Thrifty friend dines for free while I pay

Pollycat

Spendless wrote: »

I'm interested to see if he agrees to going for the next meal. I might have been tempted to keep my mouth shut and just produce the voucher at the end.

I can't see how the OP could get any pleasure from arranging another meal with this person and playing 'tit-for-tat' voucher-wise.

He'd be deleted from my phone and address book - unless he had some incredibly good redeeming qualities.

Spendless

Pollycat wrote: »

I can't see how the OP could get any pleasure from arranging another meal with this person and playing 'tit-for-tat' voucher-wise.

He'd be deleted from my phone and address book - unless he had some incredibly good redeeming qualities.

Oh I can. I'd just like to see the look on his face and what he has to say, when the same is done to him in reverse. Then I'd be deleting him from my phone and address book.

LMH67

I sort of had this happen to me once with a group of new 'work mates'. Should have been 6 of us going to a 241 meal deal but 1 pulled out. I had already offered to drive some of us and we all picked our meals with me presuming we'd just all split the bill 5 ways. Needless to say, the other 4 paired off, got a lovely meal for £7 each and I had to pay full price.


They didn't even think to suggest splitting the bill and I was too nervous to bring it up. I did say I hoped they'd all had a lovely cheap meal..............


I didn't go out with them again and thankfully they are no longer 'work mates'.

Pollycat

Spendless wrote: »

Oh I can. I'd just like to see the look on his face and what he has to say, when the same is done to him in reverse. Then I'd be deleting him from my phone and address book.

The satisfaction of this person gradually coming to the realisation that he's just lost my friendship as a result of his mean-ness by ignoring any attempt by him to contact me to arrange another meet-up would far outweigh the satisfaction of meeting him just to get my own back.

breaking_free

I got a response.

You choose the place but let me know so I can arrange my vouchers, too <--he put the smiley face in

Pollycat, he does have some good qualities as otherwise we wouldn't be friends. That said, if he baulks after I say "I want to go to restaurant X and only one person can use a free meal coupon" then I will cut ties. I don't like selfish people any more than you do.

Money_maker

Just make sure its agreed beforehand. If he's a good friend then he should willingly agree that it's your turn for a freebie. You really don't want to have to sort this with the bill in front of you. TBH, I cant see how this isn't sorted out by talking rather than asking a public forum!

KxMx

breaking_free wrote: »

His voucher was free - no spend needed to obtain it.

I've just sent an email asking him when we're next getting together for a meal out.

I've pointedly said it's 'My turn to use a "free meal for me" coupon this time.' Looking forward immensely to getting his response :rotfl:

onlyroz made a good point in post #34, would he have been allowed as a solo diner to get a free meal or did there have to be another paying adult?

Spendless

Pollycat wrote: »

The satisfaction of this person gradually coming to the realisation that he's just lost my friendship as a result of his mean-ness by ignoring any attempt by him to contact me to arrange another meet-up would far outweigh the satisfaction of meeting him just to get my own back.

People like that don't come to the realisation, they genuinely don't 'get' it, otherwise they wouldn't do it in the first place. Don't contact him again and he'll not understand why. That's why I would like to see the on the spot reaction.

hazyjo

My friends recently suggested Zizzi's and I used my Tesco points for my meal only. Did ask my BF if I was being mean or if I should offer to share but he agreed not - tbh, I still think that was right. I'm sure they all use theirs on themselves or their families and I don't get that many points in a year, and we'd been saving them up as a couple to use in Prezzo, but thought I'd save myself the dosh!).


I nearly always use a deal/voucher when booking with one group of friends and we'll always split the bill (OMG LMH67 - your so called mates! :eek: that's terrible!).


I'm a tad torn with this particular scenario. I think I'd still like my free birthday meal! But would make sure they signed up and got theirs! If it was a bottle of Prosecco or wine or something, it always just gets shared. To suggest the restaurant and not tell you the reason was really rude. Also, if you usually book somewhere on a deal and you agreed to go there for a full price meal, I'd be really niggled. In fact, I can't see how me nor my friends would suggest going somewhere full price just cos one had a free meal. If you always pay full price, I can't really see it's that big a deal apart from the fact he should have said.


It's a tricky one if you're single. I'd be saving a voucher like that to use with my other half where we'd just pay the end bill. I bet the restaurant wouldn't have allowed two people to use vouchers at the same time so it was very sneaky.


Oh, and lots lie about their birthdays to get freebies. They very rarely ask for proof of birthday. I wouldn't, but know someone who has 20 or so birthdays a year at different restaurants. Your mate may well have just signed up and suggested it to get a freebie.


Jx

Pollycat

Spendless wrote: »

People like that don't come to the realisation, they genuinely don't 'get' it, otherwise they wouldn't do it in the first place. Don't contact him again and he'll not understand why. That's why I would like to see the on the spot reaction.

All the more reason to cut him out of your life.
I wouldn't care if he got it or didn't.

Especially as the OP says this:

breaking_free wrote: »

Because I know he would have turned me down flat. He would probably have said that it's 'his birthday' coupon, or some such selfish argument. If someone doesn't offer to split the bill they're not likely to change their mind just because I've explained that it's 'the done thing'. Sad but true.

Someone like this would have to be a truly wonderful friend to me in every other way to offset this level of mean-ness.