groupon deals - good?

Most businesses need a flow of new customers, to attract new business is a challenge and I believe. In the case of services, Groupon helps to fulfill this need.
I used to spend lots of £'S on advertising but very often an outlay of £250 would yield nothing. Better to have prospective regular customers coming in through the door so the business can show their skills, product, company, professionalism ect. are so outstanding that they want to come back without the lure of a bargain.

I have never had a problem getting the dates I want. I usually go mid week for overnight stays but maybe it would be different to book at weekends as I guess that would be more popular. That's one perk for being retired!

Like a lot of you, i have frequently used groupons for meals out, and beauty treatments and have been more than happy with them. However, I was going to get one recently for a hotel stay but was warned by my step-son that he had heard that its difficult to get the dates you require and you're pretty much held to dates that suits the hotel as a friend of his had tried to book for specific dates which weren't available and neither were others dates he suggested. Anyone else had a problem with this?

All businesses have quieter periods so I see nothing wrong with them filling rooms etc that would otherwise be empty. No business keeps going with income for only part of the year unless they price accordingly ie much higher prices to spread over the whole year and cover for periods when they are closed.
I have friends who are always delighted with what they get.

Friends bought us two Buy a Gift vouchers for a visit to the Queens Gallery and a five star meal in Mayfair. We booked a hotel on Hyde Park via Travelzoo and had a lovely couple of days in London, excellent value. No complaints about Groupon, Buy a Gift, Travelzoo and the like. None of these organisations seemed remotely desperate...

I think Groupon is great. We are on a bit of a tight budget,so been able to access these discount sights is a good way of been able to enjoy the niceties of life. Definitely recommend.?

I use Groupon and find them generally good. Secret Escapes is another good one and their offers are usually a bit upmarket. Many of the cheapest deals are on a Sunday night as this is an acknowledged slack night in the hotel trade as weekenders usually do Friday and Saturday and business clients start on Monday nights. If you're careful there are plenty of very good deals out there.

I have only used Groupon for purchases of goods but have been very happy with the items. Not used them for booking Hotels etc but have used Laterooms.com - lovely Hotel - think they like to fill rooms especially "out of season.

Yes we use groupon deals often. Had a few weekends away and a lot of cream teas all very nice. With hotel breaks I do look on trip advisor before I book. Jane10 I understand what you mean but from my experience it's not the case that these businesses are desperate, on the contrary, because weekend breaks I've been on the hotels are packed and not all with groupon deals with full paying customers. Also cream tea last week in Fenwicks were sold out and again mainly to full paying customers. I think these businesses do very well from groupon in my opinion.

I used Groupon to book a weekend for myself and dh. When checking out, a guest in front of me was settling his bill which was much less than mine for the weekend package. When it was my turn I queried the price with the receptionist who advised she could do nothing as I'd adready paid via Groupon, and that often it's a better deal to check directly with the hotel to see if they have any offers.

Have been using Groupon for some years now. No complaints - hotel and restaurant deals have been excellent value. Have always checked out reviews first. Groupon sometimes offer discounts too. On two occasions we've had to ask for a refund (before using a voucher) and this has gone through quickly. Its been a great experience to go to some establishments which we couldn't have afforded to visit before.

I was at an hotel last month and needed to extend my stay by one day, Trip Advisor quoted £78 for the same room we had, on asking the manager of the hotel if she could match the offer, she said "no sorry I can't, the best I can do is £52" you pays your money and takes your chances.

A bit old hat now, so I think i got bored of looking at the sites. The last one I used was for a discount on a river trip

I have used several of these sites with mostly good outcomes.
However I had cause to call Groupon yesterday regarding a faulty item I received. I asked the man at their call centre to send me a returns label. I don't have a printer & I'm disabled so getting to the library is difficult. I was told NO! Apparently they don't send returns labels! He was extremely rude, wouldn't allow me to speak to a manager & refused to give me his name! I sent an email outlining the problems & I'm awaiting a response.
Needless to say I won't be using them again!

Thank you jordana. We love Patisserie Valerie so will get a voucher for afternoon tea now.

I think you speak as you find. I had some really acceptable deals with both of these companies until I had a bad experience in which I think I was treated very unfairly so withdrew immediately

Yes gran jen you purchase from Groupon and print out voucher as it has a code on it. If it's a hotel you wish to book, you phone them direct quoting the code some cafes like valerie patisserie say you don't need to book in advance. Hope this helps

How does it work? Do you pay Groupon and they send you a voucher?

PS. When eating out on a Groupon we do always tip based on what would have been the full cost of the meal. No reason for staff to lose out!

I use them lot and have always had good value be it for goods or an experience. Recently I bought one for my very discerning SIL to have dinner at a posh place in London, with DD of course. The report back was that the food and service was amazing. He reckoned they use Groupon to increase capacity on the 6.45 sitting as there was a row of them all with their included bottle of Prosseco. They have eaten in fancy restaurants all over the world and this experience came up to expectations. So I say well done Groupon and all the other sites helping businesses to maximise their footfall.

I've used Groupon a lot. Many of our local businesses offer deals, and very few of them struggling. Some of them are newly established and want to get a customer base going. Others just want to get more tables filled mid-week. We've never had an inferior meal because we're paying less - that'd hardly help the business in these days when reviews are so important. Nothing sad about it at all.

My daughter uses groupon and has always been pleased .

She bought hubby and I a groupon deal to a well edtablished, local restaurant which we use occasionally and I can hand on heart say the meal was in no way inferior to their usual standard.

It is hardly a business that is desperate for business but no doubt knew February was a quiet period and they did well with customers using groupon.

I haven't actually looked at the site myself but I think I might now

You've reminded me ann60 - Time Out magazine has some very good deals similar to Groupon. I must have a look at their site again.

We are subscribers to the DT. we get offers from them including tea or coffee at Debenhams and offers on stays at very good hotels, none of which would appear to be in difficulties. I think it is part of the general advertising budget. I am happy to take advantage and have enjoyed those I have had.

I've just had afternoon tea at Patisserie Valerie and a Wyevale garden centre , both at very good prices ( I've eaten at both without a Groupon and they were identical to the full price service.

Neither seems to be in trouble so not desperate.

I spoke to the manager at Patisserie Valerie and she was explaining that it's just one arm of their marketing strategy designed to both increase volume and general awareness .

So I wasn't sad for either business in fact I was totally happy