1. We've had very few donations over the year. I'm going to be short soon as some personal things are keeping me from putting up the money. If you have something small to contribute it's greatly appreciated. Please put your screen name as well so that I can give you credit. Click here: Donations
    Dismiss Notice

Would You Check Your Smartphone At The Door For 5% Off Your Dinner Bill?

Discussion in 'General Discussions' started by cynthetiq, Aug 21, 2012.

?

Would You Check Your Smartphone At The Door For 5% Off Your Dinner Bill?

  1. Yes.

    17 vote(s)
    65.4%

  2. No.

    5 vote(s)
    19.2%

  3. I can't be without my phone at all.

    4 vote(s)
    15.4%
  1. cynthetiq

    cynthetiq Administrator Staff Member Donor

    Location:
    New York City
    I'm a cheap bastard I take any and all discounts offered.

    Of course I would, and I probably would give that 5% back to the server.

    I know it's difficult for us to put the phone down especially when you are just sitting there. Staring at each other. I mean you've been together for so long what's left to talk about?

    I remember when skogafoss and I would watch people when they first got smartphones and blackberries. I'd see them isolating themselves from each other and we'd both comment on how strange it looked. I can't imagine it being visible to the entire restaurant that is, the owner seeing his whole space instead of the din of diners talking and chatting now looking down at screens.

    When we first got our new phones we refrained from doing it. But sometimes when we don't have time, we tend to use that time to check in with the internet world. I try very hard to let dining be a social action and not just a menial action of ingesting food.
     
    cynthetiq, Aug 21, 2012
    #1
    • Like Like x 2
  2. Borla

    Borla Moderator Staff Member

    I would at a high end place where it's less socially acceptable to be on the phone and where the discount would therefore be more than a couple bucks.
     
    Borla, Aug 21, 2012
    #2
  3. ZombieSquirrel

    ZombieSquirrel Brrrrrrrains

    Location:
    Oregon by way of "Oh-hi-ya"
    I would totally do this to save a few bucks. I'm not a rich fancy guy like Borla.

    My phone takes up too much of my life. Chatting, texting, draw something.....I forgot it the other night when I went out and it wasn't really that big of a deal. I sat and had a conversation with my friends. Granted, my friends were on their phones, but I gave them 100% of my attention....until I saw something shiny.

    I also like that "game" when out with friends you place all the phones in the center of the table. If someone reaches for their phone, they have to pay the whole bill.
     
    ZombieSquirrel, Aug 21, 2012
    #3
    • Like Like x 2
  4. Baraka_Guru

    Baraka_Guru Möderätor Staff Member

    Location:
    Toronto
    My phone goes on silent at the door. There is little difference other than the slight chance of it being misplaced if I were to check it.

    However, if it's a cheaper place and there is only two of us, it might not be worth the trouble. (Like, maybe, $2.50? $2.00?)

    In a larger party at a nicer place? Everyone: toss in yer phones. (Assuming the 5% applies to the bar tab as well, yknowwhatimean?)
     
    Last edited: Aug 21, 2012
    Baraka_Guru, Aug 21, 2012
    #4
    • Like Like x 1
  5. snowy

    snowy so kawaii Staff Member

    I would, unless I was on call.
     
    snowy, Aug 21, 2012
    #5
  6. itwasme

    itwasme But you'll never prove it. Donor

    Location:
    In the wind
    I'm always "on call" because I have one child with asthma and one with diabetes. So I voted "can't be without my phone at all." That doesn't apply when I'm home with my family. I rarely make it to my cell before the call goes to voicemail at home because I don't carry it from room to room.
     
    itwasme, Aug 21, 2012
    #6
  7. Remixer

    Remixer Middle Eastern Doofus

    Location:
    Frankfurt, Germany
    I never would. My phone is way too important for business and it's part of my working life that I get calls by clients/colleagues at random times in the evening for this or that high-priority/very-urgent matter.

    However, I always keep my phone on silent when in a restaurant and, should I receive a call, I always step outdoors/into the lobby to take it.
     
    Remixer, Aug 21, 2012
    #7
  8. DAKA

    DAKA DOING VERY NICELY, THANK YOU

    Location:
    150 miles North of SOUTHERNMOST POINT IN THE US
    IT SHOULD BE REQUIRED! Then again 'that aint' gonna' happen' so at LEAST on VIBRATE...
    It really pisses me off to have to listen to some inane chatter by morons, and they are usually LOUD, and wouldn't think to take it outside
    Then again I'm retired and don't give a fuck about the phone...seems to me that in the beginning a "portable" phone was a handy thing to have IF YOU NEEDED TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE.. now anytime someone just want to "chat" YOU are at THEIR disposal.
    It has gotten out of hand..........(people hate when I don't IMMEDIATELY pick up, or call them right back....Then again we don't even have "call waiting" but I DO firmly believe in CALLER ID...BEST THING EVER....(Don't tell anyone you have it)
    RANT OVER.....stepping off the soapbox.
     
    DAKA, Aug 21, 2012
    #8
    • Like Like x 1
  9. ALISTAIR

    Alistair Eurotrash

    Location:
    Reading, UK
    I said yes. I may even pay 5% extra if everyone had to. At least I wouldn't have to look at photos of people's food on Facebook. What is that about? Who fucking cares? It mostly looks like cat vomit anyway.

    And yeah, I do have to look at Facebook. How else would I stalk my children?
     
    Alistair, Aug 21, 2012
    #9
    • Like Like x 2
  10. Joniemack

    Joniemack Beta brainwaves in session

    Location:
    Reading, UK
    I would go so far as to frequent restaurants that required all cell phones be turned off. No compensation required.
     
    Joniemack, Aug 21, 2012
    #10
  11. Fangirl

    Fangirl Very Tilted

    Location:
    Arizona
    Five percent savings isn't enough to entice me to do much and I rarely eat in expensive enough places that my savings would to amount to enough to entrust my phone to a stranger. So, no.
    I like the idea of restaurants having cellphone use areas away from non-cellphone areas instead.
     
    Fangirl, Aug 21, 2012
    #11
    • Like Like x 1
  12. grumpyolddude

    grumpyolddude Very Tilted

    Location:
    Metro Detroit, Michigan, USA
    ...when they pry it from my cold, dead fingers!:D

    QW and I have no problem setting the phones aside and having a conversation over a meal, even after 33 years. We've even had waitresses come over to comment on how refreshing they thought it was that we actually look at each other and talk.

    Asking customers to quiet their phones and refrain from use is fine. Actually handing them over... don't think so! I wouldn't want to risk loss, damage, mix-up for a $1.00 discount on a $20.00 check.
     
    grumpyolddude, Aug 21, 2012
    #12
  13. cynthetiq

    cynthetiq Administrator Staff Member Donor

    Location:
    New York City
    those of you who are stating that it's an insignificant amount, this particular restaurant that is currently doing this is

    evarestaurantla

    8-21-2012 10-26-37 PM.jpg

    The couples tasting menu makes it about $8, not a huge amount but enough for me to still bite. Also it is a small restaurant so it's not like a huge Chili's or Applebee's or something like that I am not sure how many seats there are, but like a coat check I figure they will have some claim system to make sure that the precious electronics are looked after. Of course this is only good until the first person cries, "You broke my phone! Pay up!" and lawyers get involved.
     
    cynthetiq, Aug 21, 2012
    #13
  14. martian

    martian Server Monkey Staff Member

    Location:
    Mars
    My phone is a work phone, and I generally need to be reachable, barring emergency. Given that, I'm not comfortable going without my phone for 1-2 hours, though I have no problem putting it on silent. In movie theatres my phone is on vibrate and if I need to answer it I step outside of the auditorium to do so. It's not uncommon for me to do the same for dining as well, though it depends on the context and company; some of those who were at the most recent TFP Toronto meetup may recall I actually did this very thing during the course of the event.

    Basically, I understand the reasoning for this, though I can't help but feel that what's really needed is for people to put more emphasis on proper cell phone etiquette. On the other hand, rude people are going to be rude, and I have a feeling that offering a token discount isn't going to be enough to discourage them.
     
    martian, Aug 21, 2012
    #14
  15. Levite

    Levite Levitical Yet Funky

    Location:
    The Windy City
    Hell no. Not for 5%. For 10% maybe. For 20% absolutely.
     
    Levite, Aug 21, 2012
    #15
  16. Speed_Gibson

    Speed_Gibson Hacking the Gibson

    Location:
    Wolf 359
    If I had a smartphone, I would be just as likely to leave it at home or out in the car. My "somewhere in the middle" phone is something I could and have left at home before, and one of those new-fangled smartphones would be in the same category.
     
    Speed_Gibson, Aug 21, 2012
    #16
  17. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
    Well, considering I'm on call 24/7...I can't.

    But I do silence it, I don't answer it...and only periodically when it's discrete check for alerts.

    My wife hates it, but it pays the bills.
     
    rogue49, Aug 22, 2012
    #17
  18. THEPRISEINFERNO

    ThePriseInferno Slightly Tilted

    This is one of my pet peeves; someone messing with their phone when I'm trying to have a conversation with them. I'm guilty of it too, but I try to do it as little as possible. It's common courtesy.

    That being said, if I'm at a restaurant with other people I'll keep it in my pocket unless I get a phone call or everyone else turns to their phones as well. As for the discount, the places I eat at (being a poor college student) mean that 5% wouldn't even make it worth it to me.
     
    ThePriseInferno, Aug 27, 2012
    #18
  19. Fremen

    Fremen Allright, who stole my mustache?

    Location:
    E. Texas
    Too much opportunity for mishap, criminal or otherwise. No thanks.
     
    Fremen, Aug 28, 2012
    #19
  20. streak_56

    streak_56 I'm doing something, going somewhere...

    Location:
    C eh N eh D eh....
    I would easily because I don't bring it out anyways while out with someone at dinner. Its just a habit that has been there since I was a kid, hat off, phones away and have a dinner and chat with the people you have dinner with to entertain yourself.
     
    streak_56, Aug 29, 2012
    #20