Reservation Reprimand

First let’s take the word “shame”; disgrace, embarrassment.  Antonyms:  honor, respect

Shame is what kept me from saying or doing things when I was younger, and even still today.  I don’t believe it’s a bad word, so why don’t we hear it anymore?  I guess everything is relative.

I spoke too soon, shame seems to be alive and well in Beverly Hills, California. Restaurateur, Noah Ellis of the Red Medicine, a Vietnamese fusion restaurant, was fed up reserving empty tables for no-shows.  What did he do?  He began posting the names of the no-shows on Twitter.

He showed those no-shows by shaming them publicly.  Any thoughts?

Partrons don’t stop to think of the consequence of not honoring a reservation. Oh that’s right, it’s just one reservation; they’ll give your table to someone else, eventually.  So your wishy-washy dining decisions are more important than the livelihood of servers?  

Your lack of concern or whim has consequences, here are a few:

• Servers don’t make money.
• Restaurant doesn’t make money. 
• Someone else doesn’t get a table.
• Your reputation is tarnished (at least at that restaurant).

Call, text, and cancel!  Most restaurants, hair stylists, doctors, etc. do not like implementing a late cancellation or no-show policy by charging a nominal fee, but they must.  They aren’t at your disposal; they are making a living.

Doing it with suavity:  With so many methods of quick communication, it’s difficult to find an excuse as to why you couldn’t cancel.  It comes down to integrity and respect for others.  Simple. Think about the last time someone pulled a no-show on you.

___Etiquette is an attitude.

Rosalinda Randall is an Etiquette and Civility Consultant.  Her California based company is  Your Relationship Edge.  She provides on-site workshops for your sales team, administrative assistants, new hires, exit package, managers, high school and colleges.  She brings a modern attitude and a little humor to the age-old topic of etiquette.  650.871.6200