Groupon offer

Cazz

Two Course Meal for Two People including a Drink Each for £15 at The Oak Ardingly (Value £47.80)


Having purchased a voucher for this pub some time ago and being very disappointed with the lack of choice and quality of the meal. I am surprised to see Groupon are advertising the offer again quoting as follows:
Groupon customers can treat themselves, a friend or an evil twin to a two course meal and a drink at this enticing eatery. Serving up a courageous concoction of contemporary and classic culinary charmers, rumbling tummy bearers can choose any starter and main from the menu, like starters of smoked salmon with brown bread and horseradish mayonnaise (£4.95); or main courses of 8oz sirloin steak (£13.95) and grilled rainbow trout (£10.50), as well as desserts such as chocolate and Guinness mousse (£5) and poached pears served with Chantilly cream (£5).
This is not true, you are not able to choose from the main menu,your choice is from a very limited and in my opinion very poor selection. I consider this to be hoodwinking people into purchasing this particular deal. It has also made me very wary in purchasing any other 'meal deals' - why can't they be honest?:(

rant over
Cazz

MothballsWallet

I'd take a look at last night's Watchdog on BBC iPlayer - they featured Groupon, and even had the CEO on the show for an interview.

This isn't the first time this and other problems have happened with their offers.

Deep_In_Debt

Groupon are advertising the same offer again today!

tamsle

If you aren't happy with a Groupon you should get in touch - they've always refunded them for me when I've been unhappy.
(They make an astonishing 50% on what they sell so they can afford to do a few refunds to keep customers happy)

Cazz

Deep_In_Debt wrote: »

Groupon are advertising the same offer again today!

I know, that's what prompted my rant today.....

Cazz

tamsle wrote: »

If you aren't happy with a Groupon you should get in touch - they've always refunded them for me when I've been unhappy.
(They make an astonishing 50% on what they sell so they can afford to do a few refunds to keep customers happy)

I did and they part refunded the deal but my gripe is the fact that they are doing the same thing again. In my opinion they are blatantly telling huge porkies and it shouldn't be allowed.

sirmarcus

Groupon were featured on BBC Watchdog last night for mis-leading the public. Probably can get a repeat on BBC Iplayer if you want to see it.

Their MD appeared on the show to respond to the customer complaints but IMO was not very convincing.

dianetheartist

I dont think it is Groupon itself that is to blame but the companies that are placing the adverts with them.They should state if there is a limit on places on deals etc. If they leave it open ended they are bound to be over booked at some point!
We have had great experiences with them so far.
Booked a 5 course meal in Solihull--2 people £15 including wine--bought 2 of those as a pressie for daughter/ son in law and me and hubbie. then saw an ad for night in hotel in Brum for £37.50 so booked 2 rooms for that--then few days before we went there was an offer for crazy golf in brum--we were able to combine the three things and had a fab weekend. In fact we couldnt manage the 5 courses at the resturant--just 3 as we were still full from the breakfast at the hotel!
We have just returned from 3 nights at the Darley Abbey apartments in Derby that cost £50 a night instead of £220--wonderful experience-we went with 2 friends and had a 2 bed aprtment with 2 en-suites and a sauna. Couldnt fault it at all.
I have found another thing like groupon called KGB--the deals are open for longer--a week rather than a day and we are off to a rather posh hotel in september for £99 instead of £600 so am looking forward to that too! But I do feel it is up to the companies to limit the numbers if they cant deal with the number of people wanting to book. I believe the hotel deal we stayed at in Birmingham sold over 3,000 deals--so they will be full for some time--it took ages to get through to them to book! And the the posh hotel had switched off its phones completly--I googled them and found another phone number to the one shown on the site so was able to book ok!

frankpig

I've had a number of very good / fantastic experiences with Groupon and was singing their praises on this forum a few months ago. However, recently either (a) I seem to have been very unlucky or (b) Groupon are rushing through the deals too quickly and not signing off the terms with the business partner beforehand or following up peridoically after the deal has closed.

A couple of examples:
1) I purchased a specialist treatment at a local salon and called the day after the deal closed in order to make my appointment. They commented that I was quick off the mark and I replied thatwas because I wanted a Saturday and 280 people would be calling to make the appointment! I was asked to repeat what I had just said and they said that they had asked Groupon to cap the deal to 100 vouchers. They also said that the specialist only worked there on Wednesdays and they had told Groupon this, and there was no way the specialist could fit in 280 appointments over the 3 months. The Groupon voucher stated it was available 6 days a week. I don't know whose fault this was, but clearly a lack of communication between the partner and Groupon.

2) I purchased a luxury manicure and pedicure for £19 instead of £54. Groupon's description and the partner's website sounded great - the description said that the salon had highly experienced professionals. I checked the salon's website and this said that the beautician had 20 years experience. My experience was somewhat different. To cut a long story short. The beautician had left the salon since the offer ran. The "therapist" who performed my treatments had left school last year and was still at beauty college, but was doing 2 days per week to gain experience at the salon. Turned out I was her first ever client outside beauty college and the salon had employed her to do the Groupons (she had 4 more Groupons to do that day). She said that they practice manicures and pedicures at beauty college and charged clients £6 for each of these! So basically I received a £12 treatment but had paid £19. Groupon refunded my money with no quibble, but I think that the salon were really naughty here and Groupon probably were not following up with the salon afterwards.

dianetheartist

maybe Ive been lucky then! I wouldnt book for massages etc--my idea of hell to be honest! Did fancy a hair colour but nearest one was in Birmingham and then you had to have a patch test 48 hours beofre so Ive never booked it up!
It will make me think twice now before booking up for anything I think!

KxMx

Cazz wrote: »

I did and they part refunded the deal but my gripe is the fact that they are doing the same thing again. In my opinion they are blatantly telling huge porkies and it shouldn't be allowed.

There is always a small chance that Groupon have sorted the issues you had with the menu selection etc direct with The Oak...