TextMyFood Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Our restaurant already has great service and we don't want to encourage servers to hang around your message station away from their guests. (So why would we need your product?)

A: The system provides a non-intrusive means to upsell apps, side dishes, drinks, and desserts to guests. It provides the eyes in the back of the server's head. Servers simply cannot always be watching their guests. Our system supplements good service -- making it even better. TextMyFood provides a new dimension to the guest experience -- over 27 million guests already enjoy texting. The system prevents a means to diffuse tension when a guest has a sudden need that cannot be anticipated by their server (often immediately after the server has left the guest's table). It provides a fun way for such a guest to instantly send their request and have it acknowledged (they receive a quick text reply). Servers conveniently view the requests as they go by their wait station or in and out of the kitchen. Our system eliminates the need for servers to repetitively pester guests with: "would you like you check now?" The system provides reporting that may be helpful in tracking and encourage proper server behavior. For example, it can measure the time servers take to respond to guest requests. The message content could also indicate a problem, for example, "Could we be served already?" The guest's cell phone number is stored for follow-up with promotional or informational texts.

Q: What's the monetary value of your system?

A: There are three quantitative monetary benefits with TextMyFood.

1. Additional revenue from drinks, apps, side dishes, and desserts. A set of guests will order an additional round if it is fast and convenient to do so. Otherwise, this set of guests may go straight to ordering their food. The revenue of a round is about $12-24; profit @50% $6-12. At three extra rounds per day, this comes to $540- $1,080 in incremental profit per month. Incremental desserts add about another $540- $1,080 per month, bringing the total per month to $1,080-$2,160.
2. More efficiency and less waiting for the server mean more table turns per day (less time waiting around for the check, etc.). This can add another 10% to daily revenue.
3. More repeat visits and more new guests. The allure and benefit of texting keeps guests coming back and draws new ones. The value of retaining each guest has been estimated to be between $300 and $5,000 (for business customers) per month.

Q: How does the system deal with prank requests?

A: The system immediately blocks users who send an obscene request. Obscene requests are not displayed on the message station. Although experience has shown that prank requests are quite rare (possibly because they are not anonymous), any users who send prank requests can be simply warned or blocked from using the system.