Restaurant gift card give-backs
My guess is that this isn't a good holiday season for restaurant gift cards.
More people just don't have the money to buy them this year, for one thing.
For another, customers who held onto gift certificates too long have gotten burned when restaurants closed unexpectedly, so they are wary about giving them to others in this economy.
That may mean there are deals to be had out there. For instance, the Oceanaire Seafood Room has sent out an e-mail announcing that you'll get a $25 gift card for every $100 you spend on its holiday gift cards. ...
I'm sure there are other equivalent deals, I just haven't heard about them. If you do, please post below.
As usual, I'm going to add that if you give a restaurant gift card, suggest that the person use it sooner rather than later. Restaurants you never expect to go out of business do these days.
By the way, we've talked about getting more generic restaurant gift cards; but I totally understand that if you have a favorite place, you both want to introduce your friends to it specifically and want that particular restaurant to benefit from your gift.
It's more fun to receive a specific restaurant gift card, too, particularly to restaurants that are too expensive to try on your own.
(Kenneth K. Lam/Sun photographer)
Comments
I was told by a work associate Outback Steakhouse was giving $20 cards for $100 in card purchases.
Posted by: Alexander D. Mitchell IV | December 10, 2009 7:31 AM
Many casual restaurants also offer bonuses for purchasing gift cards. Often customers buy them and then use them themselves, essentially getting a 20 - 25 per cent discount on their meals.
vog mandrake [Now we know Mandrake the Magician's first name]
Posted by: bra1nchild | December 10, 2009 7:48 AM
You can pick up $100 certificates to Morton's and McCormick and Schmicks at Costco for $80. Now if only they offered the same deal so I could give Volt a try!
Posted by: PJ | December 10, 2009 8:04 AM
There are some great deals this Christmas on restaurant gift cards. In some cases you can get a $100 card for $80, or buy a $20 card and get an extra $5. Here are just a few of the deals. More are on www.eatdrinkdeals.com
Applebees - buy $50 gift card get $10 bonus card.
Also, Costco has 12 restaurant gift cards, most with 80% discounts on a $100 gift card.
Maggianos - buy $100 gift card get $20 discount gift card
McCormick and Schmick - buy $100 gift card and get a $25 gift certificate.
Melting Pot - at many locations, buy $100 gift card get $100 in bonus cards.
O’Charleys - buy $20 gift card get $5 gift card
Outback Steakhouse - buy $100 gift card get $20 bonus card
PF Chang - buy $50 gift card get $10 bonus card.
Posted by: GM Arnold | December 10, 2009 8:23 AM
You could also buy a gift certificate from the Restaurant Association of Maryland -- they're good at a huge range of places.
Posted by: AnneB | December 10, 2009 9:28 AM
Chik-Fil-A is giving free calendars (with monthly free coupons, of to boot!) with the purchase of a $20 gift card.
$80 later, I have done all of my Christmas shopping.
Posted by: Odie B | December 10, 2009 11:37 AM
I believe you get a $5 GC with the purchase of a $25 GC at Bertucci's. It doesn't appear to be available on-line,so I'll see if it's available in store and post again. Chili's used to offer something similar, but I'm not sure if it's being offered this year.
Uno's Pizza IS offering $5 for the purchase of $25 GC's on-line.
I realize neither of these is fine dining, but a small GC will go a long way and it's a night out!
Posted by: lyndyb | December 10, 2009 12:50 PM