Restaurants.com gift cert question

[Tiggeroo]

How do their gift certs work? Are they a good deal? Are they for specific restaurants ?

 

[JimmyPicker]

They are not actually gift certificates (unless they've started something different lately).

Basically, you're buying coupons. You can save a lot of money by using them, but I wouldn't give coupons as gifts.

 

[John Smith1]

They are an amount OFF of the total amount of the check, $10 or $25, depending on which you buy.

I wait for the 70 to 80% off and buy the $25 ones. There are LOTS of restaurants in Atlanta that use them.

They have stipulations, most expect you to spend about $35 to $60 to get the discount. Read the criteria carefully.

My biggest problem with them has been buying a cert after checking the website and getting down to the place and they don't allow kids. I use them a lot for weekend outings with my 2 kids.

I've given them as gifts but only to close associates. I started giving them away about 4 years ago and now they EXPECT THEM! My cousin, barber and my niece all ask for their certificates~!

 

[akhenaten]

They are an amount OFF of the total amount of the check, $10 or $25, depending on which you buy.

I wait for the 70 to 80% off and buy the $25 ones. There are LOTS of restaurants in Atlanta that use them.

They have stipulations, most expect you to spend about $35 to $60 to get the discount. Read the criteria carefully.

My biggest problem with them has been buying a cert after checking the website and getting down to the place and they don't allow kids. I use them a lot for weekend outings with my 2 kids.

I've given them as gifts but only to close associates. I started giving them away about 4 years ago and now they EXPECT THEM! My cousin, barber and my niece all ask for their certificates~!

OK I am curious... restaurants don't allow kids??? explain please

 

[Tiggeroo]

what I want to get is the monthly dinner club. You receive a new certificate in your email each month for six months. $25. each. They say you choose which restaurant and print it out then. I am wondering if you have a hard time getting the ones you want when you receive your certificate. I will be adding something with this and it is for my parents who like to eat out alot. It's 70% off now if you use the code wrap.

 

[John Smith1]

OK I am curious... restaurants don't allow kids??? explain please

I had this problem twice in the past year, restaurants that turned out to be pubs and they didn't allow anyone under 21, and was NOT mentioned on the website. I picked one because it was close to my kids' school and thought we'd go afterschool for some snacks and BAM, big sign with the limitations at the door.

I complained to Rest.com and they now have the info on the site. It should have been clearer but I did get a chance to change the restaurant. http://www.benchwarmersgrill.com/clairmont.html

 

[janets]

I've been buying some lately. I had an 80% off code so the $25 off, which are normally $10 to buy, ended up being $2 each. That's a pretty good deal to me.

There are a handful of restaurants in my general area that I like so I buy for them. Tried to find some near my office for some variety, but a bunch came up in NYC since I'm only about 15 miles or so into NJ at work. I don't feel like heading to the city (we live in western NJ) so I'm sticking with the local ones.

I did buy one for a "nicer" restaurant near us, but I'll leave the kids home that night with my mom.

Also, they were having some sort of promotion where you could send $10 off lunch certs to people for free. My sister sent me one and my mom. No cost but a good way to introduce someone if they'd never used the site before.

 

[akhenaten]

I had this problem twice in the past year, restaurants that turned out to be pubs and they didn't allow anyone under 21, and was NOT mentioned on the website. I picked one because it was close to my kids' school and thought we'd go afterschool for some snacks and BAM, big sign with the limitations at the door.

I complained to Rest.com and they now have the info on the site. It should have been clearer but I did get a chance to change the restaurant. http://www.benchwarmersgrill.com/clairmont.html

ahhhh, i don't know of many places like that.... it is good that they were responsive and changed the site!

My niece and her DH use these....but I have never ventured to try....
of course we tend to go out at the last minute so....IDK if it would work for us.... but I need to check it out!

Thanks....

 

[JessicaR]

I've been buying them for years. I have many restaurants that I like in my area on their list. I just bought 8 a few days ago and they were $3.00 each for a $25 GC. They have a $35-50 minimum purchase stipulation to use them.

 

[akhenaten]

I've been buying them for years. I have many restaurants that I like in my area on their list. I just bought 8 a few days ago and they were $3.00 each for a $25 GC. They have a $35-50 minimum purchase stipulation to use them.

is that 35 -50 per person or total order? counting drinks etc. or just food??

 

[JessicaR]

is that 35 -50 per person or total order? counting drinks etc. or just food??

Each different restaurant can have their own 'special instructions'. Some of mine are: Valid for dinner with a minimum food purchase of $35.00 and some are for $50.00
Total order.

They also say use for alcoholic beverages is at the sole descretion of the merchant.

 

[akhenaten]

Each different restaurant can have their own 'special instructions'. Some of mine are: Valid for dinner with a minimum food purchase of $35.00 and some are for $50.00
Total order.

They also say use for alcoholic beverages is at the sole descretion of the merchant.

Thanks...

 

[JessicaR]

Thanks...

Welcome!

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

We have a limited number of participating restaurants in our area. One we like is a Mexican restaurant, which is cheap to begin with. We buy this:

2 Fajita dinners
2 kids meals
2 appetizers
4 iced teas
total out-of-pocket -including tip on total before discount, and including the price of the gift certificate-under $20.

This restaurant lets you include alcoholic beverages if you want.

You can't eat that cheaply at McDonalds..well you can, but I'd rather eat Mexican.

 

[akhenaten]

We have a limited number of participating restaurants in our area. One we like is a Mexican restaurant, which is cheap to begin with. We buy this:

2 Fajita dinners
2 kids meals
2 appetizers
4 iced teas
total out-of-pocket -including tip on total before discount, and including the price of the gift certificate-under $20.

This restaurant lets you include alcoholic beverages if you want.

You can't eat that cheaply at McDonalds..well you can, but I'd rather eat Mexican.

sounds good!

 

[John Smith1]

We have a limited number of participating restaurants in our area. One we like is a Mexican restaurant, which is cheap to begin with. We buy this:

2 Fajita dinners
2 kids meals
2 appetizers
4 iced teas
total out-of-pocket -including tip on total before discount, and including the price of the gift certificate-under $20.

This restaurant lets you include alcoholic beverages if you want.

You can't eat that cheaply at McDonalds..well you can, but I'd rather eat Mexican.

I agree, I have two kids that are walking garbage disposals. I pay about $3.00 for a certificate, get a meal for myself and two kids meals and drinks AND dessert and still only pay the $10.00 over the $25.00 certificate and the tip. This is a deal for a really nice sit down restaurant and believe me, my kids wouldn't see the inside of one nowadays without one!