Consumer beware

They seem like such a perfect solution and most of the time they are. A  gift certificate to a restaurant   1) doesn't have to be wrapped, 2) is usually happily accepted and 3) one size fits all.

But you should probably be wary before you plunk your money down for this gift. Of all the culinary complaints that I hear, the ones about gift certificates are by far the most common.

So here's my advice: Know your restaurant and  know what the gift certificate entails. Does it have an expiration date? Is it applicable every night  of the week? Can it be used to  cover tax and tip? Does it impose any special responsibility on the person who receives it? Must he declare the certificate before he orders? Must he mention it while making a reservation?

If the answers to all the above questions fit in with your plans, well then go ahead. Your gift will probably be successful and they'll love you forever. But there is one other thing: These are tough times, so try to determine if the restaurant  is likely to stay in business for a while. Once those doors get locked, forget legal action -- your friend is out of luck. And, just to stay on the safer side...

Caution your recipient to use the certificate  quickly.

Comments

[Obi-Wandreas]

I can understand not allowing a gift certificate to be used for a tip. Any of those other conditions, however, shows a distinct lack of class on the part of the restaurant.

If they're going to make it hard on me, they obviously don't really want my business. That's okay; there are plenty of other places that do.

[McBea]

Too bad if they don't let you use it for a tip. My beloved and I had a $300.00 gift certificate for a local restaurant. We enjoyed a $200.00 meal and left our server the remaining $100.00. No one seemed to mind.

[Libby56]

Gift certificates should be treated as cash in restaurants. They are a voucher representing the cash the giver spent on the gift. As long as it's dollar-for-dollar, it's cheesy and obnoxious for a restaurant to limit what it can be spent on--tips, night of the week, or anything else.

Another thing for the buyer to beware of is the restaurant closing for business. This happened to us with a very nice Allentown restaurant. We waited too long (over a year) to use a wedding gift certificate and poof--the restaurant, unfortunately, went under. That's just money lost.

[denis]

A couple years back we got some gift certificates that could be used at "many, many different places". When it came time, I read the small print & saw that the value actually diminished over time....however they could be "recharged" for a nominal fee. At 6 months our $100 certificates were worthless untill we paid $10 to bring them up to $50. Nice rip-off, eh? 110 becomes 50!!
On the other hand I've given cards to specific restaurants that had an extra 20% tear-off mini card attached as a bonus.
Usually the restaurants themselves are good for a year, but they may look at the retail pattern & try following suit.