Groupon customer service is awesome

[NetWareHead]

I purchased a Groupon deal for a weekend outing for my GF and I. Without getting into too many details, the owner of the business we used did not deliver and failed to meet to our expectations. When I discussed this with the owner he was arrogant and insulted me. I began complaint proceedings with Groupon. They didn't even ask me for my version of the story, all they needed to know is that I was unsatisfied. I didn't even ask for a refund, just let them know that I was unhappy. Complete refund! Excellent customer service!

 

[SandEagle]

yay?

 

[dabuddha]

Very cool of them!

 

[bigpimpatl]

groupon sucks, the owner is just pissed he got shafted.

 

[dabuddha]

groupon sucks, the owner is just pissed he got shafted.

negatory. I love groupons. I've gotten so many groupons for local restaurants saving me a ton of money.

 

[Ns1]

So what happened with the store in question? Did you have to pay full price?

 

[NetWareHead]

groupon sucks, the owner is just pissed he got shafted.

No sympathy for the owner who tried to screw me.

So what happened with the store in question? Did you have to pay full price?

I bought the groupon for the business's services at price advertised. The biz did not deliver results promised and on top of that he was a arrogant douchebag who didn't want to amicably resolve the complaint or hear me. Groupon sends a questionnaire after redeeming a groupon and I wrote that I was unsatisfied, then listed some reasons. I didn't have to give them the whole story and they refunded my $$$ first thing this morning. They are groupon dollars that I can use towards purchase of another deal.

 

[Ns1]

Nice. A+

Service at reduced value, full refund, AND a negative yelp review. The trifecta!

 

[LordMorpheus]

negatory. I love groupons. I've gotten so many groupons for local restaurants saving me a ton of money.

Groupon is fine for customers, but I've heard stories about businesses getting talked into setting up really shitty (for them) Groupon deals and losing tons of money.

 

[dabuddha]

Groupon is fine for customers, but I've heard stories about businesses getting talked into setting up really shitty (for them) Groupon deals and losing tons of money.

I really don't know how business's are making money off groupons. They're giving up $50 worth of services/food for $25 (I wonder how much of that $25 they get too)

 

[Ns1]

I really don't know how business's are making money off groupons. They're giving up $50 worth of services/food for $25 (I wonder how much of that $25 they get too)

How do you think advertising money works?

You spend gobs of money in hopes that you may make enough sales to offset your cost.

(the business gets about half, so really they're getting $12.50 from a $50 groupon)

 

[BrokenVisage]

I bought the groupon for the business's services at price advertised. The biz did not deliver results promised and on top of that he was a arrogant douchebag who didn't want to amicably resolve the complaint or hear me. Groupon sends a questionnaire after redeeming a groupon and I wrote that I was unsatisfied, then listed some reasons. I didn't have to give them the whole story and they refunded my $$$ first thing this morning. They are groupon dollars that I can use towards purchase of another deal.

That's pretty much what you said in the OP though. We require details here at ATOT sir, especially with stories where a "service" was rendered and results were not "as promised". Was there no happy ending?

Side note: How did you get a custom title like that?? No fair.

 

[bigpimpatl]

How do you think advertising money works?

You spend gobs of money in hopes that you may make enough sales to offset your cost.

(the business gets about half, so really they're getting $12.50 from a $50 groupon)

The target audience for groupon are budget conscious consumers or deal shoppers. If they buy a deal based solely on price, then other factors such as food quality, dining experience, etc will take a back seat (so long as there's a bare minimum quality met). In this case, the restaurant owner could do everything possible to make the best experience for his guests but despite his effort he may never see those customers again because reduced price was the determinant factor.

In a sense, it's false advertising. Maybe some loyalty program or rewards would fix this issue. Otherwise, groupon-like companies are a dime a dozen and some lean, smaller company will give a better deal to business owners.

 

[EagleKeeper]

If the business is good; then you will come back and they get advertising/referrals out of it.

 

[Ns1]

The target audience for groupon are budget conscious consumers or deal shoppers. If they buy a deal based solely on price, then other factors such as food quality, dining experience, etc will take a back seat (so long as there's a bare minimum quality met). In this case, the restaurant owner could do everything possible to make the best experience for his guests but despite his effort he may never see those customers again because reduced price was the determinant factor.

In a sense, it's false advertising. Maybe some loyalty program or rewards would fix this issue. Otherwise, groupon-like companies are a dime a dozen and some lean, smaller company will give a better deal to business owners.

I get that; the hope as a business owner is that the user spends more than the minimum OR the user becomes a return customer. As a groupon consumer, I've shafted a few businesses (used only the groupon then never returned). I've also been an "ideal" groupon customer, becoming a return customer at a few places.

Groupon = advertising money, plain and simple. With a groupon at least you get the person in the door. Advertising = pissing the money away (imho, I get that there are branding benefits to traditional advertising but most of these are lost on small businesses).

IF NOTHING ELSE, a successful groupon campaign should lead you to a ton of yelp reviews. Whether these reviews are good or bad depends entirely on the business.

 

[Andrew111]

How do you think advertising money works?

You spend gobs of money in hopes that you may make enough sales to offset your cost.

(the business gets about half, so really they're getting $12.50 from a $50 groupon)

That goes for Groupon too...they need to deliver value for customers and the businesses that participate...or else they have to spend oodles of money on advertising to get new businesses to participate...I know quite a few companies refuse to do Groupon ever again after the first experience. At the same time, I know of crappy businesses that continue to use Groupon or else they never get customers. Big reason why they are struggling to make a profit from a basic daily deal site...many good businesses refuse to participate while many crappy ones are regular participants.

 

[bigpimpatl]

I get that; the hope as a business owner is that the user spends more than the minimum OR the user becomes a return customer. As a groupon consumer, I've shafted a few businesses (used only the groupon then never returned). I've also been an "ideal" groupon customer, becoming a return customer at a few places.

Groupon = advertising money, plain and simple. With a groupon at least you get the person in the door. Advertising = pissing the money away (imho, I get that there are branding benefits to traditional advertising but most of these are lost on small businesses).

IF NOTHING ELSE, a successful groupon campaign should lead you to a ton of yelp reviews. Whether these reviews are good or bad depends entirely on the business.

ya. I would have to make a comparison between traditional advertising vs groupon advertising. But something tells me receiving $12.50 out of $50 isn't a good deal

 

[Ns1]

ya. I would have to make a comparison between traditional advertising vs groupon advertising. But something tells me receiving $12.50 out of $50 isn't a good deal

Well if you have a 500% markup, you'd still make 2.5%

 

[Corporate Thug]

GRPN death watch?

http://money.cnn.com/quote/quote.html?symb=GRPN

 

[Raizinman]

I purchase quite a few Groupons and use them 2 or 3 times a week. Makes it almost cheaper to eat out than at home.

I had an experience where I purchased a Groupon and the owner refused to take it stating that he was not making enough money and he hated Groupon and wasn’t going to honor the Groupon.

On another occasion I noticed that at the next table a patron ordered the same dish that I ordered. His food was considerable much larger and filled the entire plate whereas my plate was only half or so full. When we mentioned this to management they openly stated that they don’t make any money on Groupon and that they give full paying customers a full plate of food and Groupon customers less.

In both cases, Groupon stepped up and made things right. Yes, I like Groupon.

 

[Anonemous]

so he didn't get a cash refund just a refund in groupon bucks?

 

[Schfifty Five]

so he didn't get a cash refund just a refund in groupon bucks?

Correct.

Not a "complete" refund since cash is king, but I guess if OP is a frequent user of groupon, then the refund in groupon bucks is just as good as cash.