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Restaurant offers a 5% discount if you eat without your phone on the table

money.cnn.com

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Re: Restaurant offers a 5% discount if you eat without your phone on the table

#11

Post by rdtsc »

codegeek wrote: post #2

I find this really interesting. I wonder what other restaurants would make out of this. Is it really that important that the diners do not use their phones while dining ? Does that make them orde rmore food ? How will this 5% discount create more ROI for the restaurant?

Sounds like a cool publicity stunt.

Admit it you are already wondering what restaurant this is and what they serve. If that it is the case, they have done their job well.

But taken at face value, it is about the principle. It will push people who like to talk on the phone and disregard everyone around them to either not show up (or it will prompt them to assert themselves and they'll show up and pay 5% but in return will make sure to talk constantly on their phone, so, could backfire).

The apparent intended benefit is to attract many who have been around annoying customers and who would also visit the restaurant out of principle.

It would certainly be interesting. Also, wonder why they can't just ask someone to leave...?

Re: Restaurant offers a 5% discount if you eat without your phone on the table

#12

Post by jopt »

AznHisoka wrote: post #7

People who use their phones in any social situation, whether in a restaurant, or movie is annoying. It's like you're trying to subconsciously tell others you're popular and have lots of friends.

I never experienced that. Seems a little far fetched.

Re: Restaurant offers a 5% discount if you eat without your phone on the table

#13

Post by nagrom »

I get really annoyed when I eat with someone and they have their phone on the table. There's something about that behaviour that seems to say "I'll pay attention to you for now, but I'm really hoping for a distraction.".

I'd much rather go to a restaurant where phone use is discouraged as it seems to have become socially acceptable to fuck around with phones even during face-to-face conversation with someone.

Regarding ROI: if I were to run the restaurant, I'd have opaquely added the same charge to all the menu items and remove it for good behaviour. I guess that rewards for not being a dick are more popular than explicit punishments for being a dick?

Re: Restaurant offers a 5% discount if you eat without your phone on the table

#14

Post by stinos »

AznHisoka wrote: post #7

People who use their phones in any social situation, whether in a restaurant, or movie is annoying. It's like you're trying to subconsciously tell others you're popular and have lots of friends.

first sentence I agree.. Walking on the streets these days, it seems the amount of people I see bending their neck over some electronic device is growing everyday. A sad evolution if you ask me. Second sentence: I doubt that is the reason, however I have not yet figured out what the reason is. Firstly because I hardly ever use my cellphone, nor feel the need to, secondly because when I ask people that do, they have no clear idea themselves why they cannot keep it in their pocket. Which is even more sad.

Re: Restaurant offers a 5% discount if you eat without your phone on the table

#15

Post by Kiro »

AznHisoka wrote: post #7

People who use their phones in any social situation, whether in a restaurant, or movie is annoying. It's like you're trying to subconsciously tell others you're popular and have lots of friends.

Maybe 10 years ago but not now when the social aspect of your phone is only a tiny bit (as opposed to back in the days when the only reason to check it was texting). I use my phone in social situations all the time reading news etc. Yes, I am addicted to my phone but it has nothing to do with friends or being popular.

Re: Restaurant offers a 5% discount if you eat without your phone on the table

#17

Post by mgkimsal »

yock wrote: post #3
codegeek wrote: post #2

I find this really interesting. I wonder what other restaurants would make out of this. Is it really that important that the diners do not use their phones while dining ? Does that make them orde rmore food ? How will this 5% discount create more ROI for the restaurant?

By improving the experience for the surrounding diners. Busy restaurants are noisy enough from the quiet conversations being had between the diners themselves. Ringtones, or even the reverberations of a wireless phone's buzzer on a wooden table, only add to the noise level.

I'm far more distracted/upset by large groups of people laughing or yelling - teens/adults/whatever - than I am by someone talking on their phone. Even multiple people on their phone is much quieter than a group of coworkers from an office out to let off some steam before the weekend. But... large groups of people tend to order more and have 20% gratuities tacked on, so I doubt they'll be asked to leave.

Re: Restaurant offers a 5% discount if you eat without your phone on the table

#19

Post by irahul »

stinos wrote: post #14
AznHisoka wrote: post #7

People who use their phones in any social situation, whether in a restaurant, or movie is annoying. It's like you're trying to subconsciously tell others you're popular and have lots of friends.

first sentence I agree.. Walking on the streets these days, it seems the amount of people I see bending their neck over some electronic device is growing everyday. A sad evolution if you ask me. Second sentence: I doubt that is the reason, however I have not yet figured out what the reason is. Firstly because I hardly ever use my cellphone, nor feel the need to, secondly because when I ask people that do, they have n…

> Firstly because I hardly ever use my cellphone, not feel the need to, secondly because when I ask people that do, they have no clear idea themselves why they cannot keep it in their pocket.

I don't use it while walking, but I surely use it when I don't have anything else to do(waiting for bus/cab, in a cab/bus...). I can keep it in my pocket, but I would rather listen to music, browse news, read articles, blogs, check facebook, twitter etc etc rather than sitting on a bus and waiting for my destination.

Re: Restaurant offers a 5% discount if you eat without your phone on the table

#20

Post by [deleted] »

stinos wrote: post #14
AznHisoka wrote: post #7

People who use their phones in any social situation, whether in a restaurant, or movie is annoying. It's like you're trying to subconsciously tell others you're popular and have lots of friends.

first sentence I agree.. Walking on the streets these days, it seems the amount of people I see bending their neck over some electronic device is growing everyday. A sad evolution if you ask me. Second sentence: I doubt that is the reason, however I have not yet figured out what the reason is. Firstly because I hardly ever use my cellphone, nor feel the need to, secondly because when I ask people that do, they have n…

[deleted]
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