What’s Different About eGift Cards at Restaurants vs. Stores?
A digital gift card is easy to present at a regular store because you take your payment and the merchandise you want to buy up to a cash register. When it’s time to present payment, you show the cashier the eGift card on your phone and they will either scan the phone or manually enter the eGift card numbers into the machine. Even if the cashier needs to handle the device in order to complete the transaction (e.g. numbers are hard to read), the smartphone never leaves your sight. But at a restaurant, the point of sale is often located separately from where the paying customers are.
After a meal, the server brings you a bill, and you hand over a form of payment which the server then takes to a cash register in another room in order to run the transaction. Sending cash or a credit card seems reasonable, but it doesn’t feel right to give your phone to someone who is busy with mulitple tables, handling multiple bills and juggling a myriad of customer requests all at the same time. It’s not that anything unscrupulous would happen (though it certainly could). The biggest issues would be liability, privacy and convenience which may make a server or restaurant uncomfortable with the situation.
From a liability standpoint, who is going to pay for the repairs if your phone is accidentally dropped, misplaced or stolen while it’s out of your hands? Privacy is a big concern as well. Suppose the server is holding your phone when you get a financial alert from your investment bank account or an embarrassing text from a friend. Lastly, time would be working against you. Unless the cashier takes the phone (without touching any buttons) straight to the cash register and enters everything quickly, the phone could time out (depending on your power save settings). If the phone times out, the server would have to return to the table, wait for you to unlock the phone and start the process all over again. Giving your passcode to the cashier as an alternative would be foolish. For these reasons, it just doesn’t make sense to give your phone to the server unless you can keep it in sight at all times.
Top 3 Ways to Use a Digital MC/Visa Gift Card at Restaurants
As more and more restaurants move the point of sale tableside, it’s possible your restaurant is tech saavy and can bypass the server altogether with a phone-initiated transaction that goes straight to the restaurant’s payment system. When that happens, digital gift cards will be easy to redeem because you’ll just push a button and send. If you are dining at a more traditional establishment, below are three ways you can use an eGift card at a restaurant worry-free.
1. Print the eGift Card Number at Home
Before going to the restaurant, print the eGift card on your home printer. If you received the eGift card via email, then print the entire email. If you received something else–such as a link to a website that shows the egift card–then use a snipping tool to get a screenshot of the eGift card information. Then print the screenshot on your printer. As a last resort, simply jot the numbers down onto a sticky note and take it with you.
By the way, printing an eGift card is also a good backup method to use if you’re worried about your phone running out of battery or not having a good connection when it comes time to present the digital gift card for payment.
2. Write the eGift Card Number on the Bill
Do like we did and write the eGift card number on the bill when it arrives. Be sure to include the personal identification number (PIN) if applicable. If you’re worried about having cell phone reception once you get into the restaurant, take a screenshot of the eGift card via your phone before you leave. That way, you don’t need the gift card app, email or website to work–you simply need to pull up a photo from your phone. Most phones can access images without Wi-fi or “full bars.”
If you don’t use the full value of the egift card, then this isn’t my first choice because the gift card number would be visible for the server and other employees at the restaurant to access. If you use the full value in this transaction, then it’s okay.
3. Take Your Phone to the Cash Register
Many restaurants have a cash register at the main entry. Rather than give payment to the server, ask if you can pay directly at the cash register. If that is not an option, then take your phone and accompany the server back to the cash register yourself. It might not be protocol and is definitely inconvenient, but this saves you and the restaurant from dealing with any of the issues described above.
Tips and FAQ
Can I use an eGift card for takeout orders?
If you're ordering in person, the process is similar to dining in—just show your digital card when you pick up your order. For phone orders, you may need to read the gift card number to the restaurant staff. Have the card pulled up and ready before you call.
What if the restaurant can't scan my code?
Sometimes the scanner has trouble reading a phone screen. If this happens, most gift cards also have a numeric code you can read aloud to staff members who can enter it manually.
Can I use multiple gift cards?
This depends on the restaurant's policy. Some establishments allow you to combine multiple cards, while others may only accept one per transaction.
What happens to unused balance?
If your meal costs less than your gift card value, the remaining balance typically stays on the card for future use. Make sure to keep the original email or message to access it again.
Can I tip with my gift card?
Most restaurants allow you to include gratuity when paying with a gift card. If you're dining in, you can usually add the tip amount when your server runs the card, or you can tip separately in cash.
