Groupon Detroit: Buy Local & Save Money
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at 12:20AM | Becks Davis Do you like to get a great deal? Do you want to support local metro Detroit area businesses? Are you looking for new things to do in Detroit? If you answered yes to any of those questions then let me introduce you to Groupon.com.
Groupon deal of the day.Groupon launched on March 1st in Detroit and delivers great deals every day on Detroit dining, services, spas, and special events buy using collective buying power. The site negotiates special deals with local businesses that are only activated if enough people decide to buy. This encourages Groupon users to tell their friends and family about the deal.
From their website:
How It Works:
1. Each day we feature something cool to do at an unbeatable price.
2. You only get it if enough people join that day… so invite your friends!
3. Check back the next day for another awesome Groupon!
Groupon will help drive dollars to local businesses by showcasing them to thousands of new customers. And we look forward to saving those customers money on their favorite things to do.
Recent deals in Detroit include $15 for a two-person wine tasting at Vintner’s Cellar of Royal Oak ($30 value) and $35 for $100 of hair services at Flip Salon.
Yesterday’s deal was $65 ($185 value) for a complete car detail at Hands On Mobile Auto Detailing. Last I checked, 133 people snatched up this deal.
These are savings of 50-90%! I think this a great way to check out new places while saving money. Plus, you’re supporting the local economy.
Groupon launched in November of 2008 in Chicago. Since then it has rolled out to other major cities and plans to be in 80 cities by the end of 2010.
So head on over to Groupon.com to catch the local deal of the day! Oh, and there’s an app for that too.
Reader Comments (6)
So excited for this to be in Detroit. Who doesn't love a great deal? :) Thanks for featuring, Becks!
You're welcome, Lauren. I'm looking forward to snagging some deals myself. :)
It sounds great for the consumer side of the equation, but I don't see the value side for businesses. Groupon gets 50% of the gross, so if you're already offering a 50% discount, you're actually getting 25% of the price. Unless you're in a business with a 400% profit margin, you're losing money for the vague promise of publicity or potential new clients. I think there's much better ways to spend time and money getting both of those than giving it to some middleman like Groupon. Color me unimpressed.
Ryan,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I looked at this mainly from a consumer point of view and didn't know their business model (re: 50% of the gross).
However, most of the recent deals are selling over 100 or 200 products or services. That's in one day. Certainly, the quantity of sales plus the additional exposure could help many local businesses. I do agree though, just like anything, it won't be a good fit for every business.
I'm happy that they are in the Detroit market and that we, consumers and local businesses, can take advantage of what they have to offer.
From their website:
What Businesses Say About Groupon
According to a random survey of featured businesses:
96% were satisfied with their Groupon experience
97% would use Groupon again
96 % recommend Groupon to others businesses
---------
I think it's a winwin situation. For businesses it's a highly accurate marketing method...
BTW there are more websites that offer daily deals in Detroit.
I've found a website that aggregates those deals:
detroit.citydealtracker.com
No need to sign up. Twitter and FB available.
Jazzzi
Jazzzi,
Thanks for the info! I think it's a pretty win-win situation myself, thanks for confirming it.