I've used a few Groupons, but I wonder if any of you know the overall scope of who is using which of these services. What's the difference between them? More shopping, more services, more restaurants or what? It must be big business (Google bought Groupon.)
My friend has a Bklyn-based tutoring business for kids and teens, and I was thinking it would be a good thing for the biz. But which offering service?
I'm puzzled by the success of these sites. There are dozens of deal sites now. THEY ARE JUST DAMN COUPONS, PEOPLE. And not always great coupons at that. I've seen a few great deals, but a lot of the so called "half off" deals are really "half off a portion of your purchase." For example, $25 for $50 worth of running shoes... when was the last time running shoes were $50? Thirty years ago?
That said, these sites are good for the merchant (such as your friend). I have a friend who has had good success on one of the sites and says it's the most effective advertising she's ever done. I'm trying to get the name of the site now.
I recently signed up for living social just to check it out and so far there hasnt been anything i wanted or of interest to me. I will probably cancel in a while.
You might want to tell your friend about this site, which is "by moms, for moms" and thus might be a good place to advertise tutoring: http://www.plumdistrict.com/
This one also deals with baby and kid deals: https://www.zulily.com/index.php/customer/account/create/
A couple other names Zulily.com, Gilt.com, Ideeli.com
tell your friend to do some research on the long-term effects of using sites like groupon for advertising. It's not always positive. While it creates a HUGE influx of revenue, it might not create *any* profit.
http://www.retaildoc.com/blog/groupon-worst-marketing-business/ as a start.
I work in a salon where stylists are using these kinds of sites and, while the book is filling up, they're making virtually pennies and busting their asses all day. I highly, HIGHLY doubt we'll have ANY repeat business from those clients. I have been "pitched" many times to use many of those sites (gilt, lifebooker, ideeli, etc) and have always turned it down after realizing how little I'll be making for my time.
I've bought two groupons that I wound up not using. Go me. I'm not allowed to buy them anymore 
I was thinking some of the profit margin for retail had to be in people not using impulse coupon purchases...
THX for the links you guys! It's all still a mystery...
I love groupon. I buy them constantly. Yesterday I got a 70 min. Massage, a 45 min. Facial, a hair cut/blow out, and lunch in Manhattan ... using only Groupons.
I buy them for restaurants I haven't been to that I'd like to try and places I already go as well as for spas- I would never feel ok spending full price on something so extravagent. But its great.
Most businesses don't make too much profit on the visit with the groupon, but the hope is that you'll return now that you've tried it.
noisyjulianne said:
I've bought two groupons that I wound up not using. Go me. I'm not allowed to buy them anymore
I think this is a large part of the attraction for merchants. I also have a $40 groupon that I'm never likely to use. But I freaking paid for it. Having people actually PAY for coupons is a major paradigm shift.
I would never feel ok spending full price on something so extravagent. But
This is exactly why these sites are AWESOME for the consumer and terrible for the retailer/service provider. I use groupon and lifebooker all the time... but I would NEVER ever use them to advertise my own services.
That's exactly why I hate gcoupons.
I love Blackboard Eats, but that's a food site. They just let you print out a coupon, PAY NOTHING.
For the record, Google did not buy Groupon. Also, Amazon is a partner in LivingSocial and owns Woot.
Blackboard Eats just changed their modus operandi. They now charge $1 per coupon or $20/year for unlimited coupons in that year.
I guess they are trying to discourage people getting coupons and then not using them?
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