Carrabba’s Amex Offer 2016
American Express released yet another Amex Offer giving a very nice discount at Carrabba’s. Let’s take a look at how to maximize and even make a small profit.
The Offer
Get a one-time $10 statement credit by using your connected Card to make a single purchase of $25 or more in-restaurant at Carrabba’s Italian Grill by 9/5/16.
How to Load
This offer can be loaded to your cards via the American Express website or by tweeting #AmexCarrabbas from a linked account.
Key Terms
- Valid in-restaurant only.
- Not valid on online purchases.
- Excludes airport locations, locations at 3115 Kirby Lane, Houston TX and 1399 South Voss, Houston TX.
- Excludes deliveries done through third parties.
You can find the full terms on the offer page.
Gift Cards
Perhaps the simplest way to do take advantage of this deal is to purchase gift cards in a restaurant for 40% off. You could then use those gift cards at Carrabba’s or sister brands Outback, Fleming’s or Bonefish Grill. You can also sell them for up to 76% of face value.
For example, if you have this offer on 10 cards, you could purchase $250 worth of gift cards for $150. You could then sell those cards for $190. Is this worth the hassle? That would be up to you, but the profit to time ratio could work if you have enough cards loaded with the offer and if the restaurant is quick. I tend to go around 11am when they open for lunch since it is empty and I am in and out in just a few minutes.
AARP Stacking
I am an AARP member, (since it got me the deal of the century on business class tickets) which means I can get a 15% discount by flashing my card at Carrabba’s, Outback or Bonefish Grill. By combining this Amex Offer with the 15% discount, the savings amounts to almost 50% which ain’t too shabby.
$10 Bonus Cards
From time to time Carrabba’s offers a $10 bonus card with the purchase of $50 in gift cards. I believe such an offer just ended on Father’s Day, however they do run this special often and there is chance it will return before the expiration of the Amex Offer. By utilizing the previous Amex Offer and a bonus card, my wife and I recently saved 70% off our lunch at Outback.
Conclusion
The Carrabba’s Amex Offer is turning out to be one of the more common offers available. I believe this is the third time in a year we have seen it surface and while it isn’t the best deal ever, it presents an opportunity to either make a few bucks or to save a decent amount on a meal. I am personally stocked up on gift cards from the last offer, so I’ll wait to see if the $10 bonus deal returns. If it does, I’ll make sure to let you know, but in the mean time load this to your cards so you are ready!
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Checkout 51 is also running a $5 back for $25 or more in spending right now as well. when we go as a family of four, wife puts 1/2 bill on her AMEX and I put other 1/2 bill on mine, then we both submit to checkout 51. $50 meal for $20 🙂
Nice!
I haven’t used them with any other discount, like the AARP but we have them split our check, then both pay with our Amex cards, so a $50 meal would cost us $30, though we usually spend a little more than that.
Sean, how do you know when Carrabba’s is running the bonus gift card promotion?
Thanks for the tips. Do you know if there is any expiration date on the gift card?
shawn, is the aarp discount good for given day & time or any day? also, is the discount also good for GC buying?
Yes the AARP discount is good every day. You cannot combine it with other coupons or discounts though. Details here: http://advantages.aarp.org/en/offer.carrabbas-italian-grill.10202.html
The AARP discount doesn’t work when buying gift cards, but it does work when redeeming them. So you save 40% on the purchase of the gift card and then 15% off when redeeming.
For example, if your check is $50, then you would pay $42.50 after AARP discount. If you used a gift card purchased at 40% off to pay the $42.50, your cost would actually be $25.50 total. That amounts to a 49% discount overall.
all’s clear, thx for the details!