Since Groupon launched, we’ve written a handful of stories about businesses — like the bakery that claimed $19,500 in losses and the cafe owner who called it the “single worst decision” she’d ever made — that said they took on huge amounts of red ink when they were overwhelmed by bargain-hunting shoppers who only wanted the discount. Well, here’s a story that’s slightly different, in that the shop’s regular customers have come to the rescue to save the sinking business. [More]
groupon
Groupon Wants You To Like Clicky, Its Creepy Deal Wheel With A Sad Face
By 1.11.12
Groupon is hoping you’ll stare deep into the wet brown eyes of its new deal wheel, Clicky, the Clickable Value-Wheel. And as your reward for gazing upon Clicky’s sad mouth, Groupon will let you buy a deal they featured in the past for a discount. [More]
Groupon Decides It's Best Not To Inflict Terrible Super Bowl Ads On The Public Again This Year
By 1.6.12
Groupon dipped its toes in the Super Bowl ad waters last year, and having found it quite chilly, has decided not to risk repeating past mistakes. That means no more stabs at trying to be funny that come off as completely insensitive and awful. [More]
PayPal Throwing Its Hat In The Online Daily Coupon Ring
By 12.14.11
PayPal is planning its own daily deal program in the U.S., joining the already crowded online arena where Groupon and LivingSocial are currently duking it out to offer the best discount. It’s all about options, these days. [More]
Bakery: We Lost At Least $19,500 In Groupon Deal
By 11.22.11
The biggest complaint from businesses that were unhappy with their Groupon experience is that too many people take advantage of the discount without spending money on anything that would make the company a profit. And while we’ve heard about some pretty bad cases, this story of a UK bakery’s experience with Groupon really takes the cake. [More]
How Deep Does A Discount Have To Be For Before You Call It A "Good Deal?"
By 11.9.11
A study of “Groupon addicts” asked them to specify how low a markdown had to be before they considered it a “good deal.” These were some pretty tough customers. How do their standards match up to yours? [More]
Ditch Your Big Bank, Miss Out On Groupon Refund
By 10.28.11
Like many other Americans, Casey broke up with his big bank, Chase, and joined a local credit union. The Consumerist commentariat should be very proud of him. Except that since changing banks, he received a refund for a Groupon he had purchased, which Groupon is powerless to give him because the debit card he used to purchase it has been canceled. [More]
More Groupon Employees Sue Over Unpaid Overtime
By 9.27.11
Groupon was hit with a second employee lawsuit alleging that the company failed to pay overtime. It’s only the latest in a series of major setbacks for the social coupon site casting its future into doubt. [More]
Groupon Uses Pretty Picture To Advertise Not As Pretty Reality
By 8.24.11
Being the savvy consumers that you all are, you’re probably no stranger to something not appearing in person as it does in a promotional photo. [More]
Groupon Refunds Me Extra $20, Shrugs
By 8.23.11
Kairho probably shouldn’t complain. After a local business that had run a Groupon promotion went out of business, he had one of three $10 vouchers remaining. When he contacted Groupon about the closed business, he received the entire $30 back as a refund. Was it a mistake? No, Groupon explained: they don’t keep track of which vouchers you’ve actually used, so refunds are on the honor system. [More]
Overseas, Groupon Pockets Money From Unredeemed Vouchers
By 5.12.11
Oh, Groupon. Always offering to make life better with half of Middle Eastern fare or with a discount waxing, then turning around and getting all grabby and greedy. It’s worse overseas, as apparently, Groupon gets to pocket the money from any unredeemed vouchers. [More]
Groupon Gets Into Real Estate Deals
By 4.8.11
In a move that some will say is an example of the flexibility of the Groupon model, and that others will point to as a shark-jumping moment, the online deals site has partnered with a Chicago-area real estate firm for its first ever venture into the home-buying market. [More]
Beware The Many Pitfalls Of Daily Deal Sites
By 3.31.11
In the latest craze of daily deal sites like Groupon and LivingSocial, we’re already learning pretty darn fast that not all is what it seems when it comes to the offered discounts. Caveat emptor and all that, right? Let’s take a look at some of the things you should consider before you plunk down $17 for $34 worth of bacon-flavored lollipops at that place you never would’ve gone to otherwise, shall we? [More]
Groupon Gets Into The Movie Ticket Business
By 3.16.11
With Facebook getting into the movie rental business and Netflix deciding it should start producing TV shows, Groupon has decided to get into the entertainment biz too, offering its first deal on movie tickets for a new theatrical release. [More]
Groupon Sued Over Expiration Date Issues
By 3.3.11
Online coupon site Groupon.com now finds itself the subject of a lawsuit claiming the expiration dates on its deals violate existing gift card laws regarding expiration dates. [More]
Groupon & FTD Offer Refund For Controversial Valentine's Day Deal
By 2.14.11
Amid allegations that FTD jacked up the price on flowers being sold through a Groupon promotion, both companies are offering a refund to peeved customers. [More]
Groupon Withdraws Those Ads Everyone's Been Complaining About
By 2.12.11
Well we never saw this coming — okay just kidding, really we saw this coming as soon as these ads aired: Groupon has decided to stop airing the controversial commercials they debuted during the Super Bowl, which played on organizations in need asking for help to promote their coupons for various businesses. [More]
Conan O'Brien Presents Newest Groupon Ad
By 2.9.11
Apparently, not all of Groupon’s controversial ads were shown during the Super Bowl. Conan O’Brien unearthed an ad for the site you may have missed. [More]
