Groupon - smoke and mirrors or real value?

I am not happy with Groupon. I keep on getting e-mail promotions (it has become like spam) despite cancelling my e-mail subscriptions over and and over again.
 
I've slowly weeded out all of these deal of the day e-mails from my life. I'm just not going to need a hot stone massage in Green Point anytime soon no matter if someone else gets one for free.
 
Real Value? Not always.

I've made three purchases from them, 2 for electronic delivered vouchers and one a tangible good. The poor delivery on the last item has put me off using Groupon except for vouchers.

I also use Daddys Deals a lot and must say that Groupon are not the leaders with ease of use or quality specials on offer.
 
I like Groupon. I'll happily get a meal at 50% off. If others want to pay full price then good for them :)
 
There biggest problem is their crap and dishonest service, and the fact that one staff member after another can lie to you about the previous ones lies and nothing gets done about it.

I won't be sad to see them go under, we don't need more companies with their level of service.
 
Not good value, more like good bull****ting, the below is some comparisons I sent through to a mate at work, this shows that they are not only NOT cheaper but they make it look like a product is more expensive than it is, utter bull****ting:

No_savings.jpg



Edit why can't I post an image?
 
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I think their challenge will always be to validate the offers from suppliers. Also remember that in most cases, a deal appearing today on Groupon would have been signed and concluded several months prior. All of it not necessarily an excuse as they hardly feature more than 100 products. Also remember that their sales guys get a nice commission - so there is no real incentive to be consumer oriented.
 
My wife bought 4 meal vouchers a year ago at a well known restaurant chain. When we went to the restaurant to use two of the vouchers we were treated like we wasted valuable seating space and the two steaks that were delivered were the smallest I've been offered at any restaurant in my life. We gave the two other vouchers away. Never again. One gets the feeling that Groupon reps nag and nag companies to bite (obviously getting commission) and then the companies - when it took the bait - provide the products feeling cheated. And then we - the client - are made to feel like we stole something.
 
BeVonk! said:
My wife bought 4 meal vouchers a year ago at a well known restaurant chain. When we went to the restaurant to use two of the vouchers we were treated like we wasted valuable seating space and the two steaks that were delivered were the smallest I've been offered at any restaurant in my life. We gave the two other vouchers away. Never again. One gets the feeling that Groupon reps nag and nag companies to bite (obviously getting commission) and then the companies - when it took the bait - provide the products feeling cheated. And then we - the client - are made to feel like we stole something.
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^This

I can not urge people strongly enough to stay far away from Groupon, it's nothing but a money-making scam.
 
BeVonk! said:
My wife bought 4 meal vouchers a year ago at a well known restaurant chain. When we went to the restaurant to use two of the vouchers we were treated like we wasted valuable seating space and the two steaks that were delivered were the smallest I've been offered at any restaurant in my life. We gave the two other vouchers away. Never again. One gets the feeling that Groupon reps nag and nag companies to bite (obviously getting commission) and then the companies - when it took the bait - provide the products feeling cheated. And then we - the client - are made to feel like we stole something.
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Wow, my experiences have been totally different. On each occasion I have had great meals. This has included a few restaurants, a pub or two and some take aways.

You should have complained to management and Groupon. Did you? Surely the idea behind Groupon is to get customers to return to your establishment again so surely that is motivation for good service alone. A simple system really. Giving them a bad experience is hardly likely to achieve that. All they will achieve from that is giving away one meal at cost and chasing away potential future clients. Word of mouth is a strong marketing tool
 
I've had both good and bad experiences. When I complained, Groupon mostly refunded me in terms of vouchers, which I didn't mind.
 
BeVonk! said:
My wife bought 4 meal vouchers a year ago at a well known restaurant chain. When we went to the restaurant to use two of the vouchers we were treated like we wasted valuable seating space and the two steaks that were delivered were the smallest I've been offered at any restaurant in my life. We gave the two other vouchers away. Never again. One gets the feeling that Groupon reps nag and nag companies to bite (obviously getting commission) and then the companies - when it took the bait - provide the products feeling cheated. And then we - the client - are made to feel like we stole something.
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Do you have to produce the voucher before you order? Otherwise I think you just experienced bad service and it was not due to the voucher.

They would only know you had the voucher when it came time to pay.
 
Haldex said:
Do you have to produce the voucher before you order? Otherwise I think you just experienced bad service and it was not due to the voucher.

They would only know you had the voucher when it came time to pay.
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My other half bought a few vouchers from them, as soon as the restaurant/spa/event/whatever heard it was a groupon voucher they were full - or closed for the night, or , or, or.

We probably only had about a 15% good hit rate with them.
 
I generally just don't like the business model, it creates a reason for salespeople to over or undersell the proposition to make sales and can then easily hurt the client who is trying to get some good publicity by not being able to supply or just hurting their brand. Also it creates packs of deal-hunters who will probably not buy again or would have bought anyway. Thus I think a lot of times using Groupon can actually do more harm than good if not very carefully managed. Unless you are selling volume based online type stuff I think you are taking chances with your brand where some other avenue could do a better job.
 
I like Groupon the most.
Their deals are generally better than the others(and more variety).
I requested refunds twice and received my money back within a few days without any difficulties.

Will use them whenever there is a deal I like.
 
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