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I'd argue that this product isn't as much tone deaf as it is a brilliant way to force businesses to move to using online reservation systems. Phone calls always

I'd argue that this product isn't as much tone deaf as it is a brilliant way to force businesses to move to using online reservation systems. Phone calls always take longer, and rather than just selecting a time you have to present times where there this takes longer when things are already booked.

s2g 8y ago
Or they can just start hanging up when this stupid thing calls them.
- Ajedi32 8y ago
  Seems like a great way to lose business. You just got called by an AI trying to make a reservation for someone. Do you: a) Let it book the reservation, and take the customer's money when they show up. b) Hang up on the AI, potentially losing a sale. "Sorry, I tried making a reservation but they hung up on me."
  - ovao 8y ago
    Some retail businesses don’t accept credit cards. Point being: stranger things have happened.
- sjs382 8y ago
  You would turn down an appointment/sale because it was scheduled by a machine with a human voice?
  - deadmetheny 8y ago
    Yes. I'm perfectly willing to be discerning on who I do business with.
    - sjs382 8y ago
      Same—we just draw our lines in different places. It's been 15+ years since I've worked in the service industry, but from what I remember of it, I think I'd prefer to take reservations & catering orders from a Google Assistant.
  - s2g 8y ago
    Yes, absolutely. I avoid calling customer service because it forces me to work with a machine.
- euyyn 8y ago
  And lose customers for no real reason. Great strategy.
pbhjpbhj 8y ago
>a brilliant way to force businesses to move to using online reservation systems // For micro businesses this can be a substantial administrative cost. A paper diary is still the best solution for some IMO.
- Notorious_BLT 8y ago
  Okay, then for small businesses Google is making it easy to still use paper, by talking with Google's phone bot. Wouldn't this be a positive for them? They don't need to switch to a new system, and Google can still make reservations.

s2g 8y ago

Or they can just start hanging up when this stupid thing calls them.

Ajedi32 8y ago
Seems like a great way to lose business. You just got called by an AI trying to make a reservation for someone. Do you: a) Let it book the reservation, and take the customer's money when they show up. b) Hang up on the AI, potentially losing a sale. "Sorry, I tried making a reservation but they hung up on me."
- ovao 8y ago
  Some retail businesses don’t accept credit cards. Point being: stranger things have happened.
sjs382 8y ago
You would turn down an appointment/sale because it was scheduled by a machine with a human voice?
- deadmetheny 8y ago
  Yes. I'm perfectly willing to be discerning on who I do business with.
  - sjs382 8y ago
    Same—we just draw our lines in different places. It's been 15+ years since I've worked in the service industry, but from what I remember of it, I think I'd prefer to take reservations & catering orders from a Google Assistant.
- s2g 8y ago
  Yes, absolutely. I avoid calling customer service because it forces me to work with a machine.
euyyn 8y ago
And lose customers for no real reason. Great strategy.

pbhjpbhj 8y ago

>a brilliant way to force businesses to move to using online reservation systems // For micro businesses this can be a substantial administrative cost. A paper diary is still the best solution for some IMO.

Notorious_BLT 8y ago
Okay, then for small businesses Google is making it easy to still use paper, by talking with Google's phone bot. Wouldn't this be a positive for them? They don't need to switch to a new system, and Google can still make reservations.