They appear to definitely be getting desperate... how many 80% off sales did we just see? The free $10 certificate is an even more aggressive marketing gimmick.

I wonder if they're on their way to going out of business...

Well, I don't think it's a sign of desperation at all. In fact, I think it's smart marketing that likely will pay off nicely for them by introducing new people to their service.

Look at it this way, you can buy those $10 certs virtually anytime for $1.50 (50% off of the $3 retail price). They're less than a buck under the frequent 70% off details. So, instead, for a buck a head they get new customers.

If you understand their brilliant business model, the discounts make a lot of sense. Restaurants sign up to get promoted for free. The only thing it "costs" the restaurants is that they have to honor a certain number of gift certificates per month. It doesn't cost Restaurant.com anything for the gift certificates. They start the month off selling the gift certificates at the full (discounted) price. For instance, $25 gift certificates are (usually) $10. The most popular restaurants sell out at that price. Next, they discount them an additional 50% for a week or so. They get $5 per gift certificate during that time, and some others sell out. Then, as the month proceeds, they discount 60%, 70%, and sometimes 80%. They still get $4, $3, or $2 for those gift certificates, which cost them nothing. They get nothing for gift certificates that don't sell. They get over $1 each (net after credit card fees, commissions to affiliates, etc.) even for the most discounted certificates. By doing things this way, they maximize their profit while leaving as few certificates as possible unsold.

Follow the money and things almost always become clear.

Beginning of the month...
 

GCs restocked and back to 50% off as we slowly trek to 80%

Discount: 50%
Code: JOY
Good through December 4

Now through 12/25 - Each day give 3 friends $10 certificates
 

This is pretty cool. Between now and December 25, each day you can give upto 3 people who might have not otherwise been on your holiday list a $10 gift certificate at Restaurant.com.

www.Restaurant.com/FeedItForward


Happy Holidays! :D


(oops...just saw someone posted a similar link a few messages prior...sorry for the repeat. But still pretty cool deal...)

Now up to 60%...
 

Discount: 60%
Code: LIST
Good through December 7

Now up to 70% off
 

70% OFF: $25 GIFT CERTIFICATES FOR ONLY $3!
DISCOUNT CODE: ONLINE
Offer ends Thursday, December 11, 2008!

Found BELLS today by trial and error - 70% off.

I don't know the expiration date.

70% OFF: $25 GIFT CERTIFICATES FOR ONLY $3! - DISCOUNT CODE: WRAP
Offer ends Monday, December 15, 2008!

Restaurant.com T&C
 

Does anyone know if/how they enforce the "one certificate per party per month" rule?

If they do enforce this, would this policy prevent me from purchasing multiple certificates from the same restaurant to gift to others? My thought/fear is, if the "one per month per restaurant" policy is somehow tied to the purchaser, then if I give two people a $25 certificate to the same restaurant, and those two people go during the same month, will the second person to try to use their certificate have problems?

You can dine at a particular restaurant once each month. Your giftees can also redeem their certificates once a month.

And finally back to 80%
 

Discount: 80%
Code: SANTA
Good through December 21

Reminder that using CASHBAQ gives a 30% Discount
 

This can be stacked with the SANTA Promo Code - which means that a $25 cert will only cost you $1.40

hth

HOLIDAY 80% off through Dec 25
 

Enjoy!!

GIVE -80% off through 25th
 

here ya go