Some college students take on menial jobs to make money, but Alex Eisler, a sophomore at Brown University, has found a unique way to earn extra cash. He sells dinner reservations at some of New York City’s most popular restaurants through an app called Appointment Trader. This practice has garnered Eisler $100,000 in the past 19 months, despite facing criticism from top restaurants. Securing a reservation at these sought-after spots is nearly impossible for regular New Yorkers and tourists, leading them to platforms like Resy, a popular and free reservation site.
Resy works with over 16,000 restaurants worldwide, but reservations at New York City’s hottest eateries vanish within seconds. Platforms like Appointment Trader cater to those who are willing to pay on top of their food and drink expenses, which can amount to hundreds of dollars in the city. In this competitive environment, high-demand restaurants like Don Angie in NYC attract people willing to pay for a guaranteed seat. Eisler is part of the 15,000 sellers on the platform who acquire the best reservations to post on Appointment Trader for users to bid on, increasing the final price based on demand.
Jonas Frey, the creator of Appointment Trader, came up with the idea after experiencing frustration at the DMV. He launched the platform in 2021, initially hoping to allow people to pay for appointments but finding a surprising demand for restaurant reservations. Frey revealed that the platform sold $5.7 million in reservations over the past year, with customers purchasing an average of $20,000 in reservations daily. Most of the proceeds go to sellers like Eisler, with the site taking a 20% to 30% cut. Despite initial pushback from restaurants and cease-and-desist letters, some have now partnered with the platform to facilitate bidding on reservations while getting a share of the profits.
Eisler took advantage of Appointment Trader after realizing that others were selling reservations and decided to give it a try. He strategically balances his college schedule with his business, dedicating specific days like Tuesdays to focus on reservations. Using multiple Resy accounts, emails, bots, and different personas to secure bookings, Eisler must remain vigilant in case of cancellations or flagged accounts. While restaurants like Tatiana New York City, led by chef Kwame Onwuachi, do not sell reservations and operate on a first-come, first-served basis through Resy, others argue that the system gives access to exclusive dining experiences to a wider audience.
Siria Alvarez, manager at Tatiana, acknowledges the frustration for guests who try to make reservations through genuine means when faced with the option to buy them. She highlights the exclusivity of some restaurants and the impact of buying and selling reservations on the overall dining experience. Frey believes that monetizing reservations could eliminate wait times and ensure access to more people in the elite dining world. Despite the controversy, Eisler continues to succeed as a top seller on Appointment Trader, utilizing various tools and strategies to stay ahead of the competition and earn a significant income through the platform.
