Have you heard enough from daily deal sites?
Drowning in daily deals that pour into your inbox? Well, you're not alone.
Not only have the slew of deals lost their shine for consumers, but participating businesses are losing interest as well.
Groupon and other deals programs have been criticized by many merchants who felt the one-off deals weren't necessarily a good strategy because buyers didn't necessarily become regular customers.
They often overwhelmed the businesses, spent the bare minimum and then left. And there have been problems with vendors who fail to make good on their coupons or simply disappear.
But the real issue is 'deal fatigue,' say marketers -- a malady that's expected to affect more and more consumers, killing Groupon's share price at the same time.
The company's stock fell to an all-time low recently as analysts slashed price targets and ratings after it reported that it was collecting less money from customers.
Might you be one of them?
"I've thought about putting myself on a break from such sites, but I've failed, not being able to resist a good deal I know I'll use. But I have become more discriminating, deleting more frequently and refusing to sign up to new sites," writes Athima Chansanchai at Technolog.
How about you? Have you signed off on existing deal offerings? Too much trouble? Then you might want to turn to a service called Unsubscribe Deals which will connect with your email account and unsubscribe you from all of those pesky mailing lists.
Are you suffering from deal fatigue? Or do you still find deal sites to be useful?
By Gordon Powers, MSN Money
Posted by: John | Sep 24, 2021 7:14:27 PM
I have no clue what "deal fatigue" is, nor do I know what "deal sites" are. I am not stupid enough to fall for this garbage. I go to a store to buy things I NEED, that's it. Plain and simple! I am wealthy enough that I couldn't give a rat's behind about "deals". My take on this: if it is cheap, then you get what you pay for.
Posted by: Julian Delange | Sep 24, 2021 10:39:39 PM
John, a little harsh I think. The odd deal can be of interest, and if one's biggest problem each day
is getting too many of these offers, he/she is indeed most fortunate
Posted by: Megan | Sep 26, 2021 9:22:36 AM
Yes, I am feeling the fatigue. Same old same old merchant not honoring what they promised. There are a few deals I can not pass by, but recently I have so many complaints about merchant not honoring their end of the bargain. As a result, I am more discriminating than I was a year ago. I will still look at deals at companies that have a good return/satisfaction guaranteed though.
Posted by: Michael | Sep 26, 2021 10:04:23 AM
What I am tired of is the same old deals being constantly repeated and the new producto or getaways or other offers I didn't signup for! We have found a few new favorite places through deals that we do frequent but also vendors that don't honor their deals or make it very difficult for you to redeem the coupons.
Posted by: Ken | Sep 27, 2021 6:22:25 AM
I enjoy getting the information from these sites such as groupon. Sure there is plenty of stuff I do not want, however I have taken advantage of a number of good deals that I cannot find in stores. Only takes a second to delete. No complaint here.
Posted by: mj | Sep 27, 2021 8:30:21 AM
I like the deals that Groupon and other sites offer BUT I could never buy any of them because I don't have credit cards nor do I use paypal. Therefore those of us in this situation miss out on the opportunity to save money for things that we can't do which we could do if there were a way to pay by debit or go into a central office and pay cash for them when we get the coupon.
Posted by: Roberta | Sep 27, 2021 9:07:33 AM
I am very disappointed in Groupon. I bougth one for Inmedix for some botox. It was a heck of a deal.
When I went to my appointment I explained I have had some done by someone else and wouldn't leave her but the deal was so good for inmedix I couldn't pass. They told me that I was not a suitable candidate cauce I could go back to my regular girl and say that inmedix didn't do it right. That to me was that they wouldn't make money from me and they would have taken a loss so they denied me. Well that is it for me with Groupon and Inmedix. My daughter also bought one (Groupon) and they tried to talk her into buying more (and she did) but with what happened to me they lost a valuable customer with her.
Groupon did return my money but think that they should make the companys stand behind the coupons that they offer and not be able to turn someone away because they will lose money.
Posted by: Stacy | Sep 27, 2021 10:53:30 AM
I have used Groupon multiple times and have never had an issue with a vendor not honoring the deal. What I have encountered is that most vendors will go out of their way to ensure you don't lose out on the deal, including allowing Groupons to be used at full value past the "expiry date". Love Groupon and continue to check it daily!
Posted by: M | Sep 27, 2021 11:31:43 AM
John, if you don't know what it is, should you really be commenting on this post? You are implying that people who use these sites to save money on events, restaurants, or gifts they know they will use are "stupid" (your word, not mine). I've saved hundreds on items I was actually going to buy anyway, but was just lucky enough to find a deal for it through these sites. You sound like one of those people who would pass up a great sale even on something they needed. If you are so rich, why are you reading a blog about saving money?
I personally don't sign up for email spam from these kinds of sites, and instead go straight to the site if I am looking to buy something. Saves your sanity
Posted by: T | Sep 27, 2021 12:26:08 PM
As a business manager, in a service business, we will not promote via this method as it cheapens the service too much, with too little return. Its a good way to put us out of business.
Posted by: genevieve bp | Sep 27, 2021 4:52:48 PM
As a consumer, I can say that I have been experiencing a form of “deals fatigue", a targeted "deal fatigue". What I mean by that is that certain deals in certain industry are no longer attracting me and I will not be a repeating customer like the retailer had hoped. Those deals are usually on the expensive side (at their regular price), come on promotion repeatedly and have very deep discount. (I.e. teeth whitening, lipomassage..etc). The mass normally does not have the disposable income to buy into those luxuries cosmetic treatments, but will do it at a 70-80% discount. They will either a. wait for the deal and go only once and never return since they cant afford it 99% of the time or b. wont feel the rush to buy into the deal now since so many appear each week.
The type of deal that still attracts me and I feel will be relevant for a while, are the clothing 30% off, restaurant coupons, activities etc... Because on a daily/weekly basis the "mass" goes shopping eats at restaurant...etc... So if they went to a store because of a discount and liked the clothes they will come back, the same thing with new restaurants...
The success of a Groupon depends on the accessibility of the purchased service or good at normal prices. Believe me, if you sell a 30% or 50% coupon to a women to buy a cream that retails for less than a $100, she will most likely re purchase it again and again-Marketing through the purchase of a coupon will have worked its magic. :)
Posted by: Joe | Sep 27, 2021 5:11:38 PM
John is quite ignorant to say the least..Hes not heard of deal sites? What else is new?!? haha lol. But yet he has the nerve to comment to this article.. You must have money to shit.. or a money tree perhaps?? if you are shitting money than I wouldnt concern myself with deal sites either..
MJ this is year 2012 & if you dont have credit cards than you might as well not have a tv, telephone, and internet service.. How on earth can you expect to purchase anything electronically if you dont even have a basic means to it??