Introduction
Many times at a restaurant, we ask about the difference between the regular menu and the special menu. Sometimes we muddle or confuse the regular menu of a particular location with another location thinking it is all the same, we get gift cards and we do not know what to do with them. It is about time we understood both (regular menu and gift cards) are, and how to use them. Let us discuss Regular Menu and Gift Cards.
What is a Regular Menu?
The regular menu is food that is readily available daily. It could mean a list of different combinations of food and drinks that are available on a list. It is usually a list of food and drinks offered to customers and the prices. The regular menu is sometimes interchanged with the static menu. It is a term used mainly in the hospitality industry by people in the food and beverage sector.
What is a Gift Card?
A gift card is also a prepaid debit card that has a certain amount of money available for use for all kinds of purposes. It can be exchanged for a certain cash value of goods or services from a specific business, relative to the amount on the card. For instance, you can use gift cards to make payments in a restaurant, retail stores, gas stations, etc. gift cards can be open-loop (they can be used anywhere) or closed-loop (they can only be used at certain merchants.
Kinds of Gift Cards
The different kinds of gift cards include;
- Physical Gift Cards: It is similar to plastic cards, and is widely used.
- Digital Gift Cards: It has no physical form but rather a unique gift code number that can be used to make purchases online.
Benefits of a Gift Card
Some of the benefits or advantages of using a gift card are;
- It is a good form of payment if you would not use cash or a credit card
- It helps eliminate wasteful spending as it has a limited amount of money in it
- It is easy and convenient to use
- It can be an appropriate gift for any special occasion
Disadvantages of Gift Cards
Below are a few downsides to using a gift card;
- If you fail to use the card, you could be charged for inactivity by paying a certain amount
- For closed-loop gift cards, there is a limit on the purchasing power
- You may purchase or reload fees to add money
- Every small amount left unused for one reason or another ends up as money wasted
How Can I Use a Gift Card to Pay for Regular Menus at a Restaurant?
There are different procedures for using gift cards in a restaurant since we have two types of gift cards (digital and physical). Bear in mind that not all restaurants accept gift cards so, to avoid delay and any form of embarrassment, here are a few tips on how to harness the benefits of gift cards.
- Ensure to inform the cash register or server before the end of your meal (or before you sit to dine) about your payment plan.
- Be it a physical or digital gift card, you are likely to be asked for a tip, for your transaction to be processed therefore, ensure you have more than your bill on your gift card.
- For digital gift cards, different strokes apply. Print the e-gift card number at home; write the e -gift number on the bill, take your device to the cash register and then, inform the server or cash register, of your method of payment.
How Do You Activate a Gift Card?
When you purchase a gift card at the store (whether it is a retail, cafeteria, restaurant, or MasterCard gift card) for yourself or someone else, you take the gift card to the cash register and ask the purser to load it the money onto the card. He or she takes the card, activates it, and loads the requested amount onto the card. Furthermore, you can activate a gift card by calling the merchandiser or accessing the URL provided and putting the correct activation numbers.
Conclusion
A gift card has proven to be an optional means to pay for the regular menu in restaurants, hotels, cafeterias, or cafés, though the acceptance rate is small now compare to cash payment, it is a viable means.
Frequently Asked Questions
- It is possible to use a gift card be used to pay school fees?
Relatively, it can be used to make payments but not all gift cards can be used.
- Can my gift card be used by someone else when stolen?
Yes, it could be stolen and used if it has been activated, by someone else.
- Can I use a gift card to pay for the flight?
Yes, it can. If there is a sufficient amount on the card, it can be used for flight booking.
- Can I use gift cards in cafeterias?
It is possible to use gift cards in cafeterias.
