If you are able to use a Gift Card at your MS restaurants, now's a great time to get them!
Yes, I always buy enough gift cards during the holiday promotions to last us the whole year. Most of the chain restaurants offer these great bonuses/discounts before Christmas.
i'm already in $500 with Texas Roadhouse. I'm gonna die if they stop the mystery shopping program :-)
I usually spend $2k in November/December getting gift cards.
I usually spend $2k in November/December getting gift cards.
Outback gave me a free $10 gift card yesterday when I purchased one.
Shopping Arkansas, Louisiana, & Mississippi.
I just drove by my local Outback today, and the sign on the door said they were closed, with no reason given. Their phone is also disconnected. It appears that they went out of business as many Outbacks have, and I had just bought more of the bonus gift cards.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/11/2024 01:32AM by mjt9598.
@ArkLaMissshopping wrote:
Outback gave me a free $10 gift card yesterday when I purchased one.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/11/2024 01:32AM by mjt9598.
I thought I was bad with $250 in TRH cards!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/11/2024 05:11AM by Miss Tree Shopper.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/11/2024 05:11AM by Miss Tree Shopper.
I almost never shop retail and only do fast food (or casual as they may call it) very seldom and only on a shop so gift cards would probably expire before I'd use them. Pre-Covid, I had been on a credit card testing project where I purchased many gift cards for all types of retailers and guess what? After covid many of them would not be accepted by the stores and restaurants. I learned my lesson!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/11/2024 09:46PM by sestrahelena.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/11/2024 09:46PM by sestrahelena.
Most gift cards now (from major businesses) do not have expiration dates.
While they do not expire, so many restaurants and retail stores are going bankrupt, it's wise to use them up ASAP.
@hbbigdaddy wrote:
Most gift cards now (from major businesses) do not have expiration dates.
Oh, that would hurt my soul if the ones around me close. There's a website you can sell your unwanted, unused gift cards. Maybe you can use that if there isn't another Outback close to you.
@mjt9598 wrote:
I just drove by my local Outback today, and the sign on the door said they were closed, with no reason given. Their phone is also disconnected. It appears that they went out of business as many Outbacks have, and I had just bought more of the bonus gift cards.
@ArkLaMissshopping wrote:
Outback gave me a free $10 gift card yesterday when I purchased one.
Shopping Arkansas, Louisiana, & Mississippi.
@mjt9598
You really think Panda Express or Texas Roadhouse are going out of business anytime soon? Both those places crush their competition. They are not struggling to survive.
You really think Panda Express or Texas Roadhouse are going out of business anytime soon? Both those places crush their competition. They are not struggling to survive.
I store my cards on my phone (either in Google Wallet or as a photo in an album). I periodically have to remind my spouse in case anything ever happens to me so he doesn't forget about my hidden wealth. 
No, not Texas Roadhouse for sure. Our does good business seven days a week, but so many other chains such as Outback, Applebee's, Red Lobster, TGI Fridays, etc. and many, many fast food chains are struggling and closing many locations.
@hbbigdaddy wrote:
@mjt9598
You really think Panda Express or Texas Roadhouse are going out of business anytime soon? Both those places crush their competition. They are not struggling to survive.
Yes, I'm not suggesting buying GC to everything just because they are out there. Just like the stock market. You "invest" in winners. Getting $8 back on $30 from Panda is a winner. If you do enough panda, that is more than 25% return on your money. So for every $90, you just made yourself an extra $24.
The TXRH is not as good as PE, but still very good at more than 15% return
I don't have Outback, Applebee's, RL, or TGIF shopped near me, so I wouldn't buy those cards. And yes, I agree many restaurants are struggling. Buca Di Beppo was one that was shopped a long time ago. They have shuttered locations (even the one closest to me). We loved their Apple Gorgonzola salad.
The TXRH is not as good as PE, but still very good at more than 15% return
I don't have Outback, Applebee's, RL, or TGIF shopped near me, so I wouldn't buy those cards. And yes, I agree many restaurants are struggling. Buca Di Beppo was one that was shopped a long time ago. They have shuttered locations (even the one closest to me). We loved their Apple Gorgonzola salad.
I bought $100 in Texas Roadhouse gift cards in order to get a $20 bonus card. The bonus is different though. I think it would be considered a discount or freebie, which the Texas Roadhouse guidelines prohibit. Has anyone tried using the bonus card? I'm afraid to try.
Why is it different? It's just another gift card, right? follows the same pattern of numbers too, right? I believe I have used them before. It's not a coupon or discount. You are paying with a gift card.
I used a bonus card on a shop with no issue. It does look a little strange because the amount is removed pre-tax as a discount, but I put in a note that the gift card was processed that way, and it was approved with full reimbursement.
The bonuses seem to vary at different locations. At one location, I received a $20 bonus card for purchasing a $100 gift card. At another location, I received 3 $5 bonus gift cards ($15 total), and a gift package with Texas Roadhouse peanut brittle and two Texas Roadhouse seasoning blends.
In previous years, I have purchased my bonus cards online, and they were the same as regular gift cards. Has anyone purchased them online?
The bonuses seem to vary at different locations. At one location, I received a $20 bonus card for purchasing a $100 gift card. At another location, I received 3 $5 bonus gift cards ($15 total), and a gift package with Texas Roadhouse peanut brittle and two Texas Roadhouse seasoning blends.
In previous years, I have purchased my bonus cards online, and they were the same as regular gift cards. Has anyone purchased them online?
@PSE wrote:
I bought $100 in Texas Roadhouse gift cards in order to get a $20 bonus card. The bonus is different though. I think it would be considered a discount or freebie, which the Texas Roadhouse guidelines prohibit. Has anyone tried using the bonus card? I'm afraid to try.
They are not quite the same, at least the gift card bonuses issued in-store. They don't work on the table kiosks and mine was processed as a pre-tax discount. Bonuses I have purchased online in previous years were the same as regular gift cards.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/12/2024 10:41PM by JimmyP.
@hbbigdaddy wrote:
Why is it different? It's just another gift card, right? follows the same pattern of numbers too, right? I believe I have used them before. It's not a coupon or discount. You are paying with a gift card.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/12/2024 10:41PM by JimmyP.
I do not buy GC in brick and mortar, so I am not sure. The online purchase gets you another digital card very similar to your GC. It has the same pattern on the gift card number format and sequencing.
The bonus cards that I got from my online TR gift card purchase just rings up as a gift card, not as a coupon so you can use it on the shops.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/13/2024 12:33AM by mjt9598.
@PSE wrote:
I bought $100 in Texas Roadhouse gift cards in order to get a $20 bonus card. The bonus is different though. I think it would be considered a discount or freebie, which the Texas Roadhouse guidelines prohibit. Has anyone tried using the bonus card? I'm afraid to try.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/13/2024 12:33AM by mjt9598.
I bought the online TXRH gift cards last week and have used the bonus cards on two shops that were approved without issue. In one case the server processed the bonus card and then ran the regular card so it looked like my total was just $35. Luckily I had kept the original itemized receipt which I submitted with the processed tip slip and got reimbursed for the full $50.
Just be careful about buying more than you need, especially if the MSC decides you can no longer use a gift card for payment. But if that happens you can always do something else with the gift card such as regift it or use it during a non-shop visit.
Also if you are a member check to see if they sell gift cards for you shopped locations at Costco or perhaps Sams. Most of the gift cards at Costco are 20% off all the time with bigger discounts in December.
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.