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08-31-2011, 01:40 PM
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Location: NC
2,883 posts, read 5,198,208 times
Reputation: 2087
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So there's a restaurant that we've been eating at since it opened. We love it and the food is reasonably priced, plus they offer reward cards and sometimes toss in a free dessert or something for us. We have become friendly with the owner and her family and staff, and want to see the restaurant do well. Lately they offered a GroupOn discount, which is great, as it means we can eat there a bit more than we would have otherwise, but the question for this post is as follows:
Now that they are offering a Groupon "Now" offering (instantly redeemable coupons) and since that offer seems to be available every day lately, is it moral to use this essentially 50% coupon every single time we go in there (at least once a week) or would it be more acceptable to stick to the reward program and pay full price to the owners so that you can help them succeed? What do you think?
Generally three responses I expect:
1) Heck yes, use as many coupons as you can! You're not responsible for what amounts to charitable contributions to a restaurant and if they are offering the deal to the general public, you deserve to use them as much as they are available
2) I'm not sure - I hadn't come across this before and/or thought about it
3) No, it's not right and in the long run it will hurt the business and your new friends you want to see succeed
As an aside, we went there for lunch today and I decided against using the GroupOn for now, but I love eating there and would probably eat there more. I might discuss it with the owner, but she's so nice she'll probably say "Oh, I don't mind if you use it each time" or something like that.
So, C-D hive mind, give me your thoughts, please.
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08-31-2011, 02:46 PM
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3,160 posts, read 8,214,746 times
Reputation: 1982
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I see no problem with this.
The "Groupon Now" site is similar to restaurant.com, which has been in existence for a long time. You see a lot of people use those half-price gift certificates every time they go somewhere.
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08-31-2011, 02:49 PM
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Location: NC
2,883 posts, read 5,198,208 times
Reputation: 2087
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Good input, keep it coming. I thought for sure there'd be more opinions by now. Maybe people haven't run across this and/or had to think about it before. It's really bugging me.
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08-31-2011, 03:10 PM
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Location: southwestern PA
20,419 posts, read 38,430,824 times
Reputation: 39085
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If the restaurant does not limit the offer (once per moth for example), then there's no reason for YOU to self-impose limits.
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08-31-2011, 03:34 PM
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Location: Somewhere in northern Alabama
18,540 posts, read 55,453,855 times
Reputation: 32266
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Once per moth??? "Waiter, there is a fly in my soup!" "Shhh, all the other moths will want one."
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08-31-2011, 03:35 PM
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Location: NC
2,883 posts, read 5,198,208 times
Reputation: 2087
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Quote:
Originally Posted by harry chickpea
Once per moth??? "Waiter, there is a fly in my soup!" "Shhh, all the other moths will want one."
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I've been called worse!  |
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08-31-2011, 03:58 PM
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Location: Southern California
3,115 posts, read 7,353,989 times
Reputation: 3672
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As a former waitress I say go ahead and use the coupon, just make sure you tip your server well!
I was always very grateful to have customers who thought it through, and made sure they still tipped me as though they had paid full price for their meal. 50% off on the meal shouldn't mean 50% off on the tip, you know?
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08-31-2011, 04:02 PM
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Location: NC
2,883 posts, read 5,198,208 times
Reputation: 2087
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bouncethelight
As a former waitress I say go ahead and use the coupon, just make sure you tip your server well!
I was always very grateful to have customers who thought it through, and made sure they still tipped me as though they had paid full price for their meal. 50% off on the meal shouldn't mean 50% off on the tip, you know?
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Of course - I have never, and will never, tip on anything other than "what the total would have been" before deals and coupons. I usually tip 20% unless service was just average, then it's 15%. Has to be pretty poor before I'll do 5-10%. |
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08-31-2011, 06:32 PM
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Location: Alexandria, VA
11,613 posts, read 20,767,085 times
Reputation: 16996
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I thought when you purchased a Groupon coupon, it was for a one time use? How could you used it endlessly?
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09-01-2011, 10:09 AM
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Location: NC
2,883 posts, read 5,198,208 times
Reputation: 2087
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flamingo13
I thought when you purchased a Groupon coupon, it was for a one time use? How could you used it endlessly?
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Yes, but if they make the same offer available every day, you could just keep buying them over and over again. I'm not referring to using the same one you bought multiple times, I'm referring to buying the same offer whenever you go to the same restaurant. |
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