"Grouponers" really don't get it.....and I do not mean the customers.

Since coming to Paris I have taken advantage of Groupon/Living Social deals, and all the other websites alike. Mostly for dinners, as in Paris they do not come cheap. I have been to 3 restaurants and I truly feel that none of them understand the point of advertising with coupon companies.... Get the customers in the door so that THEY WILL BE REPEAT CUSTOMERS!

Each experience I have left thinking

• They gave me yesterdays produce/meat/wine
• They seated me at the worst table
• I was treated differently/horribly!
• I WILL NEVER COME BACK - and in fact I will tell people to NEVER go!

My experience last night at PARIS 9 was just that.
When we got there they were friendly and then we said we had a coupon. They sat us in the side room, completely seperate from the restaurant. I asked to move to the room with "action", they did move us but we were not receiving the same attention the others were. The "deal" was for a their steak for 2 at 50% off. On the menu it states:

Fiorentina
Côte de bœuf XXL à la fiorentina (pour 2 personnes), pommes de terre
frites au couteau, haricots verts et sauce gorgonzola

We recieved a steak with more fat than meat, and chips. Thats it. I asked for the green beans (haricots verts) and we were charged an extra 5 euros, with no "sauce gorgonzola". I waited 10 minutes for them to bring mustard and until we were finished our meal, they did not come over once to ask how anything was. 

I will not go back. I will never suggest it. They do not get it. And, I am finished with coupons.

WHAT IF:

•  they asked us which table we would like
• brought us a taste of a homemade starter or a sip of something yummy to get our taste buds excited
• told us that initially the beans etc would not be included but they will be including them for us

If all of this happened, I can guarantee the fatty meat would not have upset us.

Since I am on the topic of EXPENSIVE, I feel like the worst cousin in the world. My cousins are visiting for a few days and we met and went for a drink. We should have just bought some gold instead. What on earth justifies a drink on a terrace of a cafe/bar costing over 10euros - which unless its sprinkled with Fairy dust and truffles I still do not understand that price. Last night at Cafe Delmas in the 5th,

1 pint of 1664 (beer)    13.00

1 gin and tonic               15.50

1 Pastis                         6.00

1 ginger ice tea               13.00

TOTAL                        48.20 for a round of drinks.

WHAT IF:

• they had brought a nice selection of olives or a steaming bowl of homemade fries to the table and offered a carafe of water? 

Their cost, 2euros. Their gain, our return.

RIDICULOUS.

I would love to know your thoughts on whether or not I am unreasonable or if this is just simply INSANE. 

Pippa