Groupon Bait and Switch?

[Bucky]

Groupon is hiring!

"Currently looking for individuals ALL over Japan!"

[IkemenTommy]

Groupon is hiring!

"Currently looking for individuals ALL over Japan!"

[quote]•]
Does FG.com count as a social media?

[FG Lurker]

More Bad Press for Groupon
Japan Probe, February 23, 2011

Groupon was offering a deal through which one could purchase 1000 yen worth of taiyaki for 500 yen. The taiyaki store set a limit at 1,700 coupons, but concerns about losing money made it cancel the deal and only accept 400 of the coupons. The remaining 1,300 coupons, which were supposed to be valid until June, are now worthless.

The store claims that Groupon was very aggressive in making them agree to a very high number of coupons, arguing that it would really help their business. Apparently the deal was set up so Groupon would take 250 yen "handling charge" out of every 500 yen sale, meaning that the store only received 250 yen for what would normally be sold for 1,000 yen. The store agreed, believing that new customers who used the Groupon deal would buy extra stuff. Instead, the Groupon customers were supposedly quite stingy and most limited their shopping to the coupon deal. The store says it had to cancel the deal because the survival of the business was more important than honoring the coupon.

Customers who were unable to use the coupons will receive refunds from Groupon.

(Full Story)

There's a photo and a TV-diagram included with the original story.

"Survival of the business" seems a bit extreme. The total cost of the remaining 1300 coupons would have been 750 x 1300 = 975000yen. I assume they generally make profit when they sell their taiyaki (probably around 400yen per item). Assuming that is the case then 350 x 1300 = 455000yen actual cost. I can't comment on how aggressive Groupon's sales tactics are but it sounds to me more like the shop owner doesn't quite understand the cost of marketing...

[Bucky]

[Yokohammer]

[Sound effect: resounding "whack" as Hammer slaps own forehead]

Oh, I just got it: "Coupon" -> "Groupon"

*Groan*

[FG Lurker]

Oh, I just got it: "Coupon" -> "Groupon"

Actually Group + Coupon = Groupon...

[Yokohammer]

Actually Group + Coupon = Groupon...

Yeah, that's the way I understood it, but it took a long time for the penny to drop (wasn't exactly losing sleep trying to figure it out though ... it just leapt uninvited into my consciousness a few minutes ago).

I was happier thinking it was just a weird name.

[Bucky]

[Christoff]

I still laugh every time I see this thread. The though of some cheap ass bastard buying Osechi from groupon is ridiculous.

[Bucky]

[Taro Toporific]

... a piece about Groupon on peHUB...

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That that a sexy piece of ass to pe[color="Silver"]e[/color]HUB and Groupon?