Is this stealing?

Not usually. I'm with Julie G on this one. I don't like the soaps or the shampoos (in fact, I bring a small bottle of my own shampoo in my dop kit) and the lotions are either too watery or stink (in my opinion). Once in a while, we'll bring home the little soaps since DonDiego doesn't mind using them, but usually not.

(As for the coffee things, sometimes DonDiego will slip those in our suitcase but I don't know why. The coffee is usually terrible and we don't have the right size machine for those little packets to go into anyway. The coffee things just sit in a drawer in our kitchen. I MUCH prefer DonDiego grinding up the coffee beans every morning for FRESH coffee, any day!)

As to the pens, I don't think even the hotel thinks of that as stealing...they have their name on it so it is a form of advertising that they EXPECT. However, I don't take them anyway. I don't know about your house, but we have so many pens and pencils hanging around already that it's going to take us decades to use them up...especially since we hardly write anymore! Almost everything's on the computer.

Anything more than the shampoo, soap, coffee, lotion, pens would be stealing to my mind, so, no I don't take it. (Not to mention that the places we stay usually have little signs up itemizing the price of each little thing that we would be charged just in case we "enjoyed" them so much that something went into our suitcase)

Hotels place soaps, shampoos, lotions and similar items in hotel rooms with the expectation that they will be either used there or taken away. Such use or removal is not theft.

Pilfering similar items from a housekeeper's cart is theft. So is paying the housekeeper for these items, as they are not his or hers to sell.

I don't think hotels place extra rolls of toilet paper in their rooms with the expectation that guests may take them away. They place them there in case the roll on the holder runs out.

People who "live far from town" don't enjoy an enhanced privilege to steal.

Only MoneyLA would worry about a topic like this.. Who would tip the maid for extra cheap shampoo and soap?

Obviously, Bagiant

rhousedj Im not worried at all, just curious what you guys think. after all, this is the "board" of double bookers. (LOL)

Chilcoot, I like what you wrote.

Regarding the other posts about taking more than youll ever need: I have noticed that at Caesars they have cut back on what they give you for "daily replacements." In the past, I found that each day a complete new set of soaps, shampoos, etc were added to my bathroom, so that I had multiples of the things I did not use such as the lotions. On my most recent trip instead of a complete restocking, only those items that were used were restocked.

its 2011, they are called housekeepers, not maids.

I often take an apple on my way out of my local buffets. I eat it right away as a substitute for brushing my teeth. Would do so in the buffet, except that it takes me a long time to eat an apple, and I hate taking up table space for so long. Besides there are more interesting places to be...doing an escalator count at one joint, or sitting in the sports bar at the other. Have also noticed people taking soft serve ice cream cones out of local buffets. But of course those need to be eaten right away, so again are part of the same meal. (Not sure if these rules apply to Las Vegas buffets though.)

I only take soap and shampoo that I have partially used during my stay. Would take all the soaps and shampoos except that I probably wouldn't have room for them all at home. I have a huge HUGE stash just from what I have taken. Do agree that those items are OK to take though, as they would otherwise be thrown away.

case A: no! HOWEVER, if YOU feel it's wrong in your heart then it's stealing and that's a Sin!


case B: yes! ALL YOU CAN EAT "NOT ALL YOU CAN TAKE."

"How can I know if something is a sin?"

There are two issues involved in this question, the things that the Bible specifically mentions and declares to be sin and those the Bible does not directly address. Scriptural lists of various sins include Proverbs 6:16-19, Galatians 5:19-21, and 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. There can be no doubt that these passages present the activities as sinful, things God does not approve of. Murder, adultery, lying, stealing, etc.—there is no doubt the Bible presents such things as sin. The more difficult issue is in determining what is sinful in areas that the Bible does not directly address. When the Bible does not cover a certain subject, we have some general principles in His Word to guide us.

First, when there is no specific scriptural reference, it is good to ask not whether a certain thing is wrong, but, rather, if it is definitely good. The Bible says, for example, that we are to “make the most of every opportunity” (Colossians 4:5). Our few days here on earth are so short and precious in relation to eternity that we ought never to waste time on selfish things, but to use it only on “what is helpful for building others up according to their needs” (Ephesians 4:29).

A good test is to determine whether we can honestly, in good conscience, ask God to bless and use the particular activity for His own good purposes. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). If there is room for doubt as to whether it pleases God, then it is best to give it up. “Everything that does not come from faith is sin” (Romans 14:23). We need to remember that our bodies, as well as our souls, have been redeemed and belong to God. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). This great truth should have a real bearing on what we do and where we go.

In addition, we must evaluate our actions not only in relation to God, but also in relation to their effect on our family, our friends, and other people in general. Even if a particular thing may not hurt us personally, if it harmfully influences or affects someone else, it is a sin. “It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall....We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves” (Romans 14:21; 15:1).

Finally, remember that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, and nothing else can be allowed to take priority over our conformity to His will. No habit or recreation or ambition can be allowed to have undue control over our lives; only Christ has that authority. “Everything is permissible for me—but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me—but I will not be mastered by anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12). “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17).

Jesus would want us to give our soaps to the needy.