OpenTable: only one way to get points
I made several reservations recently, and thought I had made them all through OpenTable. When I looked at my current reservations, they all had 100 points except for one of the restaurants, which showed as 0 points. I emailed OpenTable about this, and they told me that if I link to OpenTable through the restaurant's website, I get no points.
I never knew this. In the past, I've always just made the reservations directly from OpenTable, but since I was looking at a number of different restaurants recently, I guess it was more convenient in that process to link from the restaurant's website to OpenTable.
So even though a restaurant's website links you directly to OpenTable, that doesn't count for points, as far as OpenTable is concerned. I find that absolutely ludicrous.
So I had to call the restaurant to make sure that if I cancel my current reservation and make another identical one via OpenTable directly, that I don't lose that reservation time/date. The restaurant (Providence, btw) was just perfectly wonderful about it, they told me I'd be able to re-reserve, no problem, and they cancelled my reservation for me right away, which they did, right away. Then I re-reserved via OpenTable and got the points.
I just don't understand what difference it makes how you get to OpenTable to make a reservation. If the restaurant website links you to OpenTable, you are still using their (OpenTable's) service.
By slacker
on Jul 12, 2007 12:49 PM
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I didn't know that, but it makes sense on one level. Restaurants pay a greatly reduced fee if an OpenTable booking comes through their website.
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I don't know the answer, but after having been a product manager in the computer biz, I would guess that the computer program in OT recognizes you as a registered user right away when you log into it, but if you make a rez via the restaurant, it does not.
If this is so, there is a way to fix it, but it might be more trouble (read:$$$) than OT might want to take on. If not, then I have no idea. Just a thought...
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Weird.
I make reservations all the time both via direct access to OT and thru the restaurant site, and it always credits correctly.
They say, it takes more than one error to take down a plane. Here you hit BOTH a bug in their system AND a customer service asshole. I'd say, try again. I'll try on my side, will report any snafus.
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I just experienced the same situation as slacker. Here's what the Open Table website says:
Reservations that originate from websites other than www.OpenTable.com (for example, restaurant websites) are not always eligible to earn Dining Points. When you book a reservation, the associated point value, if any, will be displayed at the top of the reservations details page, as well as on the confirmation page and email.
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Looks like a fairly clear policy, though. It is a free service for the customer, so it seems like they can set their points policies however they like.
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Open Table charges restauranteurs .25 for each reservation that comes through the restaurant's own website. They charge $1 for each reservation that originates from OpenTable.com...that's how they offer the points.
Also, restauranteurs pay $7.50 EACH for all "1000 point" reservations that are booked through OT.
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Each reservation? or each cover?
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Each reservation
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I allows thought it was per head so 6 people would cost the reservation $6 but i guess i'm wrong. Do you find yourself paying a lot for Reservations?
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Absolutely...I'm not saying it's not worth it, but it is a substantial cost to any restaurant using the system...that's why you only see higher end places using it.
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Dave - I don't know if you have a special deal with OT but the fee is usually per cover, not per reservation.
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That's what I thought also.
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I think that if you call Open Table (1 800 Open Table), and ask for the details, they would be happy to tell you that it's per reservation.
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In my experience, it's per cover. I know that the 1000 point reservation charge is per cover - my company won't do the bonus points for that reason.
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I use OpenTable but i don't just go to opentable.com to see what restaurants are available. I know i get points but i've found that i've been missing a lot of great restaurants because they don't use opentable. Do you guys go to restaurants that aren't on opentable even thou you won't get points.
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Definitely! Most of my faves are not on Open Table.
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