Jaffe Juice let’s rip:

The $14 apple (you’ve all been there) refers to the single apple you
order from room service that comes bundled with state tax, city tax,
hotel tax, tax tax, monopoly tax, airport tax, tray charges (sheesh, at
least let me keep the tray) and of course the 23% gratuity for the
exemplary and flawless transfer of one (1) tray from them to you
without stepping on a land mine, landing in a hazard or spilling a drop
of the sealed water in the process.

This is one of those cases where companies need to use a bit of
subjectivity and good judgement. How hard is it to deliver an apple
with a smile and "no charge" for example? But if we do that for one person, we’d have to do that for everyone! SO DAMN WHAT!

I stay in hotels often and although such predatory pricing is ubiquitous I still get annoyed about it. People don’t question it because they don’t want to be seen as cheap or because they are on expenses. Those who aren’t just walk out of the hotel and find (much) cheaper alternatives for eat and drink. Fair enough. But the fact that it is part of a profit making arrangement between hotel managers and expense account guards – as a rather abrupt commenter points out – doesn’t make it acceptable. As long as service has any meaning in hotels, predatory pricing will run contrary to that. And in any case, making money on something that actually doesn’t bring value (hotel room service) strikes me as a very good case for business model disruption.

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