Petty to boycott local restaurants due to this?

[Wife226]

We are quite fortunate to have a really good selection of restaurants where we live. Two are under the same ownership but are different themes etc.

One in particular recently re-opened after a refurbishment and there has been a string of local ‘influencers’ and I use the term lightly putting up posts of them eating there (multiple courses) with it being clear that they were given it for free.

They also did similar with their other restaurant in the summer.

Is it petty to no longer visit them as a result? I would resent paying full price whilst the ‘influencer’ (PT with 2000 followers) gets it all for free.

Your choice where you spend your money.

They won't even know you haven't gone though so it won't impact them.

Absolutely, it is petty and pointless. Unless you post photos of yourself walking past their doors, and then enjoying a meal at a rival restaurant - then it becomes influential, assuming you have followers of course.

Well they are not likely to have the advertising budget of a national chain are they? They have to get the word out that they have refurbished and reopened at the lowest possible cost to their small business. Are you happy to live in a town where there are no independent restaurants? Because if enough people took your petty attitude there wouldn’t be any small businesses.

It must be an unhappy existence living your life feeling such petty jealousy of strangers.

It's how a lot of places advertise now.

I'd see the free meals as part of their advertising budget, not something to get het up about

I wouldn't say it was petty but you might be cutting off your nose to spite your face if you like the restaurant.

One way to look at it is that they'd be paying more than the cost of a meal for advertising on local radio, in local press or online.

Meh. The restaurant has a marketing budget. Spending that budget on giving free meals to people in exchange for advertising content seems perfectly reasonable.

If they had paid Meta, Google etc. to place ads online then they'd probably have spent more and achieved less as the content wouldn't be as well targeted as organic content from local people (who could be termed influencers, but the word isn't important).

At least this way the money can circulate in the local economy and filter down to staff in the restaurant, food suppliers etc., instead of lining the pockets of billionaire tech bros.

Go or don’t go, it’s up to you. But don’t go complaining when your local high street is just made up of chain restaurants and estate agents when you don’t support independents.

Very petty. You're not boycotting them because their food is good, the prices are acceptable and the quality and service are on point, you're boycotting them because they chose to advertise through an influencer and you're salty YOU didn't get something for free.

I have in the past emailed a company to say I won’t shop with them but with x competitor instead because I’m not interested is subsidising a discount they were giving to certain people only.
Not something I do regularly but in this case the full price was (IMO) way too high, and would have been lower if all customers were paying it.

You get boycott for whatever reason you want

YABU it's advertising. Why would you resent a business getting cheap advertising for the price of a couple of meals? What a weird thing to resent.

The influencers are being paid (with food) to do some work (advertise) a business.

If you would like to be paid to do some work for the business, why not offer your services? You too could get free meals. if you don’t have 2000 followers or wouldn’t like to post to them about eating at the restaurant, then you’ve discovered why the restaurant is willing to pay someone who does.

I agree with you OP.
I wouldn't want to eat in a place that valued itself so poorly it gave away food to " influencers"
I can't believe people making a living out of cadging stuff from people and businesses. What a load of sheep the people who take any notice of " influencers" are.

They are paying for advertising. there's lots of ways of advertising. If you didn't want to eat there because it's full of influencers being annoying that would be different.

Local businesses are struggling - especially restaurants - support them.

Would you not buy a brand of cola because they spend money on advertising?
Would you not buy a brand of trainers because they spend money on advertising?
Would you not buy a brand of car because they spend money on advertising?

They are spending money on advertising.

Very weird to think a business wouldn’t have a marketing budget.

I don’t need something for free. I’ve a good pension - DH is approaching retirement in a c-suite role with a wonderful package. You have missed the point.

Do you scrutinise the marketing strategies of every business you use, OP, and boycott them if they don’t come up to scratch?

Seems like an odd thing to do. Either you want to eat there or not. If you like their food and can afford their prices, what difference does it make to you?

I would imagine the restaurant owners and employees do many things that you would find annoying. This is just one you happen to know about.

Quite and even if you did, it wouldn't tell you the value it added to their business because that's only information that they have.

They are doing what works for them to bring in more people through the doors while operating in a really difficult climate. Hospitality is on its knees.

But apparently 'how dare they' eh?!

This is just snobbery dressed up.

Actually OP I think it's you that has missed the point!

Entirely! Also very gauche to flaunt wealth - just saying "I don't want a free meal" is enough.

If you want to fart into the wind, that's your prerogative. Enjoy.

Quite reasonable in my opinion. I don't think it is good business or marketing at all.