Woolworths gift card thread

[Mr_Orange]

If I present a card with $12 left, staff would often point to the sign saying 'no split bills' or 'no multple card payments', whereas if I tell the staff I have a full $50 or $100 card, they would be willing to not enforce the no multiple card rule on me.

And it happened a lot to me, if I present a gift card with $2, they would save themselves the trouble by pointing at the no split bill sign.

That's not splitting the bill though. You are paying the whole bill, just by two different payment methods.

 

[midnight]

That's not splitting the bill though. You are paying the whole bill, just by two different payment methods.

I just get the balance down around $10 - $20 and use it at a surf club I go to that has a 1,5% fee.
Do the calculation prior( balance x .985), write it on the front of the card and tell them I want to use up a balance on a card and give them the figure. They generally say there is a surcharge so they will charge a little less. i just tell them its all accounted for and they are generally surprised when it goes through.
Normally it is spot on but occasionally I lose out by a cent, but I can cope with that.
Once you know an easy place to use it up, they become a very usable card,

 

[dairyfloss]

That's not splitting the bill though. You are paying the whole bill, just by two different payment methods.

That’s right - the issue is with the POS system (double meaning in that acronym, sometimes!) that they use and how it manages a request for bill splitting. As in understand it, their biggest pain is when you want to pick and choose what dishes go to which individual guest bill, especially in groups. Some systems do it very well; others not. To split the payment itself for single bill doesn’t make a lot of difference, except for the oft impatient staff member processing it, and/or those without any mathematical ability.

 

[Chicken]

That's not splitting the bill though. You are paying the whole bill, just by two different payment methods.

Well, feel free to argue with the staff. I have had more than enough of this, so I can't be bothered anymore.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Yes but you need to know what the card surcharge is for that restaurant,

Just ask?

 

[Jacques Vert]

These cards aren't for everyone but for those who can be bothered and have the time, you can earn lots of points.

However once points club goes the way of the dodo, I may not bother.

 

[RealtimeY]

Yes, hence I have stopped doing what you are doing, after years of doing what you are doing.

Instead, say if the card is $100, and the restaurant want $60, I would say to them there is $50 in my card, could they take $50 from gift card and $10 from my credit card, so when I go to the next restaurant, I would say to them there is $50 in my gift card.

Thanks! Actually such a simple solution...

I find that usually restaurants have no problems splitting payments (though some restaurants do it more easily than others depending on their POS), it's just more embarrassing to ask for the lower the amount gets.

 

[Happy Dude]

Just ask?

Sure or look on the menu or at the till or wherever it is displayed. Once you have it, making sure it's the right one for these GCs if they're one of those pesky mobs that have different rates for various payment types, go ahead and do the math based on the remainder on card to calculate how much should be charged to the GC.

It's all do-able of course, especially if you have a local and know the surcharge in advance or are using a card with a residual amount exceeding the bill plus surcharge, or even if you can stomach the glare/eye rolls from the cashier and/or dining companions while doing the math in the restaurant, but one can see why many don't bother with these.

 

[Chicken]

However once points club goes the way of the dodo, I may not bother.

Why do you need points club? Forget about miles.

Today's promo is $100 for 2000 points, 2000 points is already $10 off your Woolworths check out, so your $100 meal just became a $90 meal? You are already ahead.

Then I pay for these cards using AmEx Edge, so I'm earning extra points again.