If this attempt at price discrimination does indeed become popular it will be via digital menus that update their pricing automatically, not via fiddly coupons. We are quite aways away from this still due to hardware costs and the sheer number of tablets that would be needed at most full service restaurants.<p>I have no doubt it would be a hit with consumers. Tuesday nights out would become "a thing" for the price sensitive. That's good for everyone.
Sheryl Kimes: “If you said it’s 20 percent cheaper to come during the week than on the weekend, people thought that was more acceptable than if you said it’s 20 percent more expensive on the weekend.”<p>Yes, we are mathematically illiterate, thanks for digging it in.
How does this article not mention one of the pioneers of this, Next in Chicago, which uses non-refundable tickets for reservations and costs a different amount on weekends and weekdays?<p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/17/dining/reviews/rstaurant-review-next-in-chicago.html?pagewanted=all" rel="nofollow">http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/17/dining/reviews/rstaurant-r...</a><p>The restaurant is always sold out, so I guess it's been successful.
The best strategy for getting a little spike in reservations may actually be something as simple as getting mentioned in the NYT. Getting mentioned in NYMag might be even better. No software needed for that; just some old fashioned PR.<p>Power of the press.