I’m no fan of Groupon (as stated here previously), partly because of their say-one-thing-but-do-another approach, but mostly because of the financial downside their deals deliver for small business.
Well, it seems the folks at Groupon may have let their bravado outpace their potential. Having turned down a $6 billion buyout offer from Google, they just created their worst nightmare–Google as a competitor, announced yesterday. Given the latter’s access to maps, apps, and about a bazillion local business listings through everything from Adword accounts to Local Search, well…it’s not like they’ll have to do the Upstart Scramble to get off the ground.
At the core, however, this still presents the same problem, different day: Small business owners reliant on physical inventory can’t make the numbers work on these below-wholesale discount offers. The math simply isn’t there, even if you factor in volume. [click here to continue…]
For the past couple of years, I’ve heard Groupon extol the virtues of their daily deals email system, repeatedly waving the “we’re all about locally owned brick and mortars” flag. Well folks, my blood’s boiling right now–that flag needs to be planted on someone else’s planet.
From Saturday’s Groupon email for the Minneapolis-St. Paul market (click the image to see full scale):
Strike one: Redeem online? What happened to Groupon’s claim they’re all about driving traffic through local doorways?
Strike two: The merchant is located in El Segundo, California–half way across the country from Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Strike three and call-your-agent-you’re-finished: The presumed storefront retailer actually isn’t. The street address given on her website points to a printing company, showing her as an “affiliate.” The phone number on her website is located in Redondo Beach, five miles from where the printer is—and not associated with any physical storefront I’ve been able to find after exhaustive online searching.
Translated? I’ll bet my bottom dollar this California e-tailer is a home-based business. Not exactly the local brick and mortar flag Groupon likes to wave.
Making matters worse, check out the side bar offer for the custom alphabet frame. Yup. You guessed it. That one’s located in Tennessee.
Groupon didn’t just drop the flag. They tore the thing to shreds, then buried it in the back yard.
As for where that back yard’s located, well…. The definition of “local” is apparently up for negotiation.
Tired of hearing everyone else on Facebook talk about what a great time they had at one of The 3/50 Project sessions? Well, get your game on, folks. A whole slew of new dates was announced on Friday–even more than last year.
Yes, I actually enjoy living out of a suitcase (seriously).
Here’s the lineup, followed by instructions for being part of the fun: [click here to continue…]
