sf wrote:
>
> On Sat, 13 Sep 2014 21:49:31 +0300, Opinicus
> > wrote:
>
> > A new meaning has been added to "Ticket Restaurant".
> >
> > "Should people pay for not turning up to a restaurant?
> >
> > "No-shows for reservations are an age-old problem for restaurants. But
> > one restaurateur thinks he has cracked the problem by replacing
> > bookings with paid-for tickets, and he's bringing the system to the
> > UK."
> >
> > http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-29132172
>
> No restaurant with that kind of system would get my business and I am
> not part of the no-show problem. They need to figure out something
> else, like holding the table for 10 minutes and seating walk-in
> customers if the reservation holder appears any later without calling
> the restaurant. In this day and age of cell phones everywhere,
> barring sudden hospitalization en route to dinner, there's no excuse
> for not calling that isn't lame.
>

My doctor and optometrist are using automated appointment management
tools. They send text message reminders and when it's like an hour out
from the appointment time send another text message reminder which
allows you to reply and confirm you are still coming. This seems to work
pretty well, and doesn't relay on someone thinking to call.