{ 張亨來 }

OpenTable Spotlight offers $50 gift certificates to restaurants for $25 while Restaurant.com offers $25 gift certificates to restaurants for as little as $2. At first glance, it might seem that Restaurant.com has the better offer - half the gift certificate amount at a tenth of the cost. However, the caveat for Restaurant.com $25 gift certificates is that you usually have to spend at least $50 at the restaurant in order to use them. Let’s do some math:

For Restaurant.com, you spend $10 initially, receive $25 in gift certificate value, then spend $50 at the restaurant: -$2 + $25 - $50 = -$27. You end up spending $27 for a $50 dinner.

For OpenTable Spotlight, you spend $25 initially, receive $50 in gift certificate value, then spend $50 at the restaurant: -$25 + $50 - $50 = -$25. You end spending $25 for a $50 dinner.

Of course, the amount you actually spend at restaurants will vary depending on what you order. But whether you use OpenTable Spotlight or Restaurant.com, you will be spending at least $50. And in such cases, OpenTable Spotlight actually almost always offers the better deal. Some Restaurant.com gift certificates don’t have the $50 spending stipulation, but instead ask you to order two entrees or something that potentially adds up to just shy of $50. But then again, Restaurant.com $25 gift certificates are normally sold at $10.