No shows at restaurants

Jinty44We haven’t ever not shown up for a booking but I’d be happy with all except no.3 as we don’t drink.
Certainly making a spreadsheet and sharing it around sounds good, providing the details are limited to protect against fraud.
When our choir goes out as a group, we already have to choose in advance and pay a deposit so some people would be used to it.
Jane10 I’ve never heard of that, but it’s an appalling thought.

My mother in law used to miss hospital doctors and other appointments due to memory problems (Early dementia as it turned out) she wasn’t being rude or selfish but just forgot that she had made them or forgot where she had written it down it’s not always bad manners! I missed a hospital appointment when my own child was rushed into hospital and that was prioritised and due to the stress I completely forgot! and there are other similar examples I could give of emergencies and perfectly valid reasons we and others have missed bookings or appointments

This has been a problem for many years but must be so much harder for the restaurants to manage now.

Some friends of ours used to run a lovely successful restaurant which was forced out of business by a rival restaurant owner who did this to them on a regular basis.

He used to make bookings for several tables, often for quite large parties, then none of them would turn up. It went on for ages before they realised it was a deliberate campaign.

They tried all the usual things like taking phone numbers and deposits but gave up their restaurant in the end because they were so disillusioned.
Some very unscrupulous people out there!

It's rude, ignorant and selfish. I do hope he had contact details for these people and bars them from all future bookings.

My hairdresser has started taking a non-returnable deposit because due to lockdown, etc, people have been making bookings at different places and then just decide which one to go to.

I’m concerned that the Eat out to Help Out scheme might not actually help at all as my other half now seems reluctant to book to go out anywhere before the 3rd of August!!! How many others are also doing this.... it’s making me very cross, we have been nowhere for months, missing our Golden Wedding and my 70th birthday celebrations and now he won’t even take me out to flaming lunch ?

My son manages a restaurant in a busy city centre. Pre-COVID they were in the fortunate position that they would regularly turn “walk-ins” away because they were too busy. Any booking would be allowed to be 15 minutes late, and then the table would be released. They haven’t re-opened yet (Welsh rules) but when they do they may well request card details with each booking.

I had to cancel my hairdresser just before Christmas as I was ill but I offered to pay at least part of the cost. Luckily she declined as she had a list of people wanting a cancellation. Not been able to go since so I'm really looking forward to seeing her next month.

My dentist has had a policy of charging for missed appointments for years. Thankfully I've never forgotten an appointment. I once forgot I'd booked a theatre ticket but obviously having paid in advance it was my loss! I wouldn't dream of intentionally messing people around like that and would have no problem paying a deposit if booking to go for a meal. Some people have no consideration for anyone but themselves. It is disgusting behaviour at any time, but especially in the present climate. Anyone who behaves like that is not only costing the restaurants but costing everyone else too as the restaurants will have to factor these things into their pricing if they are to survive!

Disgraceful and selfish behaviour. Dentists send out bills for no shows. I do think that a non refundable deposit should be taken across the board, hairdressers, dentists, dog groomers, restaurants, and even doctors and hospitals, in fact anywhere that requires an appointment. There’d be some initial objection but we’d get used to it just like not smoking in pubs, wearing a seatbelt or recycling our rubbish, all recent changes that we’ve embraced.

I had a 15 minute rule in my Bar/Restaurant here years ago, I only served food at lunchtime so it was imperative to fill the tables. What really bugged me were the people who ate one day then booked for the next and did not turn up.
Then they would turn up the day after expecting the table to be waiting for them and get all rude and stroppy.
One MEP who will remain nameless told the customers already at the table to leave as HE wanted that table.
I asked him and his little friends to leave, bad language and threats ensued.

This has been going on for a long time before the virus, and l thought that had got it all sorted, by taking a card payment there and then.....
Appalling manners and total disregard for other people, and they are probably the same sort of people who make doctors appointment and don't bother showing up for that either......
Selfish idiots!

I agree Judy54.
Others could be turned down through lack of space now that customers have to self-distance too.

I didn't know that Jane10.
What a shocking and selfish way to behave.

This has been happening at my local zoo as well. People with an annual membership are booking and not turning up, thereby using up spaces that others could fill. They so desperately need the income, it's so sad.

Whilst I would have no objection to a deposit being required, I would expect that deposit to be refunded in full if I gave reasonable notice of cancellation or experienced a personal emergency. Reading of some pretty inexcusable behaviour here. Goodness.

Like others I agree about a deposit. Wondering if I can charge family who arrange to come then cancel at short notice. Oh Mum will be ok they say...oh yeah!

The same thing happened at the zoo in the town where I live.
It was prebook only and loads of people didn’t turn up.
The poor zoo proprietors were already struggling and they are very fed up at the moment.

The first day of my hairdresser re-opening and they had a no - show, they must have moved people around as they were able to offer a last minute appointment for someone later that morning.

We went to RHS Wisley the other week. Very well organised, limited numbers on prebooked time slots. We were told people were prebooking several days for free and then just not turning up if the weather wasn’t good or they couldn’t be bothered. Meanwhile all the slots were full and people who intended to turn up couldn’t book. Such appalling selfishness imho. ?

They definitely need to tackle this and I think a reasonably large deposit would be the best start.

Whilst I agree that not to show for a restaurant reservation doctor/dentist/any appointment is rude and ought not go without penalty, there are exceptions.....

I have had to cancel a restaurant reservation after becoming ill a few hours before. We of course rang the restaurant but they took a dim view of our call:. let's just say that they were somewhat disbelieving.

Surely there are times where cancellations have to be made for genuine reasons but not to turn up, leaving an empty table/appointment etc , is appalling.

I think it is something that children need to be taught not to do. It never fails to shock me how many people think it is acceptable to change social arrangements at the last minute, turn up late, or just cancel because they don’t feel like it on the day.

It starts in childhood, I am sure, as I have seen so many little ones accept party invitations and then cancel when a better/more convenient offer comes along. Obviously it is the parents to blame, but they learn by example.

Candelle a no-show is when you simply don’t turn up.

‘One MEP who will remain nameless told the customers already at the table to leave as HE wanted that table.’

Felice that’s shocking behaviour! Glad you gave him his marching orders! What a damned cheek

Not turning up for any appointment/meeting etc. without a valid explanation beforehand is so ill-mannered and at worst prevents a re-booking for someone else.
I had all this when I used to book patients in to see the consultant and they didn't show up at clinic.

I had to bite my tongue many a time when the patient would ring up days or weeks later asking to be seen " now " !

Thank you for all your posts. I do hope that this awful practice will stop and that people show respect to restaurants/pubs many of whom have worked so hard to provide take away meals during lock down. They deserve our support.