Free $25 Restaurant Cert from Good Sam VIP

[Blue Ribbon]

Well, dummy me, should have know, nothing is free.

About 6 weeks ago got a letter in the mail from Good Sam, that if I would get a quote on RV insurance, they would send me a $25 Cert good for more than 10,000 restaurants (or something like that.)

I did the 15+ minute phone application, and about 4 weeks later, got a letter with a URL that I could go to to get my cert. The URL was false. Gave a 404 error. Good Sam said they did not send the letter out. GMAC said they did not send the letter out. So I leaned on Good Sam, since the letter had their logo on it, and after about a 15 minute wait, I was given the correct URL, quite different from what was in the letter.

OK go to a web site, and get another redemption code, besides what was in the letter for the $25 gift certificate. Now go to the web site, and yes there is lots and lots of restaurants! But, most of the the certificate is not good on Fri. or Sat. And, most of them, if you have a $25 certificate, you have to spend $50 + 18% tip! I found 2 that you had to spend $35 plus 18% tip and a few more that you had to spend $45 + 18% tip.

It is "buyer beware" - no you are not buying something, but I bet with the insurance application, and trying to resolve the URL, and we still have not found a suitable restaurant, I've spent more than an hour with this "gift."

[Dick1142]

Along this same line, I was supposed to get a free day of camping with my membership. Never happened, even after I called them.

[Barlow46]

Still ain't no such thing as a free lunch......huh?

[scenic route]

Man, oh man! I sometimes think anything to do with Good Sam isn't worth the trouble with all the junk e-mail/mail I get. Yes, I've been to their website several times trying to un-subscribe with no help. I've dropped their ERS and will let our CG membership lapse...their offer of a 10% CG discount isn't worth burning up $5 in extra fuel to get to one of their CGs. Be nice if they would try to compete with something close to Passport America's discount!! Hint, hint! Bob

[Ray,IN]

When someone wants to give me something free I know I'm gonna get scr---ed.

PLUS an 18% tip! Now that is a ripoff, 10% is the tipping rate, only time the percentages changes is when someone does an outstanding job or a poor one.. Inflation and rising costs do not affect percentages, just the amount the service worker receives. Prices go up for everyone the same amount.

[Triker56]

15% has been the normal tip for a couple of decades or so.
He** back in the 70's that was pretty normal tip in a $$ restaurant.

20% or Plus for great service. And I get that kind of service 99.5% of the time anymore.

If 18% is added to the tab and I'm getting good service I would leave a little more anyway.

10% is good for a Buffet where you get your own food. But the table is cleaned when you go back for more.

[Ranger429]

So is good Sam a joke or what? I just got their enrollment application in the mail from them and had thought about joining but after reading what a couple of you guys posted it sounds like it isn't worth it.

Time to go search Good Sam and see if I can get some answers.