meal vouchers -- is this saving?

[disneycrazed139]

I am trying to figure out how the meal vouchers actually save you money. I understand that the Q and C vouchers will save you money if you use them specifically at Beaches and Cream and other locations where you'll get more bang for your buck.

I don't have a clue how the lunch vouchers "premium vouchers" save any money.

They are about $30/piece... I went over some receipts from my last trip. At La Cellier in Canada we ordered 2 prime rib meals and 1 drink each. Prime rib was 17.99. The bill came to about 48 with tax and tip.

Another example: At 50s Prime Time cafe we ordered 2 pot roasts and drinks. The bill came to about $35 with tax and tip.

To me the $30 vouchers would be basically like pre-paying to get an appetizer and dessert in addition. Perhaps even over-paying for these items depending on the restaurant.

Any insight on this? I'd like to use them if I could justify a savings, but in all reality, it doesn't look like there is much.

Add to this the monthly service fee and I just can't figure out what draws people to these "savings" clubs.

Any stories on how Hotwire saved you money?

 

[mad4themouse]

You're absolutely correct that there is no savings to be had with the vouchers if your normal eating habits do not include purchasing appetizers and desserts with your meal. And, you will not save money with every order at every restaurant.

But, if you are the type to order the whole shootin' match, and you like the more expensive items on the menu, then you will save money or break even.

The appeal is the that everything is included in the cost of the voucher...the tax, the tip and the food itself. There is no trying to do math in your head. No trying to figure out how much the meal is really going to cost you in the long run. You sit down, order what appeals to you and you hand over the signed voucher when it's over. And you've pre-paid for the meal, so it eliminates (or at least reduces) the question of how much money to bring on vacation for food.

So, you have the potential for savings and you have convenience.

I've maintained membership at Hotwire Savings Club, even though I've purchased all the vouchers that I'll need for this next trip. The cost is $7.95 per month but I order the giftcards from them as well. They rebate $5 for every $25 GC. If I order just 2 GCs per month, I've made my money back and then some. There are no restrictions on the GCs and they can be used just like any other GC.

I bought a digital camera at Circuit City and paid for it with GCs. I saved $50 over the cost of the camera by using 10 $25 GCs that actually cost me $200. I regularly shop at Target and order at least $100 in GCs for there per month. I paid for a wedding shower gift using GCs from Macy's.

Add in the bookstore GCs, Linens and Things, JCPenney, Olive Garden, Hard Rock Café, Macy's, Sports Authority and I save anywhere from $50 to $100 per month on the GCs that I order. It more than makes up for the monthly membership fee.

It's not for everyone but it works for me.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Originally posted by mad4themouse

The appeal is the that everything is included in the cost of the voucher...the tax, the tip and the food itself. There is no trying to do math in your head. No trying to figure out how much the meal is really going to cost you in the long run. You sit down, order what appeals to you and you hand over the signed voucher when it's over. And you've pre-paid for the meal, so it eliminates (or at least reduces) the question of how much money to bring on vacation for food.

So, you have the potential for savings and you have convenience.

I use the vouchers as a way to prepay our meals.

 

[frannn]

Just wanted to point out that you don't necessarily have to go out of your way to use the Q&Cs to save a few $. We were pleasantly surprised to find that these vouchers saved us $ at the AS food court, where we were staying. DH and I didn't used to order desert in the past, when we went to WDW alone, and we did have the refillable mugs, but since we have had DD1 with us, things have changed! We have found it cheaper to use the vouchers for ourselves (getting a single serve carton of milk for our voucher beverage-for DD) and either a sundae to share or a cookie for later. We would have to buy the milk and the treat separately without the vouchers. When we are using the Q&Cs in the parks, we can not depend on the mugs, so we usually get at least one drink to share anyway. We don't go for the typical hamburger and chicken strip fare (at least I don't) so the meals we order even in the food court can be 8.99 each, before tax and extras. I'm figuring: 8.99 food court meal
1.99 milk, powerade, etc
4.99 sundae
1.03 tax

The total cost for our dinner (somewhat shared with DD1) is about 17. That is a decent savings to me. Sure, we may not always get the most expensive meal on the menu, but we most likely save $ when you add it all together at the end. The point I'm trying to make is it really depends on what your individual needs are, and where you are staying. I am usually careful what I spend when it comes to dining out. I tend to look for the least expensive things on the menu. Using these vouchers, I can forget the price and just order what I want, and get the desert to share. I don't have to worry that we'll use so much cash for food, snacks & drinks, that I won't have enough for the souveniers I want. I don't have to worry about all $ being lost or stolen (sometimes DH keeps a lot in his wallet ) because I keep the vouchers in the room safe. So, the vouchers work for us! Not for every meal, but for a bunch of dinners.

 

[zippehsmom]

Well my situation is similar to Mad4themouse. We live near a super Kmart (so we are able to buy groceries there also). We also live near a Target. I just recently bought gym shoes for the entire family (family of 5). Well I used gift cards for the purchase and saved $50 on top of the sale Footlocker was having.

We also go to the movies quite a bit. Not to mention we visit Outback, Olive Garden or Red Lobsters at least once a month.

I also purchased our PHP's from Hotwire, Breakfast Vouchers, VKL's and Q & C's from them.

So the savings definitely add up, it just depends on what your spending habits are and where you shop.

zippehsmom

 

[bobcat]

How soon do you see the savings on the gift certificates? How exactly does that work?

 

[georgina]

I orderd gift cards at the beginning of April, they charged me the monthly fee at the beginning of May, and a few days after that, the credit for the gift cards showed up on my credit card statement. If you cancel during the 30 day trial period, you would not get the rebate.

 

[DMRick]

For dinner last night, hubby and I ate at the food court in POR last night and got (we did share and usually, we don't get dessert):
We have mugs and also got:

Apple pie 3.59
Deluxe Pizza 5.99
Large orange juice (saved for breakfast) 2.99
Small tossed Salad 2.59

sub total 15.16
tax .99
total 16.15

For lunch at POR today hubby and I shared
Prime rib sandwich (again we usually wouldn't get dessert)
Large orange Juice (I'll drink it for breakfast) 2.99
small tossed salad 2.59
carrot cake

I don't remember the exact prices and I can't find the receopt, but it came to about $17 and change.


tonight 4 of us ate at Pepper market using the Q & C

3 sodas
1 coffee
4 side salads and wheat bread
1 grilled tuna
1 rib eye with veggies and potatoe
2 prime ribs with vegie and potatoe
4 desserts

Total with tax, before the tip they add

$129.00

So for us, they are money savers. We used a lunch cert at RF-AK first night here for dinner (stuffed lobster and primal steak, but substituted the cocoanut shrimp for lobster, veggies and rice, shrimp cocktail, and as members of the Safari club got another free appetizer, as well as coffee, lemonade and a dessert to go (we shared and were stuffed..ate the dessert later)..again shared and again had a great savings.

 

[Jennylen]

Is there any expiration dates on GC (such as Macy's Cirty City, Taget...) from Hotwire? Try to find out before ordering. Thanks.

 

[bobcat]

Thanks georgina. That's the way I thought they would work but wasn't sure.

 

[brandip22]

bobcat and georgina- you can get the rebate even if you cancel inthe thirty days. It jsut depends on when you join. They do the rebate at the beginning of the month. I joined, got my giftcards 3 days later and received my rebate two days after that! In less than a week, I could have cancelled and still got my rebate. I didn't cancel, but you definately could. I joined at the end of April, so that's why it was so quick for me to get my rebate as I ordered my giftcards the day I joined. There is a post I saw a few days back that said the exact dates tehy rebate, so you could search for that and see when you should join if that's your plan.

 

[Mic]

DMRick-
I just wanted to say how helpful all of your posts have been for me. I always read your response to every question, as I consider you the reigning authority on a lot of things. Anyway, my question concerns the use of the VKL vouchers at RC-AK. I, too, am a Safari Club Member, and have never been able to take advantage of the free appetizer there. On two different occassions, I tried to get the Safari Club or DVC discount(of 10% I think) on the "extra" items I ordered, such as 2 salads and 2 extra drinks, and was told I could not combine the discount with the vouchers. What am I doing wrong? Would you mind sharing with me what you ordered that netted you the free appetizer? Also, could you explain the shrimp substitution, as I was not able to do this either the one time I tried to. Thanks so much!

 

[BrittnTylersMom]

We ate at RFC (AK) on Friday. Used 4 VKL vouchers for 4 adults and 2 children, lots of yummy food which we did eat almost all of. I paid $124. for the vouchers...our food bill was $238.!!

 

[DMRick]

Anyway, my question concerns the use of the VKL vouchers at RC-AK. I, too, am a Safari Club Member, and have never been able to take advantage of the free appetizer there.

Wow Mic..thanks for the compliment. I don't know if I can live up to that LOL.

I guess you'll have to come when we come LOL. Shucks, I jsut say..we're sharing this voucher and for my safari appetizer, can I still get anything that is the price of the chicken quesidilla's (sp?) or do I have to get them. Then I get what I want LOL. They do always say to me, that I can't use the 10% off the actual meal, since I'm not paying anything, and I usually say (if I'm ordering a salad), I understand..please put my salad on a different receipt, as I'll be using my annual pass on that. I can't use my safari for the 10% off, since I'm using it for the appetizer instead (it's one or the other).

For the shrimp..I'm not adding shrimp. I'm ordering the stuffed lobster with the primal steak and I'm asking them to substitute the laboster for the shrimp. We've done that several times this year, with no problem.

Tonight we ate at Beaches (I am not looking forward to stepping on the scale when I go home).

We go (using the Q & C)

one double hamburg $8.99
substiture onion rings for fries $1.00
Soda $1.99
banana split $7.99

with tax it was $21.27..plus the tip was covered.

It was an additional $1.06 for the second toasted roll.

I think I posted our meal at France somewhere on the Budget board. If I didn't and anyone is interested, I'll repost it here. I sure was surprised to be told that with one vouchers, we could get the $22 meat and cheese appetizer!!
Doris