Can't Trust the Groupon Deal

[MomForFrozenAddicts]

Last night, I saw a 24K gold facial massager for $29.99 (org. 199.99) in the Groupon App. Checked amazon and saw one from a different brand for over $100. Got so excited and place an order. Then, went back to Amazon and search under facial massager, instead of the name on Groupon and found the exact one for $17 plus $1 shipping.

The good news is I was able to cancel my order. It is not the first time I found Groupon deal is not really a deal.

 

[dawnball]

I use a housecleaning service - and they showed up one day on the groupon/living social sites.

They'd doubled the price, then "discounted" it 50%!

 

[wendow]

I rarely find anything worth buying from Groupon or Livingsocial or any of those sites. I have looked up many of the "Groupon Getaways" (the travel deals) and found the hotels for less on either the hotel's website or on other sites like Expedia.

 

[andysgirl360]

Personally I've had good luck with Groupon, especially for activities etc. We've done a lot of great things for cheap in our city. It's my go to when planning a day out. Never bought any goods from them though. Another site similar to Groupon had a last minute deal - 50% off on Maroon 5 tickets (they were playing at a local festival, general admission) - we bought them and ended up on the floor near the stage, best deal I ever got

 

[usnuzuloose]

I have never gotten a bad deal on any of those sites. They have all been good for me.

 

[Maggie Lizer]

I found a good, legit deal for airport parking & saved somewhere around $40. I parked for 10 nights for about $50, which was a steal, IMHO.

 

[MomForFrozenAddicts]

I think Groupon is better for restaurants and other service. Merchandise--not so much.

 

[Judyat]

I do find good deals on Groupon, Living Social, Tanga, 13deals and others. If I am not sure about how good a deal it is I will check the price on Amazon. And sometimes Amazon has a better price and has prime. Sometimes it doesn't so it's good to check. Groupon has gotten to be very big in what it offers. I used to look at them all but that would take all day now.

 

[Kies99]

I think Groupon is better for restaurants and other service. Merchandise--not so much.

I agree!

I only use Groupon if it is a 1/2 price deal like $10 at Starbucks for $5.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

I've bought "Clarisonic compatible" brush heads before on Groupon. They were 4 for $20 including shipping. They very much work the same as the ones that I buy at my work(I work at a spa) and I get them for a fraction of the cost with Groupon-even WITH my discount I get at my work! After taxes I get 2 brush heads for about $25 at my work.

I agree though, that a lot of their stuff is knockoffs and/or less expensive somewhere else. You just have to do your research before you buy anything.

 

[MomForFrozenAddicts]

I've bought "Clarisonic compatible" brush heads before on Groupon. They were 4 for $20 including shipping.

I'm confused about this deal. Amazon has knock off from $3 plus $3.5 shipping for 3 brushes, to $14.99 for 2 brushes. I am not sure about which is offered at Groupon.

If you interested in the genuine Clarisonic, I found a good deal at Citi Easy Deals. You need to have a Citi acct. $54 for a 4 packs.

 

[dpswift]

I think Groupon is better for restaurants and other service. Merchandise--not so much.

Agree. We have done well with restaurants and local activities. I always think twice about buying products off sites like these.

 

[hsmamato2]

I get sucked into too many groupon and groupon type deals the last one was b/c I was innocently reading here on the dis bb... and saw a post about a sears deal (total oop 8.50 for a 20 coupon to use) so of course I ignored my common sense and bought it (why?!? I kinda hate Sears!) so then I got it, went and used it....turns out I picked up the wrong item in the store (what, you didn't notice all the fine print when buying the coupon,did you?) so then I brought the item back the next day (in store, sigh) to exchange for an equal amount of merchandise (total 25.00 all in) only to be informed that b/c I used the groupon coupon, they considered it a giftcard,therefore no returns or exchanges would be made.(sigh) oh,the deals...the deals.... after some talk with corporate about that little problem, they fixed it,and I got to exchange. but the hassle to save that little bit of $$$..... hopefully I am learning a slow but necessary lesson about all these type of 'deals'....( I am kinda slow)
That said, I have one excellent pizza deal sitting on my phone...must remember to use it soon.....

 

[EMode]

I agree that those sites are great for activities, concerts and restaurants. I don't think I have ever ordered merchandise from them but I have from Zulily. I can't believe the junk they sent me. Luckily they refunded my money though. Never will I buy from them unless its a brand I know!

 

[js]

I rarely find anything worth buying from Groupon or Livingsocial or any of those sites. I have looked up many of the "Groupon Getaways" (the travel deals) and found the hotels for less on either the hotel's website or on other sites like Expedia.

We usually just use for the "spend $20 get $40", etc. for restaurants.
We buy lots of those with all our e-mail addresses and then "gifts".
There is a sushi place by where I live and they always have the buy $20 get $40. This is great for a Friday night after work or when my dd or ds are with their friends and want to go out to dinner. That is great for them.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

I'm confused about this deal. Amazon has knock off from $3 plus $3.5 shipping for 3 brushes, to $14.99 for 2 brushes. I am not sure about which is offered at Groupon.

If you interested in the genuine Clarisonic, I found a good deal at Citi Easy Deals. You need to have a Citi acct. $54 for a 4 packs.

This was months and months ago that I found the deal on Groupon and I searched beforehand for a better deal. So yes, they're probably a better deal on Amazon now.

As far as the City Easy Deals, if I wanted the real ones I would probably just get them at my work since they're cheaper with my discount-but, thank you!

 

[Colleen27]

I think Groupon is great if you stick to local businesses (restaurants and services) with fixed/transparent pricing. We regularly get good deals for the batting cages, go karts, arcade type of things and on restaurants or concert tickets, and occasionally find deals for other services (like just today I picked one up for a $19 oil change at a place I know usually charges $39.99 for their basic service), even museum memberships. But the product offers seldom seem to be any deal - at best they offer the same price you can find at any number of other websites and discount stores, but with more fine print and hassles.

 

[Burnedout]

Half price tickets to James Taylor. Half price starbucks, targets, sears and wholegoods fiction cards. I love groupon

 

[Wanna be Ariel]

Half price tickets to James Taylor. Half price starbucks, targets, sears and wholegoods fiction cards. I love groupon

Half price James Taylor?? What city?

 

[tinktinktink]

Worst deal was for the FTD 20 for 40 deal. The arrangement was so small and FTD charges a 20.00 delivery fee. Not worth it!