City Deal Restaurant

saggycaggy

Hi there,

My husband recently bought a City Deal voucher for a restaurant in North Dublin. We were hoping to use it tomorrow (St.Patricks Day) but when I emailed to book (City Deal users had to email only to book) but I received no reply. I rang the restaurant this morning and told them that I emailed them but the lady who answered said I could book with her over the phone. I asked for a table for tomorrow afternoon with the City Deal voucher and was told straight away that the restaurant was booked up for the entire day!

So i left it at that and told my husband. This evening then my husband phoned the restaurant and asked for a table for 2 people for tomorrow evening and they said thats no problem for any time and then he told them he had a City Deal voucher which they then said that they are not accepting them on St.Patricks day. Now I understand it is a busy day but there was absolutely nothing about this on the voucher (Bank Holidays etc). Are they allowed to do this?Can they just not accept our voucher?

Many Thanks,

Caroline

BrianD

Unfortunately, the only reason that businesses sign up for these group deals is to shift the appointments and reservations that they would not have sold anyway.

They don't want these cut price vouchers taking over their busy periods they want them in their quiet times. They have probably some plan where the vouchers are redeemed on certain days to maximise their return.

This is why they want you to e-mail them - so they can book you into some off peak time that suits them. I take it you can't redeem your voucher without e-mailing them?

It would be good policy for them to put the blackout days on the offer.

saggycaggy

Thanks for the reply. Yeah I understand why businesses do it and if they did include the blackout dates (Easter weekend, Paddy's day etc) then i'd totally understand but it was just annoying when they don't and they wont take your booking.
No the woman on the phone was taking my CityDeal booking over the phone (but on the website the restuarant said for City Deal users to email only) but when I wanted it for tomorrow she wouldnt take it.

My husband rang back again and made the booking for tomorrow using the voucher-they weren't happy but he just explained to them that it doesnt say it on their voucher and it's in our rights for them to accept it!!

Don't know if im looking forward to going now or not!

BrianD

Well good for you that you got a booking but the bottom line with these offers is that they don't have to accept them unless you make a booking/reservation and as you can imagine you won't be getting prime time. Unless of course they are stuck!

You can see why there's only a certain types of businesses that use these group deals.

BrianD

How was dinner?