Groupon issues ... Complaint process

[Sew into Disney]

I purchased a mani/pedi Groupon in June so that I could use it this month for my daughters wedding. Let's just say that my experience was very unacceptable at the salon and the following day the nail polish started peeling off. I had no time to fix my nails before the wedding.

Groupon claims they have a money back guarantee and I have sent them an e-mail this morning regarding my issues. Has anyone had any experience filing a complaint with Groupon? Do you know how long it takes to get a refund and how they do the refund?

Thank you in advance.

 

[kteeter]

You can make complaints to groupon, just make sure you reference your "code" and let them know the service, and what happen. Document eveything!! From how you treated when making an appointment, to service and redeming coupond.

In my case the service rendered was photography, she made me feel like a secound class person for using a coupond and yet she is the one who posted her services on Groupon. She would not give me good appointment times (9pm) come on! and then when I showed up I had to wait another 15-30 mins. I requested the refund from Groupon and two days latter, I had an email from them expalining that they would credit my Groupon account and I would have creidt with them to buy something else. Hope it all work out for you in the end.

 

[maganda]

Groupon cheerfully refunded my money when I complained about how I was treated while trying to redeem my deal at a nail shop.

The lady at the shop was so nice until she heard I had a Groupon, as if I was less of a customer because I had a discount. If their goal was to bring in new customers and build loyalty they sure failed.

Had a similar issue happen with Living Social. The store went out of business before my deal expired. Got my money back but it took a lot longer.

 

[TifffanyD]

I had one good experience returning a groupon and one bad (where they denied the refund). Needless to say, I am not buying many groupons this day. The time it got refunded it took them a few days to reply then not much longer to refund (altho it was credit)

 

[Casperina]

Remember that is is not Groupons fault for any bad service you get, it is the fault of the business. I also have good and bad experiences with using my groupons! Groupon is just a service, and businesses recognize this, so they will use it to their advantage.

Say a restaurant really sucks - they will make a deal on Groupon and figure that they may make more money in a day with the deal than without because more people will show up.
We had this at a sushi restaurant - it was a disaster - and they knew this, so guess what? They made a Groupon and got tons of unhappy customers!

Then there are the people who apply for a deal for their business through any of the sites but be snooty when you use it! They drive me crazy!

 

[Meriweather]

I've had great luck with them.
Always got my money back when I've had an issue.

 

[Sew into Disney]

Thank you so much for the responses. I am a little bummed to hear that it is a credit towards other Groupon purchases. I am not sure I will be purchasing another Groupon anytime soon. I was hoping to get my money back.

I don't blame Groupon for the services but I do put some blame on them.
Every business we feature goes through a vetting process, when our team of 30 writers, researchers, fact checkers, and editors scour online and offline media for an objective consensus that the business is respectable.
This is from the Groupon site. I would like to know how they decided that the salon I went to was of good standards. I agree with previous posters that businesses are using this tool to their advantage.

Hopefully the process goes smoothly for me. I appreciate the answers.

 

[Buckalew11]

I think one of the problems with, say, a salon, is that the owner may want to build business and make a deal with Groupon. However, possibly the salon workers are not happy to be working for half price or whatever the deal is so they take it out on you. A bad deal for sure.

 

[Sew into Disney]

I think one of the problems with, say, a salon, is that the owner may want to build business and make a deal with Groupon. However, possibly the salon workers are not happy to be working for half price or whatever the deal is so they take it out on you. A bad deal for sure.

I wish that was the case for this Groupon. So the business is new in town but they say they have 6 plus years experience. The website looked great and legit with the info I needed.

I showed up for my appt. and the owner was outside smoking. I walked in one door and she came in another. I have no idea if she washed her hands. The chairs for the pedi were the round type on metal frames that you might find in a teens room or in a college dorm. They were sitting on a piece of wood. She brought me a dish pan full of hot water for my feet. Didn't ask if the temp was comfortable or anything. The owner started with my feet and then when she did my fingers she used the same tools. No cleaning between just brought them from the foot area to the hand area.

It was just me, the owner and her 16 year old sister who was the receptionist. They talked the entire time about their family and the personal things happening in it. One point during my pedicure she stopped and got up and said she would be right back she needed to call her house to check on her kids. I am all about checking in on my kids but she had a client.

It was a deluxe mani/pedi with a paraffin treatment. That didn't happen. She had a tube of O.P.I. mask for feet, that I assumed she purchased from Walmart. She rubbed that on my legs and wrapped towels on them.

I am such a nice person that I did not say anything during the visit. I was trying not to cry out of disappointment. The next day I was forgot all about being nice when my nail polish on my fingers started peeling right off. With in 24 hours I had no polish on my fingers and it was to late for me to find another salon to have my nails done for the wedding.

If I purchase from Groupon again I will do a drive by and get references from friends before hand.

*edited to fix a typo ... because I am my own spelling police.*

 

[CathrynRose]

48 hours from email, to $$$ in my account.

Heads up - it's Groupon Bucks, you get back. Not a refund.

 

[teacups]

Ive had problems a couple of times with purchases, and Groupon always makes it ok. But it seems like I spoke to them on the phone not via email.... but I cant recall forsure.

 

[cm8]

I wish that was the case for this Groupon. So the business is new in town but they say they have 6 plus years experience. The website looked great and legit with the info I needed.

I showed up for my appt. and the owner was outside smoking. I walked in one door and she came in another. I have no idea if she washed her hands. The chairs for the pedi were the round type on metal frames that you might find in a teens room or in a college dorm. They were sitting on a piece of wood. She brought me a dish pan full of hot water for my feet. Didn't ask if the temp was comfortable or anything. The owner started with my feet and then when she did my fingers she used the same tools. No cleaning between just brought them from the foot area to the hand area.

It was just me, the owner and her 16 year old sister who was the receptionist. They talked the entire time about their family and the personal things happening in it. One point during my pedicure she stopped and got up and said she would be right back she needed to call her house to check on her kids. I am all about checking in on my kids but she had a client.

It was a deluxe mani/pedi with a paraffin treatment. That didn't happen. She had a tube of O.P.I. mask for feet, that I assumed she purchased from Walmart. She rubbed that on my legs and wrapped towels on them.

I am such a nice person that I did not say anything during the visit. I was trying not to cry out of disappointment. The next day I was forgot all about being nice when my nail polish on my fingers started peeling right off. With in 24 hours I had no polish on my fingers and it was to late for me to find another salon to have my nails done for the wedding.

If I purchase from Groupon again I will do a drive by and get references from friends before hand.

*edited to fix a typo ... because I am my own spelling police.*

, I hope you took lots of pictures OP. I can't believe she had the audacity to use the OPI instead of the paraffin wax treatment you paid for. I hope they make it right. Thanks for sharing your experience

 

[Sew into Disney]

, I hope you took lots of pictures OP. I can't believe she had the audacity to use the OPI instead of the paraffin wax treatment you paid for. I hope they make it right. Thanks for sharing your experience

I didn't take any pictures I was using my phone to text my daughter about how horrible the place was and I felt awkward. Since it was just the three of us in there it would have been hard to take pictures. I would have felt very weird taking a picture with my phone. Plus it makes a camera click noise when I take pictures.

 

[Hoodie]

I only had one experience with a Groupon complaint and it took MONTHS to get it resolved. It was supposed to be for a discount on newspaper delivery. Everything went through and I waited. And waited. They noted on the Groupon that it could take a while for it to process so I gave them some time. After a month, I sent the complaint to Groupon. It took them a couple of days to even acknowledge the complaint. I had to follow up every 2 weeks, they never contacted me unless I contacted them. This was over a whopping $10 groupon mind you. Three months after the purchase (and 2 months after i contacted them) they offered a credit, but only because I kept bugging them. Honestly, I rarely use Groupon so I declined. About 3 weeks after that I got my first paper. It was supposed to be W-Sat-Sun for 12 weeks, so 36 papers. I think I got maybe 15. I just wrote it off as a loss and to never purchase the newspaper again and be very wary of Groupons. I haven't purchased any since.

 

[mickeysgal]

Groupon refunds are not in dollars but Groupon bucks? No thanks.

I'm very wary of Groupon as it seems that many of the restaurants and businesses featured are those that need to bump up business because they are second string rated places to begin with - and usually with good reason (see OP's experience). At least the ones I see featured here are by in large the "here today, gone tomorrow" kind of places.

 

[Sew into Disney]

I received an e-mail this morning stating that the money has been credited back to my card. It says it will take 5-7 business days. I am crossing my fingers that is really the case.

 

[budbeerlady]

I hope you get your money back quickly from Groupon!!!

I have luckily not had any issues yet from using Groupons, I read up on Yelp, Tripadvisor and google the place before I purchase. But we mainly use it for travel experiences, purchased one for the Pabst Mansion and used it a couple of weekend ago on a Milwaukee road trip.

Groupon is a way to boost income for a business so sometimes I wonder if they need the cash. But other times its a great deal for me on something we will use over and over. Buying Museum and Zoo memberships thru Groupon have also saved our family alot of money.

 

[mamacatnv]

I generally purchase Groupons for places I already know and like. I'll sometimes try new restaurants but would never use it for personal maintenance, I just prefer to go somewhere I know and am comfortable with.

Good to hear that Groupon will generally credit your account without a lot of issues.

We purchased a groupon for a bakery we loved. When we redeemed it the owner went on and on about how much she hated the groupon etc. My thought was well, you're the idiot who signed your business up, what did you expect?. While we loved the products we never returned due to the negativity of the owner and how it tarnished our experience.

 

[CathrynRose]

I received an e-mail this morning stating that the money has been credited back to my card. It says it will take 5-7 business days. I am crossing my fingers that is really the case.

Now how did you get it back to your card? They gave me Groupon Bucks, for future Groupon purchases.

 

[tinatark]

I agree with the posters who say the merchants make you feel like a second class citizen when you use a groupon deal.

I bought a couple of cupcake coupons - from one of those trendy cupcake stores - you had to order at least 24 hours in advance - even though it is a walk in/cash and carry location. It was a pain to plan, as the store was about 45 mins away.