Anyone Else Noticing On-Site Discounts are Getting Chintzy?

[dioxide45]

I am referring here to the discounts provided with the Vacation Privileges Card that the concierge hands you when you checkin or get your parking pass or your free bag or whatever it is they use to try and wrangle you into an Owner Update. We've been to a lot of resorts over the years, but lately I notice that the discounts with these cards doesn't seem to be as good as they were in years past. Sure, the onsite food and beverage still seems to offer 10% off, but I notice fewer off site restaurants. Those that are still listed on the sheet they hand out seem to offer things like a free appetizer or desert vs. a flat discount like 10%. I rarely get dessert at a restaurant, so a free dessert doesn't really impress me discount wise. A number of places in Hawaii are listed with "Free Hula Pie". Duke's at Kauai Beach Club was a $5 Hula Pie with the purchase of two entrees. This was a $10 discount, whoop whoop. I still had to pay something for it. If I were to go to several of these restaurants, how many hula pies do I really want to eat?

I guess off site restaurants don't need to offer the discounts to get the exposure anymore? Perhaps they've found over the years that the discounts don't drive traffic? Or they just can't afford to offer a discount with thin margins? What are your thoughts?

 

[davidvel]

I am referring here to the discounts provided with the Vacation Privileges Card that the concierge hands you when you checkin or get your parking pass or your free bag or whatever it is they use to try and wrangle you into an Owner Update. We've been to a lot of resorts over the years, but lately I notice that the discounts with these cards doesn't seem to be as good as they were in years past. Sure, the onsite food and beverage still seems to offer 10% off, but I notice fewer off site restaurants. Those that are still listed on the sheet they hand out seem to offer things like a free appetizer or desert vs. a flat discount like 10%. I rarely get dessert at a restaurant, so a free dessert doesn't really impress me discount wise. A number of places in Hawaii are listed with "Free Hula Pie". Duke's at Kauai Beach Club was a $5 Hula Pie with the purchase of two entrees. This was a $10 discount, whoop whoop. I still had to pay something for it. If I were to go to several of these restaurants, how many hula pies do I really want to eat?

I guess off site restaurants don't need to offer the discounts to get the exposure anymore? Perhaps they've found over the years that the discounts don't drive traffic? Or they just can't afford to offer a discount with thin margins? What are your thoughts?

I think the old days of a fixed percentage off are out the window for the reason you state: margins are so thin these days they will lose money doing so.

MVC likes to pretend they are giving owners some great benefit, and the restaurants get practically free advertising by being on the sheet. If restaurants only need to give away the minimum to get on the sheet, why give more? Win-win for them both, and that is what matters to them.

Most restaurants these days follow the metrics quite closely and precisely. If they discovered that giving away more would make them more money, they would do so.

 

[dioxide45]

I also forgot to mention in my original post that the onsite restaurants seem to have the 10% discount baked into the menu pricing anyway. It isn't like you are getting some kind of deal with a 10% discount at the onside pool bar. The prices are astronomical as it is, it kind of brings them in line with something off site, but not usually.

 

[ljmiii]

I am referring here to the discounts provided with the Vacation Privileges Card that the concierge... Those that are still listed on the sheet they hand out seem to offer things like a free appetizer or desert vs. a flat discount like 10%....

I rarely get dessert at a restaurant, so a free dessert doesn't really impress me discount wise. A number of places in Hawaii are listed with "Free Hula Pie". Duke's at Kauai Beach Club was a $5 Hula Pie with the purchase of two entrees...

I guess off site restaurants don't need to offer the discounts to get the exposure anymore? Perhaps they've found over the years that the discounts don't drive traffic? Or they just can't afford to offer a discount with thin margins? What are your thoughts?

I also forgot to mention in my original post that the onsite restaurants seem to have the 10% discount baked into the menu pricing anyway. It isn't like you are getting some kind of deal with a 10% discount at the onside pool bar.

Certainly the overwhelming majority of times we've used the card has been for that 10% discount at the onsite stores, restaurants, and bars. In our almost 20 years as MVC owners we've used it offsite maybe a dozen times...and half of those were getting that "Free Hula Pie" for our kids.

The restaurants that offered actual discounts always seemed to be ones we didn't want to go to or only offered a discount on select nights or only for lunch and not dinner (or visa versa). And we're not big dessert eaters either (2nd prize...*Two* free desserts!).

But I'm sure you're right.

 

[Pamplemousse]

I am referring here to the discounts provided with the Vacation Privileges Card that the concierge hands you when you checkin or get your parking pass or your free bag or whatever it is they use to try and wrangle you into an Owner Update. We've been to a lot of resorts over the years, but lately I notice that the discounts with these cards doesn't seem to be as good as they were in years past. Sure, the onsite food and beverage still seems to offer 10% off, but I notice fewer off site restaurants. Those that are still listed on the sheet they hand out seem to offer things like a free appetizer or desert vs. a flat discount like 10%. I rarely get dessert at a restaurant, so a free dessert doesn't really impress me discount wise. A number of places in Hawaii are listed with "Free Hula Pie". Duke's at Kauai Beach Club was a $5 Hula Pie with the purchase of two entrees. This was a $10 discount, whoop whoop. I still had to pay something for it. If I were to go to several of these restaurants, how many hula pies do I really want to eat?

I guess off site restaurants don't need to offer the discounts to get the exposure anymore? Perhaps they've found over the years that the discounts don't drive traffic? Or they just can't afford to offer a discount with thin margins? What are your thoughts?

We ate all the free Hula pie we could get
But I do agree the discounts are less intriguing than they used to be. We don’t choose to try places based on the discounts anymore, more that we use them if we happen to be at a place that offers one.

 

[aklausing]

Although this may have been the case all the time, we find that many times we are denied use of the 10% discount at off-site restaurants. For example, on HHI if you often times go during happy hour and if you order anything (even just a drink) off the happy hour menu, we are told you can't use the discount, even for the regular priced items ordered off the dinner menu. Also, we had certificates from attending a sales presentation at Frenchman's Cove and the off-site restaurants where they could be used didn't allow you to use the 10% off discount as well. Really don't understand that one since I would expect MVC is paying the restaurant back when those certificates are being used.

 

[ljmiii]

Really don't understand that one since I would expect MVC is paying the restaurant back when those certificates are being used.

Not at all...the discount card is just a way for nearby restaurants to market themselves to MVC owners.

 

[dioxide45]

Really don't understand that one since I would expect MVC is paying the restaurant back when those certificates are being used.

I suspect in these types of situations, MVC isn't paying out 100% on the "dollars" used. This is why you only see certain restaurants that accept these vouchers as payment. MVC may only be paying 80%, 90% or some agreed upon percentage when the cash like voucher is received. Though we were able to use the $5 hula pie "discount" along with Mahalo Dollars we received as a presentation gift in the same transaction at Duke's.

 

[TUGBrian]

wasnt told about anything discounted off site, but was told that all purchases at the resort (except alcohol) were 10% off for marriott owners...and just to tell the waiter/bartender/etc.

was super happy to see a 50% off for the daily 3pm ice cream social....my kids would have made me pay whatever they were charging.

 

[dioxide45]

wasnt told about anything discounted off site, but was told that all purchases at the resort (except alcohol) were 10% off for marriott owners...and just to tell the waiter/bartender/etc.

was super happy to see a 50% off for the daily 3pm ice cream social....my kids would have made me pay whatever they were charging.

I thought Harbour Lake sold some kind of week long pass for the ice cream social. One price, ice cream every day.

 

[TUGBrian]

yea, you can buy the refillable cup for 24 bucks...and its half off for owners!

that joker could have been $100 dollars and my kids would have demanded one each!

pretty sure id have made all my money back on toppings though!

 

[jwalk03]

I am really bad about remembering to show my card to even get the discount at the on site restaurants! I wish they could just apply the 10% off on my band they scan or something instead of having to carry around the card.

Don't think I have ever used the discount card for anything off site. I do recall at Ocean Watch in Myrtle Beach they also provided a sheet of coupons and one of the coupons was for a free round of mini-golf somewhere nearby. We did use that one!

Ocean Pointe also often provides a sheet of coupons for specific things at the on site bars/restaurants as well. Like one free drink at on the Rocks and a separate free drink at the Kingfish Pool Bar, etc. I honestly think the coupons seem to drive my actions more than the card for whatever reason.

 

[TUGBrian]

I am really bad about remembering to show my card to even get the discount at the on site restaurants! I wish they could just apply the 10% off on my band they scan or something instead of having to carry around the card.

Don't think I have ever used the discount card for anything off site. I do recall at Ocean Watch in Myrtle Beach they also provided a sheet of coupons and one of the coupons was for a free round of mini-golf somewhere nearby. We did use that one!

Ocean Pointe also often provides a sheet of coupons for specific things at the on site bars/restaurants as well. Like one free drink at on the Rocks and a separate free drink at the Kingfish Pool Bar, etc. I honestly think the coupons seem to drive my actions more than the card for whatever reason.

that was why i asked at the desk as i was honestly annoyed at trying to pull up the app every time i ordered. they said you could just tell them you were an owner and get the 10% discount applied right there.

the receptionist also said they could apply it to all orders to the room from their computer at the end of the stay if you asked.

 

[jmhpsu93]

We've utilized the discounts on HHI a decent number of times...it winds up being maybe $10 off an expensive dinner or $5 at lunch. Definitely not much in the grand scheme of the travel budget it's better than nothing.

 

[ljmiii]

I am really bad about remembering to show my card to even get the discount at the on site restaurants! I wish they could just apply the 10% off on my band they scan or something instead of having to carry around the card....

I had an interesting experience on our last stay at the Westin St John. When I checked in they noted that I was an owner and provided me with a paper card with the dates of our stay written on it. I happily used it both onsite and off (I had forgotten in my comment upstream that the grocers on St John give a 10% discount to owners...very useful!).

About a week and a half in, I went to the onsite shop to pick up a few incidentals and the cashier told me I had the wrong card! I told her that it was the one I was given at check in and she said that as a 'one time' favor she would give me my 10%...but that the onsite facilities needed to see the 'real' owners card and that I needed to go across the way and get one. So I did and lo and behold (after checking their records) they gave me a plastic card with no date!

 

[jmhpsu93]

I had an interesting experience on our last stay at the Westin St John. When I checked in they noted that I was an owner and provided me with a paper card with the dates of our stay written on it. I happily used it both onsite and off (I had forgotten in my comment upstream that the grocers on St John give a 10% discount to owners...very useful!).

About a week and a half in, I went to the onsite shop to pick up a few incidentals and the cashier told me I had the wrong card! I told her that it was the one I was given at check in and she said that as a 'one time' favor she would give me my 10%...but that the onsite facilities needed to see the 'real' owners card and that I needed to go across the way and get one. So I did and lo and behold (after checking their records) they gave me a plastic card with no date!

The format of these discount cards is all over the place. We have the generic plastic ones with no date (received from various locations), we've received dates ones that seem specific to Sea Pines from Monarch, then at Waiohai it's a non-dated plastic card with "Kauai" on it.

 

[Superchief]

We've utilized the discounts on HHI a decent number of times...it winds up being maybe $10 off an expensive dinner or $5 at lunch. Definitely not much in the grand scheme of the travel budget it's better than nothing.

The discounts on Hilton Head include several restaurants that we visit regularly. They usually work for takeout and at SERG takeout kitchen. The discount list at Crystal Shores is also good.

 

[Dean]

I do think the volume and usability has decreased in past years for HHI and HI esp. But it was never something I would have counted on so it's not a big deal to me.

 

[WaikikiFirst]

discounts with these cards doesn't seem to be as good as they were in years past.

In both HI & FL, minimum wages have been rising faster than inflation for the last few yrs and will continue to do so, due to laws setting specific #s, rather than tying it to inflation. I don't know about the Carolinas.
Also, there have been a bunch of places making wagers for tip-earners rise faster than inflation due to things they do with what is usually called the "tip credit".

Wages are more fixed than cost of food, bev, etc are, though less fixed than rent is. So, overall costs for restaurants are becoming more fixed, and margins are under pressure, mostly due to wages.

That person you need to tip may be getting the min wage + tips on top + not paying any taxes on the tips. I sure wouldn't want to make a living that way, but think about it, or better yet, calculate it.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Our son is just dying to try the burger here at Ocean Pointe, which does look delicious on the sign that advertises the restaurant. I told him no way would it be like that picture. He is going to find out.

Sure loving it here with our grandkids. They are visiting our one bedroom unit, and they are playing hide and seek with Grandpa. It's hilarious because where do you hide in a one bedroom? The twins are only 3. The 8-year-old can hide pretty well.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

I try to use the discount cards from MVC and similar cards from HGVC. Free Hula pie is nice, I would probably order that anyway. We usually buy food and drink on the property once or twice, so if I can get a discount on the expensive options, that's also great.

However, deals rarely change where I plan to go. At best, the list might convince me to look up a place I was not familiar with. On our recent Maui trip, I forgot to use the HGV discount card at least once when I could have.

 

[NboroGirl]

We were at Hilton Head (Surfwatch) recently and the list of restaurants was quite long, and included many that we wanted to go to anyway (and all were great!) I forgot to mention the discount, I think we were supposed to show a room key, at the 1st night's restaurant, which was also the most expensive, but we remembered after that. 10% off 6 meals was better than nothing! It's probably one of the only resorts/destinations we actually used the discounts.

At some MVC resorts and hotels we get a card that is supposed to filled out at the desk with a "good through x/x/x" (our checkout date) but it never seems to get filled out, so we leave it in case housekeeping is interested.

At Grande Vista's preferred check-in they have an Owners Card stuck to the desk and they tell me to take a picture of it with my cellphone to use for resort discounts. I have a real one that I got a long time ago, either when we purchased our weeks or maybe at one of our early visits. But I take that now. We never seem to be interested in the off-site discounts offered in most of the other locations we visit, including Orlando.

 

[daviator]

The free hula pie has been very effective over the years at getting my family's large party to enjoy an expensive dinner or two at Duke's or Leilani's. All those Hula Pie restaurants have common ownership, I believe. So I think the promotion does have some value for the restaurants, but perhaps the cost to make a hula pie has become too much to continue giving it away. But it also might be that with nearly all of the Lahaina restaurants gone, the restaurants in Ka'anapali are so busy that they don't need to spend money to attract more business. My bet is on the latter.

In Palm Desert, the other place I frequent, there are still some good places which provide an owner card discount. I don't think it's as many as they used to have, but we will have a couple of meals at "discount card places" during a typical visit. There's more competition for dining dollars there, so I think the deals are better than they are in Maui these days.