Online restaurant coupons grow as diners seek bargains
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Who wouldn’t pay $10 for a $25 meal, or $25 to enjoy an opulent $50 dinner?
That’s the appeal of companies offering online coupons good for discounts at restaurants locally and nationwide. Analysts say the niche actually expanded amid the sagging economy, as a restaurant outing is a relatively affordable indulgence compared with, say, a new sports car.
And if you have a coupon to defray the cost of a meal, so much the better.
“I think the appeal is this: If you’ve been counting your pennies for months, a filet mignon and lobster dinner for 15 bucks feels like you’re really spoiling yourself,” said Peter Schaub, a New York-based marketing and branding expert.
Online discount coupons are nothing new. Merchants ranging from Victoria’s Secret to Best Buy to Dell offer them. All-encompassing coupon sites go by names like CouponCabin.com and RetailMeNot.com.
Schaub said restaurant coupon deals designed to get diners to tables can vary widely, depending on the company.
