Eateries face a heavy burden when trying to retrieve cancellation charges on their own. The presence of a lawyer makes customers realize that restaurants are serious about recovering their losses resulting from a no-show.

If I am required to make a reservation ahead of time, I look at it as a stuck of establishment unworthy of my presence.

Some restaurants do not have walk-ins and are booked well in advance. If people no-show on them, it means they have no income to pay all their costs. Food they have bought in will go to waste too.

If people didn't no-show, restaurants wouldn't have a problem, so it's just a case of ordinary people paying for the selfishness and lack of morals of others. Some of these cancellations will be a case of someone making multiple bookings for the same night and intentionally cancelling on all but the one they decide to go to on the day.

(the same thing happens with hotels and other service businesses too)

Many places in other countries require phone numbers (the mobile being used), credit card numbers, for bookings.

I don't know how much of this private info is mis-used , but I'd hazard a guess it's extremely small as otherwise patrons would be in ongoing uproars.

Necessary here esp for expensive exclusive places.

Kohakuebisu, if you think any useable food goes to waste, you don’t know the restaurant business.

Any restaurant already knows the percentage no shows they have and it is costed in to the business model. If they don’t then they deserve to go out of business. Charging people for a no show is just a greedy and cynical “tax” to boost their profits.

If I am required to make a reservation ahead of time, I look at it as a stuck of establishment unworthy of my presence

Keep going to celebrate your weddings, anniversaries and such at macdo.

Seriously, only a few restaurants/caterers systematically request reservations, and they have to, due to the scale or complicated preparation. In most eateries, you show up and they may be able to serve you, or not. If want to be sure to have your seats, it's an additional service. It's a risk for them, a cost. Why wouldn't you pay if your order an extra ?

Giving sufficient time for cancellation or paying a cancellation fee is alright in my book. Same with hotels.

I agree. Transport companies charge you more for reserving, even if you show up, they ask advance payment and for most tickets you get no refund if you no show. Customers accept. They can accept to do a little effort for restaurants and hotels.

Charging people for a no show is just a greedy and cynical “tax” to boost their profits.

You're the cynical greedy one.

englisc aspyrgendToday 09:09 pm JST

Kohakuebisu, if you think any useable food goes to waste, you don’t know the restaurant business.

Any restaurant already knows the percentage no shows they have and it is costed in to the business model. If they don’t then they deserve to go out of business. Charging people for a no show is just a greedy and cynical “tax” to boost their profits.

The fact they may have "costed in" doesn't change the fact the food goes to waste, or the money comes from someone's pocket - it's just between the restaurant and the other, honest customers that can keep a promise.

If they are buying in sashimi for a o-makase course meal, it may go to waste. They can't just serve it the next day without lowering standards. Chefs at high end Japanese restaurants buy fish in every day.

Everyone who runs a service industry will know that there is such a thing as bad customers. The more you let them cost you money, drain your energy, and/or waste your time, the worse the service your good customers will get.

The dottacan culture in Japan is terrible. I can understand how annoying it can be but hiring a lawyer to recover payment is silly. They should just ask an upfront non-refundable deposit instead. No deposit no reservation.