The Entertainment Book Review

Overall 4.14 of 5 view all 22 reviews

AnnaBanana
Oak Park, IL

A very good idea, but could be better.

frugal whenever possible, value conscious, impressed with this product

Pros

additional printable coupons on website, good savings for couples

Cons

virtually no savings for singles

FEB

2009

The Entertainment Book —

I have been buying the annual Entertainment Book for the Chicago West area for several years and have usually got my money's worth and got a good deal by waiting a bit and buying it a couple months after publication. Also, I would buy it through MyPoints and get 500 points for the purchase. I have also discovered that this is a dynamite gift idea -- people who love to eat out and go to movies love getting Entertainment Books.

MY VIEWPOINT:

This time I didn't buy one for myself. I feel that whoever puts the Entertainment Book offers together is insensitive to the situation of "single" people. I love to eat out but only about 50% of those occasions are shared with another person. Now that I am retired, I will very often shop and "graze" on my own during the week. It used to be that some Entertainment coupons offered the option of BOGO (Buy One, Get One) or 50% off the price of one (THANK you!) Slowly but inevitably, the 50% off offers have been weeded out or done away with. Sometimes, I can buy one and take one home, but some merchants don't want you to do that and I'm not about to sit there and eat two dinners just to get one for free. Now that my favorite dry-cleaner is no longer listed in the book and some other personal old stand-bys are no longer standing by, what's the point?

I would recommend this to couples or to friends who dine together on a weekly basis but, if you are a single person who often dines alone, here's another way to save money -- don't buy the Entertainment Book anymore.

Last edited on Feb 16, 2009

The Entertainment Book is recommended by AnnaBanana

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Comments about AnnaBanana’s Review

Our schools sell this as a fundraiser. My family gets it and then gives me coupons that they think I would use. If you use 2-3 coupons you will get your money's worth on the book.

In response to LisaCarey's comment from Feb 20, 2009 at 11:29AM:

Oh YAH! I'm hoping that Dominick's will be in there again. You're right, just using them is enough to make up the cost of the book. How I wish we could get 50% off movie tickets. But you're right, Lisa -- it is probably the book's sponsors that call the shots.

In response to AnnaBanana's comment from Feb 19, 2009 at 9:03PM:

How about the grocery coupons? Those are quite helpful for us too. And I got the same deal, I may be using it to get it for our trip to visit my parents. I need all the savings I can get when we travel. Enjoy!

In response to LisaCarey's comment from Feb 18, 2009 at 9:31PM:

It's a small world -- on this very day Entertainment made me an offer I couldn't refuse ... a special MyPoints bonus deal. I get the book for $16.95, no shipping costs, and 1,000 MyPoints. I'm going to go ahead -- I can use the 50% off at Edwardo's and also another local place and my friends and I can use a few BOGO's at the Golden Wok and some other places. Also I forgot that we have some chain places where I can use these too.

I like your viewpoint on needing a singles book... even if you aren't single there are times you might want to use a coupon on your own. I have seen other coupons that give two discounts: one for one and one for two [both discounts on the same coupon]. Great review.

In response to LisaCarey's comment from Feb 18, 2009 at 9:31PM:

I found that I could use some of mine when I dine or lunch with my friends but it isn't as useful as it used to be. Of course, part of the problem is that suddenly it seems like there are hardly any local locations in my town offering Entertainment discounts. Who knows, maybe the economy is rearing its ugly head even with the Entertainment book! Last year, there were only three local places in Oak Park or this area where I was able to save money, aside from Dominick's.

I can see your point about singles but found that even what I don't use as a family comes in quite handy for when we have my parents or adult son visiting. Entertainment Book actually doesn't make the rules, the establishments do -- it's sad because sometimes I am out not with Bryan but alone and it would be nice to use that way.

Your point about singles is excellent. In our area, there are now very few less-expensive restaurants than there used to be.

In response to JazzSinger's comment from Feb 15, 2009 at 6:36PM:

(AnnaBanana stands over at the footlights and curtsies) I bet a lot of other people think the way we do, I wonder what gives with these Entertainment guys! They don't have to give up the BOGO thing, just offer the 50% off as an alternate. I've noticed a lot of men and women dining alone here and there -- sometimes they are on business trips as well as just being alone. Someone should figure it out and they would sell more books!

(JazzSinger stands and applauds) From one single person to another, thank you, thank you, thank you. I think there is a conspiracy by the Entertainment Book people to pair everyone off, and I steadfastly refuse to comply.

In response to AnnaBanana's comment from Feb 15, 2009 at 5:43PM:

I happened to be on my email when the alert came through and clicked right on it. lol If I don't, I get so behind in reading and rating!

I love the Entertainment Book. I do understand your point. It would be difficult to get your money's worth if they let go of the 50% off one meal.

In response to LaurieM's comment from Feb 15, 2009 at 5:38PM:

I know, I stuck with it a long time. I would use the Dominick's coupons, dry cleaner savings and also get 50% off pizza orders from Edwardo's (a local place). They used to have a lot of 50% off offers but have nearly done away with them all, which is odd. I would think the 50% off would work as well for either singles OR couples. I might wait and pick one up for $5 later in the year as there are still a few things I can use it for -- carry out foods, Coldstone Creamery, etc., but its use is really limited for "singles" or people who travel alone on business. Thanks so much for checking in and reading the review. I think that was the fastest anyone has ever read one of my reviews! I did that to TunefulGal the other day. She wrote a review, answered her doorbell, and came back to find that I had read it already!!!!! Take care and have a nice Sunday evening.