I went to a party at my job today. It was "employee appreciation day" and we had a little cookout. I work in a grocery store, the average worker only makes 7 or 8 an hour.
so anyway, the management thought it would be cool to give out door prizes. I was psyched about winning something -- until I got my prize. it was a $25 gift card to the MOST EXPENSIVE restaurant in town. I'm talking about a super-uppity place that sells calamari and roast duck. my husband and I went there and checked it out, and even with the gift card we can't afford it.
do you think it was tacky of management to give those out? what should I do with the gift card?
2006-08-12 12:13:37 · 28 answers · asked by cirque de lune 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Darlin'...
...dress in your finest.
Go to the restaurant.
Sit at the bar.
Order a Mountain Dew.
Drink it slowly.
Stand up.
Stiff the bartender.
Leave.
Smiling!
2006-08-12 12:22:57 · answer #1 · answered by St. Hell 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Give it as a gift to somebody for their birthday (but be sure to check for any expiry date on the card), but it's a shame that you can't enjoy it.
Sorry to hear you were let down cuz I know you would have loved a "night out" to enjoy the roast duck. Oh well, maybe you can get some satisfaction from knowing that your gift will be meaningful to someone else (and it saves you from buying a gift), but I know it isn't really much of a bonus to you.
And, yes, I think it was tacky of Mgmt to give their employees something that is out of the range of most of the people. A certificate at a nice, but less expensive place would have been far more fitting. And don't return the gift card to your Manager. Why should he get it? Try not to let this bother you.
2006-08-12 20:51:44 · answer #2 · answered by LaRue 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since you don't know how the store obtained the gift card, it's difficult to know how thoughtless this was. Oftentimes, businesses will simply give gift cards/certificates to other businesses. Maybe your grocery store got this as a freebie. If they purchased the card and only sprung for $25, then that seems pretty cheap and thoughtless.
As to what to do:
1) Stop in at the bar for drinks and an appetizer one evening.
2) Try to swap the card for something you could actually use at one of these two websites:
http://www.certificateswap.com/
http://swapagift.com/
3) Make something good out of a bad situation. Find a local charity that holds an annual silent auction and donate the card to them.
Whatever you do, don't grouse about this...life is short and the world is filled with too many stupid people to get upset about it.
2006-08-12 19:35:11 · answer #3 · answered by dick_coxnbutz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Instead of looking at the negative aspect of what you received, look at the positive thing the management did by giving you anything. Management was probably trying to help the employees spend a nice evening on the town. To answer your questions, No it was not tacky of the management to give you the gift card. I think you should give the gift card back to your boss and tell him, " I am an ungrateful employee, I do not deserve a gift of any kind."
2006-08-12 19:46:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow....maybe not tacky. They probably didn't even realize it.
If you aren't going to go to the restaurant, give the card to somebody else and forget about it.
It was pretty foolish, but consider the source. Whoever thought up the idea surely didn't sit there and think, 'let's get a cheap gift card for an expensive restaurant'.
2006-08-12 19:19:32 · answer #5 · answered by Jake 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't think it will be rude to ask for a different gift card. Maybe management can exchange the card for something more practical. I can afford those uppity place but I'd rather not go to snooty places. I hate dressing up. I don't see why they can't accommodate you. Good luck.
2006-08-12 20:34:40 · answer #6 · answered by Art The Wise 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess they never bothered to realize that $25.00 isn't a lot off when they make so much more money then you all do. It may not have been "rude" on their part just not really thinking outside of their rich box. Give it to someone else as a gift who can afford the place. Maybe as a thank you gift for someone or for any/no special occassion.
2006-08-12 19:57:26 · answer #7 · answered by PROUDJEW 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can you turn in the gift card for cash at the restaurant?
Or maybe you know someone who can afford that place and you can pass the card on to them.
Or, if there is no expiration date on the card, you might put it away in the 'kitty' and make a game of saving up enough 'coke' money until you can afford to go there.
2006-08-12 19:22:37 · answer #8 · answered by Puzzler 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not very bright of the management. I am sure they would not have spent $25 on it if they knew more about the restaurant. Why not sell it on Ebay. Someone who likes that restaurant might give you $10 for it and they will get a $15 discount.
2006-08-12 19:22:22 · answer #9 · answered by Signilda 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I like the response about using it for drinks. Does this restaurant have a bar? Perhaps you could stop by there for a cocktail before heading to a more affordable restaurant. That way, you can "enjoy" the atmosphere of the place without committing to a whole meal. If you're not a drinker, then I guess this isn't such a hot idea.
2006-08-12 19:20:38 · answer #10 · answered by bazzmc 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would give the gift card to someone that can afford to eat at the restaurant.
Yes, it was tacky for management to do this, but keep in mind, it is management and this is what they do.
The intent was in the right place, but as is usual with management, their thinking is loftier than our working class brains.
2006-08-12 19:36:41 · answer #11 · answered by Gnome 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋