I am an occasional user of restaurant.com for some times now. Recently I noticed that places where it had date of use restrictions had been removed from so of the places we visited. So a group of us decided to find one where we can go to brunch on a weekend utilizing this coupon discounts. We decided on an Indian restaurant, Shehnai in Brea, CA. Since it will be a big group outing, we decided on a $50 gift certificate from restaurant.com.
Certificate has special instructions: Minimum purchase of $100; 18% gratuity prior ot discount; not valid on tax, tip and alcohol. Terms & Condition on certificate: Only one certificate may be redemed per month Can't be combined with other coupons. Dine-In only.
We followed the special instruction and terms and conditions outlined. At conclusion of our meal, we received our bill: 138.40. We presented our certificate, and was immediately rejected. We wondered why and approached the counter, they said it's not dinner time. We said it didn't state that on the coupon. They said they don't know why it didn't. They didn't issue the coupon so I need to take it up with Restaurant.com. We insisted that they should honor our coupon and resolve it internally with their relationship with Restaurant.com. They refused and rudely said they don't have anything to do with Restaurant.com. So we paid our full bill and left.
Normally this $50 certifcate is for sale for $20 at restaurant.com, but I got a coupon code that allow me to buy it for $4.
I went home and contacted Restaurant.com. They are not any helpful. They said occasionally restaurants ops of of their services and do not follow proper processes to remove these coupons from selling. They apologized but can't do anything about the $50 loss I didn't get. They will restitute their part by giving me my $4 back or credits of $50 to buy more coupons from another restaurant!
What should I do? Take my $4 and walk? Take my $50 credits from restaurant.com and buy more coupons where I need to spend more...so they can steal more from me? What's a consumer to do in this situation....ah! Maybe I need to bring my experience to the public eyes!
So News Channels, I am caught between two parties that can't seem to resolve this internally for me as their customer. As a consumer I would like to know these kind of things to stay away from. I want to see if you can broadcast this type of fraud practices to protect us the consumer from supporting a service that doesn't take care of us when there is a problem. I am available for any more details you need for your research. I still have a copy of the certificate printed on 10/09/10. a copy of the receipt and dollar spent on 10/10/10.
Thanks!!
Mcihelle
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