Anybody ever used GroupOn? Apparently it isn't going so well. Businesses finding

[applegrove]

that people visit them once and then come back again only with a new Groupon coupon. So they are not really getting new customers paying full price. Couldn't these business simply put a time limit on the GroupOn Coupon..you know put a coupon out there for a few months and then not for the rest of the year?

[kiva]

1. I found that they offered the same things over and over.

Same businesses, same deal - once in awhile there was something different, usually focused on an event, but all in all pretty much the same.

[meegbear]

2. I use Groupon and they're great ...

I take advantage of it, like any consumer would. If I use it and don't go back, that's my business.

[Phentex]

3. I have bought a few...

there are so many of them out there now in addition to Groupon that you can always find a deal.

Groupon used to have a message board where people could post about their experiences, either using the Groupon or just about the business in general. Well, that got out of hand (maybe costing them buyers) so they have removed that forum. Now, you can ask a question and Groupon will answer but you can't get firsthand experience like you could before. You can still check the reviews on Yelp, but I think it was crappy for Groupon to censor.

They also had some issues with the terms of the Groupon changing AFTER people purchased. That would always set off a shit storm. However, Groupon would refund your money if you decided you didn't want it after the terms changed. I could never figure out what was SO HARD about getting the terms correct in the first place.

[suninvited]

4. I have used them

one time when a business refused to honor the coupon, Groupon refunded my money and gave me an extra ten dollar credit.

[alphafemale]

5. The quality of the ones offered locally seems to have fallen over the past few months.

A local newspaper has a Deal-of-the-Day that more of them use now I think.