# Does anyone here use coupons to eat at restaurant or buying stuff at a store? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 15, 2013, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-use-coupons-to-eat-at-restaurant-or-buying-stuff-at-a-store/674014 "2013-11-15T21:29:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2013, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-use-coupons-to-eat-at-restaurant-or-buying-stuff-at-a-store/674014/61 "2013-11-18T18:37:27Z")
Can you use a coupon to get money off a used Willys? ---
**Author:** ![Grapefruit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@Grapefruit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grapefruit)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2013, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-use-coupons-to-eat-at-restaurant-or-buying-stuff-at-a-store/674014/62 "2013-11-18T18:44:50Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > That seems odd. I could see having that reaction if he actually, you know, asked you to chip in for dinner. But judging him for spending money unnecessarily rather than using a coupon strikes me as kind of silly. “How dare you save $20 in my presence after we had this otherwise fine meal? You’re obviously unsuitable for sleeping with, what with that extra twenty in your pocket and all…” It isn’t so much about the money as evaluating the other person’s judgment on socially acceptable behaviours. The initial dating period is all about making impressions! Eventually, I may get used to the idea of the guy burping, farting and scratching his balls while lounging in front of the tv, but that doesn’t mean I should see these things straight off the bat. I’ve had many great dates where the guy doesn’t spend a single penny, but if you’re a penny pincher to the point of bringing out a coupon unabashedly, I am judging it. Same as I would judge how they speak to the waitress, how they handle a messy burger, and all sorts of other things related to how they relate to other human beings. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2013, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-use-coupons-to-eat-at-restaurant-or-buying-stuff-at-a-store/674014/63 "2013-11-18T19:25:21Z")
Don’t worry about people thinking you’re cheap for using coupons. Worry about people thinking you’re dumb for paying full price. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2013, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-use-coupons-to-eat-at-restaurant-or-buying-stuff-at-a-store/674014/64 "2013-11-18T20:22:55Z")
> [@Grapefruit](#): > > It isn’t so much about the money as evaluating the other person’s judgment on socially acceptable behaviours. The initial dating period is all about making impressions! I guess I don’t see how unnecessarily spending additional money on an identical product is more “socially acceptable” or why it makes a better impression to drain your pocket faster for no reason but thankfully I’m not dating these days. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2013, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-use-coupons-to-eat-at-restaurant-or-buying-stuff-at-a-store/674014/65 "2013-11-18T20:30:09Z")
> [@Grapefruit](#): > > Mr. 48Willys, sir, things in the dating world has changed since you took your girl out for a malt at ye olde soda shoppe. If a guy pulls out a coupon for dinner anytime between the first and tenth-ish date, I’m going to think “Aw shit, is he going to ask me to chip in for gas if I invite him over?” On a date night while in a relationship, I might think “Hmmm… is he saving to buy a ring?” I’d hope that dinner on an early date would be at a place nice enough to not issue coupons. Dennys can come later. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2013, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-use-coupons-to-eat-at-restaurant-or-buying-stuff-at-a-store/674014/66 "2013-11-18T20:41:17Z")
As noted above, even well rated restaurants can/do use coupons in various forms. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2013, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-use-coupons-to-eat-at-restaurant-or-buying-stuff-at-a-store/674014/67 "2013-11-18T21:17:34Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > Don’t worry about people thinking you’re cheap for using coupons. Worry about people thinking you’re dumb for paying full price. No, worry about the server forgetting that you gave him a coupon and not taking it off the check. (This happened to my husband and me yesterday. We caught the error, and got a new check.) ---
**Author:** ![Grapefruit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@Grapefruit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grapefruit)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2013, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-use-coupons-to-eat-at-restaurant-or-buying-stuff-at-a-store/674014/68 "2013-11-18T21:26:25Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > thankfully I’m not dating these days. That’s my point. Those who don’t have to go on “first dates” anymore really don’t understand the shallow dance of getting to know another person as a potential mate. It can be annoying, and it leads to lots of “But why can’t I do that?! My last girlfriend/boyfriend loved it!” I’m not saying a coupon on a first date is an immediate deal breaker, but it does lead to further (probably internal) questions that if this is the person on their best, how much deeper this cheapness goes. That’s my just my social group, though. For all I know, two people who met through [penny-pinching-mates.com](http://penny-pinching-mates.com) would be thrilled to see their date use a coupon. > [@Voyager](#): > > I’d hope that dinner on an early date would be at a place nice enough to not issue coupons. Dennys can come later. I’ve been on a first date where the guy took me to a dog park to play and then grabbed a couple of hot dogs to munch on and that was a fabulous date. There’s just _something_ about going to a not-cheap place and still wanting it to be as cheap as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2013, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-use-coupons-to-eat-at-restaurant-or-buying-stuff-at-a-store/674014/69 "2013-11-18T21:30:44Z")
> [@Grapefruit](#): > > That’s my point. Those who don’t have to go on “first dates” anymore really don’t understand the shallow dance of getting to know another person as a potential mate. It’s not as though my wife came from a Groupon offer 😛 It’s all good though. I don’t get it, you feel fine about it, we ain’t ever gonna date so there’s no need to sweat it. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2013, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-use-coupons-to-eat-at-restaurant-or-buying-stuff-at-a-store/674014/70 "2013-11-18T21:57:18Z")
Yes. When it comes to some places, the whole point of going there is the coupons. For example Kohls with their Kohls card coupon, MVC bonus coupons, and Kohls cash. I would never buy anything atg Kohls without some sort of coupon. It just wouldn’t make sense. Old Navy, which I think is related to Banana Republic, does bonus “cash” and stuff like spent $50 and get $20 off, etc. For them, I buy giftcards so I can get $100+ in free gas, then shop there during their sales/coupon promotions. For restaurants, just tip on the non-discounted price. For fast food I don’t feel bad about using them at all, especially when every week I get multiple Arbys, Culvers, Steak N Shake, etc in the mail box. If I can pay $1.99 or a BOGO Free for a sandwich that isn’t worth the regular price of 4-5 bucks, sure. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2013, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-use-coupons-to-eat-at-restaurant-or-buying-stuff-at-a-store/674014/71 "2013-11-18T22:04:36Z")
> [@Grapefruit](#): > > I’m not saying a coupon on a first date is an immediate deal breaker, but it does lead to further (probably internal) questions that if this is the person on their best, how much deeper this cheapness goes. It’s not cheap to use a coupon. It’s cheap to under-tip, however. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2013, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-use-coupons-to-eat-at-restaurant-or-buying-stuff-at-a-store/674014/72 "2013-11-18T23:33:17Z")
> [@Grapefruit](#): > > I’ve been on a first date where the guy took me to a dog park to play and then grabbed a couple of hot dogs to munch on and that was a fabulous date. There’s just _something_ about going to a not-cheap place and still wanting it to be as cheap as possible. Assuming that you both liked dogs and he didn’t ask you to do the agility course 😃 a date centered around something fun for both is different. ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-use-coupons-to-eat-at-restaurant-or-buying-stuff-at-a-store/674014/73 "2013-11-19T03:19:20Z")
My local Dollar General Market offers a buy $30, get $5 off coupon regularly. I unabashedly take advantage of it! That is almost a 17% discount on some already low prices,and, IME, the cashiers don’t even roll their eyes if you split your cart into 2 orders to use 2 coupons. ---
**Author:** ![urban1a](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e47c2d/32.png) [@urban1a](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/urban1a)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-use-coupons-to-eat-at-restaurant-or-buying-stuff-at-a-store/674014/74 "2013-11-19T03:41:53Z")
I never remember using a coupon for a restaurant, probably because I don’t go through the paper looking for coupons. The coupons for the grocery stores are mostly for brands which I would never buy, and, again, I don’t hunt out coupons. (Although, I might look into the automatic Kroeger coupons, mentioned above. Thank you \*\*Shakes \*\*). The only coupon I used on a regular basis was for Bed, Bath and Beyond. I still have a stack of these but I seldom go into a BB&B store anymore. (Sometimes you just don’t need anymore kitchen gadgets.) Bob ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-use-coupons-to-eat-at-restaurant-or-buying-stuff-at-a-store/674014/75 "2013-11-19T16:50:24Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > If you’ve got 48 willys, I’m not surprised you have a pretty wife who loves you. 🆒 > [@48Willys](#): > > Well, she SAID that she married me for my 1959 Ford pickup. I told her I married her for her 1949 Willys pickup. We still own the Ford, but she sold the Willys to her brother. > > Now I own one 1948 Willys CJ-2A running rig, and one basket case 1948 CJ-2A, three 1953 Willys wagons and one 1947 Willys pickup in unknown condition. I just bought it this week. > [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > **njtt** , didn’t anyone warn you not to get him started about the Willys’? 😃 > [@48Willys](#): > > Shhh, that is a secret!😉 I hope you’re still talking about the car company. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-use-coupons-to-eat-at-restaurant-or-buying-stuff-at-a-store/674014/76 "2013-11-19T17:04:51Z")
The Netherlands doesn’t have a similar coupon-clipping culture as the US. It has been tried here, but it never caught on. We do get leaflets in the mail with discount offers, luring customers. However, hardly ever you’re supposed to clip the paper and take it with you to the store. I guess our stores know most people won’t do that and they will get angry and disappointed if they don’t get the discount because they didn’t clip the coupon. We do have lots of systems with client points/cards etc to keep customers loyal to certain stores. Not to brands, (except coffee). Including stamp-cards where an X number of stamps filling a card will get you a discount on a future purchase. I never use those, mostly because I don’t want to have to think about such cards or stamps and lug them around with me and then be angry at myself because I forgot to redeem them. We do have Groupon here, though, since a few years. I love Groupon, and have paid at restaurants with it. ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-use-coupons-to-eat-at-restaurant-or-buying-stuff-at-a-store/674014/77 "2013-11-19T17:30:17Z")
I like to use a coupon on a first date. If she gets upset, I’ve learned that she is just a shallow person not worth a second date. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-use-coupons-to-eat-at-restaurant-or-buying-stuff-at-a-store/674014/78 "2013-11-20T02:49:57Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > I hope you’re still talking about the car company. 😃 If not, it’s giving me the Willys. ---
**Author:** ![JLRogers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce73a5/32.png) [@JLRogers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JLRogers)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-use-coupons-to-eat-at-restaurant-or-buying-stuff-at-a-store/674014/79 "2013-11-20T10:06:25Z")
> [@Grapefruit](#): > > I’m not saying a coupon on a first date is an immediate deal breaker, but it does lead to further (probably internal) questions that if this is the person on their best, how much deeper this cheapness goes. That’s my just my social group, though. For all I know, two people who met through [penny-pinching-mates.com](http://penny-pinching-mates.com) would be thrilled to see their date use a coupon. Your posts in this thread are pretty funny. I’m sure your local businesses appreciate your moral objection to frugality. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![lunar\_elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lunar\_elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lunar_elf)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2013, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-use-coupons-to-eat-at-restaurant-or-buying-stuff-at-a-store/674014/80 "2013-11-24T03:03:54Z")
I use coupons all the time! Bob Evans almost always has BOGO dinner or breakfast coupons 3-4 times a month (we don’t go a lot, but it’s defintley not a bad deal.) You can save quite a bit of money, and yes it sometimes feels silly, but saving money/free stuff is pretty awesome. And yes, always tip as if you were paying full price for everything! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-use-coupons-to-eat-at-restaurant-or-buying-stuff-at-a-store/674014.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-use-coupons-to-eat-at-restaurant-or-buying-stuff-at-a-store/674014.md?page=5)