Posted on 02/17/2011 5:22:16 AM PST by PJ-Comix
Most of you have probably heard of Restaurant.Com and are probably wondering if the hype lives up to the reality. In a simple word: Yes! However, there are certain things you must be aware of to properly use your Restaurant.Com gift certificates...
(Excerpt) Read more at couponwhisperer.blogspot.com ...
PING!
PINGEEs are now being accepted into The Coupon Whisperer PING List so let me know if you want to join up.
Welcome aboard, PINGEE #193.
I absolutely LOVE restaurant.com. We’re able to dine out more often using their certificates. We’ve been using their service for at least two years.
I got a free gift cert from them through a happenings book I bought. Just so happens the place with my favorite stuffed pizza (a 14” pizza weighs in at 5lbs) is on the list! 25 dollar cert for 10 bucks. You have to spend 35 but thats not hard to do when the pizza is that good :)
Thanks for the ping! We haven’t had our V-Day dinner yet (DH is out of town on business) so this information will come in handy! :-)
I have used it multiple times. Each restaurant has their own specific conditions to use their discount.
Typically www.couponmom.com will publish the special CODE word to get the 80% off deals.
The only issue I have with them is you need to spend $10 at their website to get the discount. That means you may need to buy multiple $25.00 gift certificates at 80% off to get to $10. Also, the better restaurants in my area seem to “sell out” immediately.
On another subject: Colgate Sensative toothpaste @ CVS is a money maker this week with Extra Bucks and $1 q.
NEVER pay 10 bucks for those $25 certificates when they are FREQUENTLY available for only a couple of bucks.
Nope. Didn't happen with me. I only spent a couple of bucks to get my first Restaurant.Com certificate and everything worked out fine for me. Maybe they changed the rules since you got it.
The problems are minor but noticeable:
Most certificates provide for a 18% gratuity. If you are like me and generally tip 10% that is 8% lost in vaue.
Many carry holiday and other days of the week restrictions.
Most don’t cover alcoholic beverages.
Sometimes you end up spending more than you normally would because you need to spend the minimum before the certificate has any value. This can be $35 or more you need to spend (excluding the tip) to get $25 off. So you would need to spend $41.30 to get $25 off. Sometimes the minimum is larger with $50 being pretty regular.
Restaurants come and go on the web site, but the preponderance of the certificates appear to be for average to less than average restaurants.
I have used these certificates for years. If you don’t get them for free or almost free as a result of some promotion, they aren’t worth it when you get right down to all the little twists of being able to use them and use them economically, not just wastefully on your own budget.
My opinions anyway.
I am waiting for $200 in restaurant.com coupons now that cost me $2.99 through American Express. This is the 2nd promotion they have done with these. You need to subscribe to a service (this was a golf magazine). The $2.99 is for the first 60 days then it is $30 per year. You can cancel anytime after you subscribe so I wait for the coupons in the mail and then cancel the day after I get them so I never pay more than the $2.99.
You need to watch the calender though and if they don’t show up CALL the promotion company and demand them!
Then you are tipping too little. A normal tip is considered to be 15% so you need to shell out a measly 3% more.
Most don’t cover alcoholic beverages.
So whether or not you are going to use the certificates, you are going to drink anyways.
Sometimes you end up spending more than you normally would because you need to spend the minimum before the certificate has any value.
Unless you are dining at Micky Ds, it isn't hard for a dinner for two to hit $35.
Bottom line is that you save a LOT when using the certificates compared to not using them plus I NEVER pay full price for them when they are easily available for 80% discount.
Please add me to your ping list.
Welcome aboard, PINGEE #194.
Welcome aboard, PINGEE #195.
Mrs. L found this service a while back. She’s gotten us several outstanding meals in the $100 price range for 10 or 15 bucks.
Just remember to tip on the full value of the meal.
Best,
L
I’m on restaurant.com’s email list and it doesn’t cost a dime. I get daily email from them and when I see the discount is 80% I open them to get the discount code. Otherwise it’s a simple click of the delete button.
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