Spa day spoilt before it has begun

[MrsDylanBlue]

Ok this is not as Princessy as the title suggests.

My 3 lovely children and DS1 gf bought me a spa day for my birthday on Groupon at a local quite “posh” hotel.

I booked it 3 weeks ago for tomorrow and once it was confirmed booked a days leave and invited my friend who lives 60 miles away who also booked a days leave.

It was spa, 25 minute treatment each and an afternoon tea.

In T&Cs it says if you cancel with less than 72 hours notice you lose the voucher basically.

Spa left message on voicemail yday asking me to call. I did but left phone ringing for 5 minutes and no answer (this also happened when I booked). Today got another message saying basically therapist is not available tomorrow (even though I booked the treatment 3 weeks ago when I booked it) and we can rearrange or have the day with no treatment (which is probably the nicest part of the day).

I phoned back and was told basically the therapist is injured and the treatment is not available unless other people rearrange their spa days and I can take it up with Groupon (got distinct impression anyone with Groupon got cancelled first) which I have done. Guy was really unhelpful and almost sarcastic.

Obvs very difficult logistically to rearrange due to work and friend already in her way down here.

I have complained to Groupon but there is nothing else I can do is there? Obvs friend and I will have a nice day together anyway but so feel bad for my kids that what they bought me has been somewhat diminished

I've completely given up on groupon after I was given a ropey facial in a conference room of a hotel because the 'luxury spa' was unavailable!

Unfortunately, Groupon 'customer service' is notoriously non-existent. I had one massage deal once where the place rang me the day before and said they'd had a fire, so the deal would have to be postponed, and I never heard from them again. In retrospect I imagine they were just hideously overbooked and were going to lose a ton of money unless they found an excuse to cancel everyone from Groupon, as I've heard Groupon doesn't allow vendors to cancel of put a stop to the deal if they realise it's going to be massively loss-making for them, which it often is. I finding that out put me off it really - I'm still on the list but I know the vendors aren't getting a good deal and TBH I'm not sure I've ever used again someone I tried on Groupon, so it seems kind of unfair.

What is Groupon? And why does it seem to result in disappointment for the customer? I've never heard of it

(misses point of thread)

I would go along & enjoy the spa bit of the day, and ask for a voucher for the treatments they were not able to deliver.

If the spa cares about customer service & its reputation it should oblige you.

Groupon can be amazing though... I rarely use it but when I have I have had some incredible bargains. I use it knowing it’s a bit of a gamble.

@theFirstMrsOsmond do you live in the Uk? How can you not have heard of Groupon?

Anyway, it is a website that offers discount products, services, days out etc. I’ve never used it because I always think it must be too good to be true. This thread confirms i’m right!

I’m massively over invested in knowing of all the posters are talking about the same Dorset spa!

Groupon are rubbish, we ordered a coffee table but received a television stand that was available for less money on Amazon. We were told that the coffee table we wanted was no longer available. However it was still being advertised! I think they just sent out the cheaper item in the hopes that people can’t be bothered to complain.

Ive heard of other stories of groupon deals being the first to be cancelled.

I actually wouldnt book with groupon for this reason

Im sorry your day has been spoilt

I would never use Groupon for experiences. Utter shite (as per your experience).

They have full paying customers, possibly who are also hotel guests. Of course they will prioritise someone who has paid 2 or 3 times the price oubpaid, unfortunately cheap deals come with down sides.

NotNiceReally I buy almost nothing on the internet so as it's a shopping website that probably explains why I've not heard of it

I had this with a Groupon spa day except they only rang as we were driving there and told us they could only fit two of the four of us in for a massage. No compensation for the two who didn't get a massage. It wasn't a great experience and the woman sat in the jacuzzi picking skin of her feet didn't help either!

I didn’t buy the “cheap deal” it was a gift from my children.