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Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Restaurant Deal $100 in gift cards for $8.

So, as I was checking my facebook account, I noticed a post from a friend of mine about www.restaurants.com. While supplies last, they have a GREAT deal! Normally, you can purchase $25 gift certificates for $10, which is a pretty good deal. When you use the code PUMPKIN at the check out, you can get $25 gift certificates for only $2. SERIOUSLY!!!

I ordered a $25 gift certificate from Miguel's in Bangor for $2.
I ordered a $25 gift certificate from China King Chinese Restaurant in Augusta for $2.
I ordered a $25 gift certificate from Black Sheep Tavern in Bucksport for $2.
And, I ordered a $25 gift certificate from Twenty Milk Street at the Portland Regency Hotel and Spa in Portland for (you guessed it) $2.
Total spent (no tax) $8. And, there were many other offers available.

A couple of notes: signing up is FREE. You can either print your certificates when you have finished paying (either with your credit card or with your paypal account) or, you can log in to print them at your convenience later. There are minimum purchase limits on these coupons, so you will end up paying more than the gift certificate amount. And, the restaurants almost universally add a "gratuity" % to your order before the gift certificate amount is credited to the bill. I found them to be between 18%-20%.

Using Miguel's Restaurant as an example (It has a minimum purchase of $35 and a 20% gratuity added before the gift certificate is applied.) this is the scenerio I am hoping for:

Appetizer:
NACHOS - Our homemade chips covered with sizzling hot cheese & salsa 7.99

Dinner:
THE "PHILLY" - Fajita steak, cheese and poblano peppers 8.99 for me and
CHIMICHANGA - A crispy fried burrito with ranchero salsa 10.99 for Sean.

Our Meal Total is $30.97, add 20% gratuity= $37.16, less $25 gift certificate= $12.16 out of pocket. We could substitute desserts instead of the appetizer for the same price. And, I did not include an amount for beverages. Usually, my family orders water with lemon to drink with our meals. We might order a beverage, but probably not.

The final analysis is this, including the cost of the gift certificate ($2) and the cost out of pocket ($12.16), the meal total cost is $14.16, still 1/2 price of what the meal would cost without the gift certificate. I will update you after I attempt to use the gift certificates with reviews on the restaurants and my experience using the gift cards, but color this girl E-X-C-I-T-E-D! I smell some food adventures coming my way!

Thanks, Courtney M. for the tip!

Sonja♥

3 comments:

  1. No problem! I got the tip from another person. Im excited to eat at blacksheep tavern. Weve never been there.
    Courtney

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  2. Awesome deal Sonja!! I look forward to seeing how it goes using them. I did not have good experience with ones I bought, the restaurant would not honor them so have never gone back to buy them. This was 4 years ago though so hopeful they are different now.

    Apparently the "new" owner had no clue about them and no matter what would not honor them. So a bit shell shocked with pulling the trigger again.

    I AM excited to hear your positive experiences because then I just may buy again for gifts.

    Have an amazing day!! See ya soon...I hope =)

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  3. I sent an email to Miguel's Restaurant in Bangor to make sure the gift certificate will be accepted. According to Chris Jones from Miguel's, "Yes we currently are accepting these gift certificates as the restaurant has to sign an agreement with restaurant.com to honor them." Sean and I are headed up on Sunday. Can't wait!!!! ♥

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