To be disappointed by Groupon Offers?

[MadameOvary]

It all seems to be Faux-leather beds and "Swarovski elements" crap and twigs and pebbly shit. Even the "Egyptian Cotton" sheets are only 200 Thread Count. It's beyond the pale.

I don't want 80% off an online accounting course. I want 80% off Farrow and Ball Paints and reclaimed oak flooring. But you never see that oh no.

Every day I await the email. Every time my heart sinks. I wanted Diptyque candles. What do I get offered? Fucking Glade "Sense and Spray"

I waited in vain for the merest hint of a Jo Malone offer. What do I get? Rhianna bloody Rhebelle.

Today was the last straw. I've been looking for a yurt for ages and my heart leapt at the sight of one. And then I realised the offer was for LED solar sodding fairy lights. Cruel, just cruel.

AIBU?

[Rindercella]

I think vouchers can be a really good marketing tool. However, companies need to target new and existing customers effectively and with specific promotions - eg rather than heavily discount a facial for only new customers, a beautician could instead do a promotion such as have a full price facial and get a head, neck and shoulder massage for £10 off. And make this available to all customers, not just new ones. It needs to be something to showcase your skills and business and encourages new and existing customers to come back. One-off, low value customer promotions are usually loss-leaders and do not promote customer retention. It also pisses off your existing customers as they are excluded from the deal, so you end up losing them too!

I think Groupon has had its day actually.

[expatinscotland]

I'm not surprised it's gone to shit. No one wants to give things away in these times.

[Mynewmoniker]

We got our brilliant summer/winter mattress from there but the two sensor outdoor lights we've just purchased are of poor quality and one doesn't work!

[ladymariner]

Oh yeah and we got our mattress, a Silent Night memory foam one, from Groupon too, it's absolutely fabulous and was £180 cheaper than on the Silent Night website.

[ladymariner]

We've had some great nights away on Groupon, I think about 6 different places so far. We had a fabulous deal at Wortley Hall where dh and I had our room, a 3-course meal (some of the best steak I've ever eaten), a glass of wine with the meal, a bottle of fizz in our room (cheap fizz but fun ) and full cooked breakfast the next day, the whole lot for £59. That was for both of us, and the place was lovely too. We've had several like that.

[CointreauVersial]

I've had some great Groupon stuff (duvet, perfume workshop, meals out) and some crap ones (fake Oral B toothbrushes that fell apart after two days).

But I agree it's getting worse.

[trixymalixy]

I only buy groupons etc if I know the place. I got a hot stone massage and gel nails for £18 in my local salon. Normally £25 just for the gel nails.

[BlackMini]

I tried out a few places, a local pub for a meal and a salon for a massage, that I would have genuinely returned to and paid full price for. Unfortunately, they looked down their nose at me for being a "groupon customer" and gave appalling service.

That's why people don't return.

[KatyTheCleaningLady]

A lot of small businesses learned that Groupon was bad for them. I know a cleaning company that nearly got driven out of business by doing a Groupon offer. From what I understand, when it comes to service-oriented businesses, Groupon customers are bad news. Not only do they have no intention of being repeat customers, they are often massive pains in the ass to deal with.

[NoSuchFairytale]

Groupon are twats! They keep sending me bloody emails about the shittiest offers. It wouldn't be so bad but I didn't sign up for them in the first place. They're sending me about 10 a day. Each email I have in my inbox seems to be off them.

It's pissing me off because I've no idea how to stop it.

[quoteunquote]

talk to these guys for yurts and check them out on FB, if you "like" them you get to hear about all the deals.

Amazing company, by far the best, everyone tries to copy them, they will make you a bespoke one, truly fab, amazing after care.

[Mynewmoniker]

I've writtena couple of times when I've had post purchase problems and they credited my account but I reckon if I'd kicked up a stink they would have given me a csh refund.

[Rindercella]

I tested Achica for a Mumsnet product test. They did have some good offers. But delivery took forever.

[Jins]

It's always spa days or introductory gym membership for me. I'd rather have piles

[squoosh]

Try the nomadic tribes of Central Asia!

[squoosh]

'I've been looking for a yurt for ages'

[manticlimactic]

I was going to get one today but couldn't figure out how to get the coupon from my iPad. So I just called them direct and got a bit more money off.

It was yoga classes which I was going to book anyway

[Skinnywhippet]

How do I cancel?!

[CloudsAndTrees]

No, I spelled that wrong, it's ACHICA

[CloudsAndTrees]

Try Achia.

[Remotecontrolduck]

It's a good concept on paper, however there is just never anything good on there. And anything that looks good on the website, rarely turns out to be in real life!

[MrsMelons]

The local offers can be really good but we have just bought some outdoor toys and they are awful quality - I am so disappointed as they were not really that cheap. I am not sure whether it is worth complaining or not or whether they will do anything about it.

[MsVestibule]

We've had some good deals from them and Living Social, but I always do feel a bit guilty, as chances are, I'll never return. For example, we got a Tiger Tiger meal and champagne cocktail for two for £30. The food and service was really good (although we were stuck in Living Social Cheapskates Corner, along with all the other LS Cheapskates) but as it's a long way from us, we're not likely to go again.

YANBU - the offers aren't as good as they were.

[MadameOvary]

Groupon must have read this thread. They have just sent me an e-voucher for £5 off anything...

[Mynewmoniker]

I've done the hair cut/highlights stuff but sat there feeling guilty all the time as I know I wont be going back as it's miles away for me.

A friend went for a massage offer and had to walk through crap in the garden to get to the 'massage room'. I wouldn't go in to one place I'd pre booked as it looked shoddy and brothel like