Christmas Gift Card Specials.
Many America restaurant chains offer discounted gift cards for the Christmas Holidays. It has become an annual tradition and a great way for the chains to ensure that business remains brisk during and after the holiday season.
Most of the gift card deals gives you a bonus gift card for free, when you purchase a gift card. The trick is that the bonus card is usually only valid for a a short period, and the restaurants clearly calculate with a certain percentage of customers simply forgetting to use it. Bonus cards often cannot be redeemed on the same day of purchase.
Why Restaurants Love Gift Cards.
For recipients, gift cards is like receiving money and duplicates are more than welcome. For the buyer, gift cards are practical, easy to send and buy.
But from the restaurants point of view, the gift card is a great money maker. They bring new and old customers in the door, and encourages diners to spend more than they plan to. Once customers are thought the restaurant door with a gift card in their hands, about 50% will spend more than the card is worth, and they will spend a whopping 20 percent more, when it is a $50 gift card. So it doesn’t take a math genius to figure out that offering a 10% or 5$ Bonus Card is good business for the restaurant chains. And, if diners spend just couple of dollars less than the gift card’s value, they are encouraged to return for an unplanned repeat visit, in order to spend that last cash on the card.
Furthermore, almost one-third of customers who receive gift cards never actually use them, according to Consumer Reports.
Lastly, when customers buy gift cards as a Christmas gift, the restaurant chains are ensuring that customers will return in the traditionally quiet January and February periods.
Nevertheless, the deals are very real, so if you or your family are frequent visitors at certain restaurants, then you really can save a decent amount of money. Below we have listed the best of the gift card deals for the Christmas of 2016.
Christmas Gift Card Specials.
Get a $10 Bonus Card when you buy $50 in gift cards from now and through January 7, 2017. This special is not valid online. The Bonus Card is valid January 1, 2017 through February 13, 2017.
BJ’s.
BJ’s offer a free $10 Bonus Card with online purchase of $50 in gift cards or a $25 bonus gift card with a $100 purchase, from today and through January 4, 2017. You will also get 20% off VIP cards from 12/26/2016 through 2/13/2017.
Get a $10 Bonus Card at Bonefish Grill, when you purchase $50 woth of gift cards, from today and through December 31, 2016. The Bonefish Grill Bonus Card is good January 1, 2017 through February 10, 2017.
Buy $25 in gift cards and you will get a coupon for a free Thickburger. The Carl’s Jr special is valid through December 29, 2016.
Get a $10 Bonus Card at Carrabba’s, with the purchase of $50 in gift cards. Valid from today and through December 31, 2016. The Bonus Card is valid from January 1, 2017 through February 10, 2017.
Get a Cheesecake Slice card for every $25 in gift cards, you buy from now on and through December 31, 2016. A Cheesecake Factory Slice of Joy Card can be exchanged for 1 slice of The Cheesecake Factory’s cheesecake from January 1 through March 31, 2017.
Get a $10 Bonus Card at Chili’s when you buy $50 in gift cards online from today and through December 31, 2016.
Purchase $30+ worth of Chipotle gift cards and you can use your receipt to get a free Burrito, Bowl, Salad or order of Tacos, when you buy another. Bring the gift card receipt back to Chipotle before December 31, 2016 to redeem for the Buy-One-Get-One-Free special. Valid at Chipotle stores through December 24, 2016.
Purchase $30 of Del Taco gift cards and get a coupon worth a free Small Size Combo Meal. Or you can buy $100 in gift cards online and get 4 coupons for a free Small Size Combo Meal. Valid online and through January 1, 2017. Food Coupons expire March 5, 2017.
Get a $5 coupon when you buy $25 worth of gift cards from today and through December 31, 2016.
At Golden Corral buy $25 or more in gift cards and get a $5 bonus card. Gift card special is good for gift card purchases through December 31, 2016. The Bonus Card is good January 1 – February 9, 2017. For more details and ordering information see the Golden Corral Gift Card website.
At Hardees purchase $25 in gift cards and get a coupon for a free third-pounder Thickburger. Special is good now through December 29, 2016. For more details and ordering information, see the Hardees Gift Card Page.
IHOP.
At IHOP get a $5 Bonus Card with the purchase of $25 in gift cards now through January 1, 2017. For more details and ordering information, see the IHOP Home Page.
At Jamba Juice you can purchase $25 in gift cards and get a free smoothie or juice. Good through January 1, 2017. For more details and ordering information, see the Jamba Juice Gift Card Page.
At Joe’s Crab Shack buy a $25 gift card and a booklet containing $30 worth of coupon. More details on the Joe’s Crab Shack Gift Card Page.
At Kona Grill you will get a $20 Bonus Card with the purchase of $100 in gift cards. Gift card special is good for gift card purchases through December 31, 2016. For more details see the Kona Grill Gift Cards page.
At LongHorn Steakhouse you can buy $25 or more in gift cards and get $5 in bonus cards. The special is good for gift card purchases through December 31, 2016. The Bonus Card is valid from January 1 – February 5, 2017. For more details see the LongHorn Gift Card page.
At Macaroni Grill you will receive a $10 Bonus Card with the purchase of $50 in gift cards or get a $25 bonus with a $100 purchase now through December 31, 2016. For more details see the Macaroni Grill Gift Cards page.
Visit Noodles & Co. and buy $25 worth of gift cards and you will receive a $5 in bonus card. The deal is good for purchases through December 31, 2016. The Noodles & Co Bonus Card is valid from November 14, 2016 through January 16, 2017.
Purchase $25 in gift cards and get a $5 O’Charleys bonus card for christmas. The $5 Bonus Card is valid from January 1, 2017 through February 17, 2017.
Receive a $10 Bonus Card with the purchase of $50 in Olive Garden gift cards from today and through January 1, 2017. The Bonus Card is valid from January 2, 2017 through March 31, 2017.
At Outback Steakhouse, get a $10 Bonus Card with the purchase of $50 in gift cards. The deal is good for gift cards bought until December 31, 2016. The Outback Steakhouse Bonus Card is valid from January 1 – February 8, 2017.
At Panera Bread you will receive a free $10 Bonus Card when buying $50 in gift cards from now and through December 31, 2016. The Panera Bread Bonus Card is valid from January 1-23, 2017.
Buy $25 of Papa John’s gift cards and you will get a coupon for a free large pizza through December 25, 2016, online purchases only.
Receive a $5 Bonus Card with the purchase of $25 in Pei Wei gift cards from today and through December 31, 2016. The Pei Wei Bonus Card is valid from January 4 – February 28, 2017.
Simply buy $100 of PF Chang’s gift cards and you will receive a free $20 bonus card. Gift cards must be bought through January 15, 2017. The PF Chang’s Bonus Card is valid from January 1 – March 31, 2017.
Pollo Tropical is also running a gift card Christmas promotion, from today and through Dec. 31, 2016. When you spend $25 or more, you will receive a $5 coupon which can be used in the month of January.
Customers will receive a $5 Red Robin Bonus Card when they spend between $25 to $45 in gift cards from today and until December 31, 2016. The Red Robin Bonus Card must be used between January 1 – February 28, 2017.
Fans of Red Lobster will get a free $10 Red Lobster Bonus Card, or a free appetizer, when they buy $50 worth of Red Lobster gift cards, starting today and through December 31, 2016. The Red Lobster Bonus Card is valid from January 2, 2017 and through February 5, 2017.
At Ruby Tuesday diners can get a $5 Bonus Card when buying $25 worth of Ruby Tuesday gift cards or a even better $15 Bonus Card with a $50 gift card in Red Lobster gift cards. The Ruby Tuesday Christmas special is valid for gift card purchases through December 31, 2016. The Ruby Tuesday Bonus Card must be redeemed from January 2 – February 28, 2017.
A free 10% Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse Bonus Card can be had when buying $250 worth of gift cards. Valid for gift card purchases through December 31, 2016. The Bonus Card is valid from January 1 – March 31, 2017 and is for a 10% discount on the whole bill.
A free $5 bonus card can be your price, when you buy a $25 gift card, from today and through December 31, 2016. Gift card purchases must be done from now and until December 31, 2016. The Steal n Shake Bonus Card is valid from January 1 – February 28, 2017.
Receive a $5 Taco Cabana Bonus Card when buying a $25 gift card. The Taco Cabana Gift Card special is available while supplies last, until 12/26/2016 only. They are only valid in the US. They are not valid in New Mexico or at Aramark locations. They can be redeemed anytime. Not valid for the purchase of other gift cards.
Buy a $30 At Texas Roadhouse gift card online and you will receive a free $5 Bonus Card. Texas Roadhouse gift cards valid only in the United States.
White Castle customers will net themselves a $5 Bonus Card when buying $25 in gift cards at HouseofCrave.com. You will also receive a free White Castle Holiday ornament with every $50+ order, valid until 12/31/16. 1 ornament per order, while supplies last.
Restaurants now serve almost twice as many meals on Christmas Eve and more than three times as many meals on New Year’s Eve, compared to an average day. Make sure to make reservations in time!
If you know of a great gift card Christmas offer, that we have left out, then please share it in the comment section.
Merry Christmas everyone!
