Smart Spending

By Critic

October 16, 2008 8:12 AM | Link to this

My wife signed up to receive email notices from Morton’s. They don’t send out coupons, but they do let us know of dinner specials. Their Surf and Turf special for 2 is a real treat. Right now we have a coupon at a very popular steak house for a whopping $4 off. I know $4 is $4 and shouldn’t be scoffed at, but it seems that in the grand scheme of the bill, it’s not much of an inducement to use it.

By Lee, Atlanta, GA

October 16, 2008 8:29 AM | Link to this

I think it is a good incentive, as some others may have stated at time it is only a small amount such as $4 off 2 meals. At least, it helps with the tax; money is money no matter the amount. In this economic times, we as consummers need all we can get.

By Oakleychick37

October 16, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this

I think if the coupon is offered then it should be accepted without question or an attitude. I can understand why some waiters don’t like them because patrons tend to only tip off of the after coupon amount when in fact you should always tip according to the total bill before discounts. If I get a coupon for a restaurant you can bet I will use it if I go there!

By Sugar

October 16, 2008 8:59 AM | Link to this

OH yes I use them. But, the only time we go out to eat is if we have a coupon. Otherwise, we stay home and cook.

Going out to eat is such a treat for us, but we only do it once or twice a month. My husband and I both love to cook so we enjoy staying home.

By Fannie

October 16, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this

Yes, IHOP always offers coupons Buy One Meal Get One Free. Also, Restaurant.com offers the best savings. You can get a $25 gift certificate to participating establishments for $25. But it gets better. I usually get promotional emails like yesterday for 80%. I paid $2 for a $25 gift certificate. Subscribe on their website for specials.

By Billy Slocumb

October 16, 2008 9:38 AM | Link to this

I’m not the least bit ashamed. I still tip the server based on the total before my coupon/certificate, so they don’t lose out… If you haven’t checked out www.restaurant.com, you really should! Right now, certificates are 60% off. You can get $25 gift certificates for only $4 (they normally charge $10 for a $25 certificate) by using the code “MORE” at checkout. This offer ends on October 19th. I’ve used them at several locations around town, and have never had a problem.

By fannie

October 16, 2008 9:50 AM | Link to this

correction. $25 gift certificate to restaurant.com for $10. But never paid $10 for these certificates; always bought them at either half off or lower.

By Loren

October 16, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this

I used a $3 off a $10 purchase @ Logans Roadhouse in Douglasville last night and the manager upped it to $5 off and enrolled me in their “nut club”. My complete bill was only $8.24. (Ya know peanuts on the floor.) Now I get special coupons and discounts. It’s an uptown Kroger Plus Card. (Which I used just about daily.)! :) Loren in Douglasville

By Lisa

October 16, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this

Rarely - I usually eat out alone and most are ‘X$ of of purchase of two adult entrees’ or ‘X$ of of $25 purchase, alchohol excluded.’ I don’t eat leftovers so I don’t need that much food.

By JacketSteve

October 16, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this

Fannie, I got that same 80% deal yesterday on restaurant.com. I got two $25 certificates for $2 each and two $10 certificates for $.60 each. You can’t beat that. My wife and I love to eat out and have no problem using coupons. Atlanta has some amazing restaurants, and coupons or deals are a great way to see them all. From the cheap little places to the upscale spots, they all need the business. My view is, they offered the discount for a reason so we shouldn’t feel bad using it.

By Stacey

October 16, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this

I use them without hesitation nor shame. In fact, I have the coupon on the table when I order to save the server the trouble of having to adjust the bill.

Fannie & Bill…What are some of the chain restaurants that you have used your restaurant.com certificates? I called a few of the places on their website (Red Lobster, Olive Garden, O’Charley’s) and they told me they had never heard of restaurant.com. Each place told me to bring it in so they could scan it to see if it was valid but I was afraid to waste my money on it.

By Marcy

October 16, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this

Well I hope you’ve heard of www.restarant.com! You can buy gift certificates to restaurants in your area for a few bucks. And they even offer discounts on the cost of gift certificates through programs like couponmom. Right now they are offering 80% off the cost of a gift certificate. Wait, I’m ahead of myself…

An example: A $25 gift certificate to a local burger joint is only $10 on this website. You have to spend $35 when you go there to eat (for our family of 5, that’s not a problem), so the final bill would be $10 with the GC. Now with 80% off (enter coupon code EIGHTY — hurry because these expire quickly) you’re only paying $2 for a $25 gift certificate!

So the total cost for a $35 meal is $12. Sounds pretty darn good to me.

Marcy

By Sam P

October 16, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this

Yes I use coupons all the time, and it has nothing to do with the state of the economy. I work for a large Pharma and we just beat Wall Street’s numbers and are raising our year end expectations. So my job is not in jeopardy for the time being. Mexican restaurants have coupons all the time for buy one get one free, or $5 off $20 or $25 order with 2 meals and 2 drink orders. Or Free Cheese Dip.

Make sure you tip based on the full amount!!

By Blue Devil

October 16, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this

The problem with people that present coupons in “sit down” restaurants is that typically those cheap b******* tip (poorly) on the remaining amounts. If you bought one and got one free, the waiter still had to serve you two. I waited tables my entire time in college, I’ve seen what goes on in kitchens for bad customers. Stop being a cheap piece of crap and take care of your waiter!

By Becky

October 16, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this

Yes, we use coupons when we go eat..What confuses me though, is this one place says that the coupon has to be for dine in only..Yet, when we used a coupon last time we were there, we had an order to eat in & were getting something to take back to a coworker, well they used the coupon on the to go order..WTF??

Thanks to all that mentioned restaurant.com..I’ll have to go on there & see what I can find..

By Villa Rica DAWG

October 16, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this

Waiting tables is a teenager/young adult job, mean’t to get them through college. I tip based upon service, not based upon the server’s sense of entitlement, regardless of service.

If that’s too much to deal with, then get a real f’ing job.

By Mr Charlie

October 16, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this

I bought an entertainment book from a co-worker more or less supporting whichever fund raising event she told me about. I appreciated when I tried to use one of the Dunkin Donuts coupons and was told that they (the store) did not recognize those coupons-only coupns issued directly through Dunkin Donuts. In essence, only certain coupons in the book were able to be used at locations I frequent the most. Aside from the ones that were usable, the other coupons were for locations not even close to where I live, let alone in the same county that I live in.

By Stephanie

October 16, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this

Heck yeah, I use coupons. I just remember to tip off the original bill though, which sadly too many people don’t do.

By FaycoDawg

October 16, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this

I love using coupons & i always tip the server based on total before discount, sometimes even more. I enjoy saving money. I used to be a server & it sucks when you’re not tipped correctly. If you aren’t going to tip, go through a drive-thru or get it To-go.

By Another Stephanie

October 16, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this

Just like Stephanie, I remember to tip from the ORIGINAL, NON-DISCOUNTED amount - people, please remember this! The wait staff had to work just as hard!

By Erin @ CouponCravings.com

October 16, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this

I second Restaurant.com. Earlier this week they were even taking a full 80% off their gift certificate prices. So instead of spending $10 on a $25 gift certificate for a local restaurant it was just $2 for that same gift certificate. It was huge!

It’s key to check out the list of local restauraunts though. Plus a lot of them are for dine-in only so it’s key to check first to make sure you can use them.

By Eian

October 16, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this

I do not know why waiters fuss about tipping to customers when they should be complaing to the owner to pay U more!!! they jack up there food prices and then expect the cutomer to pay high for food and pay there staff for them!! some waiters are terrible(not all) and deserve what they get. I did not know bringing out food from a kitchen 10 feet away @ applebees requires a (18%) TIP!! blame yor employer not your customers!! THEY ARE MAKING MONEY AND PIMPING THERE STAFF. THEY COULD PAY MORE BUT CHOOSE NOT TOO. i INSTALL CABLE ON MILLION DOLLAR HOMES AND NEVER ASK FOR A TIP. IT IS CALLED DOING YOUR JOB SO THE CUSTOMER COMES BACK…WHATEVER YOU GET BE HAPPY. PEOPLE GIVE WHAT THEY CAN SOMETIMES…..EVERYONE IS STRUGGLING!!!!! IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT GET ANOTHER JOB!!! I AM GOING TO EAT AND TIP WHAT i HAVE…NOT BEING MEAN< BUT, THATS LIFE. tELL YOUR EMPLOYER TO LOWER THERE FOOD PRICES OR ADD IT INTO THE PRICE OF THE MEAL. THEY DO ALL THE TIME. THEY JUST DO NOT TELL THERE STAFF..LOL! YOUR EMPLOYERS ARE TAKING YOUR TIPS WITH THERE PRICES…..STOP GETTIMG PIMPED!!!!!

By Eian

October 16, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this

AND FOR THE SERVERS & FORMER SERVERS. THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR ANYONE….EVERYONE WHO HAS A CUSTOMER SERVING JOB DESERVES A TIP. WHETHER IT IS A CALL CENTER OR MECHANIC! IT IS STUPID TO SAY “WELL IF YOU DO NOT TIP, DO NOT GO OUT TO EAT” THAT IS THE STUPIEST THING i EVER HEARD. IF EVERYONE WHO COULD NOT TIP GOOD DID NOT GO TO YOUR PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT AND SPEND MONEY ON THE FOOD THERE IT WOULD GO OUT OF BUSINESS AND YOU WOULD BE OUT OF A JOB!!!!!!! STOP COMPLAINING YOU HAVE GOOD TIPPERS AND BAD ONES…IT NORMALLYS BALANCES OUT!!!

By Villa Rica DAWG

October 16, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this

Amen Eian.

By FaycoDawg

October 16, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this

Okay Eian & Villa Rica Dawg…if you can’t afford to tip, you dont need to eat out…what goes around comes around….& side note Villa Rica Dawg…if you’re gonna agree with something so ignorant please take DAWG off your name…you’re making us look bad.

By Lissa

October 16, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this

Restaurants.com is the best! I’ve used several certificates bought from there (on sale) over the past year. The places we’ve gone to/will soon go to include Sal Grosso (not nearly as good as it used to be - it’s a rip-off now), Ippollito’s (or however you spell it - there, the manager actually came out to the table to speak with us), Elevation, and several other places. I haven’t seen any of the big chain restaurants listed there in our area though - so the person looking for O’Charley’s and Red Lobster won’t find them - that is, unless there’s been a recent change.

By Eian

October 16, 2008 2:51 PM | Link to this

Faycodawg

if that is your way of thinking…when you cable guys come to your house and installs your cable so you can watch the Georgia game this weekend and ask for a tip after you paid the fee already. Please give it to him. If not go listen to the game by the radio.

By mr. cheapskatin'

October 16, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this

Hey, waiters, I feel for ya when a coupon user stiffs ya. Al I ask is that you give us the benefit of the doubt until you receive the tip. Better yet, talk your manager to adding an automatic 15 percent tip to the original amount. I’d gladly pay it.

And, yes, I ‘m also disinclined to use a $4 off coupon for two meals, which some restaurants insult us with. C’mon, eateries, give us $5 off per meal, at least.

By Stacey

October 17, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this

Thanks, Lissa. I had put in the zip codes for my home and work to find places that (supposedly) accepted the certificates and that’s where I came up with those places. The managers didn’t say that they definitely did not take them; they said they were familiar with them and suggested I bring it in and let them scan it before I ordered. I had asked a few of my coworkers and none of them had ever used restaurants.com. Just seeing that so many of you (on this blog) have used them makes me willing to try it. Sounds like an excellent way to try some of the lesser known places in my area that I have been planning to visit for years!

By Peecee

October 20, 2008 2:23 PM | Link to this

Amen to tipping for good service before the discount coupon! Whereas I won’t tip to well for mediocre service, I do take into account the amount of servers available and the number of tables occupied. We all know that servers don’t always show up when they should - particularily if they are going to quit and go elsewhere - so the available service staff is stretched mighty thin. I my server fails to follow up with me, I sorta look around and see what’s going on; if the server is isolated in conversation with another or no following through with other service, I will note that. Only when I get service over and above what I expect will I go over the 15-18%. I’ve been known to tip 30-40% for EXCEPTIONAL service. BTW: try tipping with cash on the table. Lotsa restaurants penalize the wait staff (and others) because they pay franchise royalties on ticket value including tips! The poor waiters/waitresses are left holding the bag, or take out box!! Peecee in 30097

By amy

October 20, 2008 3:15 PM | Link to this

I tip 20% for excellent service, and 15-10% for ok service, and if it’s just really sh*tty service, I tip 0.00 or I write a note that says No tip, bad job. Sorry folks, I should not have to tip if I don’t feel the need to, and it’s not because I don’t have the money. Just because someone brings out a plate of food, and a drink does not in my eyes warrant a tip. It’s the waitor recognizing that I need a refill without me having to ask, or at least checking up on me a few minutes after serving the food (without me having to flag them down)…that warrants a tip.

By christine

October 20, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this

try halfoffdepot.come for half off retail coupons at the nicer restaurants in atlanta. also check out local newspapers such as creative loafing and the sunday paper for upto 50% off retail prices!

By other side

October 21, 2008 8:15 AM | Link to this

i use coupons all the time. at grocery stores, restaurants, retail, etc.

however..i am also a small buisness owner of a “chain.” many customers think that the coupons are given out are reimbursed to the store by corporate. which is wrong. the store has to calculate the loss of it most of the time.
and most restaurants do not even come up even these days due to the rising food costs.

also, at my store, all employees are trained to take legitimate coupons with a smile. however, read your coupons there are restrictions and limitations for a reason. do not let it expire. thats youre fault. do not order something that it does not apply to, you will not get a discount. another note on those fundraiser coupon books, please please read the area that it markets to. i bought one from my child and could not use it anywhere. it was a complete waste of money. and from the other side, i learned that the coupon books wrongly submitted certain chain coupons in order to allow their book to sell. the corporate that i adhere to is in a lawsuit against companies who print advertisement and marketing coupons using their trademarks without permission.

By Angelo

October 25, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this

Where are the coupons located?

By DHW

November 12, 2008 7:56 AM | Link to this

Restaurants need business - badly. They put out the coupons to drive traffic. As long as people tip on the full amount of the bill - as they should - there shouldn’t be any snooty reprecussions from using a coupon. If a restaurant were to do get uppity with me for using a coupon it chose to issue, that would be reason enough for me to make it my last visit - and to persuade my friends to frequent other establishments. Even the prestigious Buckhead Life Group, has a 20% discount program. As to other diners looking down their nose at me, I’ve never noticed it happening. If I did, I would just assume they were jealous. In this economy, we can all use any break we can get.

By Dee

November 26, 2008 9:40 PM | Link to this

I usually always tip, even for delivery. I will not leave a thing for bad service and will not visit that restraunt again.

By joe

November 28, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this

Dining Perks are sold at DiningPerks.com

they have 30 or so restaurants including Horseradish Grill, Allegro, CoCo Loco, Anthony’s, Vita, Padraic’s and many more - no expiration — no shipping - check them out -