A NYC startup, TableXchange, just blew into Chicago and obviously didn't do their research about the Chicago way of doing things straight up. I suppose they didn't learn from Donald Trump's real estate woes. Remember the lessons we were taught about new markets, cultures, etc.? This way of thinking applies to all business, in my opinion. Whatever happened to talking to your potential customer and merchant base first?
The Windy City Wine Guy just sent me a recent article that ran in the Chicago Tribune this week. Let me get this straight. I want to eat at the latest and hottest restaurant in town. I go online and pay $20-$40 to buy someone else's reservation. This person may have up to four reservations at a time..which means they can sell four reservations at one time. In addition to this, I am NOT obligated to call the restaurant and tell them that I decided to CANCEL my reservation if I end up not SELLING it (per TableXchange's site, the person buying the reservation is only' 'asked' to cancel). Ahem.
This means that a reservation made at L20, via tableXchange, will be removed from their site three hours before the reservation time AND if the buyer decided to not partake in either a) dining at L2O or b, sell their spot to someone else, they don't need to call L2O to let those folks know what's going on. There's more. Buyers of reservations are instructed, via tableXchange, on how to stay anonymous and NOT tell the restaurant who you bought your table from.
Take a detailed look at the Tribune's story, along with the comments. A slew of well-known Chicago restaurants, including Alinea, Graham Elliot and Frontera Grill aren't fans of the system. Richard Melman makes a valid point about restaurants in NYC, but then again, this isn't New York.
If I was John Stossel, I'd say 'Give me a break'. Before you all think I'm not a fan of competition, you're wrong. I do think using technology to help diners in a new way is interesting. I do not think that taking control of a restaurant out of the owners hands is a good idea. Maybe it's because I come from a family who owned a diner or maybe it's because I am married to someone who owned a restaurant. Either way,I like the old fashioned way. Either be a restaurant regular or plan ahead to make reservations.
Thoughts? I wonder how the folks at OpenTable feel about this one.
Hey, can someone invent something to pay my way to the front of DMV, grocery store, bank, ladies' bathroom and Jimmy John's? Thanks.
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