Comments on: 80% off Restaurant.com: $25 Certificates for $2

By: quest

quest — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:15:27 +0000

beware of minimum purchase requirement. the one i got only showed the minimum purchase of $150 after i submit my payment info, and when i call up to cancel they would say no way because the term says no cash back!

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:58:33 +0000

@Bill – Thanks for the tip. I would just add that you have to weigh the benefit of getting a $10 certificate for free or simply buying a $25 certificate for $2 since most restaurants have a minimum purchase requirement and you can only use one certificate per visit. If the restaurant requires any purchase over $12 (and most do), you’re better off just spending the $2.

By: Kuzbad

Kuzbad — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 05:31:27 +0000

“the mandatory 18% tip practically negates any savings from the certificate (I always tip ~15%).”

Really? 3% additional tip “negates” any saving? How the heck much are you spending?? You do realize that on a $100 bill, 3% is … $3. When these restaurant.com deals run (the only time you should buy coupons) most/many of the coupons cost LESS than $3 (and are worth far more than $3, eg $25!)

In conclusion, your statement on its face is either false, or I’m missing something? Even if you bought full priced certificates, 3% is such a paltry difference, it just doesn’t makes sense.

Lastly, if the restaurant options are bad, don’t go to bad restaurants. End of story. Some people not liking some restaurants hardly negates using certificates to go to restaurants that others do like! Read the fine print, pick good restaurants, and buy coupons when they are in sale. Saved a ton of money this way.

By: JR

JR — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 03:07:35 +0000

One of our favorite restaurants particpates. I read the blog, secured the $25 gift certificate, and our family of 4 was out the door for about $40 this evening. Slick as that and we’ll do it again. Thanks for the tip.

By: pogo

pogo — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 23:17:40 +0000

I agree with Lisa, the food selection in the San Diego area listings is pretty bad, and the mandatory 18% tip practically negates any savings from the certificate (I always tip ~15%). I’ve found that the only reason why restaurants sign up for the service is because they never get any repeat customers.

Although when I travelled to San Fran, the certificates came in handy and the restaurant selection was very nice.

By: Paco

Paco — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:43:40 +0000

I have used these for restaurants in chicago and have saved a ton of money. Ebates also has 15% rebate on the gifts certs. Thats only 30 cents, but still. Then combine that with the rebate from Upromise, United miles and any other dining programs, and you get even more off.

Take Tazitaro in chicago. Buy a 25$ cert for 1.70$ wtih a min purchase is 35$. So after tip, tax, and cost of cert its about 47. Less gift cert, its now 22. Upromise gives you 8% of the 47 so that is 3.75, now down to 18.25. United will give you between 235 and 470 miles, and they add up. Finally combine that with a credit card rebate and the final bill is about 18 bucks.

Any other dining rebate programs that could bring this down further?

By: Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 15:50:44 +0000

I have used a few of these. You have to be really careful and have an idea if you like the place or not. At one place, our tip was figured on the tax also, which living near a large city, was high. You shouldn’t be charged a tip based on tax. Also, the food at one place was horrible.

By: Bill

Bill — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:04:02 +0000

FYI: You can get and give free $10 Restaurant.com certificates up until Christmas by going to this Web site:

http://feeditforward.restaurant.com/

Bill