Ever revisit a place/service after trying it with a voucher?

[New Tradition]

I've heard a lot of horror stories, so how about something more positive? xD

From what I gathered, the whole point of businesses teaming up with group buys is to draw in customers. I've only done a few group buys, but I have decided to try a few places again even without a voucher because I liked it enough.

How about you guys? Any places you're okay with spending full price on after trying it out with a discount?

[angekfire]

I went to a bistro a few weeks ago, and I would go back without a voucher, but I would not buy another voucher. Why, you may ask?

Because, with the voucher, everything is full price but you essentially pay half price. However, you cannot use the voucher on their specials. And the prices of the specials are under 50% the cost, so while the voucher saves you 50%, not using the vouchers and paying their price for specials saves you over 50%.

The NAC Cafe also had the best brunch buffet I have ever had. It convinced me to go back for dinner without a voucher, and I will probably go again. It is expensive without a voucher though, so it is something I would do, but rarely.

[mercy]

If found my favorite cheese place & acupuncturist that I visit weekly from a voucher. Also discovered a great cupcake place, chocolate shop, manicurist and hair removal place from vouchers - haven't been back because i haven't needed their services, but they will be the first places I think of next time.

Conversely, I have purchased a couple of vouchers for a 2 places I go to regularly but will now no longer go because their treatment of voucher holders was absolutely atrocious. Just because I'm a cheapskate, that does not give them the right to treat me like crap!

I'm pretty mixed on vouchers and rarely look at the ads anymore. Love a good bargain but have learned that you really do get what you pay for....

[carmel]

Yep, I visit three places quite often now, that I was introduced to through vouchers. Unfortunately, the bad experiences has far outweighed the good, so now I'm hesitant to buy another voucher again for a place I've never visited before.

Also, I've visited places that had voucher deals that I didn't buy into, but seemed interesting enough. Even without a voucher, some of my experiences were bad. Their service and product clearly showed why they needed to run a voucher deal in order to get people into their places.

I find it's better to stick to referrals from friends, family, co-workers and online sites like rfd and yelp, before trying some place new.

[slowtyper]

I've heard a lot of horror stories, so how about something more positive? xD

From what I gathered, the whole point of businesses teaming up with group buys is to draw in customers. I've only done a few group buys, but I have decided to try a few places again even without a voucher because I liked it enough.

How about you guys? Any places you're okay with spending full price on after trying it out with a discount?

Which restaurants would you go back to that had vouchers? I've had bad experiences so far with most places that offer deals so I've stopped buying them.

From the research I've read, most customers who buy vouchers do NOT repeat with the business. Part of the reason why I feel this group buying system is unsustainable and will pretty much die out in a few years.

[Manatus]

I changed barbers because my old barber wasn't available, and I happened to notice there was a voucher for a new one. Tried it, liked it a lot, and now I'm going there from now on.

I think restaurants are difficult because there are so many. You'll always find a restaurant deal out there for something that looks interesting, and you can't eat out all the time so I think a lot of people just pick the next one that has a voucher available. Like others have said, it's not realistic for me to regularly go to restaurants that cost $50 per person. I'll either go to $25 p/p restaurants, or take advantage of those "$25 for $50" deals. Even if I really like the restaurant, it just isn't feasible for me to pay full price.

[Sweet_Blackberry]

I've found a couple of new favourite place from Vouchers massages, mani/pedis and restaurants as well.

I'm a little picky when it comes to buying the vouchers in the first place, usually try to avoid places that has been on multiple sites in the first place unless they're unbelievably reputable like WholeFoods or Zipcar

Trying to make appointments when 1000+ other people are also trying to redeem at the same time is just a pain.

[New Tradition]

Which restaurants would you go back to that had vouchers? I've had bad experiences so far with most places that offer deals so I've stopped buying them.

From the research I've read, most customers who buy vouchers do NOT repeat with the business. Part of the reason why I feel this group buying system is unsustainable and will pretty much die out in a few years.

Truth be told, I've actually haven't used a voucher for a restaurant yet (like I said, I've only done a few group buys). The closest thing to food I've done was buying a 10 for 20 voucher for Laura Secord (which I've already visited a few more times since I used a voucher there, haha).

[slowtyper]

The best (for the consumer, its the worst thing in the world for a retailer) is when you find a coupon for a place that you normally go and pay full price at.

[flafson]

The best (for the consumer, its the worst thing in the world for a retailer) is when you find a coupon for a place that you normally go and pay full price at.

Well said.

[ronin1701]

The best (for the consumer, its the worst thing in the world for a retailer) is when you find a coupon for a place that you normally go and pay full price at.

+1

I managed to snag a Mani/Pedi/Facial deal from Pathdeals.com for Truefitt & Hill at Brookfield Place. However this was one of those rare cases where I was already an occasional customer (at the Scotia Plaza location - although I'd only had haircuts and pedis previously), so I knew what to expect. Ended up going back to Scotia anyways to redeem the voucher as by the time I got around to redeeming it they'd decided only to have barbers at Brookfield and only offered aesthetician services at Scotia. I'd go back again, but the voucher has no bearing on that decision.

Other vendors I'd purchased from previously but managed to find a voucher for anyways:

Toronto Life Magazine

I bought a whack of WagJag vouchers to do photo calendars last year (one voucher per calendar). Unfortunately Staples Copy & Print doesn't make the best photo calendars, and their interface is pretty limited and cludgy, so it's unlikely I'd go back to them again unless there was another deal, or their quality improved significantly.

Other restaurants/merchants where I'd go back with good enough deals, but probably not without:

Zipcar (mostly because I live right on a subway line, and I could easily borrow my g/f's car if I really needed one)
KiiroMiya Sushi House
Windsor Arms Prime Steakhouse, here's my review (http://forums.redflagdeals.com/my-review-prime-steakhouse-windsor-arms-hotel-7-5-10-a-1121997/) (aside: my sister's family went there for the Winterlicious deal this year and were rather disappointed - my nephew refused to eat his burger and fries - what kid refuses a burger and fries, I ask you!)
Sushi Kai
EZMeals
Rose Reisman Personal Gourmet
About Cheese
Ethiopiques
Embrujo Flamenco
Genghis Khan Mongolian Grill

I've bought several vouchers (one each from different deals) for Pi-Tom's Thai restaurant. I'd probably go back there without a voucher, but as long as they keep posting deals on group buy sites I don't see any reason to pay full price.

Others merchants where I'd go back without a deal:

Lou Dawg's B-B-Q
Cardswap
Sit in Bangkok
Ichiban Fish House (the location on Spring Garden Ave)

Places so bad that I wouldn't go back even with a deal:

The Rovers Pub (Bloor & Bathurst)

[Nettles]

Definitely especially since the places I like rarely have any deals or specials or vouchers. But at the same time, I wouldn't go there in the first places if it was overpriced.

[SkiLLz]

Out of the places that I visited for the first time on a group deal,

Places I have re-visited:
- All Grill in Mississauga (they've since shut down)

Places I intend to re-visit:
- BarBurrito (so-so burritos, but I may go again at some point)
- Windor Arms
- Go Karting places (don't remember the names but there were a couple, both were great value and positive experiences)
- Smoke's Poutinerie
- All you can eat Hot Pot (no idea what the name was, but the food was excellent)

Places I probably won't re-visit:
- Benihanna's (regular prices are way too expensive, there are much better Teppenyaki options and if I'm dropping $200-300 I'd rather eat better food at a nicer restaurant)
- Leaf Donair House (didn't honor the voucher)
- Waterfalls Indian Tapas (service was excellent but food was not that great)
- Whattabasket (overpriced)
- Woo Buffet (terrible food, they've since shut down)


80% of the group vouchers I have bought have been for places that I was already a customer at as these offered me the greatest value. Those are places I had previously been to and I would absolutely go back.

[ronin1701]

- Windor Arms


Just out of curiosity, which deal did you use? The brunch buffet, the steakhouse, or the afternoon tea?

[SkiLLz]

Just out of curiosity, which deal did you use? The brunch buffet, the steakhouse, or the afternoon tea?

The afternoon tea during the holidays. Service was great (we didn't get treated like we were voucher holders), the food was good, and I thought it was a decent value (in the context of overpriced high teas of course).

[redkid]

most of the places i've got vouchers are worth only if i pay half price
i'd go back if i get another voucher
however there was 1 place i'd consider going back and actually paying full price as it was a great indian restaurant on avenue
mela i think it was the name

[SkiLLz]

Yesterday while eating some oysters I realized that in my post I forgot the best group deal I've taken part of to date. Best for me, because I have a great restaurant that I regularly go to now, and best for the business because they got a regular customer out of the group deal.

Lucy's Seafood Kitchen in Mississauga. It's been around forever, but I only went and tried it based on a groupon or wagjag that they offered. I've been back at least 6 or 7 times since and I will keep going.

[blainehamilton]

Yup. My wife and I used to eat at Pita Pit here in Edmonton every two to three months. We stopped and hadn't gone for a couple of years. Then a groupon came up, we bought in, realized how much we love the food, and have been getting a bite there every month or two again.

[canguy9999]

Some of them yes, a lot no. In about 50% of the non-chain places a lot of the time I feel voucher holders are treated secondary to normal guests, which leaves a bad image.

I'll tell you one story as to why I wont return to one restaraunt.

Went to dinner somewhere with a voucher. Had a wonderful dinner it was a nice restaurant. Our bill came out to $135 we got wine, had a nice meal of lamb. The voucher covered $75, so I was paying $60 on top of that plus whatever I would have paid for a tip.

They came back and said my voucher had already been used and they couldn't allow it. I told them there was no way it had been used and to go double check or let me talk to a manager. They double checked, no manager available, so I paid full price, left no tip(as much as the waitress deserved a tip, this is really the only thing I was able to hold out on) and told them to notify their manager to expect a call from me.

I left a message for the manager the next day, two days later, I get a voicemail back saying they are sorry, they will honor the voucher, and credit me back the $75 on my credit card.

As much as they eventually made the situation somewhat right, it really left a bad image of the dinner even though, made a scene in front of their other patrons that made me look bad.

I would have gone back because the food was good as was the service till the end, but they could have handled the situation much better. Because of that I know if I go back I can't trust them to handle any situation that might arise with my dinning experience.

[ronin1701]

I'll tell you one story as to why I wont return to one restaraunt.

Where was this?

[canguy9999]

Where was this?

As much as I've had this bad experience, I'd rather not actually name it. Its a restaurant in Oshawa that has been around for about 30ish years. You could easily eat there for the $75 dinner voucher, but we wanted to enjoy our meal and order some good wine to go with our meal.

The voucher was through wagjag.

[ronin1701]

As much as I've had this bad experience, I'd rather not actually name it. Its a restaurant in Oshawa that has been around for about 30ish years. You could easily eat there for the $75 dinner voucher, but we wanted to enjoy our meal and order some good wine to go with our meal.

The voucher was through wagjag.

Sorry, but then what's the point of your earlier post? I'm mean, we're here to help each other out with our experiences, right? Just sayin'

[BigJonsson]

Baton Rouge

[annara]

Just out of curiosity, which deal did you use? The brunch buffet, the steakhouse, or the afternoon tea?
The brunch buffet in Windsor Arms was excellent, but I didn't like their afternoon tea. The service was great.

[xt21]

I've gone back to a few actually for regular price:

1. Spin Dessert Cafe in the west end / north york
2. Thai One on in Scarborough
3. Burger's Priest

[annara]

It looks like inexpensive businesses that offer quality service have most chances to get returning customers. It's a good marketing for them, if they know how to treat voucher holders.

[Jorpho]

The problem is that most places I've gotten vouchers to are really quite far out of my way. While the voucher is enough incentive to head out there once, they'd have to be pretty darn exceptional for me to head out there again. Some of the other ones that are closer are really a little bit too luxurious to consider paying full price for, normally.


The NAC Cafe also had the best brunch buffet I have ever had. It convinced me to go back for dinner without a voucher, and I will probably go again. It is expensive without a voucher though, so it is something I would do, but rarely.The NAC Cafe is booked solid so far in advance that I found out I wouldn't be able to use my voucher before it expired. :(

[alanbrenton]

+1

I managed to snag a Mani/Pedi/Facial deal from Pathdeals.com for Truefitt & Hill at Brookfield Place. However this was one of those rare cases where I was already an occasional customer (at the Scotia Plaza location - although I'd only had haircuts and pedis previously), so I knew what to expect. Ended up going back to Scotia anyways to redeem the voucher as by the time I got around to redeeming it they'd decided only to have barbers at Brookfield and only offered aesthetician services at Scotia. I'd go back again, but the voucher has no bearing on that decision.

Other vendors I'd purchased from previously but managed to find a voucher for anyways:

Toronto Life Magazine

I bought a whack of WagJag vouchers to do photo calendars last year (one voucher per calendar). Unfortunately Staples Copy & Print doesn't make the best photo calendars, and their interface is pretty limited and cludgy, so it's unlikely I'd go back to them again unless there was another deal, or their quality improved significantly.

Other restaurants/merchants where I'd go back with good enough deals, but probably not without:

Zipcar (mostly because I live right on a subway line, and I could easily borrow my g/f's car if I really needed one)
KiiroMiya Sushi House
Windsor Arms Prime Steakhouse, here's my review (http://forums.redflagdeals.com/my-review-prime-steakhouse-windsor-arms-hotel-7-5-10-a-1121997/) (aside: my sister's family went there for the Winterlicious deal this year and were rather disappointed - my nephew refused to eat his burger and fries - what kid refuses a burger and fries, I ask you!)
Sushi Kai
EZMeals
Rose Reisman Personal Gourmet
About Cheese
Ethiopiques
Embrujo Flamenco
Genghis Khan Mongolian Grill

I've bought several vouchers (one each from different deals) for Pi-Tom's Thai restaurant. I'd probably go back there without a voucher, but as long as they keep posting deals on group buy sites I don't see any reason to pay full price.

Others merchants where I'd go back without a deal:

Lou Dawg's B-B-Q
Cardswap
Sit in Bangkok
Ichiban Fish House (the location on Spring Garden Ave)

Places so bad that I wouldn't go back even with a deal:

The Rovers Pub (Bloor & Bathurst)


Has anyone seen coupons for August 8 restaurant recently?

http://www.august8.ca/

TIA.

[gucio321]

The restaurant I went to because of a voucher and would really recommend is hillbilly heaven in hamilton... I have been back at least 8 times since... it's very simple food but it tastes really good, prices are great and portions are huge.

[VanessaVixen123]

i bought a lot of deals, i still have not redeemed them all so i have not had the chance to re-visit the places i've been to, when you are buying deals, it becomes a habit to want to keep saving money, it's bad for the businesses but great for us consumers

[flafson]

Some of them yes, a lot no. In about 50% of the non-chain places a lot of the time I feel voucher holders are treated secondary to normal guests, which leaves a bad image.

I'll tell you one story as to why I wont return to one restaraunt.

Went to dinner somewhere with a voucher. Had a wonderful dinner it was a nice restaurant. Our bill came out to $135 we got wine, had a nice meal of lamb. The voucher covered $75, so I was paying $60 on top of that plus whatever I would have paid for a tip.

They came back and said my voucher had already been used and they couldn't allow it. I told them there was no way it had been used and to go double check or let me talk to a manager. They double checked, no manager available, so I paid full price, left no tip(as much as the waitress deserved a tip, this is really the only thing I was able to hold out on) and told them to notify their manager to expect a call from me.

I left a message for the manager the next day, two days later, I get a voicemail back saying they are sorry, they will honor the voucher, and credit me back the $75 on my credit card.

As much as they eventually made the situation somewhat right, it really left a bad image of the dinner even though, made a scene in front of their other patrons that made me look bad.

I would have gone back because the food was good as was the service till the end, but they could have handled the situation much better. Because of that I know if I go back I can't trust them to handle any situation that might arise with my dinning experience.

Hard for me to understand your feeling, they did fix the situation.

I'm a business owner and i run a group deals here and there. Do you know how much fraud there is in those things? I have to ask for I.D from everyone to make sure they don't try to reuse the same voucher twice.
MANY people try to use the voucher once and then go to my other location and use it again thinking maybe we wouldn't notice since it's a different location.

So things like that happen and they were sorry and fixed the situation. I'm sure you were upset at the time but if they fixed it then you can't really ask for more.

[Laur0406]

There are a few places I would return to:

Trevor Kitchen on Wellington was amazing with and without the voucher (just as it is amazing during and not during Winter/Summerlicious). They know how to do vouchers/deals right because people always want to go back.
Wildfire Steakhouse is consistently good (food and service) with and without the voucher - I am an occasional customer and was not treated any different when I went with a voucher
The Yogurt at Menchie's is really good, and I have not had some of the scale/weight issues that other people did.


For the life of me, I can't understand restaurants that offer vouchers and then have bad service/bad food. For me, it's the same as Winter/Summerlicious. You aren't going to make a huge profit (if any), but you are trying to increase your clientele so you have more regular customers. Why would you want to ffer something at such a discounted price and then serve bad food and treat your voucher holders like crap? I don't get it.