Comments on: Opentable.com Review

By: ANON

ANON — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 19:59:42 +0000

OTs point system is worthless unless you dine out about 5 times a week and pay attention to the details of the program. So forget the point system until they make it more appealing to average diners.

Regarding the The Red Canary in Chicago story above, I find that to be a very dubious claim. IF it is true, then it is the fault of the restaurant for not having their system configured correctly. Again I doubt this story and if it is true – not OTs fault.

Regarding the no-show email. Again that is the restaurants fault for not using the system properly. You should call OT and let them know so they can correct this issue. They will be quite happy to do so since this is one way they make money from the restaurants and by marking you as a no-show the restaurant is ‘cheating’ OT.

Brad, how about some details?

Nancy, yeah forget the point system.

I think OT is a handy and useful service. If you’ve ever worked in a busy restaurant you would know that the phone is sometimes answered by a busy staff member who is juggling 5 tasks and jotting down you reservation on a sticky note while balancing a tray of empty glasses in their other hand. That reservation has a good chance of not making it to ‘the book’. I’ll take my chances with an electronic system that sends me a email confirmation I can reference when I get there. Heck, if you reason for concern print it out and bring it with you.

Another really cool thing is that some restaurants use OT as a CRM tool (all of them SHOULD but only some do). This means well trained staff will note certain preferences you may have and notes them in the system (food allergies, food or drink preferences etc) which they can then reference the next time you come in. Savvy diners will just request that the server add in the notes if they know the system is being used properly.

Hope this well helpful.

signed,

A guy who knows a lot about OT but is not affiliated with them.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:19:24 +0000

Opentable.com is stating that I have to make a reservation through a special hoop to get the extra points for “free meal faster”. They did not make a clear statement about this requirement. Instead, Opentable intentionally hide this information on a need to know basis (i.e. in FAQ) from customers. The company is trying to trick it’s customers because this is not a true and sincere offer. It seems to me that Opentable.com is only offering this hoop for their customers to jump hoops for marketing purpose without the true benefit only. I am sure not all the people will track and trace their points, therefore, not everyone will be benefit from your so called “free meal faster” promotion/gimmick. In conclusion, I think Opentables advertisrf false statement to the consumer and shall be corrected and or reported to Better Business Bureau (BBB).

By: Brad

Brad — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:29:36 +0000

Will never use again. They are cheats.

By: Kate

Kate — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 01:16:13 +0000

Not impressed with my first experience with opentable. We got to the restaurant, and they seated us (and our meal was fantastic!), but I got an e-mail from opentable saying that we were a no-show. I can’t wait to see if we get billed as a no-show (on top of the $174 we already spent…:) ) buyer beware…..

By: Al Winston

Al Winston — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 21:45:15 +0000

Opentable.com can’t be trusted. I made reservations on their site for 9/7/09 at The Red Canary in Chicago. After walking 40 min to find the place, we found out it was closed for the day. My girlfriend asked, ‘Why didn’t you just call to confirm?” I said, “Because with Opentable.com, you don’t have to call, it makes calling redundant.” To which she said, “Not if they are as crappy as this.”

I will no longer use Opentable.com. In fact, I’m encouraging my friends here and in NYC to stop using it. Caveat Emptor!

By: MCNB

MCNB — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:56:47 +0000

I used Open Table faithfully, but often did not get points if a) I showed up at the restaurant a _little_ earlier than the reservation or b) I called or visited the restaurant to add another person above the Open Table reservations limit.

Then I discovered that Open Table erased all of my points without an email warning or an expiration date notice. I turns out that in the original agreement (which I read when signing up 3+ years ago) that if you have no activity for a year they delete your points.

I contacted them to explain that I actually use their service frequently but they were not moved and would not give me my points back. This is not a customer-focused service, so I will no longer use them. It’s sad when I can honestly say that the airline frequent flier programs are more flexible and understanding.