No-shows: Restos plead with clients
Restaurant owners are pleading with patrons who make reservations to call and cancel if they change their plans. No-shows can cost restaurants hundreds per night, and they’re not allowed to take credit card details and charge delinquent customers a cancel fee.
Ephraim 10:11 on 2021-06-15 Permalink
I know that they can’t charge you to make a reservation, because it is seen as no exchange of service. But could they require that you buy a $10 gift certificate to make the reservation. It still retains it’s value if you cancel, so they are getting something in the exchange.
Also, those app reservations are supposed to track and rate those who make reservations. The restaurant can certainly mark you as a no show… shouldn’t they be able to see if you honour your reservations? And finally, why didn’t they call the client back, tell them that they are holding the table for 5 minutes more unless they call to extend…. and then just give it away. Even if it means that the person who walks in and wants it, has to call to reserve it on the phone and then show up… a minute later 🙂
Joey 12:33 on 2021-06-15 Permalink
@Ephraim they can’t give it away on very short notice because there’s little walk-up business (indoor dining is by reservation only, it seems). I guess the only thing restos can do is engage in some public shaming, which I assume they are very reluctant to do.
Ephraim 13:11 on 2021-06-15 Permalink
Well, maybe the gift card thing will work. If you don’t show up, it still has it’s value. But are you going there to pick it up face to face after the no-show?
JoeNotCharles 16:15 on 2021-06-15 Permalink
> I know that they can’t charge you to make a reservation, because it is seen as no exchange of service.
So how is buying a concert ticket in advance legal? You’re still paying for a reserved space in the venue – if that’s a “service” then reserving you a space in a restaurant should be too.
Ephraim 16:39 on 2021-06-15 Permalink
Quebec has some weird laws. Essentially under the law, they aren’t supposed to legally be able to charge you a deposit on a special order… but who’s willing to do a special order without the deposit?
Joey 19:54 on 2021-06-15 Permalink
I think JoeNotCharles is on to something. Restaurants should sell tickets.