"Pete C." wrote:
>sf wrote:
>>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.
Can't compare MD appointments to restaurant reservations... MDs have
all your true contact info including your insurance info. Most MDs
post a notice of like a $25 fee for no shows, don't pay the fee no
more appointments, no show twice and you won't get another appointment
ever... plenty of people needing to see doctors, they don't need your
business. Restaurants don't know most patrons from a hole in the
ground, if you don't show within ten minutes *prior* of your time they
will give your table to someone else, decent restaurants that do
reservations don't need your business, then if you show up late you
can wait a long time or go elsewhere... no one *needs* to go to a
restaurant the same as they *need* to be seen by a doctor. If you're
hungry there's always some drive-thru... no reservation needed... if
you're late for your appointment at Sloan Kettering because you need
radiation for prostate cancer WTF will you go, to Chick Filet?