Computers & Internet Scoopon, Spreets, Cudo etc

[Drakescoffeecake]

Do you purchase much from these websites and if so what has been your best deal? Any horror stories?

There's one on getawaylounge at the moment offering 6 nights in Phuket for 2 adults for $375 ... essentially under $200 each in accommodation for a week in Thailand. Bargain or what? Seems to good to be true. Will have a big look on TripAdvisor and perhaps a close look at the T's & C's before purchasing though!

 

[SHAKESPEARE]

A friend bought a holiday...they went out of biz.

A restaurant i bought took like 3 lots of deals from everyone then did a runner.

Avoid. Most stuff is now shitty services and junk.

 

[Scotland]

I've had no problem using Scoopon, Groupon or Catchoftheday.

If they're offering a deal from a reputable business it's unlikely to be dodgy, but if it's a coupon for something that sounds dodgy it probably is.

 

[Doctor Feel]

doorbusters.com.au.

Great new site. 50% off gummy bears. FIFTY PERCENT!!

It is woolworths new site, so it's as trustworthy as these sites can get.

 

[pepsi]

Definitely have to be wary of these sites. Would not book a holiday to Thailand for example, off these sites. I have used it for rounds of golf, purchased a pair of sunglasses and a couple of photobook albums and a restaurant once. No major issues, but check for reviews of the businesses you are going to buy from.

 

[Drakescoffeecake]

It's not a holiday to Thailand, you're just buying your accommodation and have to book it within a 12 month period. Everything is adding up at the moment.

 

[brucetiki]

Used a couple of them with mixed results.

First one was for a car service. As with most of these coupons, the voucher is for 'labour only' so you don't really save that much in the end.

Had a few for three car wash places in Adelaide. First was for The Wash at Unley. They were outstanding. Did a fantastic job and had no problem with them. If I had the money, I'd pay full price for them.

Second was for Flufferz. They had the 'Scoopon customers are second class citizens' attitude. While I managed to get a booking within 4 weeks, their free wi-fi didn't work and they did an ordinary job with the wash.

Third was for Spectra on West Tce. Rocked up without a booking, and despite the place being empty, got a lecture for not booking. Tried to book my second wash, but for Scoopon customers they were booked out for 3 months. Their wash was terrible as well so wasn't too fussed to let the second wash lapse.

Used one as well to buy a pair of sunglasses for $1 (plus $15 postage). There were a few delays processing the order as the website you had to redeem the sunglasses from kept crashing, but I eventually got an order through no problems, and the sunglasses do the job.

Also got one for a lunch at a cafe near my place. Just need to get around to using it. Hopefully there's no problems redeeming it.

My mate is hooked on these deals, but is also being burnt constantly by them - last I checked he had disputes with 5 deals he bought, plus had the same problems with Spectra I had.

 

[Drakescoffeecake]

With a name like Flufferz they were always going to be bad!

May or may not have purchased the Phuket deal. Should be interesting!

 

[Danog]

I've had great success with 1-day.com.au

 

[Danog]

ozbargain.com.au as well. It has a comments section, so you can see other people's opinions before you buy

 

[tigers_of_old_08]

My girlsfriend's recent experience with Cudo has been far from positive. She has discovered that this business has NO phone contact available for customers with complaints, and after 2 weeks and numerous emails she has yet to receive any reply.

Anyone else experience this? Is the next step the ACCC or is there a quicker, simpler solution?

 

[grimface_87]

I really don't see the point of treating people with daily deal vouchers as second class customers. Surely the point of doing these deals is to try and get repeat business and word of mouth business which isn't going to happen with treatment like that

 

[I bleed Blue]

Have used them for a few things. Scoopon and living social.

Can get some good deals on restaurants, well over half price.

I booked a couple of tickets for Rap Jumping on living social a few weeks back.

 

[checkraiseulite]

I really don't see the point of treating people with daily deal vouchers as second class customers. Surely the point of doing these deals is to try and get repeat business and word of mouth business which isn't going to happen with treatment like that

The problem with these sites is that (especially with hospitality/experience products) the businesses providing them quickly realise they are only succeeding in getting undesirable customers who are either (a) never going to come back and continue coupon hunting or (b) the restaurants wouldn't want them back anyway.

It's a give and take business.

Catchoftheday has been okay, but I'm getting pretty sick of being sent 5+ emails a day after having bought a couple products of it.

 

[grimface_87]

So why bother with the coupons in the first place then?

 

[checkraiseulite]

So why bother with the coupons in the first place then?

I've heard from friends who manage hospitality venues (especially the pricier types of places) are regretting signing up for living social and won't continue to offer coupons.

It might be fine for more budget-oriented/less established venues.

 

[d0gs]

Have bought a lot of golf days and stuff off them. Have not had a problem at all. Have used catchoftheday, scoopon and greatrounds (golf specialised one).

Would never purchase a holiday or something that extreme off them, too many things can go wrong IMO.