15 years ago, it was such a big thing. Google wanted to buy them for $6 Billion but they refused. I had even interviewed with them once.
I got some good deals but that was many years ago.

Now I just get emails from them and when I check, it's the same old boring places. Haven't used them in ages.

I don't like to sue coupons.

I got staind/breaking benjamin concert ticket on it last year, it was like 30% off TM's price.
That was my sole purchase on it in 2024.

I had 1 purchase in 2023 - a restaurant, and 2 in 2022 - a carwash and a meal delivery service (heck of a deal, it was like 4 delivered recipes for 2 people and it was like $20)
3 times in 2021 - apple iphone screen repair, another meal delivery service, and a house cleaning.

I used in 12 times in 2019. Restaurants, airport parking, concert tickets, oil changes..
So, yeh I'm definitely not using it much as of late.

Last living social purchase was 2019 for Korn/AIC tickets.

I tried using Groupon to buy tickets to take my kid to see Coco Mellon last year. It was supposed to be 25% off, but after all the fees it was like $2 more expensive than buying them directly from the Coco Mellon website.

I use them once a year minimum for my Christmas card photos at JC Penney's.

The photography and like 35 cards & envelopes delivered to your door for a little over $10 I think. They'll definitely try to upsell you in the studio but I just keep saying "no".

They were disastrous for a lot of small businesses. They would promise increased foot traffic and instead, businesses would have to give away thousands in products and services. The best way to do it would be to prebuy or get for free whatever you are giving away not just a free service or huge $ off the bill.

These coupon businesses were all the rage around 2012 but no one cares about them anymore from the business perspective. A model that came and went. I interviewed with Groupon one time and the guy asked me about what I thought about the business model. I said that rather than waiting for an email a day with deals that I may or may not be interested in, maybe have a way for people to go look for deals that they are interested in. Like I am interested mainly in restaurant deals in my area, I don't care about spas or concerts so I should not be sent those deals. But their model was the surprise element - maybe you may find a spa interesting and buy.

I did not get the job. Not sure why. But eventually they did switch over to the model I had suggested. I don't think they took the idea from me, they probably just realized that they had a bad model.

Emotional Support Cobra said:

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They were disastrous for a lot of small businesses. They would promise increased foot traffic and instead, businesses would have to give away thousands in products and services. The best way to do it would be to prebuy or get for free whatever you are giving away not just a free service or huge $ off the bill.

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i heard/read that groupon takes about half of the revenue.

So for a restaurant deal, say it's $20 for $30 spend at xyz restaurant.
The restaurant serves $30 of food, and they only make $10-$13 on it. Groupon got the other ~$7-$10 for the sale.

So it's double negative for the business.. they are discounting food, and then giving away a large chunk to third party to do it.

A restaurant is WAAAAY better just having their own coupons.. save $10 on $50, free beer with entree, whatever.

LOL. Sounds familiar. I interviewed with Blockbuster in 2001. At the time, they were partnering with DirecTV for on demand movies ($2.99/$3.99 for 24 hours), and I complimented the approach. As a DTV customer, I told them I was finding myself going to their brick and mortar stores far less because of the convenience of this service, and that this was a great move because that is where I thought the future was headed.

I was interviewing with a couple of other firms with the time, and let's just say Blockbuster was the one that didn't come back with an offer lol. In hindsight, I guess I could have left out that I was going to their stores less, but hey, truth spared me linking up with a soon to be dinosaur

Claude! said:

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I don't like to sue coupons.

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why would you sue coupons?

How very Costanza of you!

I used it in Dallas over the winter break. I also have used it for mini-golf in Branson a few times.

Claude! said:

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80s Guy said:

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Claude! said:

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I don't like to sue coupons.

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why would you sue coupons?

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They know what they did.

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The ducks know what they did too