Be careful with Restaurant.com certificates...

[kimmyann]

We went to the Bennigan's in Kissimmee (by old town) last week because I had a gift certificate from Restaurant.com (which I got from my coke rewards). I informed the waiter that I had it and he said that he would have to check with his manager because they may not be accepting them anymore. I told him to check before we ordered. He did come back and say that they would accept it for me (like he was doing me a favor). Anyways, when we were leaving there was a note posted on the front door, which was not there when we came in that they are no longer accepting ANY gift certifcates and would give a 10% discount instead. This is exactley what I had feared could happen and have decided that it is just too risky to use again, which I also know many people have had no problems with restaurant.com and it is totally not their fault that Bennigan's chooses not to honor what they signed up for and practice bad business in my opinion. Just a heads up to anyone that may need it.

Kim

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

I always just call our restaurant in advance and ask before we even go there. So far, everyone around here is still taking them.

 

[polineedyan]

I dont know if this has anything to do with it, but about a year and a half ago, corporate Bennigans went under. The remaining Bennigans are all proprietorships. Im almost certain thats the case.
I have heard that restaurant.com is slow in stopping the coupons when the merchant backs out, but only hearsay.

 

[LaDonna]

I've had this happen three times in the years I've been using them, twice the place no longer accepted them(Ihad also waited a long time after purchasing them to use them), and the other time the restaurant was shut down. For the certificates I had only paid a few bucks so no biggie, BUT I also wrote restaurants.com and every time they quickly and very happily gave me credit to get new gift certificates I would never hesitate to give them my business

 

[DarleneW]

I have used restaurant.com for quite a few years and have never had a problem. A couple of times I received an e-mail from them informing me that I had an unused certificate and the restuarant is no longer participating so I was able to go to their website and get a certificate for another restaurant of my choice at no charge. I love when I can get $25 certificates for $2

 

[ILUVPOOH1]

Nothing to do with Rest.com. Bennigan's corporate went under and they take NO g.c's not even their own that they used to sell or entertainment book. Our's started that new policy and then closed 2 weeks later.

 

[Aggiegrl]

I dont know if this has anything to do with it, but about a year and a half ago, corporate Bennigans went under. The remaining Bennigans are all proprietorships. Im almost certain thats the case.
I have heard that restaurant.com is slow in stopping the coupons when the merchant backs out, but only hearsay.

I'm pretty sure that is correct. Our Bennigans are boarded up around here. I assume the remaining Bennigans will see no $$ out of those gift cards/certificates.

 

[ssawka]

We had this happen to us before and the waiter said it was because they have had too many people bringing in duplicates. This makes no sense to me as there is a number they can call to verify the certificates.

Anyway, the best thing to do with Restaurant.com certificates is to buy them right before you are ready to use them (that day even!) The Restaurant.com certificate "inventory" is reset each month, so if you wait to buy them until you use them there is a pretty good chance that the restaurant is still taking them.

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

Thanks for posting! My mom and I each bought one on 5/10 for Bennigans, I thought it was weird they weren't selling them this month. I just called Restaurant.com and they couldn't have been nicer, just emailed each of us a $25 credit for a new restaurant. My mom also had a certificate for a restuarant that went out of business and she got another credit for that one.

 

[blanq]

This is from the restaurant.com website:

What do I do if I attempt to use a Restaurant Gift Certificate and the restaurant is permanently closed or does not accept my Restaurant Gift Certificate? Although rare, restaurants can go out of business or change owners without informing Restaurant.com. If the restaurant is permanently closed or does not accept your Restaurant Gift Certificate, please contact Customer Service at info@restaurant.com (include your Restaurant Gift Certificate number or code) or call us at 1-800-979-8985 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Central Standard Time and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. Our Customer Service department will exchange your unused Restaurant Gift Certificate for equivalent credit to Restaurant.com in the form of a Restaurant.com Gift Certificate. You can then use your Restaurant.com Gift Certificate to choose another Restaurant Gift Certificate or Merchant Certificate from Restaurant.com.

 

[Happiest mommy]

Sorry bumping never heard of Restaurant.com can you please give me bit of info it sounds really good thanks.

 

[howlongtildisney]

I've used them a bunch and the only time I had trouble was when the restaurant closed for business before we used the certificate. Whoops!

 

[ICF]

We went to the Bennigan's in Kissimmee (by old town) last week because I had a gift certificate from Restaurant.com (which I got from my coke rewards). I informed the waiter that I had it and he said that he would have to check with his manager because they may not be accepting them anymore. I told him to check before we ordered. He did come back and say that they would accept it for me (like he was doing me a favor). Anyways, when we were leaving there was a note posted on the front door, which was not there when we came in that they are no longer accepting ANY gift certifcates and would give a 10% discount instead. This is exactley what I had feared could happen and have decided that it is just too risky to use again, which I also know many people have had no problems with restaurant.com and it is totally not their fault that Bennigan's chooses not to honor what they signed up for and practice bad business in my opinion. Just a heads up to anyone that may need it.

Kim

We were there back on 6/10 and used it with out issue....and to be honest, the guy didnt even make us spend the whole $35 amount (we were at 33.XX) and didn't add the 18% tip on automatically since as he told us that due to them being busy and short staffed he didnt think we should be obligated to give an 18% tip since the service was slower than normal. I think he ended up with 20% or so just b/c he was so nice about everything.

There was a sign on the door, similar to what you pointed out...except it read (at least a couple of weeks ago) that they would not accept any giftCARDS and would offer you a 10% discount if you had intended to use one.

 

[abmitch01]

like ladonna said, when I've had any problems or a restaurant has closed, I email them and they credit my acct.

 

[kimmyann]

I did just get the certificate a week before we left which was the week of June 14th. Actually, I did not consider any major problems since it was the first time I used one and was actually excited about going to a Bennigan's, since they closed the one here a few years ago. It is nice to know that if there were to be a problem in the future if I use them again that they will exchange it for another restaurant, that makes me feel better about using them again. I did have an email waiting for me when I got home, actually a survey and I did inform them there what happened at Bennigan's, but I left it at that since they did already accept mine.

 

[QVCshopper]

I've also had problems and have stopped purchasing the certificates. Not at Bennigans, but at local places. Too many rules and complications for me.

 

[rapmarks]

we bought one and the restaurant refused to accept it. I emailed Restaurant.com and they gave me a new certificate. However, that restaurant is still listed in that area and you can still purchase a certificate.

I disagree with waiting to purchase a certificate. There are very few close restaurants where we live. Luckily I bought some last year . that restaurant was only on for a month, but they did honor the certificate.

 

[pixiewings71]

I've never had any problems using certificates from restaurant.com. I bought some for our favorite Thai place back in April and I've used one every month since then. Not 1 issue at all. You can't beat paying $2 for a $25 certificate.

 

[kimsuenew]

I always just call our restaurant in advance and ask before we even go there. So far, everyone around here is still taking them.

I do the same thing!