I love loyalty programs.  I love going to those places where they offer you a card that accumulates points towards a free lunch.  To me they just scream that the restaurant wants you to come back, that they appreciate having you as a customer.  One of my favorite is Tokyo Joes.

Sure, I would guess that they can be a pain in the behind to administer, and they do cost a little bit of money, but they work.  In this day and age where everything is computerized there is no reason not to have these cards.  Sure, some of the higher end places would look down their nose at them but I don’t mind. 

I still watch for coupons for those expensive places like the Broker Restaurant and have no problem with using them.  Things just cost too much to miss out on these savings.  I have a freind that carries a box with the latest coupons from a variety of places.  He is in sales so is constantly taking people out to eat and those coupons save him a bundle.

And the cards pay for the restaurant too.  What does every restaurant, no matter how fancy or how big really want?  Return customers!  In my wallet right now I have no less than eight cards to different restaurants that I regularly visit. Whenever I am deciding where to go for lunch I always think about where I can go and whip out my card.  It’s like saying to the other customers, “hey, I’m special.” 

And nothing beats the feeling of having a full card and getting a free lunch.  Plus, a lot of the places send you regular e-mails with offers over e-mail.