Is this too good to be true?
I've been seeing "Discount coupon cards" on Ebay, and it seems like a GREAT deal. $10 for a lot of BOGO w/ unlimited uses (they don't take the card when you use it)-- and it's good till 2015??
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http://cgi.ebay.com/National-Advantage-Diners-Card-Discount-Dining-Coupons-/310290785633
http://www.webspawner.com/users/njdawn/
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170654850302&clk_rvr_id=240945896298
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Are these scams? I guess my worry is that I'll buy one and every restaurant I go to use it at will laugh at me. Has anyone used or heard of these before?
EDIT: Even on a website for kid's w/ cancer... I hope this isn't some scam??? http://www.toysforchildrenwithcancer.com/
by
shanklove
asked a year ago
We used to sell cards like these as fund raisers for my high school. Ours had an expiration date and some of the offers were only allowed to be used 5 times.
Hmmm.. I've seen those too, but never something to this extent...
Here's a comment from the seller of the eBay-listed item:
"When I purchased my distributorship I went to many restaurants on this card for over 6 weeks before marketing it. From my experience well over 80% accepted, especially in today's economy when businesses are attempting everything they can think of to obtain business. On only rare occasions did I come across someone who owned one or two restaurants and did not want my business. This was by far the exception rather than the rule. It's best to show the card before ordering and getting their answer. The key is to have the management on duty see it for best results. Try it for a week. If you are not satisfied just return it for a full refund. Once you use it several times you may then want to use it for either fundraising purposes or as a dependable way to obtain a steady income. If you have any additional questions, please let me know. Have a Great Day, Ray"
That is NOT what I consider to be a glowing recommendation. I'd pass.
@magic cave: I'm still on the edge. I guess I can just call and ask some restaurants in my area...
there's a website from the people who make them. looks like they target schools, churches, etc who want to do fundraising
http://www.theadvantagecardusa.com/
they look like regular coupon offers. 10% off, free app, $1 off, free sandwich, etc. instead of paper coupons they sell this as "being more green"
seems legit IMO
Look at this:
http://www.theadvantagecardusa.com/
That doesn't look like the website of an organization which arranged any deals with big players like McDonalds and Taco Bell.
My guess is they print the cards, and bank on businesses to be confused enough to accept it from customers. Note that all the businesses listed are ones most likely to have a 25 year old manager that doesn't give a damn.
Maybe he's right that 80% are willing to take it, but that doesn't mean even 1% actually have the authorization to accept it. 80% are just push overs, perhaps.
The WHOIS for his domain doesn't inspire much confidence in their authority to provide discounts for 26 billion dollar chains.
@w00tgurl: What about that seems legit?
The easiest form of scam is recruiting customers as salesmen. They focus more on selling the employment opportunities than the product itself. That raises questions about the worth of what's being sold. It's not even a particularly creative pyramid scheme.
All the companies mentioned are careful to include strict restrictions with every incentive they offer. Date range, stackability, number of uses, ect.. Why would they suddenly change that habit for this card?
@gregorylikescheapstu: i don't know, but this person used to sell them
perhaps they have more info on HOW it works...
it looks like those Entertainment books to me, same concept
@w00tgurl: Selling similar cards is not the same as selling THIS card. It offers no validation to this particular card. The existence of similar offers is what makes this, common, scam so successful, as people fail to distinguish it from reasonable offers.
@gregorylikescheapstu: uh ok. don't buy it then. i'm off to mcD's for my free sammich
Rule of thumb: If it looks to good to be true, it isn't.
As someone who used to work in management in a restaurant, I can tell you these types of "deals" are NOT legit and will more often then not (95%+) be declined immediately. Stay away.
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