Groupon, Bargain Bee, Radio Station "Gift Certificates"

Living Social is another

I buy them to try new to us restaurants and feel lucky when they have them for our usual restaurants.

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I have tried a few and have been very disappointed

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what disappointed you about the deal?

The deal wasn't what disappointed me, but the food at the places I got the deals for.

i use them for one of two scenarios.

1) i frequent the place already.
2) i have heard about it and was planning to try it already. only thing the coupon does is expedite how quickly i visit.

Its the very reason I first tried Geisha.

Its now my go to sushi place as a result.

I also used one for Gino's. Gave me a reason to go since I havent been in a long time.

Otherwise it depends on the place. For the most part many offers have been crappy and I ignore it. Bargain Bee went to shite.

Probably true for the most part, but it seems that some new places that might be legit would need something like this early on to get people in the door.

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I have tried a few and have been very disappointed. My eventual realization was that any restaurant that has to resort to these coupons is doing so for a reason.

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+1..Just finished Counter Culture $18 gets 50..it was barely worth the $18 as their sandwiches blew..the yogurt mere flavored ice..Humphrey Yogart and David's Drink their saving graces(and they are the same ingredients just in different forms). Far overpriced per portion and quality at regular prices..kept in biz by clueless soccer moms in a hurry for quick lunch or drive-thru lanes in the Perkins and Highland corridors.

The deals on Ichiban, Gino's, Mansur's, are few and far between the bunch of no-name hair salons, massage therapists, photographers, laser treatments, and startling fried food dives.

I have seen coupons for Ginos,Ninos,Little Village.

Them offering a coupon does nothing more than convince me to make another trip that I otherwise wouldnt have made. So it benefits them and it benefits me.

If a place is new (like Geisha was when I got a coupon for them) it allows a diner to try them out without much risk. If they serve good food they shouldnt have a problem with return business as a result.

The only negative things I have heard about them come from servers. But like I said in another thread if you instantly look down on me for using a coupon then I instantly look down on the service I was provided so it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. I certainly can afford to pay full price however Im smart with my money too. Why wouldnt I want to save money on a meal? Do that enough and I can afford to dine out even more at least until my waistline says no more..

I use them. Why not? I have no qualms with pulling out a gift certificate for these places because I don't really care if the wait staff views me as "cheap", and I'm a fan of saving money when I can.
I am inclined to think that the wait staff gets the impression that I will tip them as I've never gotten the automatic grat it says they can put on there(mannerisms, courtesy etc..) The owner will be glad I visited and the waiter will be glad I visited as well when I leave because I tipped accordingly.

I imagine their target audience are people like me though. People who might have chosen another place or might have put off going, but now make a point to get out to their restaurant and spend money there.
They don't benefit from the two entrees and two water crowd who are trying to land right on their gift card amount so they don't have to come out of pocket, leave $5 on $50, and probably never come back.

To name a few in BR:

Louisiana Lagniappe
Ichiban
Tsunami
Rufinno's
French Market Bistro
Mansur's
Fleming's
Gino's
The Grape

IN NO:
Iris
Coquette
Rare Cuts
Mr. John's