Hi everyone.

I ran into an issue last Friday night. My brother turned 40 and a bunch of us went to the Tulalip Casino in Marysville for dinner. I showed my Lap-Band card and asked for a discount. I was of course denied!

So, has anyone had success with this? My wife and I do like to dine there with friends once in a while but I do not want to pay $16.95 to eat a few bites of food. It's tough to get a whole group to change the place to eat. I guess if i cant get them to give me a price break i will sip on Water and enjoy the company.

I did write an email to them asking to consider a discount for lap-band patients...no reply so far.

If anyone wants to email them.... here is the contact page on their web site. Maybe if we join together we can get somewhere.

Tulalip Resort Casino :: Contact Us

JoeMcc

Banded 8-31-07

Dr Joya

Puerto Vallarta Mexico

I've never used my card and I won't. I just can't. Those places didn't charge me more when I ate enough for 3 people, I'm not going to ask them to charge me less now because I eat less. It doesn't seem fair in my mind.

I have no intention of ever using that card.

I feel exactly the same way, Wasa. I don't like paying for something I can't eat, but I figure it more than balanced out over the years

Gayle,

I noticed you had Dr. B. He was my surgeon...did he give you a lap-band card? I haven't ever heard of this? How can I get one????? I have no shame about using it...at least I don't think I do.

I don't like paying a lot of money for a buffet when I cant eat it either. A lot of buffets will have a price for getting something off a menu instead of all you can eat. Or I just refuse to eat at them.

I am ABSOLUTELY willing to try to save myself some money when there is no way I could eat all that food. I don't care what i was able to eat before, it is unwise spending of my cash to pay $17 for half a cup of food and I will not do it! Thats like saying i refuse to refinance my house and get a cheaper rate because its only fair I pay the higher rates that were in place when I bought my house. Give me a break.

This weekend I was able to buy a kids meal at a restaurant that clearly states for 12 and under only.

bigbaby.......no, Dr B never mentioned to me and I didn't ask even tho I was aware there is such a thing. I also see Dr Maese and he hasn't mentioned it either.

Are you in Dallas? If you're interested in our No Dallas area support group, send me a PM. We usually meet somewhere between Plano and Grand Prairie every few weeks.....very informal group.

This weekend I was able to buy a kids meal at a restaurant that clearly states for 12 and under only.

Applebees will do that for me. BTW Freemont california is opening an Applebees...I disigned the roof for it.

JoeMcc

I may be speaking out of turn...but why are you going to buffets if you don't want to pay the price? Since I am banded the last place that I am going to hang out is a buffet. Now I realize from your post that you were out with friends. I would do one of two things: 1. Ask my friends to join me at another dining location. Tulalip does have 3 other dining choices that are not buffets. 2. If you can't change it because it is a party: Suck it up and pay the price. Don't just have water; enjoy yourself anyway. Me personally I don't think it is money well spent in a buffet, but if I had to I would. I am still planning on having the time of my life. Good luck on getting discounts. And when I go out it is going to be doggy bags for me.<!-- google_ad_section_end -->

I feel exactly the same way, Wasa. I don't like paying for something I can't eat, but I figure it more than balanced out over the years

If they would have asked me to pay more when I ate more then I could see the point in wanting discounts today. But they didn't. To ask them to charge me less because I eat more normal'ish size portions today feels very wrong to me. Almost to the point of unethical. But that's me, I'm not speaking for anyone else.

Buffet's have a huge expense for the restaurant and food isn't necessarily their biggest cost. Does the restaurant need fewer employees? Less rent? Fewer dishwashers? Less A/C or heating because we have a card that says we overate in the past so today we eat more normal portions? Nope.

I will not ever ask someone to charge me less at a buffet because I can control my portion size today unlike a year ago. It's just wrong in my mind and for *ME* there is right and wrong. That would be wrong.

I think most people, not just the overweight, eat a lot at a buffet. Why else would they choose to eat there? I know plenty of thin/normal weight people who don't normally overeat but will at a buffet given all the choices and it's the same price to eat more or less.

I think it's only fair for them to charge maybe the cost of a kid's buffet when you are only going to eat what a kid would eat or less. They assume that people are going to eat a ton at a buffet and they figure that into the cost. I don't see a problem with asking them to charge kid's buffet price. If they won't, then you have to decide if you are more willing to pay full price or just sit and sip Water.

Sure, if it's someplace like CiCi's that only charges $3.99 anyway, I would just pay the price because that's cheaper than most places charge for a kid's meal but $16.95....that's steep to only be eating a few bites.

I am new here and not banded yet. I would either not go... but since it was a party and you did go I would just pay the price to be there and eat the standard amount that you would normally consume in a meal...

If you're truely concerned with the cost and that is a major factor for you maybe you should call ahead and explain your situation?

I myself would just pay the price and enjoy the ambiance with the friends and family. I am not one though to bring attention to myself or that fact that I am any different from anyone else in the place.

I think most people, not just the overweight, eat a lot at a buffet. Why else would they choose to eat there? I know plenty of thin/normal weight people who don't normally overeat but will at a buffet given all the choices and it's the same price to eat more or less.

I think it's only fair for them to charge maybe the cost of a kid's buffet when you are only going to eat what a kid would eat or less. They assume that people are going to eat a ton at a buffet and they figure that into the cost. I don't see a problem with asking them to charge kid's buffet price. If they won't, then you have to decide if you are more willing to pay full price or just sit and sip Water.

Sure, if it's someplace like CiCi's that only charges $3.99 anyway, I would just pay the price because that's cheaper than most places charge for a kid's meal but $16.95....that's steep to only be eating a few bites.

I don't agree that normal size people will gorge themselves just because they are at a buffet. That's more "fat thinking" vs. normal size person thinking. I mean let's face it, it's because of the normal size people that the creation of the doggy bag came to be. Fat people tend to take full portions of each item, thin people tend to take a few bites of everything.

Bottom line for me is that they did not charge us more when we ate more, I feel it is unfair to ask them to charge us less because we eat more normal size portions. They have a set fee, eat all you want for "X" dollars. That might be a lot, it might be a little. The price is the same. If you don't want to pay it then go to a non-buffet type place.

So many claim they don't want to be singled out anymore due to food issues and size issues yet they are the first one in line with that silly card in their hands wanting freebies or reduced meals. Were these same people asking to pay more when they were eating more than their fair share? I'd bet that's a no.

I have a strong sense of right and wrong and reduced fees for our 'closer to normal' portions vs. fat portions seems very wrong to me. Besides, I got this surgery so people wouldn't single me out for food issues. I'll be darned if I'll start passing a card around wanting special treatment because I needed WLS to refrain from filling my face with far too much food.

Interesting opinions.....

I’m way too cheap to waste money so I guess I will drink Water and grab something on the way home.

My nurse and I were talking when I got a fill last week about my trip to Hawaii next week. She asked, "are you sure you want a fill before Hawaii?" I said, "Yes....it's time I learn how to NOT associate food with entertainment." I can still have a good time in Hawaii even if the band is tight and all I can eat is mushies.

It's all good and thank you for the suggestions. At least in 25 years when im a senior I will get that discount...LOLOL

JoeMcc

how do you edit in here and not get a bunch of smilies??

Click in the top right hand corner on the A/A button before you edit.

I know what you mean about the food/entertainment thing....I have already scheduled my 2nd fill for the day before Thanksgiving. My thoughts are the same as yours! Go us!!!

So, WASaBubbleButt...

Why do senior citizens get a discount? Is it because they are low income, simply have paid their dues over time, or is it because they typically don't eat as much? Im really not sure. Most of the seniors I know have a lot more in their bank accounts than I do.

Just curious...because I don't know the reasons behind a senior discount.

JoeMcc