Comments on: Groupon is like playing Russian Roulette http://www.startupmuse.com/2010/06/groupon-is-like-playing-russian-roulette/ by Alexander Muse Sat, 24 Dec 2011 17:37:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Bill McNeely http://www.startupmuse.com/2010/06/groupon-is-like-playing-russian-roulette/comment-page-1/#comment-1378 Bill McNeely Mon, 28 Jun 2010 07:12:11 +0000 http://www.startupmuse.com/?p=1801#comment-1378 Groupon is a great concept and so I tried using them to market my portable iPhone charger in March. I was able to get 29 sales but nothing earth shattering. Barry Friedland was the rep out of Chicago I was working with. He did a great job selling his folks on getting my product featured. However it It took me 3 months to get the deal and then only as a "side deal" as oppose to a full page feature. When you do Groupon you need to have your web designer/developer ( my guy ended up being a fraud who destroyed my site and promotion for 30 days but that is another post) work directly with the firm to make sure the landing page works seemlessly. You need to make the redemption painless. I threw a wrench in by charging $2 for shipping in order to break even. This caused the customer to get routed through PayPal. Bad move. This extra step complicated redemption and only 50% of the folks actually redeemed thier Groupon. With Groupon keep it simple. Groupon is a great concept and so I tried using them to market my portable iPhone charger in March. I was able to get 29 sales but nothing earth shattering.

Barry Friedland was the rep out of Chicago I was working with. He did a great job selling his folks on getting my product featured.

However it It took me 3 months to get the deal and then only as a “side deal” as oppose to a full page feature.

When you do Groupon you need to have your web designer/developer ( my guy ended up being a fraud who destroyed my site and promotion for 30 days but that is another post) work directly with the firm to make sure the landing page works seemlessly. You need to make the redemption painless. I threw a wrench in by charging $2 for shipping in order to break even. This caused the customer to get routed through PayPal. Bad move. This extra step complicated redemption and only 50% of the folks actually redeemed thier Groupon.

With Groupon keep it simple.

]]> By: Pool Noodle http://www.startupmuse.com/2010/06/groupon-is-like-playing-russian-roulette/comment-page-1/#comment-1362 Pool Noodle Sun, 27 Jun 2010 09:54:03 +0000 http://www.startupmuse.com/?p=1801#comment-1362 The swimming pool noodle was invented Stephen Motosko in 1999. He designed it like a pool toy rather than as a life-saving equipment, as detailed in his patent. Stephen was also the creator of a little water-shooting toy automobile. The swimming pool noodle was invented Stephen Motosko in 1999. He designed it like a pool toy rather than as a life-saving equipment, as detailed in his patent. Stephen was also the creator of a little water-shooting toy automobile.

]]> By: JDonica http://www.startupmuse.com/2010/06/groupon-is-like-playing-russian-roulette/comment-page-1/#comment-1356 JDonica Sun, 27 Jun 2010 01:42:14 +0000 http://www.startupmuse.com/?p=1801#comment-1356 I am a young, educated woman who doesn't make a lot of money, but was still an avid fan on Groupon, nonetheless. However, more times than not, the Groupon/service you're purchasing lists restrictions in the fine print that put a kink in your purchase; i.e. your groupon is only redeemable at one or two locations or between this and this time so, at times, people (me)  purchase the groupon, realize they can't even use it without being hugely inconvenienced and decide to take their purchase as a loss.  So for me, I was mad at myself for not reading the fine print, and more upset with the provider -  leaving me zero desire to use that business in the future.  Personally, I'd rather conveniently pay than inconveniently save (using Groupon). I am a young, educated woman who doesn’t make a lot of money, but was still an avid fan on Groupon, nonetheless. However, more times than not, the Groupon/service you’re purchasing lists restrictions in the fine print that put a kink in your purchase; i.e. your groupon is only redeemable at one or two locations or between this and this time so, at times, people (me)  purchase the groupon, realize they can’t even use it without being hugely inconvenienced and decide to take their purchase as a loss.  So for me, I was mad at myself for not reading the fine print, and more upset with the provider –  leaving me zero desire to use that business in the future.  Personally, I’d rather conveniently pay than inconveniently save (using Groupon).

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