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Making a restaurant reservation? That’ll be $100 — without food or drinks.
It’s become increasingly common for restaurants to charge customers‘ credit cards even before they step foot into an establishment, let alone order food or drinks.
Referred to as a “reservation fee” and applied at the time of booking, the charge ranges in amount but inevitably peeves diners who don’t want to be on the hook for what can add up to hundreds of dollars, if their dinner plans — for, say, a party of four — change at the last minute. But that is precisely why restaurants are increasingly implementing the fees.
Operating on razor-thin margins, restaurants can suffer financially if a large party decides on a whim not to show up for a booking. While charging $25 or so a head for no-shows doesn’t make operators whole in the event of a last-minute cancellation, it does help them soften the blow. The fees also encourage guests to honor their plans. The rise of restaurant reservation platforms including OpenTable, Resy and others, also make it easy to collect and manage customers’ credit card information.
“[Reservation fees] do give diners some skin in the game and serve as powerful motivation to show up,” said Brian Warrener, a food and beverage operations management professor at the College of Hospitality Management at Johnson and Wales University.
The fees vary from restaurant to restaurant, and even at a single establishment, based on customer demand at a given time. When diners show up, the fees are typically deducted from a party’s final bill.
This tactic has proved to be “a better model than adjusting the price of food, which most diners balked at,” Warrener said.
Torrisi bar and restaurant in Downtown Manhattan requires a deposit of $50 a person upon making a reservation. If diners show up, the deposit is applied to the final bill. Customers have 12 hours before the time of the reservation to cancel the booking and get their deposit back. It’s among the higher reservation fees around; fees at most restaurants are $25 per person or less.
According to data from OpenTable, 28% of Americans say they haven’t shown up for a reservation they made in the past year.
When a big party cancels, or only partially shows up to the table, it can lead to food waste and excessive spending on labor costs — because of servers not having enough work for the evening. It all adds up to a substantial hit to restaurants’ revenue.
“If you would end up with a 10%-20% net profit at the end of the night from a large party, you’re not going to make that up [by] tacking a fee onto no-shows. There isn’t nearly the kind of payoff you get from a big party,” Warrener said. “But, they are likely to have people make every effort to show up, because nobody wants to be nicked $100 for nothing because they missed their reservation.”
But not all restaurants are in a position to require a deposit upfront, especially when consumers can choose from plenty of restaurants that do not charge for reservations. “A consumer who doesn’t want to pay a reservation fee because they may not show up has the opportunity to go elsewhere; it’s just likely that elsewhere is going to be a less desirable location,” Warrener said.
Safety net for restaurants
Restaurants famously struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic when restrictions were in place. As a result, more establishments have implemented measures designed to protect themselves against revenue loss.
“A lot of restaurants had issues with profitability, so they started thinking about implementing fees. A reservation fee is not to get more money out of diners, it’s a financial safety net to prevent revenue loss, or to reduce the number of no-shows,” said Apostolos Ampountolas, assistant professor of hospitality finance at Boston University School of Hospitality Administration.
Paying a fee for a reservation, which is typically deducted from the bill when a party shows up, is also less onerous for consumers than facing jacked up menu prices. “It helps restaurants maintain their bottom lines. It’s increasingly clear coming out of the pandemic how tough it is for operators to run a restaurant with financial stability. That’s why they are taking a more practical approach to managing reservations,” said food and beverage consultant Lilly Jan.
Far cry from simpler times
With reservation fees, restaurants are treating dining out more like an experience, such as an event or hotel stay. It’s not uncommon for hotels to similarly require nonrefundable deposits on guest rooms that can amount to half the cost of a stay. Guests also routinely pay in advance, and not after the fact, for tickets to shows and events.
“You’re making a reservation like going to a show or any experiential moment. You’re buying that access and they’re selling you a prepaid ticket,” said Stephen Zagor, a restaurant management professor at Columbia Business School.
When framed as more of an experience, it’s not unreasonable to expect a charge to be attached, he said. But no consumer likes having to pay for anything that was once free.
“It’s not out of line with expectations, but it’s new to us,” Zagor said. There was a time when we used to get everything for free and now suddenly things are a lot more complex.”
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How to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears NFL game today: Livestream options, more
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The Minnesota Vikings will take on the Chicago Bears today. The Vikings are currently 8-2, an impressive run so far this season, and will be looking to add a fourth win to their current streak after last Sunday’s 23-13 win against the Tennessee Titans. The Bears, on the other hand, are entering this game on the heels of a four-game losing streak after a tough 20-19 loss against the Green Bay Packers last Sunday.
Here’s how and when you can watch the Vikings vs. Bears game today, whether or not you have cable.
How and when to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears
The Vikings vs. Bears game will be played on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT). The game will air on Fox and stream on Fubo and the platforms featured below.
How and when to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears game without cable
You can watch this week’s NFL game on Fox via several streaming services. All you need is an internet connection and one of the top options outlined below.
Fubo offers you an easy, user-friendly way to watch NFL games on CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network, plus NCAA football channels. The Pro tier includes 200+ channels and unlimited DVR, while the Elite with Sports Plus tier adds NFL RedZone and 4K resolution. New subscribers get a seven-day free trial and all plans allow streaming on up to 10 screens simultaneously.
You can watch today’s game with a subscription to Sling’s Orange + Blue tier, which includes ESPN, ABC, NBC, and Fox. The plan offers 46 channels with local NFL games, nationally broadcast games and 50 hours of DVR storage. For complete NFL coverage, add Paramount+ to get CBS games, or upgrade with the Sports Extra add-on for additional sports channels like Golf Channel, NBA TV and NFL RedZone.
Watching NFL games, including Fox broadcasts, is simple with Hulu + Live TV, which includes 90 channels, unlimited DVR storage, and access to NFL preseason games, live regular season games and studio shows. The service includes ESPN+ and Disney+ in the subscription.
Want to watch today’s game live on your smartphone? If so, NFL+ streaming service is the solution you’re looking for. It lets you watch NFL Network and out-of-market games on mobile devices, with an upgrade option to NFL+ Premium that includes NFL RedZone for watching up to eight games simultaneously. Note that NFL+ only works on phones and tablets, not TVs.
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How to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts NFL game today: Livestream options, more
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The Detroit Lions will face off against the Indianapolis Colts today. The Lions enter this game as top contenders with a near-perfect record of 9-1 so far this season. The Colts, who are 5-6 this season, could have a tough game on their hands against the Lions but will be looking to rack up another win after prevailing over the New York Jets in a tight game last Sunday.
Here’s how and when you can watch the Colts vs. Lions game today, whether or not you have cable.
Here’s how and when to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts
The Lions vs. Colts game will be played on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT). The game will air on Fox and stream on Fubo and the platforms featured below.
How and when to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts game without cable
You can watch this week’s NFL game on Fox via several streaming services. All you need is an internet connection and one of the top options outlined below.
Experience NFL action like never before with Fubo’s comprehensive sports streaming platform. From Sunday showdowns to primetime matchups, catch every NFL game across major networks including CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC, ESPN and NFL Network. Choose the Pro package to unlock 200+ channels and limitless DVR storage, or elevate your game-day experience with the Elite with Sports Plus package, featuring NFL RedZone’s commercial-free scoring highlights and stunning 4K quality.
Test drive the service with a no-commitment seven-day free trial, and share the excitement with family and friends — Fubo supports simultaneous streaming on up to 10 devices, so everyone can watch their favorite teams.
You can watch today’s game with a subscription to Sling’s Orange + Blue tier, which includes ESPN, ABC, NBC, and Fox. The plan offers 46 channels with local NFL games, nationally broadcast games, and 50 hours of DVR storage. For complete NFL coverage, add Paramount+ to get CBS games, or upgrade with the Sports Extra add-on for additional sports channels like Golf Channel, NBA TV and NFL RedZone.
Watching NFL games, including Fox broadcasts, is simple with Hulu + Live TV, which includes 90 channels, unlimited DVR storage, and access to NFL preseason games, live regular season games and studio shows. The service includes ESPN+ and Disney+ in the subscription.
Want to watch today’s game live on your smartphone? If so, NFL+ streaming service is the solution you’re looking for. It lets you watch NFL Network and out-of-market games on mobile devices, with an upgrade option to NFL+ Premium that includes NFL RedZone for watching up to eight games simultaneously. Note that NFL+ only works on phones and tablets, not TVs.
CBS News
How to watch the New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins NFL game today: Livestream options, more
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The New England Patriots will face off against the Miami Dolphins in a game today at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The Patriots have had an uneven season so far, coming into the game with a record of 3-8, including a 28-22 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on November 17. The Dolphins, however, haven’t fared much better this season as they enter the game with a record of 4-6, although they are coming off two wins in a row, the latest against the Las Vegas Raiders last weekend.
Keep reading to find out how and when to watch the New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins game today, even without cable.
CBS, Paramount+ and CBS Essentials are all subsidiaries of Paramount Global.
How and when to watch the New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins game today
The New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins game will be played on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT). The football game will be shown on CBS and streamed on Paramount+ and the platforms noted below.
How and when to watch the New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins game without cable
While CBS is available with many basic cable packages, you’ll have other viewing options, too for the Patriots-Dolphins game. Just understand that the below streaming options will require the use of an internet provider:
Paramount+: Watch CBS-aired NFL games without cable
With Paramount+ you’ll have multiple viewing options to choose from. You can catch NFL games on the Paramount+ Essential tier for just $7.99 each month or you can watch college football with a Paramount+ with Showtime subscription for $12.99 monthly. In addition to live streams of NFL games airing on CBS, you’ll get to watch additional live sporting events including NCAA college football, PGA Tour golf, soccer and more.
Get started with Paramount+ here today.
Amazon Prime Video: Add Paramount+ to your existing subscription
Already have an Amazon Prime Video account? Simply add Paramount+ to your current subscription to watch all the CBS-aired NFL games in addition to Paramount+ originals. The same prices from above apply, depending on which tier you choose. Not sure which is best for you? Don’t worry. Both options come with a free seven-day trial that can help you decide.
Watch the Patriots-Dolphins game on Amazon Prime Video.
Fubo: Watch the Patriots-Dolphins game for free
Looking for an inexpensive way to watch football? Fubo could be the best way to do so. The live TV streamer is currently offering a seven-day free trial and $30 off of your first month’s subscription. Once subscribed, you’ll gain access to all of their live sporting events immediately. And there will be a lot to choose from. Not only does Fubo come with access to NFL games airing on your local CBS channel, it also includes Fox Sunday NFC games, “Sunday Night Football” on NBC, “Monday Night Football” on ABC and ESPN and all of the games that air on the NFL Network. So don’t wait.
Get started with Fubo online now.
How to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears NFL game today: Livestream options, more
How to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts NFL game today: Livestream options, more
How to watch the New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins NFL game today: Livestream options, more
How to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears NFL game today: Livestream options, more
How to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts NFL game today: Livestream options, more