Hyatt Hotels are using algorithmic Rest “smoking detectors” • Hacker News Board

Re: Hyatt Hotels are using algorithmic Rest “smoking detectors”

#421

Post by sitharus » Sat, Jul 19, 2025, 11:09 PM UTC

recipe19 wrote: post #259

It reminds me of a hotel I stayed at that had a stocked mini-fridge. Removing any item from the fridge resulted in an automatic, silent charge. Putting it back did not remove the charge. So if you simply took something out to check it in, or if you wanted to chill your own beverage, they counted that as consuming the item. They removed the charges if you checked the bill and objected at checkout. But how many people…

Wow that’s wild. I never touch minibars anyway, but I have been known to look at the contents! Guess I won’t now.

Though here in New Zealand most hotels I’ve gone to over the past couple of years don’t even stock the minibar anymore, it’s just for milk and optional extras you book with the room.

Re: Hyatt Hotels are using algorithmic Rest “smoking detectors”

#422

Post by scoofy » Sat, Jul 19, 2025, 11:12 PM UTC

pksebben wrote: post #406

scoofy wrote: post #392

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh, god, this tired nonsense. Yes, obviously, it's ruled by the people. We have parties, we vote, anyone can run for office. Anyone can vote third party, and they occasionally even win. That your neighbors don't share your views does not make it undemocratic. It's not perfect, but it's democratic. It's like people can no longer imagine living under a totalitarian state... where you don't even get a vote, and if you d…

So we ought to be thankful we're not in NK. Got it. Glad your bar is so high. It's apparent that you're decided but other folks will read this so let's break it down barney style. The 'third parties' argument is a painful joke, statistically speaking [0 1 2]. You can make all sorts of arguments as to why but the fact is that without support from D or R you can go get fucked. This raises the question - are there only…

Fundraising doesn't win elections except in extremely low information elections... which is just a shortcoming of the electorate. It's statistically probable that more popular candidates raise more money. If money won elections, Hillary Clinton would have won twice.

https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/261954

Re: Hyatt Hotels are using algorithmic Rest “smoking detectors”

#423

Post by josephcsible » Sat, Jul 19, 2025, 11:27 PM UTC

tedivm wrote: post #380

loloquwowndueo wrote: post #347

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are chargebacks useless now since they usually lead to being banned from that provider/vendor? Do a chargeback for a scammy App Store app, get your 1k smartphone bricked and your emails locked out?

It's always been the case that if you refuse to pay a bill the other party can refuse to do service with you.

Winning a chargeback isn't just refusing to pay a bill. A neutral third party confirmed you were in the right and the merchant was in the wrong, so it's unfair for the merchant to punish you for them.

Re: Hyatt Hotels are using algorithmic Rest “smoking detectors”

#424

Post by josephcsible » Sat, Jul 19, 2025, 11:28 PM UTC

grishka wrote: post #216

hansvm wrote: post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The big problem is the power imbalance. There's a reason they start your stay by putting a hold on a credit card. And even if you could charge them, they can afford a legal battle better than you.

Do hotels in the US not allow you to pay with cash any more? What if you don't have an internationally accepted card?

Wouldn't cash be worse? With a credit card, you might be able to get your deposit back in a chargeback, but with cash, your deposit is definitely gone.

Re: Hyatt Hotels are using algorithmic Rest “smoking detectors”

#425

Post by cheese_van » Sat, Jul 19, 2025, 11:30 PM UTC

dreamcompiler wrote: post #247

grishka wrote: post #216

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do hotels in the US not allow you to pay with cash any more? What if you don't have an internationally accepted card?

30 years ago it was possible to check into a good US hotel with cash under an assumed name. That is pretty much impossible now; they want to see your ID and a credit card. It might still be possible to pay cash in fleabag hotels; I don't know.

A few more than 30 years ago it was possible to buy plane tickets from the classified pages from people who, for whatever reason, couldn't take the flight. And of course the ticket was in their name, but no one cared. It was treated by the airlines like a purchased token. You had the token, you flew.

Re: Hyatt Hotels are using algorithmic Rest “smoking detectors”

#426

Post by ruraljuror » Sat, Jul 19, 2025, 11:31 PM UTC

maccard wrote: post #395

seszett wrote: post #393

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> France as I discovered does this at the gas stations where they put $200 or so authorizations on your card for absolutely no good reason. It's the same here but I'm not sure how it could work another way? They have to make sure you have the money to pay for the fuel you're pumping, it doesn't seem weird to me. I can't imagine a pump that allows you to pump as you wish and then just begs you to pay. That works for t…

That’s how it works if I choose “pay at cashier” - if I walk up and don’t have the money the fuel is already in my car.

Where? In the U.S.? Whenever I have paid for gas with cash or from the cashier, I pay for it in advance, “Give me $10 of regular unleaded!”

Re: Hyatt Hotels are using algorithmic Rest “smoking detectors”

#427

Post by wlonkly » Sat, Jul 19, 2025, 11:39 PM UTC

Based on the thread and the replies to the thread, it sounds like this is a particular (franchised) hotel, and there are other (franchised) hotels in other brands that are using the same revenue stream. So boycotting Hyatt will not let you avoid ending up at a hotel with these things.

Re: Hyatt Hotels are using algorithmic Rest “smoking detectors”

#428

Post by frosted-flakes » Sat, Jul 19, 2025, 11:42 PM UTC

ruraljuror wrote: post #426

maccard wrote: post #395

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That’s how it works if I choose “pay at cashier” - if I walk up and don’t have the money the fuel is already in my car.

Where? In the U.S.? Whenever I have paid for gas with cash or from the cashier, I pay for it in advance, “Give me $10 of regular unleaded!”

Many service stations in Canada still operate this way.

Re: Hyatt Hotels are using algorithmic Rest “smoking detectors”

#429

Post by xcrunner529 » Sat, Jul 19, 2025, 11:48 PM UTC

dboreham wrote: post #408

scoofy wrote: post #392

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh, god, this tired nonsense. Yes, obviously, it's ruled by the people. We have parties, we vote, anyone can run for office. Anyone can vote third party, and they occasionally even win. That your neighbors don't share your views does not make it undemocratic. It's not perfect, but it's democratic. It's like people can no longer imagine living under a totalitarian state... where you don't even get a vote, and if you d…

> totalitarian state... where you don't even get a vote Quick note that totalitarian states often have elections in which the population is allowed to vote.

Yea Russia does and of course Putin always wins by a large amount…

Re: Hyatt Hotels are using algorithmic Rest “smoking detectors”

#430

Post by xcrunner529 » Sat, Jul 19, 2025, 11:49 PM UTC

gblargg wrote: post #352

delusional wrote: post #331

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Assuming you live in a democracy (we'll see if America still counts in 3 years), elect a better one.

[flagged]

It’s not a direct democracy. It’s a rep democracy or a republic. Idk why you fools still think this is some gotcha. It just makes you look silly. The quote works just as well with republic it.