Tried calling a new Indian place in town and they wanted a credit card to book a reservation. Didn’t end up going.
Comment on Google Hijacks Restaurants Booking System Leading To No Reservations Being Available.
BombOmOm@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
While that is shit, if I call a restaurant to make a reservation and they just tell me to go to their website, I’m probably going elsewhere anyway.
Why even have a phone number if it is useless?
slumberlust@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
placatedmayhem@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Not sure about your situation specifically, but restaurants requiring a credit card during reservation is on the rise to combat reservation scalping and the no-shows that res scalping causes.
psoul@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
That is a thing? Restaurant reservation scalping ? Who is the market for that? I can buy restaurant reservations on eBay now?
gramie@lemmy.ca 2 weeks ago
Definitely a thing for days like Valentine’s.
c10l@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
I, on the other hand, prefer to do it online and wouldn’t mind this. Horses for courses.
Nindelofocho@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
The restaurant seems to think so if it just plays an automated message to book a reservation online
c10l@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Yeah possibly. The article doesn’t specify it but I’ve seen systems that would give you the automated message but still put you through if you stayed on the line.
Zorque@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
A publicly shared phone number for the restaurant? Pretty much. It has limited uses for checking hours and holidays and such, but the primary use is going to be checking availability to eat at the restaurant. If that’s not something you can get over the phone, 99% of the reason to have a public facing phone number is negated.
MichaelScotch@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
At a restaurant? Uh yeah.