We messed up: Groupon SA CEO

The problem here is that there are not enough people with Internet-related skills or experience to successfully manage an online business. Groupon SA will continue to mess up the business and it will eventually close down in this country.

It is one thing to surf the web, read articles, download content, chat in chatrooms or post on forums and another to run an online business.
 
I stopped using Groupon after me and my family received atrocious service from a restaurant that offered discount vouchers on Groupon. It was all smiles until we mentioned Groupon. The smiles then disappeared ... as well as the waitress ... and we waited and waited. When we eventually got served we got the absolute minimum the restaurant was willing to offer. The reason (I was told by someone else)? Groupon sales staff (who earn commission) that nags and nags until the restaurant owner gives in ... very reluctantly just to get rid of the perpetual irritation. The customer gets to experience the consequence of this unhappy transaction between Groupon and the restaurant.
 
I won't buy a product from them but the restaurant and hotel deals are great.

I have only once experienced inferior service at a restaurant but that was the restaurant's own doing and not Groupon.
 
All of those discount groups are as crap as each other. I tried to order an iPhone5 charge/memory stick kit from Vuvuplaza, the one they sent was for the previous gen. Three weeks later, the parcel is back with them and I'm still waiting for my money.
 
Groupon as a concept is struggling...

It will struggle even more in a country like ours..
 
BeVonk! said:
I stopped using Groupon after me and my family received atrocious service from a restaurant that offered discount vouchers on Groupon. It was all smiles until we mentioned Groupon. The smiles then disappeared ... as well as the waitress ... and we waited and waited. When we eventually got served we got the absolute minimum the restaurant was willing to offer. The reason (I was told by someone else)? Groupon sales staff (who earn commission) that nags and nags until the restaurant owner gives in ... very reluctantly just to get rid of the perpetual irritation. The customer gets to experience the consequence of this unhappy transaction between Groupon and the restaurant.
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Did you phone and ask if they could help you beforehand?

We've used tons of Groupon vouchers all over and we've never experienced anything like that, but we always phone in advance. We've even had retailers go out of their way to assist us even when the voucher clearly says that it's not redeemable on that day of the week.

I have no complaints with Groupon. When we've bought a dud deal they've refunded us without any issues (these are the deals where the retailers go bankrupt or just never answer their phone). Yes, they sell stuff as a massive discount sometimes when it's not. But Makro, Game, PnP, Shoprite etc all do that as well... It's the consumer's responsibility to do his own research before buying something.
 
I had an issue with a groupon that needed to be refunded because the merchant wouldn't accept it. Groupon swear blindly they have refunded it, and insist that I send them my bank statement to prove that they have not! I'm like wtf, it's on you to prove to me that you refunded it, not the other way around. They absolutely refuse to budge.
 
Never had problems with Groupon, Cityslicker, etc. Accommodation and restaurants have all been great.

There was once a delay on a product but that was the supplier. If a product is not delivered, it is the supplier that is usually at fault.
 
I have bought quite a few deals through Groupon. There have been Dud deals where the service is not what is advertised or poor service. Groupon have been very helpful and sorted it out by refund to be used for future vouchers - I am happy with their service to date.

As with anything on the Internet - make sure you know what you are buying.
The restaurants do lose money on their voucher deals, but then it is advertising for them and bringing in new customers. They also make money on the drinks and any extras you purchase while there. I also make sure to tip what the bill would have been without the voucher as it is unfair to tip based on your drinks bill alone - this is probably why some experience poor service as the waiter deserves a proper tip.
 
Electron1 said:
I also make sure to tip what the bill would have been without the voucher as it is unfair to tip based on your drinks bill alone - this is probably why some experience poor service as the waiter deserves a proper tip.
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I always tip more than 10% and I would have gladly done it in the case described ... but who wants to tip a waitress that treated us as if the cat dragged us in. If she had issues with previous Groupon customers not tipping and thought we would do the same ... well then she played her cards wrong.
 
BeVonk! said:
I always tip more than 10% and I would have gladly done it in the case described ... but who wants to tip a waitress that treated us as if the cat dragged us in. If she had issues with previous Groupon customers not tipping and thought we would do the same ... well then she played her cards wrong.
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Agree 100% - If the service stinks, the waiter/waitress does not deserve a decent tip. Just because some people are tight, she should not have let that influence her service to others.
 
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