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Original poster

To think this Groupon deal is a rip off

16 replies

chickydoo · 12/12/2011 10:01

I saw a Groupon deal for £99.00 worth of cleaning for £29.99
Cleaners to spring clean 3 bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom, sitting room, Hallways. Included were things like cleaning inside windows and turning matresses.
I got really excited, puchased the deal, booked my slot. Then phoned the company to find out what time they would be arriving on the day.
I was then told one cleaner would come for a maximum of two hours!!!
I told them it wasn't possible to spring clean a house in just 2 hours with one person, and that £99.00 of cleaning was more like 10 hours with one person or 5 hours with 2!
They said take it or leave it. I asked how much atheir cleaners were paid and she said £6.00 an hour and the cleaning company £15.00 an hour. When I told her they owed me at least 5-6 hours of cleaning she just laughrd down the phone.
I have contacted groupon and asked for a refund, they will only credit me with a groupon voucher as the cleaning company have already claimed my money as I had booked my slot with them.
Very P.... off Angry

OP posts:
NeuromanticisedVisionsofXmas · 12/12/2011 10:06

Tell Groupon that a voucher is not good enough as the product was not as described, and that if you don't get a full refund in cash you will take it further. I've done that and got a refund. Its the company you have to be mad at though, groupon just prints the details the company gives them.

upahill · 12/12/2011 10:06

Sounds like you have had a rough deal there.
I have used Groupon alot but I am very selective what I do and check everything before I buy.
I have had lift passes at Chill factor for £5 in peak time which is a fantastic deal. I have stopped in some wonderful places and had some good expierences but before I buy I always go onto the company that I am buying from and check things out.

I don't bother with the beauty treatments and I always look out of my area as there is a lot of cross over deals (eg Edinburgh and Glasgow are fairly near each other and sometimes have different deals on)

I have had good service I have to say.

squeakytoy · 12/12/2011 10:09

Ring the Daily Mail, they are very keen on giving Groupon a bashing at every opportunity lately Grin

I would be pissed off too, as the company are not fulfilling their offer.

UnexpectedOrangeInMyStocking · 12/12/2011 10:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MmeLindor. · 12/12/2011 10:14

Groupon have been in the news a fair bit recently.

and here

I think that Groupon are offerign these great deals, and too many people are booking them.

I cannot see it going on much longer. And let's be honest - if the company sent someone to clean 3 bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom, sitting room and hallways then you are looking at at least 6 or 7 hours of work. Even at £6 an hour for a cleaner, that is a massive loss for the company if you have paid £29.99

mummytime · 12/12/2011 10:27

I saw that deal, but if you read carefully it was pretty clear it was only 2 hours cleaning, which wouldn't do anything really.

NeuromanticisedVisionsofXmas · 12/12/2011 10:28

Its meant to be a loss, often, the idea is that you get it cheap then you will book it again full price, and you'll talk about the company, etc. Its advertising.

What those articles don't tell you is that the company has the option of deciding the limit of how many to see. So cupcake woman could have said: will sell 100, or 500 or whatever, limit it to that. She didn't, so its her own fault she got far more orders than she can fulfill.

Original poster
chickydoo · 12/12/2011 10:31

Thank you for your replies :)

OP posts:
NeuromanticisedVisionsofXmas · 12/12/2011 10:32

*sell, not see

MmeLindor. · 12/12/2011 10:36

Neuromantasised
YY, I know that but obviously the Groupon reps are not making this clear to the companies.

We used it last year when my mum bought a deal for my DH's birthday - a day of golf for two people - bacon roll and a cup of tea, 20 practice balls and a session on the driving range, round of golf (18 holes) then high tea. All for £50.

Yes, they had people on the course all day, but would we go back to that course? Probably not.

I don't understand why they do the crazy 70% off deals. Do 20 or 30% off and people will still use it. (but if Groupon are wanting to take a 10% cut then that won't work).

upahill · 12/12/2011 10:50

My friend has a newish business (not saying what because I will probably out myself)
However she put it out on Groupon and gave a maximum number that she could have and a reasonable time line for the voucher to be used.
For her it has been a great sucess. She worked at a loss fullfilling the offer and worked longer and later hours than she normally would. She was completely knackered BUT she has had repeat business and has word of mouth customers from those who took up the offer.
In this case everyone was a winner. Groupon got their cut, the customers found a new service they were happy with and mate got new customers and a bit of a positive push with being newly established.

WeShouldOpenABar · 12/12/2011 12:31

I'm pretty much done with Groupon a lot of small businesses are not able to cope with the demand they set for themselves i've been unable to book tables in restaurants except maybe at 5.30 on a tuesday ive had a nice receptionist at spa turn rude as soon as she knew i was on a groupon deal and now im waiting 6 weeks for a mattress, 4 for a beanbag and 4 for a wall sticker.

The few deals that have worked have not been worth the stress of the last few disasters so after i finally get my goods im blocking all their emails.

cwtch4967 · 12/12/2011 12:42

I saw that deal and read the small print to see what was included. It was clear it was only 2 hrs.

CointreauVersial · 12/12/2011 12:47

I had a few bargains from Groupon, but they were all "things", so I didn't get caught trying to redeem something that turned out to be unavailable. For that reason, I've steered clear of using it for gifts, as I don't trust that side of it.

But I've had a very cheap king-size duvet, some snow boots for DS and an alarm clock; all arrived quickly without any fuss.

TartyMcFalalalalalalalalarty · 12/12/2011 12:51

I reported Groupon for advertising a 54-point check with Autoserve as a winter service. It definitely wasn't obvious a I actually have a text message from Autoserve to say Groupon had advertised it incorrectly. Luckily I checked before buying which wasn't straightforward, but I'd have been.fuming because I can get a check free at the local dealership who then go on to detail 18 different 'faults' that 'need' correcting

Report them!

BarfTheHeraldAngelsHeave · 12/12/2011 13:02

I've used Groupon twice. The first time was for a language course which was brilliant and delivered on time and as it should be.

The second time was for some Sofa's and I'm currently £300 down and very unhappy.

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