I agree ...I do not pay to be Loyal!

The Lopez/ Havana $20.00 fee is a one time fee. Not an annual fee.

Why not go to the Restuarant?
 

They would not take a reservation unless you had a "Loyalty Card" otherwise you had to call on the date to see if they could fit your group in unless you had their prepaid $20 card. It will be interesting how this practice works once the snowbirds go back and only the "old senile residents" remain. There are so many terrific places to dine in The Villages that it is kind of stupid to pay ahead to an owner who has found a "trick" to get money ahead of time from all the senile residents. Fortunately, the majority are not senile and want to see what they are getting before they pay. :mmmm:

I think they misnamed the card. The name seems to rub people the wrong way.
Instead of a Loyalty Card, perhaps it would be more palatable if they called it a Happy Surprise Card.
Tomwed, I already know what you're thinking ... :p

Why not Fred's Discount Card or OBEBS for short?

:pray:

I believe this is what you might call

"A tempest in a teapot"

Or a "mistral in a martini glass" :)

They will return in April after the renters leave. It's about making money.

For the few people posting their displeasure with this "new" loyalty card and indicating they will not go to these restaurants.........I offer, you will not be missed!

Just a Crazy Guy
 

Call me just a crazy guy but are they serious..pay ahead of time and I will tell you what your food will be like. Lets go a step further..How about a car dealer saying before you can see their cars they want $20 to go on the lot, or how about a landscaper saying give me $30 before you see what I will do, or how about the barber asking for the $20 up front for a haircut, ISN'T IT A RECOMMENDATION OF ALL CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCIES NOT TO PAY UP FRONT. This is not a lodge where you pay dues. Hey, if anyone wants to "pay up front" go for it but it seems to be against directions from Consumer Protection and kind of taking advantage. You can't make this stuff up.Remember the old time system of "cover charges? This just a rather strange new way of installing the old cover charge but no band, no cig girls. There are 100,000+ residents so I guess you can do just about anything and there will be some that don't care. Given this it is really going to be fun and interesting as to how far practices are installed just because they can. The mystery is how can some support a practice that wants the money up front before delivering the product? It will not impact us but it is interesting to see what social practices and behaviors are acceptable?:wave:

Essentially going to a restaurant is a contract of sorts. The restaurant agrees to provide a product/service in exchange for consideration (money). In this case the owner has added additional provisions to the contract and again for additional consideration. Some may find benefit especially if they eat/drink out often while others would find difficulty if they eat out only occasionally.

Some may take umbrage over the fact that loyal cards equate to privilege
While others may perhaps view it as a money scheme to shake down customers for more cash.

As the man said in the movie "I don't need no stinking loyalty cards" The fact is if restaurants or bars relied on people like me they would all become extinct.

Bon Apetite

Kinda like a "Priority Membership" isn't it?

I paid the $20 because Orange Blossom Pool is my favorite place to hang out and swim. If after the year is up, and I don't think it is worth it, I will not renew it.

I have a Lopez Frequent Diner's Card that has paid for itself many times over.

I paid the American Legion up front.....or is that apples and oranges?

The $20 card will give you preferred seating.....LOL......I had to laugh when reading the sign in Scooples Ice Cream in Brownwood.

$20 a year right?
 

So if I understand correctly from reading the online faq sheet:
it is $20 a year and you are here say 5 months a year then that's $4 a month. If you drink martinis you save $3 so 2 a month puts you in the black. The points for cash back thing is just dumb and the math doesn't work out for most people if that is your goal.
Otherwise you are paying $4 a month so you can get call ahead seating (they put you on the waiting list when you call) or reservations for large groups. I have a PF Chang card which was free but it gives me call ahead wait listing at my local mall which saves me about 30 min a trip and if I had to pay $20 for it I would especially as I get a free desert to share most months as a member special. I agree it should be called priority member instead of loyalty badly named.

I think
 

i think one of the requirements is that you spend $20 a week in the facility?:22yikes:

The faq sheet doesn't say that. Also it says nothing about a $10 min where are people getting that? The 20 visits a month is just nuts but access to priority seating and specials makes sense sounds like he was trying to give preference to year around customers over snowbirds and blew it in the design. Maybe he will figure out he missed the mark and make adjustments. Why not a well crafted suggestion for improvements to the plan made directly to the guy. He seems to have created a PR problem no matter what his intentions may have been.

Who will ever forget when Katie Belle's made the Cattle Baron Club a member's only restaurant, charging a membership fee just for the privilege of dining there? Well, that didn't last long.

The FAQ sheet link was posted and seems pretty clear. The upside to social networking is free publicity and word of mouth.
If someone tries to start or repeats an untrue rumor whether to be provocative or funny how can any owner stop that or correct it? That's the downside of social networking.

It is NOT a requirement to spend $20 at the facility to get the specials offers or to get reservations for 4 or more, only to get the cash back.

Wow, I'm so surprised that some people get so riled up over something they "don't have to buy" ?? If it's not for you, that's okay. Those that think it's a good deal it's okay too !!!
I just don't understand why so many are getting so worked up about this. If it works, it works. If it doesn't, then they will tweek it or just not have it.
It really is no big deal. Don't buy it if you don't want it.
Just be happy and enjoy all that we have here !

Exactly, the "loyalty" card is a disgrace. Bad business decision.

We purchased the card. We already have made a few bucks back on beer. No question we will be ahead on the twenty dollars spent for the card.
ENJOY and have FUN!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, I'm at a loss here too.

The card is 100% OPTIONAL.

Why is that so hard to understand? It's not something to be offended about. Tons of restaurants offer loyalty programs. Some you pay for, some you don't.

Currently, I carry around a discount card sold by the Charter school students as a fundraiser. I paid for it, and have happily already made my money back in discounts.

Yes, this card is different as the CCs are for profit, but the principal is the same.

If you want your $3 drinks, or if you plan to eat out constantly, this card is for you. If not, then don't give it a second thought. Easy peasy.

In the end, as a consumer, vote with your wallet. They will get the message.

Agree with the comments you can buy or not. If I look at this months discounts I might be interested, However, next/future months specials are TBD. With all of the eating options available and not not being a martini drinker, I will wait awhile to see what the next few months specials are before buying the card. Lopez/Hemingway known rewards appear to be a better deal currently.

I have a loyalty lunch card from Gators Dockside in Spanish Springs. Buy five lunches and the sixth one is free.

Behavior
 

It is not a case of the $20 or anyone being riled up. It is interesting to understand the behavior of wanting to pay up front for something you have not received? Of course we all pay up front for Insurance's which is normal behavior but, at least in The Villages it is not normal behavior to pay for food you have not been served or even ordered? There have been a few complaints about the amount of food served at Panera and fortunately it had not been paid for up front. It may be wanting to belong to a group, or wanting to be special etc, but generally it is a risk in order to fall into a category. Given this the money is not a major issue but the behavior is an interesting question. It may even fall into the category of the ones that want to be "1st in line"? Just some thoughts.:popcorn:

It is simply a $20 card that offers discounts if you purchase it. We don't plan to buy a card.
However I don't believe that those who buy the card have a hidden agenda of wanting to be "first in line".
They are probably just frequent users.

We've been here 12 years, and Lopez is personally our favorite for food & service. We have their frequent diner card that never expires, and now also includes Hemingway at Havana CC. Yes, you get 10% off at lunch, and build up dollars for future dining. The cost is a 1 time charge of $20.00. We feel it's a great value. Everyone has their own opinion, and that is ours. There are also other perks with this card. Check them out.

I have been thinking about the Loyal Tee card since they first offered it. After reviewing all of the comments and reading the FAQ sheet multiple times everything is clear as mud. Hopefully someone here can answer my questions so that I can decide if it is something worth paying for. First, as I understand it each person is required to have their own card, i.e. both husband and wife, or you will not be able to participate in the specials. Is this correct? Second, going to any restaurant 20 or more times in one month to me is out of the question. However, if the so called "visit credits" are carried over from month to month and after say three months I earn a $15 or $20 credit it makes economical sense. Third, are the credits earned at each of the four clubs pooled together to that if you visit each one 5 times in a month you reach the minimum reward level?

Inquiring minds would like the answers to these questions please!

It does not carry over. Husband & wife can use the same card. You just have to remember to take it if just one is going. Visits count only once per day at any given restaurant. However, if you go to Evan's Prairie and Bonifay on the same day, they each count as a visit. You have to have the card so they can swipe it for you to get a visit credit. Yes, all visits count towards the monthly 20 visits

Thanks Bonny! The more I learn about this promotion I believe it should have been called a "Frequent Diner" card. I do not know too many (actually none) people who would go to the same restaurant or even 5 different restaurants of the same chain 20 or more times per month but obviously there must be a few. I think I will sit back and watch the monthly specials for a couple of months before making a final decision. Unless the deals are truly special I will continue to be an infrequent diner and spread my business around based upon what I am in the mood for at that time.

You Have Got to Love it!!
 

You have got to love it ! Where else do people walk into a restuarant, slap down $20 Per Person, give it to the Waiter and tell them you will be back someday to order. Oh by the way, is the food any good here? You just can't make this stuff up.:jester:

BTW, I read in the Daily Sun that $3 Martinis are back without the card

Where and what day did you see this ? I looked in the papers and I didn't see where it said don't need a loyal tee card.

Absolutely !! I totally agree !
I would think at this point in our lives, we all know that everything doesn't work for everyone. Check things out. We all spend our money different. We all have favorite places, favorite bartenders, favorite servers and favorite owners. If it works for someone, that's great. If it doesn't, that's great too. Just enjoy what ever you decide is good for you !!
I hope everyone has a wonderful night !! :)

The $3.00 martinis are the worst...spend more and get a good one and not one pre mixed and too salty

I think the martinis are great !! I haven't heard anyone say they weren't good and all my friends always get them.

Birds of a Feather!