New Orleans Eats Forums at NOLAEats.com

I wanted to be sure, so I checked again. Each restaurant's conditions for coupon use are clearly spelled out on the website, pre-purchase, using the search/purchase interface on the main page.

I used one for Fausto's recently and they included my alcohol in the required $35. I paid $2 (80% off) for the coupon. So my net gain was $23. I'd take that all day long.

EatinAintCheatin wrote:I used one for Fausto's recently and they included my alcohol in the required $35. I paid $2 (80% off) for the coupon. So my net gain was $23. I'd take that all day long.

You did not receive an 80% discount, although clearly they have convinced you that you did. You were required to purchase at least $35 worth of food, at a cost of $12. Your savings was 65%.

Still a good deal, just not as advertised.

Yes, I know the small print legitimizes the offer - just strikes me as deceptive.

***Sniffs***

Do I smell a lawsuit?

Bam Bam, a switch from ambulance chasing to forum reading for business?

paz5559 wrote:You did not receive an 80% discount, although clearly they have convinced you that you did. You were required to purchase at least $35 worth of food, at a cost of $12. Your savings was 65%.

Still a good deal, just not as advertised.

Yes, I know the small print legitimizes the offer - just strikes me as deceptive.

My post read that I paid $2 (80% off) for the coupon. I didn't state that the meal was 80% off.

Below is a cut and past from another coupon. As you can see, (hopefully if the fonts stay true), that the conditions are the same font size and boldness as the other text. I don't see any deception.

Redeemable only at: Chops Bistro & Martini Bar
Address: 111 Veterans Blvd
Metairie, LA 70005
Telephone: (504) 218-8967
Special Instructions: Valid with a minimum purchase of $35/2 entrees. Alcohol excluded.

I think the site is fantastic and I've been using it for over a year now. It's not deceptive in the least bit unless someone is illiterate...as it makes it very clear on each establishment's page, and on the certificate itself, what the conditions are of the offer.

So are coupons you clip out of the newspaper deceptive when it's buy one get one free??? I mean, come on...they are telling you that you can only use the coupon if you buy another item of equal or lesser value.

What's the difference?

And you are getting 80% off. Nowhere on the site does it imply at all that you are going to get 80% off of your meal. They have promotions to receive 80% off of THEIR certificates which entitles you to $25 off of a $35 meal...and they provide that.

I too have been allowed to use the coupon even on alcohol. I know some of the certificates say that it's up to the establishment as to whether they'll allow this...and all have in my experience and I've probably used about 15 certificates.

It's a really great promotional opportunity for restaurants as well. I know that this service has been the reason that I've tried many places that I might not have thought of trying. One is now one of my favorite restaurants and it's because we used a restaurant.com certificate.

I was wrong about the savings - with the 18% mandatory tip, the $35 meal actually costs $44.84, with your out of pocket expense being $19.84 + the $2 the coupon cost you, or $21.84. REAL total savings (23/44.84) = 51%.

So it IS basically buy one get one free! But you'd never know that from the way it is presented.

paz5559 wrote:I was wrong about the savings - with the 18% mandatory tip, the $35 meal actually costs $44.84, with your out of pocket expense being $19.84 + the $2 the coupon cost you, or $21.84. REAL total savings (23/44.84) = 51%.

So it IS basically buy one get one free! But you'd never know that from the way it is presented.

Dude, I am thinking you need to stick to eating fast food, as this seems to be a little too much for you.

paz5559 wrote:I was wrong about the savings - with the 18% mandatory tip, the $35 meal actually costs $44.84, with your out of pocket expense being $19.84 + the $2 the coupon cost you, or $21.84. REAL total savings (23/44.84) = 51%.

So it IS basically buy one get one free! But you'd never know that from the way it is presented.

Paz,
You are overanalyzing this issue. The offer was a $25 coupon, which usually sells for $10.00, could be purchased for $2.00. Bottom line is a savings of 80% on the cost of the coupon. If someone gave you a gift certificate for a fixed amount to a restaurant, and your meal exceeded the value of that certificate, would you still complain? I doubt it, because no matter how you look at it, you would still get the full amount of the certificate deducted from your bill.
I have used Restaurant.com certificates at several dining establishments and had absolutly no problems. The requirements are spelled out on the certificate for each location, and as has been mentioned before, most facilities will include alcohol even though the certificates states that it is not included.
Very seldom can I and DC go out to eat where the bill is less than $35.00, pre tip, so with these certificates, the first $25 of the bill only cost me $2.00! As far as the drinks and tip, you are going to have to pay that anyway, so it is not really a factor in evaluating the value of the certificate.