkout. It used to be said that _everything_ but the gaming tables was a loss leader in Vegas. Inexpensive rooms, drinks, and food were all abundantly present in order to entice more visitors into the casinos. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-mark-up-the-items-in-mini-bars-so-much/685843/53 "2014-04-14T12:06:24Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > Why do you think people would mistake you for a local prostitute? Because it’s happened. I look vaguely Eastern European, and the entrepreneurial spirit of Russia has pervaded illicit industries around the globe. Russian working women are often among the high class escorts that are an expected feature of hotel bars in many areas, and a young woman in business dress slowly nursing a drink is often perceived as soliciting business. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-mark-up-the-items-in-mini-bars-so-much/685843/54 "2014-04-14T16:53:20Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > Because it’s happened. I look vaguely Eastern European, and the entrepreneurial spirit of Russia has pervaded illicit industries around the globe. Russian working women are often among the high class escorts that are an expected feature of hotel bars in many areas, and a young woman in business dress slowly nursing a drink is often perceived as soliciting business. Huh. You must travel in very different parts of the world than I do. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-mark-up-the-items-in-mini-bars-so-much/685843/55 "2014-04-14T17:17:27Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > Huh. You must travel in very different parts of the world than I do. There were many Eastern European hostesses and prostitutes in Tokyo. I don’t know if I ever saw a Russian / Eastern European woman in a bar in Tokyo who wasn’t a professional. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-mark-up-the-items-in-mini-bars-so-much/685843/56 "2014-04-14T17:26:09Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > Huh. You must travel in very different parts of the world than I do. Probably. But my experience is like **even sven** ’s. (Well, I’m a male, but I’m talking about that association.)Single woman hanging out in a hotel bar = possible prostitute is not all that unusual a connection in my travels. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-mark-up-the-items-in-mini-bars-so-much/685843/57 "2014-04-14T17:26:27Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > Huh. You must travel in very different parts of the world than I do. It’s hardly unknown even in [the](http://forum.virtualtourist.com/Washington_DC-1280-3-3565736/How-Can-I-Tell-Which-American-Women-Arent-Prostitutes.html) [US.](http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g60713-d112328-r141084101-Clift_San_Francisco_Hotel-San_Francisco_California.html) And it’s pretty near standard in much of the developing world. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-mark-up-the-items-in-mini-bars-so-much/685843/58 "2014-04-14T17:28:16Z")
I hear or heard right here on SD that they put these expensive bottles of whatever, to quench your thirst, on little sensors that tell the front desk what to charge you. That way they don’t have to send a person up to the room to check the mini-bar. One person said he just picked it up to look at the bottle and they charged him. Perhaps it has something to do with the hotel learning it’s lessons from the old honor snacks days lol No one is honest … no not even one. ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-mark-up-the-items-in-mini-bars-so-much/685843/59 "2014-04-14T18:26:26Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Probably. But my experience is like **even sven** ’s. (Well, I’m a male, but I’m talking about that association.)Single woman hanging out in a hotel bar = possible prostitute is not all that unusual a connection in my travels. That’s so funny. I used to travel for work, and I loved eating in the various hotel bars. It never once occurred to me that someone might mistake me for a prostitute. Of course, I usually ordered food and had my nose in a book as well, so maybe that helped… ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-mark-up-the-items-in-mini-bars-so-much/685843/60 "2014-04-14T21:34:50Z")
Hey, phasers on stun everyone, I’m not doubting her. Goodness, I’ve had plenty of propositions myself after all; being propositioned in a hotel seems plausible. It’s just odd that I’ve been on more than a thousand work trips in 14 different countries over my career of 2+ decades and I’ve not encountered such. Then again I do tend to stay in rather expensive places. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-mark-up-the-items-in-mini-bars-so-much/685843.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-mark-up-the-items-in-mini-bars-so-much/685843.md?page=4)