groupon deals - good?

When I went for a midweek lunch at a 4 star hotel it cost £18 for 2 courses for 2. 2 glasses of wine, one small for the driver and two coffees cost £18:90 surely this is where the hotel makes up the cost.

Me too tiggy, if you have a Groupon deal and you liked hotel etc whilst there, you can book the hotel later at another time without a deal. That I think would help business and would appreciate return customers. If hotels and restaurants made a good impression then that's what they would like

We are close to a tourist area which is very busy in the summer but not in winter. A small-ish cafe often has Groupon deals in the winter. We tend to buy them when friends or family are coming to stay. Chatting to the owner he says it works well for him as it enables him to keep a winter presence, many winter Groupon customers return in the summer.

Surely Jane10 hotels have the same overheads to pay whether the rooms are full or empty. Is it not better to sell these rooms at a cheaper price and have people in them who are more than likely to buy drinks at the bar, than leave them empty? I have stayed in hotels using a Groupon voucher and have then visited them again without. I call that good business for the hotel.

I love groupon and itison deals,some really good restaurants and hotels in my area (West of Scotland) run offers regularly,spa days in particular are very good.

I don't think you get my point. Good going businesses don't have to resort to having to offer Groupon/Itison. Fair enough, I like a bargain too but there is something very sad about businesses who have to offer this.

I have bought both goods and services from group on and have always been happy with my purchases.
One downside is that you can't always tell if there will be availability when required when it comes to meals and hotel stays. I have contacted the venue directly on a couple of occasions to see if they have any offers on. I don't mention groupon but if they offer me the same or a similar deal I book direct.

Jane I may be wrong, but I think the deals only go ahead are charged to your debit or credit card, once enough numbers of an offer are sold. In other words, the businesses are getting the volume of business which justifies the lower price.

Therefore I don't think businesses are "desperate" (although maybe some are) - I think it is simply another way of marketing.

I don't think this is the same as Groupon, but last Christmas (I was desperate ) I bought both sets of adult children accommodation vouchers from Buy-a-gift. Both got excellent value for money, booking was easy, and they were delighted. My son and his wife used theirs to stay in an upmarket B&B in Bath - rolltop bath in the room! I paid £100 or maybe £120 per voucher and each got 2 nights accommodation.

But the businesses are paying the price. Its nice you enjoy them but I wish you could see the other side (as I have).

We had a delicious afternoon tea at a beautiful hotel set in its own grounds,we couldn't fault it the service and food both were first class.£20 for both of us.

I have been taken out for afternoon tea, Sunday lunch and weekday lunch and they have been excellent value and excellent quality. All good quality hotels.

Sorry Jane10, but I like them. I don't think they are inferior, I just think that they are filling rooms at a quiet period which will suit people who can't afford a higher price. You're right in that the menu is usually a set menu bur still have several choices. As long as the rooms are clean and the food good, that's fine by me

I am uncomfortable with these. Businesses must be pretty desperate to get people in. I know that for some businesses it can be a last gasp attempt to keep going. Menus etc have to be priced down accordingly and the quality, when compared to the usual quality, is generally poorer. I don't take these deals and feel sorry for the businesses that have to offer them.