Groupons/ Living Social

[ems_mom]

Anyone else familiar with these sites? Do you think its a good value or am I shooting myself in the foot?

 

[cats mom]

I think it depends in large part on whether the fabulous deal is something you were actually planning on buying anyway. I've picked up some very nice deals. But I admit I've also had to make myself click away when I'm tempted by stuff I know I don't need, or even want, just because it's a good deal.

 

[mrsmav]

I joined groupon a few weeks ago when they had a great deal for The Gap. I haven't bought anything since - and I even have a $20 credit in there for referring friends that also signed up and got the gap deal. Eventually I am sure there will be other deals that I want. I came close to using my credit three times . . . ..

 

[karliebug]

can someone explain what this is?

 

[Gabriel&Nana]

can someone explain what this is?

I'm curious too

 

[krisnchris]

love it! But I live very close to two large cities, so I have a great selection! DC and Baltimore. Groupon, don't know about living social. It's basically group buying - hence group/coupon. It takes a certain number to commit to buying the deal before the deal is on - never seen a deal not go on, though. You have to buy that day, then print the certificate when you want to redeem. Generally half off. Read the rules for the deal, but it's very straightforward.

 

[mrsklamc]

One day deals - local or national. Groupon has had anything from $50 at the gap for $25 to half off a local museum membership. They can be great deals if you want to buy what they are selling. Just add .com to the names or google them.

 

[caribear]

I use Groupon often! Love some of the deals they have plus they encompass many different cities. I have signed up for LivingSocial, but have not bought anything from that site. Buy with Me is very limited...only about 7 cities are listed. There are a couple of other sites similar to the above such as Plum District....again only larger cities are listed. If you live in FL near Tampa there is also TBO.com which has their own daily deals.

 

[Soon2B4]

I use Groupon often! Love some of the deals they have plus they encompass many different cities. I have signed up for LivingSocial, but have not bought anything from that site. Buy with Me is very limited...only about 7 cities are listed. There are a couple of other sites similar to the above such as Plum District....again only larger cities are listed. If you live in FL near Tampa there is also TBO.com which has their own daily deals.

Thanks for the tip about Living Social. I do groupon, but didn't know about that site. I LOVE groupon! It's a great way to try new restaurants at a discount. If you don't like them, no big deal. You didn't pay full price.

 

[Juliet25]

I *love* Groupon. I made my first purchase with the Gap deal, and since then I bought I laser hair removal package for $99 (my huge splurge...I've been saving up for this procedure and the package I was going for was $500) and a $30 credit to a local kids resale store that I always shop at.

I usually ignore the restaurant deals. Between the Entertainment book's buy 1 get 1 offers and the restaurant.com codes that come out, I don't think the deals are as good. It's the coupons for merchandise and entertainment that I find great.

Like a PP said, as long as you don't go for everything because it's a good deal you will really save some serious cash. I always look forward to checking it everyday.

 

[eowensby]

We love groupon. We purchased CiCi's Pizza groupons for $5 ($10 certificate)...combine with kids eat free on Mon/Tues nights at ours it's a great deal!
We also got in on the Fandango deal a few weeks ago. $4 for a $12 movie ticket.
Some days the groupons are not that great or somewhere we'd never go, but it's kinda fun to try somewhere new.

 

[TifffanyD]

I love groupon! Last year I got 2 half priced tickets to the renaissance fest. This year I got the fandango movie (wish I didn't tho, lol), $10 groupons for a $30 sampler at a land & sea market, and the groupon for cupcakes at Sweet! in Orlando. Can't wait to use that last one

 

[hambirg]

I think they can be good deals. They had a $25 for $75 worth at a local furniture store. I wanted to get a new bed frame (just the metal kind that goes under the box spring and attaches to the headbord) and that would have been a great deal, but I forgot to get it.

I think the important thing to keep in mind is how big is the discount really. I have found with a lot of the salon type ones. They sell a $50 cert for $25. . sounds like 50% off. BUT the cheapest service they offer is really $100. . .so you are paying $75 really for the cheapest service. . .only a 25% discount. Which is fine if it's a service that you would normally use or need. But if it's just an impulse buy because you're thinking it's half off. . .it's not really.

 

[budbeerlady]

I LOVE Groupon. I have not bought with living social deals, yet....

We use Groupon for the fun extras. We visit Chicago a couple of times a summer and used our Groupons to make the trips extra fun.

For our Anniversary weekend away I booked the Wyndham thru Travelzoo for a great $. Then we used the Bobby's Bike Hike Groupon the first day for the old town/ Lincoln park tour on bikes. I think I paid $9 each.

Then it was off to Dinner at Devon's, OMG! It was the best food and our service was outstanding. The $50 Groupon cost me $25 and we went a little over, I think our bill was $60 + tip before the Groupon.

We also did the Chicago Food planet tour in Wicker Park/ Bucktown. Very fun and something I would not have known about. We also used the $25 for $50 worth of groceries at Fox and Obel. (Hooked, we have been back there 3x now! I wish we had something similar near us! )

When we did an overnighter with Dd we used a Groupon for the SeaDog Lake Michigan Boat Cruise. We paid $12 each and Dh and Dd loved it! We also used our Jamba Juice groupon for lunch then next day before we took the train home. $5 for $10 worth of smoothies and sandwiches. I bought 1 groupon and Dh bought 1 so we had a wonderful lunch with smoothies!

Then in August we used the Chicago Children's Museum Groupon that was $40 for 10 admission to the museum. That was a huge deal! Normal admission is $10 each so we took our whole family's kids down there for the day and had a riot! It was 6 kids and 4 adults for us and priceless to let them all have time together since we live in different states. Great way to meet up!

My latest was the Museum of Science and Industry family membership for the year at $55 of the master level. That is so cool as Dd loves to go there! We are looking forward to going in October and whenever we are bored over the winter.

The key to Groupon is once you know when you want to do a reserved activity like the boat cruise CALL ASAP to get booked. Many people wait until the last minute and then complain about the available times they have left to pick from.

I am so excited they started in my hometown now. It lets us try new things on a budget and gets us hooked. We love eating at Devon's now and each trip we stop at Fox and Obel.

 

[lovehoney]

Love them. I've used both. They have a lot of half off deals. I've purchased half off for a BBQ joint and I bought 2 $10 coupons ($5 each) for the Chocolate Bar (yummy!)

My latest was 50% off at a local corn maze. I'm going to suprise my boys.

 

[beansmom]

we do groupons in the greater Boston area. We have gotten half price cross country skiing, whitewater rafting, harbor cruises, schooner cruises, flying lessons.

I think they're a good way to explore new things but you DO have to be sure it is something you will make time to do. We're doing a harbor sail tomorrow from groupon and a schooner sail this weekend.

 

[budbeerlady]

Bump... any other great sites to watch beyond Groupon and Living Social?

 

[JoiseyMom]

I just used Livingsocial yesterday for the first time. I got a deal on 4 movie tickets for 20.00, and good for Imax and 3D. My DD is very happy .

 

[Evi]

I use them and have enjoyed many discounts to places I already go. Another site is buywithme

 

[beansmom]

I just used Livingsocial yesterday for the first time. I got a deal on 4 movie tickets for 20.00, and good for Imax and 3D. My DD is very happy .

i did this, too. I wish I had bought more now.