OpenTable

I will make this short & sweet... something the "Open Table" reservation system is NOT. The initial reservation had to be re-entered FOUR times. First, it would not accept my reservation even though all required fields were filled in. A digital clock counts down like a 007 James Bond bomb detailing the precise time remaining until the reservation is cancelled. WHY? The site doesn't highlight the data entry error. Then, it was my phone number. The site confusingly states "Please enter a valid phone number" WITHOUT indicating the tiny graphic next door is the the NATIONAL FLAG OF PAGO-PAGO. I scroll through the entire membership of The United Nations (which, in parts, is NOT alphabetized) before reaching "United States". The Red, White & Blue appeared. Aha. My ten-digit USA STANDARD phone number was finally accepted. If a restaurant is inside the USA, I would suggest the DEFAULT FORMAT be the US Standard. Then I timed out. (Really.) The Fourth Time Was The Charm. I saw a previous review entitled "Never Again". Ditto.

I am so happy to have found this site, with all the scathing reviews for OPEN TABLE, and am about to add my own which would be "zero stars" except I think they make you give it at least 1. Today, I received another email from OPEN TABLE, touting their latest handful of restaurants. It reminded me that a week ago, I was corresponding with some people from OPEN TABLE's so-called "customer care" department about the fact that I DID NOT receive a 1000 points for a restaurant--a restaurant we decided to try so we could earn the points--which means in theory, it's a good concept that works. After a few rounds of emails, from John W, Bouvanesh A, and Ranjeeta A, repeatedly telling me they could not find any record of my reservation--I finally received an email from Ranjeeta A, saying he found the reservation, but because I left out one letter in my email address when I made the reservation, I would not be earning any points! How's that for some great PR?! I am going to print out the worst reviews from this site, as well as my own, and give them to the actual restaurant we went to, so the restaurant can see they are dealing with unprofessional people who are more interested in earning a few bucks than they are in creating good will among their patrons. I mean, really, had OPEN TABLE told me about the email error and still given me the 1000 points, I would have been satisfied and happy to continue booking through them. Now I'm just annoyed and will cancel my membership. Businesses with little or no customer service end up digging their own hole.

So i used this POS app for the first time on December 22,2022. I was looking for restaurants open on Christmas day. I saw Benihana at 875 N. Michigan Ave., in Chicago. I booked the place for a 1pm reservation for 7 people. Since I typically don't trust anything I called the restaurant to verify they were open. Even the dip$#*! that answered the phone said they were open on Christmas day. I asked him repeatedly and I asked about parking. Them not having a valet was a bummer but they have a parking garage in the Hancock building where the restaurant is located. So we're all excited about the place and can't wait to go. We drive there on Christmas day, park in the $42 dollar parking garage. We head down the elevator to the place and when we get to the floor they're located on the doors are closed. There was some maintenance guy working and he came to the door and said the place was closed on that day. So now I was already out $20 for parking for 10 minutes and had nowhere for the 7 of us to eat. THANKS TO OPEN TABLE AND THE POS RESTAURANT WE HAD TO SCAMBLE TO FIND A PLACE TO EAT ON CHRISTMAS. $#*! YOU BOTH! I WILL NEVER USE THIS POS APP AGAIN AND I WILL NEVER GO TO THAT POS RESTAURANT. Then Open Table has the nerve to send me an email asking why I didn't go there. Waste of time and money. Luckily Fogo De Chao was open and we had a wonderful meal brought to our table over and over and over and over again. They know how to treat customers.

Every time I go to use OpenTable, I go away frustrated. There NEVER seems to be a reservation available and I just give up and go to a restaurant that will make my reservation directly.

Their rewards is such a restrictive BS and their customer service is even smellier, I would not rely on getting any use or value out of it.