So many coupon sites (see below). Do you use them?

[Rmis32]

“Everyone and their mother is walking in the door with discount sites,” he said.

The link names a bunch of discount sites. Love 'em? Hate 'em? What's your experience?

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/13/din...

[Delucacheesemonger]

One hound on Philadelphia board keeps listing great ones, and l often take advantage of them.
Somehow he lists places l wish to eat.

[Unraveled]

Restaurant coupons: I don't dine out much. I've used coupons in chain restaurants with success. I haven't tried them in single restaurants because I feared that the service and/or quality would be less with coupons/groupon deals.

Grocery store coupons: I only do them during super double/triple bonus weeks at Harris Teeter. I usually throw most of the coupons away. For online computer sites, I do the ones with the bar codes that limit the print to 2 per computer. I have a b&w laser printer, so printing costs are limited.

[mcf]

I've never experienced any loss of service or quality. No one even knows you have a coupon til you pay at the end. Where we're regulars, they're happy to see us, where we're not, they know the promotion paid off. Win win. I don't go to chains as a rule, but I doubt the non ownership staff there would care if I had a coupon.

[small h]

<No one even knows you have a coupon til you pay at the end.>

That's not true with Groupon. When I used one recently, I was asked while making the reservation whether I would be using a Groupon, and asked again when I arrived at the restaurant. I don't think the service or food suffered (although it was my first time there, so I can't say for sure). And a note to other Groupon-glippers: an 18% Groupon Service Charge was added to that bill. Forewarned is forearmed.

[mcf]

No one asked me if I was using Groupon when I made my reservation. And we calcualated our own tip at the end. Maybe each place cuts their own deal?

[small h]

I'm guessing that the restaurant (Shang, if you're interested) took it upon themselves to inquire, so as to gauge the success of the promotion. That, or I just sound like a cheapskate on the phone. The service charge was a surprise, especially since Groupon exhorts everyone to tip on what would have been the full amount, which I certainly would have done.

[mcf]

I'm guessing they wanted to make sure their servers got tipped on the pre coupon total? I'm sure you don't sound like a cheapskate on the phone. :-)

[small h]

I have no objection to the service charge, but I would have been grateful (perhaps even extra tip grateful) if the server had pointed it out and not made me pore over the check to find it. Either he was unaware of it, or he was hoping I wouldn't notice. I hope it's the former.

[mcf]

It should have been mentioned on your coupon, IMO.

[small h]

Here are the Groupon instructions, copied directly from the PDF:

1. Print Groupon (or pull it up with our mobile app).
2. Call [phone] for reservation, mention your Groupon.
3. Present Groupon to server when seated.
4. Enjoy!

*Remember: Groupon customers tip on the full amount of the pre-discounted bill (and tip generously). That's why we are the coolest customers out there.

So, I was asked to mention the Groupon (twice) prior to dining, and to tip. Nothing about a service charge.

[mcf]

No, and it actually states that the tip is up to you, so you had grounds to object had you wanted to, ie: bad service. The restaurant violated the implicit terms of the coupon.

[small h]

Yes. But the service was worth 18%, so I was fine with it. And I was also given a two-for-one drink ticket at the end of the meal, so I feel I came out ahead, overall.

[jujuthomas]

I haven't had a lot of luck with "couponing" because I don't buy a lot of pre-made box-type foods, and that seems to be the focus of the coupon world. I visited a number of sites a few month ago and they all seemed to have the exact same set of coupons.
If they made more coupons for meat, veggies and fresh fruit I'd be a coupon queen! :)

[mcf]

Yeah, I'd have to eat or use everything I scrupulously avoid in order to make it worth my while, too.

[Rmis32]

Actually, the article refers to the recent proliferation of restaurant coupons, not grocery coupons. I should have been more clear about that.

[mcf]

I've gotten substantial coupon discounts on a couple of our favorite restaurants from groupon.
No complaint.

[jujuthomas]

I got groupon emails for a while, but never anywhere we were interested in going. we're trying to eat out less these days. maybe i'll sign back up just to save money when we do go out.

[jujuthomas]

whoops! I was pressed for time and didn't read the article. 0_o