Is there a limit to taking advantage of offers when eating out?

lowrider007 said:
Anyway, just recently I've started to think maybe I'm taking the pee a little, would you feel comfortable regularly eating out in the same restaurant on a two for one day never paying full price?
Click to expand...

Why not? Why would it make a difference if it's you or someone else who happens to be taking advantage of the offer in that instance?

Gornall said:
A small restaurant might struggle to stomach the cost but a bigger chain shouldn't have any issues.
Click to expand...

Then they have an issue with their business model; if they're running offers such as the examples given, then they're obviously trying to increase trade, as above how does it matter whether that increased trade is from 10 different people or 1 person 10 times?

Moley said:
My wife - like you - can be quite tight with money. I on the other hand won't even consider using vouchers if I can help it - I'm pretty well paid and can afford to eat out at nice restaurants.
We don't get to do this often because of the kids, but when we do I like to splash out. Using vouchers would make me feel cheap.
Click to expand...

I don't understand this mindset... I get wanting to splash out, but surely that implies paying more for something better rather than paying more for exactly the same thing? When booking holidays do you also check price comparison websites to make sure you're getting the highest price for your flights and hotel?
 
Too add a little more.. food can be expensive especially when eating out. For example, let's see a show of hands of those who order from Dominoes Pizza on a day that isn't Tuesday.

These deals are to bring customers in and is a old not so secret secret. And by offering repeat deals they want your repeat business. By now, with our bargain hunting mindset I wouldn't be surprised if it's just a senseless label to fool us into thinking we are getting a deal.
 
Last edited:
Nothing wrong with your mindset. I don't usually look for vouchers or offers but if there's one then I'll use it.
Both me and my gf are paid quite well so it's not the end of the world if we "have to" pay full price. Even today we went to one of our favorite places for lunch and instead of having lunch time menu we ordered our favorites from full menu.
 
Can't see why the waitress would care anyway, it's not like she's getting commission on the food?

Probably doesn't apply to you, but people who get obsessed with vouchers / offers do annoy me - my mum is exactly like that and pretty much any meal with her will involve her asking the waitress a million questions like is dish X included with offer X, is it possible to use X voucher with X menu etc etc. Makes ordering a pain, and seems petty as she's not short of money.

The only time I normally use vouchers is an app called The Fork which is actually really good - you book the table and activate the offer all at the same time, so you don't have to present them with a voucher or get them to explain details of it - the app already does it all for you. I've been to some really good restaurants with it and you normally get 30-40% off.
 
No one is forcing them to offer these deals so no, you shouldn't feel bad and they shouldn't be funny about it. Plenty of companies have screwed up on things like groupon by offering things too cheaply and bankrupted themselves but you only have yourself to blame if you run offers that are detrimental to your business.
 
I dont think the OP just realizes how cheap his meals are (in terms of cost to the business), even if you are doing 2 for 1 + offers + vouchers they probably still make a profit.
 
Moley said:
My wife - like you - can be quite tight with money. I on the other hand won't even consider using vouchers if I can help it - I'm pretty well paid and can afford to eat out at nice restaurants.
We don't get to do this often because of the kids, but when we do I like to splash out. Using vouchers would make me feel cheap.
Click to expand...


Decent places wouldn't issue vouchers. ;)
 
Absolutely not. I'm tight with money and always have been; recently had a significant payrise (close to 50%) but nothing has changed :p

If they're offering offers, take them :D
 
If an offer is there I will use it. I am well paid, far from tight but why not. I wont go out of my way to get an offer but it would be very stupid to not use a voucher or what ever if you have it. Certainly not cheap.
 
What I tend to do when using vouchers is pay a 10-15% tip to the waiter/waitress based on the total before the discount is taken off the bill.

Otherwise they are missing out because you are taking advantage of a restaurants offer.
 
Gornall said:
It's odd, some people no matter how much they earn go the other way and like to save money where they can.

Me and the wife have very good jobs and very nice things, but we still get more excited about a bargain rather than a 'we splashed out on x or y'. I completely understand the occasional as you say, when it's a rare chance you want to make it special I guess.

Neither is right or wrong, but it is interesting.
Click to expand...

Problem I find is unless you're really lucky that "bargain" isn't as much of a bargain as you think. That's either because you have to compromise on something to get that "bargain", or it means you go out when you weren't intending to. A bit like those people that drive 10 miles to save a penny on fuel. Is it really worth it...?
 
What if you go for a "all you can eat" place, cut a hole in your stomach so the food just falls on the floor like the scene in Ghostbusters, so you can just keep on eating and eating?
 
I find this whole thread bizarre. The restaurant are offering to sell you something at x price and you are choosing to accept. There is no such thing as taking the **** in a business agreement like this. The restaurant are making more money than they would be if you didn't go in any case.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom