No Prices Allowed on Event Pages?

[+DudleyGrunt]

I have known that when listing an event at a restaurant, you can't put a link to the restaurant on the event page, but now my local reviewer (Dr. MD) says that, after conferring with another reviewer, you can't list prices because it is considered advertising. What about the name of the restaurant? Will that be next? I'd hate for folks to have an idea what to expect when they show up! I have a feeling that at some point, Groundspeak will not allow events at restaurants because they are commercial activities and not in the spirit of the game. It would simply be the same standard applied to other cache types. How many restaurants want a bunch of people hanging out and not buying any food?

[knowschad]

I have known that when listing an event at a restaurant, you can't put a link to the restaurant on the event page, but now my local reviewer (Dr. MD) says that, after conferring with another reviewer, you can't list prices because it is considered advertising. What about the name of the restaurant? Will that be next? I'd hate for folks to have an idea what to expect when they show up! I have a feeling that at some point, Groundspeak will not allow events at restaurants because they are commercial activities and not in the spirit of the game. It would simply be the same standard applied to other cache types. How many restaurants want a bunch of people hanging out and not buying any food?

Hey... we are not only geocachers, but most of us are pretty well versed in the internet in general. Give us the coordinates, and we will give you the name of the restaurant, and if they have a website, their menu, prices, and contact information. Don't worry about it.

[GOF and Bacall]

Create your own event website. Link to it on your cache page.

[+StarBrand]

I am sure a generic price would be fine. Something like:

 

"Most lunches go for between $7 and $9 at the xyz diner - so if you want to eat be sure to bring some cash."

[Keystone]

I am sure a generic price would be fine. Something like:

 

"Most lunches go for between $7 and $9 at the xyz diner - so if you want to eat be sure to bring some cash."

Yes, that would be fine - especially if the event is at a little-known restaurant.

 

Listing the entire menu and price list for a popular steak house chain would not be appropriate for a cache page.

[knowschad]

I am sure a generic price would be fine. Something like:

"Most lunches go for between $7 and $9 at the xyz diner - so if you want to eat be sure to bring some cash."

Yes, that would be fine - especially if the event is at a little-known restaurant.

Listing the entire menu and price list for a popular steak house chain would not be appropriate for a cache page.

What about a popular seafood restaurant?

[+Touchstone]

Or you could merely state on the Listing that folks that really need the pricing details can email you privately. Seriously, I can't imagine folks making a big fuss over it. Around our area, most folks are more concerned that it not be pizza again

[avroair]

I have known that when listing an event at a restaurant, you can't put a link to the restaurant on the event page.

 

Huh? I do that all the time, I send them to a menu. I also mention the name of the restaurant cause in my experience geocachers are not so good with directions and locations as they think they are.

[+Prime Suspect]

I have known that when listing an event at a restaurant, you can't put a link to the restaurant on the event page, but now my local reviewer (Dr. MD) says that, after conferring with another reviewer, you can't list prices because it is considered advertising. What about the name of the restaurant? Will that be next? I'd hate for folks to have an idea what to expect when they show up! I have a feeling that at some point, Groundspeak will not allow events at restaurants because they are commercial activities and not in the spirit of the game. It would simply be the same standard applied to other cache types. How many restaurants want a bunch of people hanging out and not buying any food?

Nothing new. Been like that for years.

[jholly]

I am sure a generic price would be fine. Something like:

 

"Most lunches go for between $7 and $9 at the xyz diner - so if you want to eat be sure to bring some cash."

Yes, that would be fine - especially if the event is at a little-known restaurant.

 

Listing the entire menu and price list for a popular steak house chain would not be appropriate for a cache page.

 

I guess that would be fine, but most events at a restaurant I have gone to there was no mention of prices. I generally assume that the place that was picked is not a 4 or 5 star coat and tie required place. Most are pizza places, buffets, or pub grub places. Most know pretty much what to expect for prices so that is a detail that can probably be left out.

[+DudleyGrunt]

Thanks for the comments.

 

I guess I should have said that this even is at a buffet, where there is more or less a set price for "admission" and I have found it helpful to let folks know what to expect. I have always listed the prices for my monthly event that has been held at a pizza / past buffet. The same place is now a steak buffet and the prices are nearly double what they used to be.

 

I've not bothered listing prices for your standard type of restaurants since folks have more of a choice as to what to order. For my first event, I did try to list a link to the place, but of course got denied. Again, I just guess I see the benefit providing info to prospective attendees outweighing the damage to the game the taint of commercialism would have.

[+power69]

I am sure a generic price would be fine. Something like:

 

"Most lunches go for between $7 and $9 at the xyz diner - so if you want to eat be sure to bring some cash."

Doesn't always work like that. the last event I went to I was told if i didn't order anything, i'd have to get off the property with a snippy attitude i might add[at least i got to sign the logbook before that]

[+DudleyGrunt]

While it is sort of expected the restaurant would want people to order something, I've never had that issue, power69. I'd be less likely to want to go back if they really got snippy about one person not eating.

 

Then again, that is why I (half jokingly) suggested that GS may decide at somepoint that having events at a restaurant is incompatible with the non-commercial ideals of geocaching.

 

Keystone, thanks for the suggestion. I wonder, though, that if the place is a buffet with pretty much one set price if "expect the buffet to be about $12, less for seniors and children" would be better than my orginal listing along the lines of ...

 

Prices:

Adults 12.39

Seniors: 11.49

3-12 yo: $.60 x age

under 3: free

 

Prices include drinks, but not tax or tip, so please remember our servers.

 

You know what? I if asking people to "remember our servers" (leave a tip) is considered a solicitation and wouldn't really be allowed because of that?

[+Touchstone]

I if asking people to "remember our servers" (leave a tip) is considered a solicitation and wouldn't really be allowed because of that?

 

Quite frankly yes. Besides, do you really want clods like that at your Event, that need that sort of reminding That kind of falls in the category of "please wash your hands before handling food". Common courtesy dictates that if you get good service, you should leave a tip.

 

Certainly no tip for the person that asked power69 to leave

[+DudleyGrunt]

No, but not sure how to screen them.

[knowschad]

I am sure a generic price would be fine. Something like:

 

"Most lunches go for between $7 and $9 at the xyz diner - so if you want to eat be sure to bring some cash."

Doesn't always work like that. the last event I went to I was told if i didn't order anything, i'd have to get off the property with a snippy attitude i might add[at least i got to sign the logbook before that]

That is absurd!! I hope that was the last event held at that place!

[+Castle Mischief]

You know what? I if asking people to "remember our servers" (leave a tip) is considered a solicitation and wouldn't really be allowed because of that?

 

Not if you do it in person at the event. Solicitation guidelines concern only the cache(event) page.

[+BlueDeuce]

Create your own event website. Link to it on your cache page.

 

I just put the not-event specific information in a thread on my local club forum.

 

Restaurant details, where we're going caching before and after, etc.

 

We even have a General Events Forum category.

[+DudleyGrunt]

Create your own event website. Link to it on your cache page.

 

I just put the not-event specific information in a thread on my local club forum.

 

Restaurant details, where we're going caching before and after, etc.

 

We even have a General Events Forum category.

 

And that is what I've done in this case.

[+wimseyguy]

If the buffet restaurant was one of the generic national corporate chains, I would hope that the reviewer might even exercise this part of the guidelines to host the event somewhere where there serve fresh and good tasting food too.

 

At times a cache may meet the listing requirements for the site but the reviewers, as experienced cachers, may see additional concerns that you as a cache placer may not have noticed. As a courtesy, the reviewer may bring additional concerns about cache placement to your attention and offer suggestions before posting.

[+thedeadpirate]

Prices include drinks, but not tax or tip, so please remember our servers.

 

You know what? I if asking people to "remember our servers" (leave a tip) is considered a solicitation and wouldn't really be allowed because of that?

 

My guess is that is the line that caused the problem. You probably just copied it from the restaurant's website, but it makes it sound like you have a stake in the restaurant.

[Skippermark]

Doesn't always work like that. the last event I went to I was told if i didn't order anything, i'd have to get off the property with a snippy attitude i might add[at least i got to sign the logbook before that]

That would be a restaurant I'd probably not go back to. I wonder if it was management or the waiter/waitress who said that.

 

I guess I should have said that this even is at a buffet, where there is more or less a set price for "admission" and I have found it helpful to let folks know what to expect.

There are people for various reasons that choose not to eat at events, and it would be quite frustrating to show up and be told they had to shell out $10.50 to enter. I wonder if an event like would be allowed because it requires someone to pay to attend.

[+popokiiti]

We attended an event at a local pub style restaurant which is kid-friendly. Our only snafu was that one of our number, in his excitement, forgot to pay his bill. He was called by another cacher, returned lickety-split and paid. It was a great lesson for his son on the right thing to do.

I think a ball-park figure for appies/meals should be OK, but I am not the reviewer. I think our event may have named the restaurant....but I have to check on that.

 

edit to add - the name and address of the restaurant was on the cache page and the fact that "Appy Hour - 2 for 1 appies" was from 3 - 5 pm. We were asked by a server if we wanted a drink/menus and told that we were not obliged to order anything. We then drank, ate and tipped!

Edited February 2, 2010 by popokiiti

[+bittsen]

My personal opinion, for what it's worth, is that if a venue is generous enough to allow a geocaching event to be held on their premises, then Groundspeak should reciprocate the generosity by allowing the minimal amount of publicity including the restaurant name and perhaps geocacher specials.

[GOF and Bacall]

Create your own event website. Link to it on your cache page.

 

I just put the not-event specific information in a thread on my local club forum.

 

Restaurant details, where we're going caching before and after, etc.

 

We even have a General Events Forum category.

 

Yup. We have an events section at GITBuff. And I know that TPTB over there aren't as fussy about advertising the venue. We may take it more seriously if a restaurant were to open an account just to hold an event.

[+DudleyGrunt]

Prices include drinks, but not tax or tip, so please remember our servers.

 

You know what? I if asking people to "remember our servers" (leave a tip) is considered a solicitation and wouldn't really be allowed because of that?

 

My guess is that is the line that caused the problem. You probably just copied it from the restaurant's website, but it makes it sound like you have a stake in the restaurant.

 

No, it was specifically the specificity of the price information. I have no stake in the restaurant, other than wanting to maintain good relations and hoping that our servers (even at a buffet) are taken care of.

 

After talking to my reviewer in reference to Keystones consent to StarBrand's suggestion of an approximation / range of the prices, he talked to some other reviewers and agreed to that idea.

 

Since that accomplishes what I was looking to do, I've updated the page and we're all good.

[GOF and Bacall]

Glad to hear it got worked out. Thank you for posting the results. I hate it when these things are left hanging.

[+BlueDeuce]

Sweet.

[+DudleyGrunt]

Figured I owed to all involved to share the resolution.

[+deb3day]

I had the same thing happen to me. I wanted to list the adult and kid prices at the buffet where I had a breakfast event. I was told not to. So I mentioned that if anyone wanted to know the prices, they could email me. Heh, even the reviewer emailed me for prices the night before.

 

But what I don't understand is that an event I attended recently had prices listed and no one stopped that. I think the way around it is that some folks don't list prices on the original post, but then add it later, hoping no reviewers will see the addition.

[GOF and Bacall]

I had the same thing happen to me. I wanted to list the adult and kid prices at the buffet where I had a breakfast event. I was told not to. So I mentioned that if anyone wanted to know the prices, they could email me. Heh, even the reviewer emailed me for prices the night before.

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...mp;qpid=4214266

But what I don't understand is that an event I attended recently had prices listed and no one stopped that. I think the way around it is that some folks don't list prices on the original post, but then add it later, hoping no reviewers will see the addition.

 

That is one way around it. It is also one way to tick off your reviewer. You sure you want to do that?

[+sullude]

I have known that when listing an event at a restaurant, you can't put a link to the restaurant on the event page, but now my local reviewer (Dr. MD) says that, after conferring with another reviewer, you can't list prices because it is considered advertising. What about the name of the restaurant? Will that be next? I'd hate for folks to have an idea what to expect when they show up! I have a feeling that at some point, Groundspeak will not allow events at restaurants because they are commercial activities and not in the spirit of the game. It would simply be the same standard applied to other cache types. How many restaurants want a bunch of people hanging out and not buying any food?

 

I agree with you, I like to know ahead of time on price, I'm not going to bring my 4 year old to a $9 buffet I think some reviewer have a power trip sometimes, if they don't like something, good luck trying to get it published Just my 2 cents

[+smstext]

couldnt you just say "food is available and menus can be downloaded from joe bloggs pubs website" then someone with at least a brain cell will google the pub and town and see it has a website and then can view the menu and read about the pub?

[GOF and Bacall]

couldnt you just say "food is available and menus can be downloaded from joe bloggs pubs website" then someone with at least a brain cell will google the pub and town and see it has a website and then can view the menu and read about the pub?

 

I suspect that would trip the circuit breaker as a commercial violation. You can create a web page for the event and link from there to the restaurants web page. Link to the event page on the cache page.