I need to Vent!

[crashbb]

Make that 4.

Since I am in a seriously pedantic mood, I must point out that you are person number 5 not to get the reference (not person number 4).

And I am person number 6. I thought maybe the restaurant was a Hawaiian themed restaurant, but it is not.

 

[C.Ann]

OK, this is trivial in the grand scheme of things but, I am really annoyed by last night's dinner experience.

We wanted to use a groupon for a downtown (on the water) establishment. I love groupons, have used them frequently without problems.

This place, Bo Brooks, offered a $50 groupon for $25, so essentially half off. All well and good.

Well, not so much. We were told we couldn't use it indoors (as others were) but only outside at the "tiki" bar. I put the word in quotes because (having been to Hawaii and Key West) it was/is anything but. But our groupon, supposedly, is only good here - at these 8 metal tables - so we persevere.

OK, a little windy, a little dirty, but I guess the groupon gives us no choice. WE LOVE CRABS! But given the empty tables around us, we have an inkling the news won't be good.

So, no crabs with the groupon. And no entrées either. Apps and sandwiches only. But get this, they are half-price anyway, every night from 4-6 PM (we arrived at 5:15 pm) and all night on Tuesdays (yes we were there last night!)

So we didn't use our groupon, (per our server's advice), sat outside at a dirty metal table facing the dock, not the water, and had 2 glasses of wine, one truly awful crab pretzel and 2 crab cake sandwiches (OK, cold roll-nothing to write home about) for $40+...we left $50.00.

For what? This was as awful a dining out experience as it gets. First, we were told a complete lie about our groupon, we had to sit outside and it was windy, and we couldn't order what we wanted! We only stayed because it has been so long we had a night out. My husband loves the water and we spend most weekends at the beach. This was new and different (and my fault) so we stayed.

Never again. We were definitely taken advantage of...We've been to Hawaii twice so thats 30+days and never treated so poorly.

So, to summarize, Bo Brooks in Baltimore sucks...don't go there.

I have never heard of "groupons", but do you think it would have done any good to ask to speak to the manager?

It's frustrating to have things like that and then not have the establishment live up to what they are offering..

I'm sorry it was such a rotten experience for you..

 

[Handbag Lady]

We use Groupons a lot and they are not new here. I think she got hosed.

On every Groupon you buy, it spells out in several places the ins and outs of what it covers. I've used them for spa services as well as jet-fighter simulations. They are great and really help out smaller businesses get new clients and they help me to save money. Win-win.

OP, please write to Groupon and explain and then write to the restaurant.


And I got the Hawaii reference. She's been to touristy areas for well over 30 days (total from two trips) and not once encountered bad service, so it isn't like SHE'S the one going around making waves.

 

[NHdisneylover]

We use Groupons a lot and they are not new here. I think she got hosed.

On every Groupon you buy, it spells out in several places the ins and outs of what it covers. I've used them for spa services as well as jet-fighter simulations. They are great and really help out smaller businesses get new clients and they help me to save money. Win-win.

OP, please write to Groupon and explain and then write to the restaurant.


And I got the Hawaii reference. She's been to touristy areas for well over 30 days (total from two trips) and not once encountered bad service, so it isn't like SHE'S the one going around making waves.

I thought it had something to do with the bar area being referred to as a tiki bar by the staff However that would have nothing to do with the whole groupons things so maybe your idea is really it--but how the heck were we supposed to get THAT out of what she said?

 

[bjgrazi]

Add another who doesn't get the Hawaii reference. Also why didn't you just use the groupon?

 

[johnsontrio]

I also think her point is that she has seen real Tiki Bars in Hawaii and Key West and what they had was not a Tiki Bar. What I don't get is once you figured out that you weren't using the Groupon, why didn't you then move to a table of your choice? I'd be damn*d if I sit in a place I don't like and pay full price.

 

[ilovejack02]

Used Groupons several times for NOLA area, always had a good experience . It is the restaurant that is the issue , not the Groupons people . Call them and let them know your experience I would also call management and let them know your issues.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

I think the Hawaii mystery has been solved.


I am guessing that she feels like she got cheated by buying a $50 coupon for $25 when she really didn't need one. Their food was half off to begin with and did not require a coupon. This might not have been a big deal if she had actually liked the place, but since they were not impressed, they felt tricked into trying an restaurant they wouldn't have tried if not for the coupon. And not caring to go back, the coupon is pretty much worthless to her.

Does that make sense? I'm having a hard time putting it into words the way I want to, but I think I understand her issue. Maybe it's kind of like a bait and switch. She bought a coupon understanding she would get 50% off the meal. So they decided to try this restaurant because it seemed like a good deal by using the coupon. She did not need to use the coupon because there was a special for 50% off that did not require a coupon. I'm guessing they would not have gone to this restaurant were it not for the coupon. She did not use the coupon, because it was not necessary.

 

[phorsenuf]

I've been to jersey.

 

[crashbb]

I think the Hawaii mystery has been solved.


I am guessing that she feels like she got cheated by buying a $50 coupon for $25 when she really didn't need one. Their food was half off to begin with and did not require a coupon. This might not have been a big deal if she had actually liked the place, but since they were not impressed, they felt tricked into trying an restaurant they wouldn't have tried if not for the coupon. And not caring to go back, the coupon is pretty much worthless to her.

Does that make sense? I'm having a hard time putting it into words the way I want to, but I think I understand her issue. Maybe it's kind of like a bait and switch. She bought a coupon understanding she would get 50% off the meal. So they decided to try this restaurant because it seemed like a good deal by using the coupon. She did not need to use the coupon because there was a special for 50% off that did not require a coupon. I'm guessing they would not have gone to this restaurant were it not for the coupon. She did not use the coupon, because it was not necessary.

The thing is, it was never 50% off of the meal. It was $25 off of the meal.

The 50% savings bit is because she got a gift card worth $50 for only $25. So, it doesn't matter that the food was 50% (or 20% or whatever), as long as one spends $50, one would save $25. So, if the meal was $50 you'd save 50% and if the meal was $100 you'd save 25%. The catch being that you only save $25 if the meal costs at least $50 (the value of the gift card).

I actually went and looked at the Groupon site for Baltimore for the deal that this was the deal (and read what, I assume, were the OP's comments there since they are pretty much identical to here). I do think that things were very messed up. At one point, it did say that it was only valid in the Tiki Room, but this appears to have changed throughout the day and should not have been a problem for the OP.

I don't think that the OP has recourse through Groupon, I'm afraid. Her issue is with the restaurant. I would, however, let them know so that they can avoid allowing this restaurant to use Groupon in the future.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

The thing is, it was never 50% off of the meal. It was $25 off of the meal.

The 50% savings bit is because she got a gift card worth $50 for only $25. So, it doesn't matter that the food was 50% (or 20% or whatever), as long as one spends $50, one would save $25. So, if the meal was $50 you'd save 50% and if the meal was $100 you'd save 25%. The catch being that you only save $25 if the meal costs at least $50 (the value of the gift card).
I actually went and looked at the Groupon site for Baltimore for the deal that this was the deal (and read what, I assume, were the OP's comments there since they are pretty much identical to here). I do think that things were very messed up. At one point, it did say that it was only valid in the Tiki Room, but this appears to have changed throughout the day and should not have been a problem for the OP.

I don't think that the OP has recourse through Groupon, I'm afraid. Her issue is with the restaurant. I would, however, let them know so that they can avoid allowing this restaurant to use Groupon in the future.

Ok, so where I bolded above...I think I get it now. She couldn't run up a $50 bill because they were having a special that night? Is that right?

 

[MariDisney]

I think the Hawaii mystery has been solved.

Really? I don't get it. She's been to Hawaii so ...?

 

[crashbb]

Ok, so where I bolded above...I think I get it now. She couldn't run up a $50 bill because they were having a special that night? Is that right?

But she did spend $50 (or close to it).

So we didn't use our groupon, (per our server's advice), sat outside at a dirty metal table facing the dock, not the water, and had 2 glasses of wine, one truly awful crab pretzel and 2 crab cake sandwiches (OK, cold roll-nothing to write home about) for $40+...we left $50.00.

 

[Dr.Girlfriend]

I AM SO LOST.

I know what a Groupon is. But I have no idea what Hawaii has to do with this story. Or why she didn't end up using the Groupon.

 

[MELSMICE]

Make that 4.

Add me to the not understanding Hawaii list.

I know the server recommended you not use the groupon, but why? If you were spending $50 on your meal & would have been able to use the groupon why didn't you use it?

I'm a a little confused also.

 

[Abbie]

If you decided not to use the groupon thing why on earth did you choose to remain outside at a dirty table (since that seemed to be related to the groupon)?

Last night in Baltimore the weather was pretty close to perfect so it should have been very pleasant outside.

And, although it doesn't matter worth a hill of beans, Bo Brooks is an institution in Baltimore, well-known for their crabcakes and seafood, often being placed in the "Best of Baltimore" category for seafood restaurants. If you had so many issues, I agree with so many of the other posters and wonder why you didn't speak with a manager. There's no way they've remained in business so long and with such a stellar reputation if they didn't care about their customers!

 

[DaParkers]

Used Groupons several times for NOLA area, always had a good experiences.

What restaurants? I think I'll try them.

 

[MarilIncredible]

Why did you go during Happy Hour? Why not go at 6, when Happy Hour is over and you can order the crabs and get what you really wanted?

And having lived in Hawaii for 5 years, I still don't really get how it relates to a crab shack in Baltimore.

 

[crashbb]

What restaurants? I think I'll try them.

It changes daily (and isn't always a restaurant).

With Groupon (and other similar sites), you get an email everyday telling you the Groupon of the day - which you can then decide to skip or buy. I could be a discounted gift card to a restaurant, something at a spa, gym membership/classes....

If you Google Groupon in your city, the site allows you to look at recent offers (you can only buy the one for that particular day), so you can see what the selection is like.

 

[Muffin]

So we didn't use our groupon, (per our server's advice), sat outside at a dirty metal table facing the dock, not the water, and had 2 glasses of wine, one truly awful crab pretzel and 2 crab cake sandwiches (OK, cold roll-nothing to write home about) for $40+...we left $50.00.

I don't particularly care about the Hawaii reference, buy I'm dying to know what a crab pretzel is.