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| Restaurant cell phone etiquette when redeeming Groupons Posted by Degas on 4/7 at 5:20 pm You can now use the app to redeem Groupons from smartphones, as it spits out a bar code and number. With that said, I redeemed my first Groupon this way the other day at a restaurant. I pulled up the app, set my phone on the table for my waitress to take down the number, and she did something I really didn't expect. She picked up the phone and brought it over to the server station. I didn't say anything mostly because I wasn't expecting that, but then there's the reality that someone I don't know at all has just taken my $400 device over to the server station with soft drinks, water pitchers, etc. I can say for a fact that my previous phone was dropped only once, that being my Mother of all people, so things like this do happen. Although the waitress meant no harm, and simply brought it over to be scanned (I noticed they use another phone to scan it), I didn't feel comfortable with this procedure. Fortunately, she was in view the entire time that she had my phone because it would have been really uncomfortable had she disappeared into the back. In hindsight, I would have mentioned something to her, but I didn't want to be rude. What are your thoughts on this? Reply • Back to Top |
| Print out the coupon before you leave home or pay full price (you wouldn't want to be profiled by waitstaff anyway). Reply • Back to Top |
| I did it that way at Irish House but the server made sure I understood he would need to take my phone from me. He was very nice and professional about it. Reply • Back to Top |
quote: This. My printer is a piece of crap, so I understand the ease of using the app.. but at the same time, I thought it was pretty well known that they scan the gift cards. Some sites even have them call a hotline to redeem it. The server probably should have warned you she'd need to take the phone, sure, but it was probably something that didn't even cross her mind. I doubt it was done to be rude or scare you. Some people are just oblivious to things like that.. especially if the chick was young. I'd let them take my phone, but I have a piece of shite phone. quote: Should have. If said in a nice way, telling her to warn people about that would be good advice and she'd probably take it. This post was edited on 4/7 at 8:49 pm Reply • Back to Top |
Posted by Degas on 11/21 at 3:41 pm to LouisianaLady bump, because I had an interesting experience again with an added twist. I had a taste for Mideastern fare and had a couple of Groupons for a place which were expired, but still worth the value that I paid for them, per Groupons rules. At the end of the meal, my waiter took my iphone to adjust the bill. He came back and said something about the Groupon only being worth a couple of bucks. I let him know that it was an expired Groupon and it should still be worth what I paid up front for it. He reclaimed the check and my phone and came back with the correctly adjusted bill.....HOWEVER... Later, I had reason to check Groupon status, and noticed that BOTH Groupons for this restaurant had been redeemed on that same day. The establishment has since righted the situation with no issues, but what really struck me is that my waiter didn't simply scan the open Groupon screen that had open for him, but he actually needed to go back into the app and search around for the second one, which is sort of creepy knowing that they can actually delve into the phone for further information, and in this instance they actually did. Good suggestions with printed paper Groupons btw.  Reply • Back to Top |
quote: I'm sure she figured he knew since it was on his phone, but I guess it is still in the early stages of things being done this way. Reply • Back to Top |
| I still print mine because of this. Reply • Back to Top |
| As a former restaurant manager, I can tell you that when the company signs up to use Groupon, Gourpon sends them 1 iPod to redeem the deals. Groupon sends a link for managers to install an app to their smartphones to expedite the redemption process. At one point, one of our managers took the iPod home and forgot to leave it for the next shift. At times the system would go down and nobody knew the password and the GM was the only person they would give it to... So, rather than make it a more difficult process most of the managers went ahead and downloaded the app. I agree that I don't want my phone to leave the table. I think the manager should come to the table and scan your groupon on your phone. This even gives them a chance to have a final check in with the guests. But it's legit and hopefully nobody breaks your phone. Reply • Back to Top • Refresh |
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