Chilli’s, has run a $20 special that is a great deal. 2 people get 2 entrees, 1 appetizer and 1 dessert. My wife and I get the entrees, exchange the dessert for an appetizer and get the 2 appetizers to go for another meal! What a value that is.
Groupon.com and restaurant.com are two popular websites where you can BUY coupons that will reduce the price of your meal. All the restaurants have their own restrictions on these coupons which greatly differ. Here is how restaurant.com works; it is a lesson in funny math I think. You go on their website and buy a coupon. Say you buy a $10 off coupon for $5 and you must spend $20 in order to use the coupon. You save $5 on a $20 meal.
Frequently at other websites you will see a 50% or even an 80% off coupon for restaurant.com. Here is how that works as I have used 80% and probably would not settle for less. You buy a $10 off coupon for $1 instead of $5 and you must spend $20. You save $9 on a $20 meal. What if a restaurant offers “buy one, get one free” of same or lesser value with their own promotion? That is a better deal for the customer; I am not sure about the restaurant. restaurant.com is a good deal but it is kind of like taking an indirect route to get you where you need to go. I prefer the direct route as I don’t want to do an inordinate amount of math to figure out what to eat.
You can check your favorite restaurant web sites and some times they advertise special prices and you can usually provide an email address for specials and promotions. I know someone who only dines where he has a coupon to eat. The coupon determines where he will eat.
Boomers, check your restaurant receipt as many will give you a sandwich, an appetizer or a future discount for filling out their survey after your meal. I respect those surveys and companys because they are asking you for something of value for them and they are willing to give you something of value to you to help them. That says a lot about companies that want to really partner with the customer by putting their money where there mouth is, pardon the example. I prefer to eat where I want and get the best deal I can possibly get while dining there. Something I haven’t tried but hear works well is scoutmob.com I intend to try them and I will report. Scoutmob.com is an application on your mobile phone and by email. It sends you emails and coupons of promotions at local restaurants. It is not all over the United States as yet but it is growing. The coupons are FREE where as groupon.com and restaurant.com cost money. Another way to get free items is to join the restaurant site on facebook but my experience with a variety of restaurants has been disappointing. Initially, when you join, they send you a good coupon but the subsequent coupons were things like “Buy One Entree Get One Free” and then in mice type ” requires purchase of appetizer and desert.” Chilli’s, has run a $20 special that is a great deal. 2 people get 2 entrees, 1 appetizer and 1 dessert. My wife and I get the entrees, exchange the dessert for an appetizer and get the 2 appetizers to go for another meal! What a value that is. groupon.com and restaurant.com are two popular websites where you can BUY coupons that will reduce the price of your meal. All the restaurants have their own restrictions on these coupons which greatly differ. Here is how restaurant.com works; it is a lesson in funny math I think. You go on their website and buy a coupon. Say you buy a $10 off coupon for $5 and you must spend $20 in order to use the coupon. You save $5 on a $20 meal. Frequently at other websites you will see a 50% or even an 80% off coupon for restaurant.com. Here is how that works as I have used 80% and probably would not settle for less. You buy a $10 off coupon for $1 instead of $5 and you must spend $20. You save $9 on a $20 meal. What if a restaurant offers “buy one, get one free” of same or lesser value with their own promotion? That is a better deal for the customer; I am not sure about the restaurant. restaurant.com is a good deal but it is kind of like taking an indirect route to get you where you need to go. I prefer the direct route as I don’t want to do an inordinate amount of math to figure out what to eat.
You can check your favorite restaurant web sites and some times they advertise special prices and you can usually provide an email address for specials and promotions. I know someone who only dines where he has a coupon to eat. The coupon determines where he will eat.
As I look around at the customers at many restaurants these days and since the economy has tanked over the past few years, I have noticed that the customers are much older than before the economic meltdown. They are Baby Boomers, over 55 ! They have terrific purchasing power I believe and are large in numbers. Hopefully that will mean better prices and better services for the older generations. Maybe the Early Bird Special will get more aggressively priced.
Originally posted 2011-12-23 14:27:41.
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You have some really good ideas in this article. I am glad I read this. I agree with much of what you state in this article. Your information is thought-provoking, interesting and well-written.
That is a very good deal. I like to use Groupon too, especially when the discount is more than 50%. During this fasting season, the T&C would include pick-up before 5pm, which is ok with me as my family prefer to break our fast at home. What I don’t like is the T&C that specifically doesn’t allow sharing of food when dining in the restaurant – my family loves sharing … 😀