Northwestern University and Evanston's Only Daily News Source Since 1881

The Daily Northwestern

46° Evanston, IL
Northwestern University and Evanston's Only Daily News Source Since 1881

The Daily Northwestern

Northwestern University and Evanston's Only Daily News Source Since 1881

The Daily Northwestern

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Getting carded

Last spring, Ramona Maza used her WildCARD to get a half-priced smoothie with her chicken wrap at Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe.

“I was excited,” said Maza, a Weinberg sophomore. “Smoothies are generally overpriced. It was pretty sweet to get one at the cost of a normal drink.”

But other than getting 10 percent off a pair of long underwear at Uncle Dan’s, 700 Church St., Maza cannot remember using her student ID to get any other discounts.

Even though more than 200 stores in Evanston and Chicago give a WildCARD discount, many students unwittingly miss deals. This week’s Dirt Cheap is about milking the WildCARD for all it’s worth.

Start by scoping stores for the purple “Wildcard Advantage” stickers before getting a haircut or trying on jeans. Many vendors do not ask their customers if they have a WildCARD, even if they offer a discount.

“We just don’t tell everybody, ‘You’re getting 10 percent off,'” said Ramakant Kharel, the owner of Mt. Everest restaurant, 618 Church St.

Another place to look is online. From the HereandNow Web site, click WildCARD Advantage. Surfers can search through businesses and look for discounts in dozens of categories.

But the site, last updated in summer 2004, has some old information, such as a listing for the now closed Camille’s.

The site will be updated by next week, said Susan Dollman, the marking and communications manager for university services.

The WildCARD discount appears in many forms, from $1 off a Subway sandwich to 20 percent off most items at Borders Books Music and Cafe, 1700 Maple Ave.

Students should be sure to snag deals while they are available.

The discount at Borders will be ending Feb. 15. Burger King, 1740 Orrington Ave., which used to offer a free Whopper with the purchase of a Whopper combo, ended the offer in early January.

A few stores remind students about the WildCARD discount.

“We’ll ask (if students have WildCARDs),” said Katie Ayala, a supervisor at Jamba Juice, 630 Davis St. “We always ask.”

But for thrifty shoppers, cutting costs requires the ruthless pursuit of discounts.

“I go in somewhere and I think to myself (too) late, ‘Ugh, they were a WildCARD partner,” Dollman said. “It really is something that you yourself have to be aware of.”

Reach Daniella Cheslow at [email protected].

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Getting carded