Comments on Ken Armstrong Writing Stuff: Voucher Guilt

Laura: I'll use that, if I may. "Here, ...

2009-08-08T18:57:04.384+01:00

Laura: I'll use that, if I may.

"Here, allow me to break you monotony with *this*" :)

Hope: I've had that too. I sat on a voucher where we had the most God-awful meal. Never-ever used it, which was fine. They closed eventually.

Cybercelt: The old expired coupon scenario is worrysome too...

Mkcoy: A person after my own heart, I can tell.

Matt: As ever, I'm not being 100% serious, although there is at least a vein of truth in everything I say. :) So don't think too harshly of me, I will use those puppies, I swear I will...

John: There's a lot of this 'company going bust and not honouring vouchers' going on over here. So best use 'em early.

Laura: I took the new photo last weekend, I was photographing the Open Tennis Championship (my wife won the doubles) and I has a mirror snap. I chose to use it 'cos it's pretty much how I look now although the stubble comes and goes.

Reggie: You know I won't come to Canada without looking you up. It's not that big a place... is it? :)

Well now that was an utterly misleading photograph...

2009-08-07T18:35:58.132+01:00

Well now that was an utterly misleading photograph you have used in your post. I was excited at the idea that you might have been in Canada! And then of course I was furious that you wouldn't have contacted me... and then sad to realise that it was only a stock photo from someone else's flickr stream *sigh*.

Just leave a decent tip, and you won't feel like such a cheapskate when using vouchers!

You look a bit shell shocked in the new photo. Did...

2009-08-07T08:33:04.497+01:00

You look a bit shell shocked in the new photo. Did you forget your PIN at the check out? Or was the vacation a bit like an extreme holiday, jumping off walls and climbing the sides of steep hills... ?

You have another new photo up. How was the vacatio...

2009-08-07T08:30:54.542+01:00

You have another new photo up. How was the vacation?

"book vouchers don't count"lol you c...

2009-08-06T10:36:07.315+01:00

"book vouchers don't count"lol
you crack me up man

I tell you what, I'll help you. You give them...

2009-08-06T09:00:38.444+01:00

I tell you what, I'll help you. You give them to me and I'll spend them for you. I don't suffer from that particular guilt. Many others, I fear, but not that one.

Following on from John of English Wilderness, I do suffer from voucher guilt when buying, but I keep having to remind myself that I love receiving them.

We generally don't buy vouchers for presents, ...

2009-08-04T11:36:00.243+01:00

We generally don't buy vouchers for presents, because somehow it feels like cheating and taking the easy option.

Also they're not guaranteed if the company gets into trouble. Remember when Woolworth's stopped accepting vouchers because they went into receivership, even though they continued to trade for a couple of months?

???? Vouchers, if I understand them correctly, ar...

2009-08-03T14:22:59.925+01:00

???? Vouchers, if I understand them correctly, are the same as Gift Certificates in the States. If this is the case, then they are pre-paid long before you eat. In other words, they are revenue the restaurant has previously received and is collecting interest on until you use your voucher. Restaurants in the STates sell as many gift Certificates as possible for Christmas Gifts. The reason? Because they represent revenue in January and February when they will be redeemed. January and February are the two slowest months in the restaurant industry. Selling gift certificates/vouchers ensures a revenue flow in those slow months. How you can feel weird about using a pre-paid gift certificate is something I can't wrap my head around. Your meal has already been paid for. You're just deciding when you want to eat it.

I see what you mean though. I would take that angl...

2009-08-02T12:36:15.373+01:00

I see what you mean though. I would take that angle also trying to get management on my side from early on. Or at least ask them before I dined if it's ok to use a voucher. And present it with a smile as if it's totally ok. Maybe the next time you give it put it on a serviete plate with some small loose change on the top of it as a tip. That way it makes you look like you have heart and they'll glady accept your voucher the next time ;)

I think you do right by asking if there is a probl...

2009-08-02T11:29:12.359+01:00

I think you do right by asking if there is a problem using your voucher. By all means, use them.

I wanted to purchase a table at the southwestern art place. My girlfriend was giving me gift certificates for birthday and Christmas so I could afford it. When I pulled them out to use them, they had all expired within a year of issue.

The only time I feel guilty is if I get one to a r...

2009-08-01T22:33:27.764+01:00

The only time I feel guilty is if I get one to a restaurant we've been to that's AWFUL! Tug of war between logic [it's free food] and emotional [yeah, free BAD food].

The stomach usually wins. If the restaurant is a previously proven horror, I vote to let them keep their money and not suffer indigestion. :)

When I was a cashier I liked getting coupons, gift...

2009-08-01T16:59:42.728+01:00

When I was a cashier I liked getting coupons, gift cards and such. It broke up the monotony of credit, debit and cash. Maybe you can think of it that way.

Laura: Nice idea, 'wouldn't work though -...

2009-08-01T10:24:14.332+01:00

Laura: Nice idea, 'wouldn't work though - my guilt would go with the voucher no matter who presented it.

I select pics for how the look rather than what's in them - does that make sense? I never noticed what currency it was. It's good if it raised a smile though. :)

Susan: This is more 'funny/odd' than 'funny/ha-ha' I fear. :)

Rachel: Good question... I'm not sure... no, it doesn't but I have to eat it quick before my anxiety puts me off the food. :)

Dominic: Valuable insight, thanks! :) I do try to console myself that some vouchers never get used and that is a real winner for the shop. As you might guess, I have a few of those myself.

Lyndi: I love it when you come by and giggle, so it's a win-win situation. :)

Jim: We're silly auld moos really... aren't we? :)

I'm very much the same, Ken, in fact I have a ...

2009-08-01T08:41:03.822+01:00

I'm very much the same, Ken, in fact I have a voucher in the cupboard that I got for filling in some survey form and it's been lying there for probably a good six months. The last lot I got hung around for well over a year. I will use it and probably for a book. You're right paying for a book with a voucher isn't the same. I think this is because there is a long tradition with book tokens, they were given a prizes from schools and the like, reputable sources. And that makes them respectable.

I love it when you post on a Saturday, it gives me...

2009-08-01T07:43:57.826+01:00

I love it when you post on a Saturday, it gives me something to giggle about all weekend.

I love the way you end your articles. You always leave a bit that gets one thinking all over again. One day, when I've grown up, I will also be able to write as well as you do.

Thanks for a lovely story.

I wouldn't worry. The great thing about sel...

2009-08-01T07:18:46.150+01:00
I wouldn't worry. The great thing about selling vouchers is if they are for, say, fifty pounds, you know that the punter who uses it will either spend forty-five pounds and think so what or feel they need to spend up to the full value and probably end up spending fifty-five. Without the voucher he or she might only have spent thirty. Great marketting ploy.

And then there's the people who get bought them and never use them! Money for old rope.

Thinks - I'm missing a trick here. I might even start selling guitar lesson vouchers...

That's so funny! Does the voucher affect what ...

2009-08-01T03:39:20.232+01:00
That's so funny! Does the voucher affect what you order, too? Made me chuckle.

You're too funny--I love using vouchers. Yes I...

2009-08-01T02:27:02.250+01:00
You're too funny--I love using vouchers. Yes I *do* feel like a bit of a freeloader when doing it, but I'm ok with it ROFL.

Coffin voucher.... hm, I like that idea. Maybe my next wedding anniversary!!

How did you pick a Swiss Chalet photo with Canadia...

2009-08-01T01:29:41.911+01:00
How did you pick a Swiss Chalet photo with Canadian money too. Funny to see that on your blog. :)

Let someone else buy you dinner at the restaurant ...

2009-08-01T01:28:06.948+01:00
Let someone else buy you dinner at the restaurant and give them the voucher (we call them coupons or gift cards here) to pay it with. Perfect solution unless you can't let someone pay for your dinner.