hotels now installing electric chips in towels & bathrobes to stop from stealing
@interactivelearning (451)
United States
July 29, 2011 2:31pm CST
Since Hotels and Motels have been around there are always people who will steal towels and or bathrobes. Personally I don`t know why you would want to steal towels from a hotel considering ALL the people who have used them and what not, But apparently it happens All the time which really is no surprise to anyone.
In order to save money and to get people to stop stealing, Some Hotels have begun to install small electronic chip devices on there towels, linens and Bathrobes.
The whole thing sounds weird to me, I still don`t see how this would work. Its too early to tell if this will actually work or not, But if the Hotels are able to save money and pass the savings down to the travelers who are staying at the Hotels then I think its a great idea.
How Do You Guys and Gals Feel About This, In a way I find the entire thing creepy.
3 people like this
10 responses
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
30 Jul 11
This is about RFID technology,I was reading an article on this earlier this week..it seems the tag devices are now small and cheap enough they could be cost effective enough to use them in this way..they function the same way as the product tags on DVD's and other items in supermarkets that set off alarms as you go out the door when they've not been deactivated..I haven't seen or experienced one of these yet,but apparently they're not that easy to find..so someone stealing a garment or towel would be doing damage to try and bypass the devices..though it's been said,there's also already been teething problems with the equipment!
@interactivelearning (451)
• United States
30 Jul 11
Sounds like its a heck easier to just go out and buy brand new towels then go through all this, Not all Hotels are doing this only some so far but I can see in the future if this is a success more and more hotels will do so.
@naija4real (1291)
•
30 Jul 11
This technology is a great idea. I think it will help to protect the hotel facilities. Some guest who are supposed to conduct themselves in a good manner tend to steal little things such as towel,soap,cream,tissue papers,flowers,tv remote and ac remote and even the holy book of God - the bible and the koran.
They do this out of their instinct thinking that they will certainly not get noticed. But thanks to the new itech that is meant to safeguard hotel properties at least hotel properties will not be stolen anymore.
@interactivelearning (451)
• United States
30 Jul 11
I agree, I mean out of all the things to take, Not to mention those towels have been used hundreds and hundreds of times.
I don't know about you guys but when I stay at a hotel, I will put a towel or two on the bathroom floor so when I get out of the shower I don`t have to walk bare footed on the bathroom floor.
Some people will literally steal anything, like I said if this technique of the hotel is successful and they are able to lower hotel prices (put the savings on the customers) I am all for it.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
29 Jul 11
Imagine how many chips they'd need to install, I think it'd be more affordable to just buy new towels. I think I'd be weary to use the towel, and would the chip survive water anyway?
1 person likes this
@interactivelearning (451)
• United States
30 Jul 11
You would be super surprised to see how many people actually go ahead and steal towels and other stuff from hotels. Even high rollers who get there rooms completely comped for free do this.
I remember the scene in Casino, Which is based on a true story where an oriental High Roller Flys in, Makes 2 million bucks playing black jack and comes back to the room and they take everything from the towels, to the little shampoo bottles.
This is more common then people realize I think, and I am sure it costs the Hotel an arm and a leg to replace all the stolen towels otherwise they wouldnt be doing this.
@lampar (7584)
• United States
29 Jul 11
Placing electronic chip inside a towel, no kidding , man!!! Isn't it the chip cost more than the cheap towel provided by those hotels and motels, it doesn't seem like it make sound business decision. Who in the right mind want to steal hotel towel after it had been used so many time by hotel guests before you, it is just weird...and creepy too, wihtout knowing what sort of sound will come out from those chip implanted towels....
@mellaw (84)
• Philippines
30 Jul 11
Yeah it's sound funny, but I think the hotels and motels owner only wanted to know who among their guest are dishonest wanted to steal the towels maybe some people doing that to make it souvenir or maybe they think that's included in the payment lol.I staying some hotels last year but I never , never try to bring their towel only soap or toothbrush for souvenir.lol next time if I staying in a hotel I try to check the chip..
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71673)
• United States
30 Jul 11
I think its sad that people steal things at all! I feel bad for the owners of the hotels having to take a loss all the time replacing towels that people are stealing. I think they should just stop supplying bath robes to wear as they really arent that necessary and they wouldnt have to replace them all the time when they are stolen. I knew a girl in school about 10 years ago that told us that her sister had stayed at a hotel and had stolen a bath robe and a week or so later they sent her a bill for it.
@TheCatLady (4691)
• Israel
25 Dec 11
A lot of hotels know people like their robes and towels and have a sign behind the door saying that they will sell it to the customer. The customer can either take the one from the room and get charged or go and get a new one from the front desk.
@fabsprecious (1565)
• United States
10 Aug 11
Wow, has it actually gotten that ridiculously.
Personally I would think that installing these chips would actually be more expensive in the long run. How much could it cost the hotel to replinish their towels, maybe $2 or $3 dollars a towel and probably even less than that depending on the size of the actual towel.
I personally wouldn't want a towel from the hotel, like you said it's creepy and who knows how many other people have used them. I try to at times to take my own towels especially since I have children and I don't know what have been done with the towels in the hotel, so I always try to carry at least one for them. It's not that I a plastic, is just I always like to take precautions, my children are still relatively small.
• Canada
30 Jul 11
I think it makes sense, especially if towel thievery really is that much of a problem. They will lose a lot less money, so why not? I don't think it's creepy, as long as there aren't spycams in there, lol.
