Code: PLATE
Discount: 80% off
Expiration: Saturday, July 31, 2010

Coupons not accepted
 

For the third time in recent months I have had a restaurant.com coupon refused by a restaurant because, they said, they no longer participate in the program. In each case the coupon had been purchased within 6 months of my visit to the restaurant.

I know that restaurant.com will allow you to replace a coupon you purchased with one of equal value, but that hardly represents compensation. In the most recent case, I had a $50 coupon and probably would not have gone to the restaurant if I had known the coupon would not be accepted. Since I usually only buy coupons when they are on sale for 70-80% off, being reimbursed $4 for a $50 coupon does not make up for the loss.

I have now decided that it is important to call the restaurant and ask if they accept the coupons before going anywhere where I intend to use the coupon.

Was it in the SCruz or SJC area? I just bought a bunch of coupons for an upcoming visit, and I'd like to know if there are restaurants which don't accept them.

I had the same problem a few months back - one in Missoula Montana and one in Coeur d'Alene Idaho. The Missoula one would not accept it at all; the Coeur d'Alene one accepted it but had a sign up saying they would not accept them unless they were purchased prior to a certain date. When I returned from my trip I checked restaurant.com and both restaurants were still being sold. Just now I checked again and the Missoula one (Uptown Diner) is STILL on there being sold. I e-mailed restaurant.com and was told I could get a new certificate if I had purchased within the past 6 months (I hadn't - I knew I was going on that trip for months and knew the certs were good for 1 year so had bought them many months prior), and that the restaurants entered into contracts that had specific steps on how to go about getting removed from the website, etc. It makes me nervous to use them now, but if I do I agree with the previous poster that it is very important to call the restaurant before purchasing to make sure they still participate.

Two in Santa Cruz - Bocci Cellars and Aqua Bleu. Both are no longer being sold on the website.

My advice now is call the restaurant before going and ask. Also, don't buy them too far in advance or buy too many for one place at one time. My problem is not the $2-3 I may lose if I buy them and can't use them but rather getting to the restaurant and expecting $25 or $50 savings and having them rejected.

I just noticed that a certificate I printed recently states that it has no expiration date. Is this something new, or does it vary by restaurant? I bought it last September and thought I needed to use it within one year from date of purchase.

I'd check online and maybe re-print it just to make sure.

they recently changed it to their being no expiration date on any of the certs. That reminds me i should check my older formerly expired ones, maybe i can re use some of them.

Great advice. I just bought a bunch of coupons with the 80% off sale for places I will be at through November. I will definitely call first. Going then not having the $25 savings would be a real bummer!

Code: SUNNY
Discount: 50% off
Expiration: Thursday, August 5, 2010

isn't really the easier thing to do would be to simply call the restaurants you have certs to and ask?@:-)

--

I've been refused once or twice too with my res.com coupons...Seems like the participation is starting to tail off a bit.

Code: SAVE
Discount: 70% off
Expiration: Monday, August 9, 2010

Next Code
 

Code: SAVE
Discount: 70%
Expires: Monday, August 9, 2010

Code: BIG
Discount: 80% off
Expiration: Monday, August 16, 2010