AIBU for expecting her not to pay with vouchers at a restaurant?

[NJE]

I'm meeting my friend the first weekend in February again. I haven't seen her for nearly three years as she was working abroad. We decided to go out for dinner and I ask her where she wants to go. She proposed an Italian restaurant because she can get vouchers on the internet for it. I feel slightly embarrassed by this but haven't said anything. Is it right to pay in a restaurant with a 50% voucher? She can easily afford it.

AIBU?

It is sort of a reverse snobbery thing though.

I don't know any rich people who would hesitate to use vouchers/get any discount they can (me included!).

You don't get rich by spending a bunch of unnecessary money.

YABU. Vouchers are there to be used. Who cares if she could afford it? Getting something half price that's completely legal is harmless and fun.

Did you enjoy the meal?

People get rich by holding on to their money and not spending it.......the seriously rich old money are not running around with Bugaboos - they are borrowing a 3rd hand Maclaren and probably using the restaurant vouchers with glee!

Tell you what snob, don't go then. Simple innit.

This reminds me of that sketch in Life of Brian where Brian won't haggle.

YABVVU and a mug if you want to pay the full price for things!

I should add to my post above though, that paying with "instead of money" vouchers is fine. As someone else said, the place issued them or signed up to schemes to get people through the door and then hopefully come back and pay cash.

YABU. It's perfectly reasonable to pay with vouchers. A lot of restaurants put vouchers on their website. I

I always look to see who is offering vouchers. I can't see what you have against it.

YABU. Most people who can afford stuff can do because they're careful. Why should she spend more just to make you feel better?

Okay. I guess IABU. I am not a snob, I am rather the opposite. I have to say that I grow up in a country where it's not common to use vouchers in a restaurant. Thinks like Vouchercloud don't exist there. Of course you can pay with vouchers for everything else (cinema, shops etc.) but in restaurant such thing just doesn't exist.

I run a pub/restaurant. giving vouchers out is a way of getting cvustomers in through the doors!!

yabu, pay full price when you can get vouchers to not pay full price??? Do you have money to throw away?

If you object to vouchers you can send any surplus to me where I will present them at Claridges / Ritz / all sorts of grand places with aplomb.

How very strange you are...

This is a wind up surely... Either that or we have a very thick OP who thinks she is being posh...

I feel sorry for the friend

This has to be the most idiotic thread ever, surely a classic for the future?

Add message | Report | Message poster LargeHadronKaleidoscope Wed 11-Jan-12 23:11:59
This reminds me of that sketch in Life of Brian where Brian won't haggle.

Yes! Me too! Doh...

In the end, if you want to pay full price, do it. Let your friend pay with vouchers, because the restaurant wouldn't make them available if they didn't expect people to use them. Or perhaps you know better than the restaurateur?

< sticks head above parapet >

I'll admit to feeling embarrassed using vouchers too. Not proper bought-as-a-present ones but coupon type things or those "eat out for £5" that used to be in the Times or internet ones. If it was just restaurant ones I might put it down to the embarrassment of having free school dinners as a child but I would feel the same about a "free colour with every haircut" voucher so it can't really be all down to that.

I think it might be the way they scrutinise it and sometimes say to people: "Oh no that's only valid if you order before 5pm" and everyone gathers round and starts squinting at the small print looking for loopholes. All that nitpicking over a 20% reduction doesn't seem to be what a restaurant is for for me. < channels LeQueen >

I eat out quite rarely and it's a massive treat for me. So choosing where we were going would be a big thing. I'd be annoyed if a particular restaurant got chosen just because someone (money no issue) had a voucher rather than because it's a really nice place.

Maybe it is a class/age thing. When I was young no one I knew went to restaurants and if they did there were always jokes about the bill coming and not having enough money and having to do the washing up . . . so perhaps in my head a money-off voucher is saying "I don't have enough money to eat here normally."

I do however acknowledge that these feelings are out-of-date and unreasonable.

lots of restaurants use vouchers at this time of year when it is quiet. it is normally the chain restaurants that offer discounts so they are not losing out but building up a loyal customer base. anyway, drinks are never half price and the mark up on them means that the restaurant still makes great profits. if you are concerned about spending too little give a good tip and leave it in cash for the waiting staff.

Haha, I remember reading in a tacky newspaper ages ago about Princess Anne turning up within a group for lunch somewhere.
Guess what? Yep, she used vouchers to get a hefty discount!

If its good enough for Royalty OP................

What? Of course YABU.

YANU and slightly mad.

WTF? Of course YABU! Why pay full price when you have a voucher?

And as for being embarrassed........it's credit crunch chic.

What an odd thing to worry about. I love vouchers and bargains. I thought everyone did!