Groupon....Great deals or scam?

kboss2010

Groupon is very hit and miss in my experience. You will usually get the product on offer, however, the company offering the service will often quibble about when you can be fitted in/what you are entitled to etc. etc. that I've given up trying to use them.

I've mostly used groupon for hairdressers and restaurants and the staff nearly always complain to you about the fact that "Groupon sold more vouchers than they agreed to" or that "you can only be booked in between these times" despite the vouchers not stating any kind of restrictions on appointment times even in the small print.

I find in general many Indian restaurants in Aberdeen to be the worst offenders for this (and not just for groupon, for D2Deals, Spree vouchers etc.) - the management obviously want you in the door but don't want to give you the full service/full discount for the voucher price. I've never not had a problem yet and I've used at least 2 Groupon vouchers and 2 Spree vouchers in the past 2 years.

baxy

I have had a number of 2 night breaks with Groupon but I always research the Hotel on Tripadvisor before booking them.
Never had a problem.
The best one by far was The Branston Hall Hotel just outside Lincoln.

kboss2010

You have a point about that. I've only ever booked two trips with Groupon (1 night plus dinner and breakfast in Bridge of Allen near Stirling for £99 and the same in Edinburgh a year later) and it was pretty good value. We got a 3 course meal and fizzy wine (wasn't champers for that price lol) and a full Scottish breakfast with drinks.

The Bridge of Allen room was a little old-fashioned and tired but at least we got a proper double bed (most new hotels seem to think that a double bed is two single mattresses on a double base - it's so uncomfortable, especially when the mattresses separate every time you move!!)

The second trip to Edinburgh, our room was in the annex at the back of the hotel with a "historic scenic view" (Groupon's word, not mine!) of a back alley and dumpsters - until the bathroom fixtures began to fall apart when we used them so they upgraded us to a suite (complete with a marble, step-up double-sized bath/shower, a living room area and a door bell!) for free so all in all pretty good after all!

I think they're ok for the types of places you stay but you do get what you pay for so even if you walk in to find the lobby 5*, expect to have the tiny, unrefurbished room at the back of the hotel!

Joanus

I've used Groupon before. Some deals are good some aren't. I know someone who used to work for them and she told me that they insist on a min discount of 50% from retailers and then charge them 50% commission so many businesses inflate their original price before speaking to Groupon as they've got wise to it. But this does mean that many of the deals are now not that brilliant. Easiest thing to do is to do your research on a deal by deal basis.