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Restaurant offers a 5% discount if you eat without your phone on the table
- codegeek 14y agoNow that I think about this, I think this should be adopted by Movie Theatres. Nothing is more annoying than seeing a spot of light in dark theatre with noise of texting.
- maxerickson 14y agoThe company that owns the theater I usually end up at has a policy of asking disruptive texters to leave: http://www.gqti.com/TheaterPolicy.aspx http://www.gqti.com/TheaterPolicy.aspx
- darkstalker 14y agoThat would be an easy way to get your phone stolen.
- codegeek 14y agoI 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?
- yock 14y agoBy 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.
- mgkimsal 14y agoI'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.
- huggyface 14y agoI'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. People really have a highly selective ability to be annoyed by things that they are judgmental about/think that they are better than -- or even worse that they think make people better than them -- especially if it triggers their jealousy/resentment. If someone is getting texts or calls, that's incredibly annoying to someone who gets no texts or calls for obvious reasons. Some years back we took our young children out with their grandparents to a family restaurant. It was mid evening on a Saturday night and the place was full and very loud, with escalating conversations, people having fun, etc. My infant daughter dropped her fork. I happened to catch a woman nearby -- likely barren and fervently vengeful -- giving the most hateful, glaring look I've ever seen, and I would imagine she went forth to declare how her night was ruined by our much quieter than average table. I recall this experience whenever I hear some railing about children on airplanes, etc -- I imagine that much of it is selective, desperate clutching for offense, and it's much the same regarding people and their anti-smartphone spiels.
- pndmnm 14y agoI'd also be curious to see what changes the restaurant sees as a result of this policy. I know that if a good eatery successfully incentivized people away from phone usage, I'd be more inclined to go there, even at a slightly increased cost -- similarly, when I lived in Seattle, there were a few coffeeshops that started turning off wi-fi on the weekends and saw an uptick in business (hard to say whether it was from more turnover, a different kind of customer, or publicity from the act itself).
- thesis 14y agoI'd imagine people probably order faster, and they will probably leave faster once they are finished with their meal.
- rdtsc 14y agoSounds 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...?
- rprasad 14y agoThey're in LA. The food is okay, but the no-cell phone thing is really just a marketing stunt to bring in business.
- deleted 14y ago[deleted]
- AznHisoka 14y agoPeople 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.
- jopt 14y agoI never experienced that. Seems a little far fetched.
- stinos 14y agofirst 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.
- irahul 14y ago> 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.
- stinos 14y agowell I'm on the road often, and I constantly listen to music. But the player stays in my pocket as I hate having to carry it the whole time. And I actually enjoy being away from the internet, and news in particular, from time to time.
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- gcb 14y agoSo am i supposed to sit on top of my phone and wallet for the whole meal? My phone and my wallet sits besides me in an empty chair, possibly with my hat. And that vacant chair missing, probably on the table. It's not like many places have means to deal with such basic human problems elegantly.
- nagrom 14y agoI 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?
- geebee 14y agoShoot. I often eat with my phone on the table, but I never field a call or text - I just put it there along with my keys because it's uncomfortable to sit with it in my pocket and I usually don't wear a jacket. I can see how just putting it there could send the wrong message, though, that I'm open to distractions. Argh. Just one more reason to get a "european carry all", I guess. Or maybe I'll just wear a jacket.
- debacle 14y agoI do similar. We need to develop a new etiquette. Perhaps placing the phone beyond your reach (in the center of the table) signifies that it's not a distraction, but just a bauble.
- Samuel_Michon 14y agoThat box doesn't exactly look safe to me. Not just vulnerable to theft, but also to mistakingly taking someone else's phone. And for phones with NFC, it's a great way to have your mobile wallet emptied.
- jff 14y agoOn sites with classified areas, they'll often have little individual cell phone lockers right outside the turnstile to the limited area. Drop in your phone, lock it, take the key. That would be a much better way to control the phones.
- deleted 14y ago[deleted]
- ngilmore031 14y agoWow. This is awesome. Any way to encourage being more present with your family or whoever you are eating with is a great idea. And by doing something different, this could give them some nice publicity.
- typicalrunt 14y agoWhen I'm dining with someone, and I realize that I'm being rude and looking at my phone, I will put the phone on the table -- face down -- as a sign that I am consciously putting the phone away. The other people can see that I'm not able to discretely look at my phone, and that it doesn't rule me. If the phone was face up, I can see how people would think my attention is being diverted to whatever incoming text/msg is on my phone.
- RegEx 14y agoI do the same, but mainly because my 3GS in an Otterbox barely fits in my pocket.
- Karunamon 14y ago<rant type="indignant" intensity="105%"> Mind your own damn business and I'll do the same. If I'm carrying a phone to a nice restaurant, it's because I'm on call. No, I do not raise my voice to talk, because I've mastered the arcane art known as "volume settings". If my phone rings, there's a high likelihood I won't be there for long anyways. And in the meantime, if me texting at my own table bothers you, or a couple of low volume buzzes bother you, I highly suggest you disinvolve yourself in the actions of other people's personal lives. Failing that, I invite you to attempt airborne fornication with a gyrating piece of pastry. </rant> More on topic, how much do you want to bet this is just an excuse to raise prices by 5%? Furthermore, the day I give my phone away to some random in a restaurant is the day I've taken full leave of my senses.
- _delirium 14y agoMy experience is that most people using phones in restaurants have not mastered the arcane art of volume settings, either on their phone's ring tone, or on their voice when speaking on it.
- noblethrasher 14y agoThe proprietor of the restaurant is literally minding his own business since a business is just a vehicle for achieving the ends of its owners [1]. In this case, the owners want to create a world in which dining is a more sacrosanct activity. If you don't like it then you don't have to dine there thus it is, in fact, none of your business. [1] http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3392357 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3392357
- Karunamon 14y agoConsidering they're penalizing me to the tune of 5% to give up a very expensive device containing untold amounts of personal and business data to an unknown person of questionable trustworthiness, I wouldn't be caught dead there anyways. I'm a little shocked that people seem okay with this on a site full of people that regularly berate companies for privacy gaffes.
- tokenadult 14y agoI keep my phone in my pocket unless I am answering a call. (I used to keep my phone in a holster unless I was answering a call, but "smart" phones have an inconvenient form factor for that. So I've modified my wardrobe to include more shirts that can hold a smart phone in one pocket while all the usual things I've put in my primary shirt pocket for years can stay in that pocket.) One of the most enjoyable aspects of dining with other people is the conversation over dinner. I would hate to miss out on that for telephone calls that I can answer later. Voice mail for the win. AFTER EDIT: Other comments here mention using phones in movie theaters. The response of the Austin Drafthouse theater in Austin, Texas is famous. The theater's video with a recorded comment from an ejected customer became a viral video on YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1L3eeC2lJZs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1L3eeC2lJZs reported on in various news outlets. (The language of the video is rather crude, but it makes the theater's point that it doesn't want customers who use their phones in the theater.)
- jobu 14y agoMy wife recently bet me $5 that I couldn't go through a meal without looking at my phone... I lost. Interesting idea though. They know what sort of atmosphere they would like to have, and they're incentivizing people to make it happen.
- blogkitten 14y agoI should do that with my husband! I need some new tech. I keep my phone in my purse...if I get a notification (email/text), I'll glance at it and act on it only if it's important. If it's a phone call, I'll only answer if it's my mom (who only calls if it's something important) or my husband. Every one else goes to voice mail.
- knz 14y agoUsing a different ring tone for important contacts takes care of the need to even glance at the phone.
- RobAtticus 14y agoBut doesn't really help if it's on vibrate. And you'll probably still need to interact with the phone to at least turn of the ringer if its not somebody you want to answer, lest you annoy everyone around you by letting it continue to ring.
- zerop 14y agoOne easiest way is to keep a very cheap and down market mobile, So you dont like to take it out in restaurant. It would work!!
- svachalek 14y agoHmm, I often find myself using my phone in restaurants in ways that don't exclude the people I'm with (See this photo I took of you earlier? Oh I think that movie is playing, should I check the showtimes? I can stay a little longer, let me just text my wife.) I know it can be tempting to use it in ruder ways but I'm surprised that defense hasn't been raised by anyone else yet -- maybe I'm giving people around me too much benefit of the doubt.
- bryanlarsen 14y agoIf I'm at a fancy restaurant I need my cell phone because if it rings, its the baby sitter calling.
- blhack 14y agoHmm. I very very rarely use my phone during dinner, but it's always on the table. This isn't because I want to use it, it's because it's relatively uncomfortable to keep it in my pocket.
- baddox 14y agoThen you should be fine with this restaurant, since they let you put your phone in a box at the front desk.
- cydonian_monk 14y agoI do the same for pretty much the same reason - comfort. And it'll only get worse as smartphones keep growing. But when my phone is on the table, it is always face down, muted, and off to the side somewhere. Mostly to show whoever I'm with that I'm not watching it, reading messages, or otherwise fiddling with it. I'd have no issue with getting the mentioned discount.
- ggchappell 14y ago> Since then, the chef estimates that 40% to 50% of customers have opted in and ditched their phones. Less than half. So most of their customers are willing to pay 4-5% more in order to keep their phones during the meal. Amazing.