How they work
If you want a bargain, forget loyalty cards or waiting for the sales. Group buying websites offer daily discount vouchers for a variety of services – everything from Sky diving with your mates and massages to theatre productions and awesome restaurants and bars. We set out to find out whether the offers are genuine and the good news is, they are. Be quick to make a booking for the services – especially for smaller businesses – to ensure you’re ahead of the queue.
How do online coupons websites work?
Generally, an online coupon website will offer a new deal every day, for one or two days only. The companies operating the sites use the power of group- or bulk-buying to negotiate huge discounts with retailers, and receive a commission for the number of coupons sold online. When a new offer is published online, it will only be made available after a minimum number of subscribers sign up to buy – if they don’t, the deal does not happen.
The deal ends when the coupons are sold out or the time limit expires. After you’ve paid for the coupons, they’re emailed to you so you can print them out and redeem at the retailers’. You can sign up to receive daily offers in your email inbox, Facebook and/or Twitter accounts. I personally have saved about $800 in beauty and spa services since I first jumped onto these daily deal sites. A few of my mates reckon they have bought a fair few discount vouchers and have had positive experiences with all of them so far. In fact, I’ve discovered a new hair salon. Some sites also offer more than one deal a day (see my list of recommended sites), and allow you to suggest deals from particular retailers.
The power of social media
Daily deal site operators rely heavily on social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter to drive sales. The size of their subscriber database – the bigger the better – helps the daily deal sites negotiate discounts with various retailers who may otherwise spend on media advertising. Some websites also give credits to shoppers to encourage them to spread the word to their friends and encourage purchases. Consumers get the chance to try something new at huge discounts when retailers provide the discounts as they benefit – in a very short time – from pre-paid sales, exposure to their products and services and the chance to build repeat business. It’s a win-win situation.
Tips to using online coupons
Create a separate email account when subscribing to the online coupons websites to avoid cluttering your regular inbox.
If you missed out on an offer from a national retailer in your state, check if it’s still available in others.
Check the fine print such as expiry dates and compulsory advance booking requirements. Be sure to book early, especially for smaller businesses or/and when a big group of people have bought the offer. You don’t want to be in a six-month queue for a hair cut.
Google “coupon”, “discount” or “promo code” along with relevant key words if the bargains you’re looking for are not explicitly featured on the coupon website (for example, airline tickets and holiday accommodation deals).
My list of recommended group buying sites in Australia.
I’ve checked out many group buying websites and found those worth logging onto:
allthedeals.com.au is Australia’s daily and weekly deals tracker from services to products. A very useful site to bookmark.
cudo.com.au is a joint venture between Microsoft and local media corporation PBL, but hasn’t featured as many offers compared to the other sites as it was launched only in September. However, the deals hosted are definitely solid bargains, such as $69 for gold class seats at the Ben Hur live show in Sydney (originally priced at $159), or a $20 voucher for $60 worth of food at an Italian restaurant in Fitzroy, Melbourne.
superkoupon.com.au is a brand new coupon site budding its humble roots from the heart of Melbourne with a good mix of local facials, massages, golfing & restaurant deals to look out for. One thing I have to say though, their Super Krazy concept where they offer a hot ticket item like an iPad2 for sale very month for only $50 certainly keeps their members going back for more. I certainly have bought my fair share of deals from Super Koupon and have to commend their outstanding customer service.
jumponit.com’s holiday accommodation deals are few and far between, but its massive travel discounts off the regular cost makes this site worth signing up for. In October, the site hosted a $149 coupon for two nights’ accommodation, breakfast, massage and facial at a hotel in the Blue Mountains (packaged originally priced at $450). Jump On It is also extending its reach to Auckland and Johannesburg, so if you’re thinking of heading to these destinations, check out this site for more details.
ouffer.com.au also offers deals ranging from restaurants to spas and goes the extra mile with a valuable discussion forum where shoppers can post questions and receive answers about the vouchers they’ve bought on the site, as well as provide feedback about the experiences – positive and negative. Shoppers are also able to use the forum to sell their vouchers.
ourdeal.com.au has an even spread of deals – everything from fitness and restaurants to paintball, scuba diving and spa packages – with at least 50% slashed off the usual prices. The site also offers up to three additional or side offers per day.
spreets.com.au offers lots of premium beauty and spa deals but offers gems too such as its more than 50% discount off tickets to the musical, Fame, in Sydney and $55 (originally priced at $110) for a five-hour fishing trip in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria.