If you have a coupon or certificate for a restaurant . . .
 

Do you present it when you are seated, or wait until the bill comes?

If it is on a first date, etiquette requires that you present it when the bill arrives.

What if not on a first date ? And I did not ask for etiquette, I asked what you do.

When you get seated.

Why? Do you think you will get the same level of service as if the waiter/waitress thinks you are paying full price?

I wait until the bill comes, and I tip on the full price:thumbsup

I usually wait until the bill arrives, then sneak out through the bathroom :)

Actually, I can't remember the last time I got a coupon for a restaurant - they don't seem to give them out much around here.

Thats what i do, seems to work ?

coupons first...gift certificates last

It is a certificate I won in the webmaster toy run auction. I am inclined to save it till the end as I paid full price for the meal, so no reason I should risk sub-par treatment.

I would tell them upfront, but make it somewhat lighthearted, jokish even...

Tell your waiter/waitress or slip it in as your ordering that you won tonight's dinner from an auction. Takes the coupon pressure off of you... and you can proactively be personable with your service people which leads to better service 10x over what promise of high or low tipping would anways...

This just comes from many people I've known working food/drink service over the years, collectively through stories, telling me that quality of service is always high unless somebody's an asshole, and the people that go out of their way to be extra nice... even little as learning their name... they go above and beyond for.

Why would they need to know in advance that you have a coupon, unless there's some condition stipulating this?

good job on winning the auction!

THAT rules!

Well, it is printed on it to "present upon arrival." Couldn't figure out why they want to know up front unless they were planning on giving me a free dessert or something. :1orglaugh

its the restaurant software...they want to put the meal in as a comp up front, rather than putting it in as a paid meal, then having to reverse it after the bill is printed....

Never has ceased to amaze me how many cheap ass fuckers will eat a great meal, then pay for most of it with comp checks or gift cards then tip on the balance. That is just shitty.

Tell the waitress upon arrival that you have a coupon and that you're a porn peddler and that the only tip you'll give her is to never try to get in the biz with her droopy tits.

stick it in the clown's mouth you cheap bastard

Upfront fo sure. Some places, esp smaller establishments have a limit on the number of coupons they'll honor in a day. There is an option to limit the number of coupons sold per day. Think that is true at Restaurant.com. some of those coupons are such a good deal, the place could be driven out of biz...

Now if it's a Gift Certificate you have. That is prepaid and shouldn't make a difference.

I have found that most places are happy to have the new buisness.

My g/f always as a stash of discount coupons. A way to get me to try a new place.

same here:thumbsup

I hope you are not addressing anyone in particular.

I obtained this certificate as part of a charity auction. I also tip very well.

It is a gift certificate, for a major chain.

If its a gift certificate its almost like cash so keep it until you pay your bill.

Comp cards and vouchers are different many require you to show them on arrival so they can enter the promo code into the computer and a host of other possible reasons.

just my experience :)

I wait until the bill comes

Nope, no one in particular. I have just had lots of friends and such that waited tables and complained about people doing that all the time.

Present up front. Tip on full price.