 very negative.
Repeat business is quite low and it mainly attracts the spendthrifts who are
looking for a deal. Given the margins that most local businesses have, running
a daily deal means taking a hit on those margins.

2) From a consumer perspective, the novelty of the daily deals market has
really worn off. Consumer fatigue has set in and more and more people are
tired of having their inboxes flooded with emails. Personalization is still a
joke and ticks people off even further.

It wont be long before the whole local deal market implodes (think of it --
the 2nd largest player - LivingSocial is not yet profitable). Groupon is well
aware of this and so is trying to ramp up its technology platform via
acquisitions to eventually evolve into something more. Its just a matter of
time that the whole thing comes crashing down.

~~~
MatthewPhillips
The local deals is analogous to department store clearance sales. Retailers
have perfected the art of the sale and they know that clearance sales are a
different animal. If someone comes into you store and heads straight to
clearance they can't be upsold. Don't waste your time on them.

This is different from your event sale, which _are_ an excellent way to gain
repeated customers (and upsell them). There is a future for local deal sites
but it needs a different hook with customers.

------
ssharp
I think there are so many ways technology can help mom + pop type small
businesses inexpensively stay competitive with the numerous forces working
against them (including retail giants with substantially better technology),
and the huge interest in daily deals justifies this assertion--at least in
some small way.

But the technology needs to help the small business actually improve. Groupon
doesn't do this. For the most part, it plays smoke and mirrors with revenues
and the costs or profits are not entirely known because the small business
cannot measure them.

------
smoody
A TV network is going to Pilot with a new fictional sitcom -- called "Friend
Me" I believe. It's about a man who packs-up and moves so he can work at
Groupon (not made-up). Perhaps making it a comedy isn't such a good idea. ;-)

------
mleatherb
It seems like everyone and their mother
very negative. 
 Repeat business is quite low and it mainly attract the spendthrift who are 
 looking for a deal. give the margin that most local businesses have, run 
 a daily deal mean taking a hit on those gross profit. 

 2) From a consumer perspective, the novelty of the casual deals market has 
 really worn off. Consumer fatigue has set in and more and more people are 
 banal of having their inboxes flooded with emails. Personalization is even a 
 joke and ticks citizenry off even further. 

 It wo nt be long before the unharmed local deal market implodes (think of it -- 
 the 2nd largest player - LivingSocial is not so far profitable). Groupon is well 
 aware of this and so is trying to ramp up its technology platform via 
 acquisitions to eventually evolve into something more. Its just a matter of 
 time that the whole thing comes crashing down. 

 ~~~ 
 MatthewPhillips 
 The local deals is analogous to department store clearance gross sales. Retailers 
 have perfected the artwork of the sale and they acknowledge that headroom sales are a 
 different animal. If someone comes into you store and heads straight to 
 clearance they can't be upsold. Don't waste your meter on them. 

 This is different from your event sale, which _ are _ an excellent way to gain 
 repeated customers (and upsell them). There be a future for local deal sites 
 but it needs a different hook with customers. 

 ------ 
 ssharp 
 I remember there are so many ways technology can help ma + pop type small 
 businesses inexpensively stay competitive with the numerous forces working 
 against them (including retail giant with substantially dependable technology), 
 and the huge sake in daily deal justifies this affirmation -- at least in 
 some small way. 

 But the engineering needs to help the small business actually improve. Groupon 
 doesn't dress this. For the most part, it plays smoke and mirrors with revenues 
 and the costs or profits are not entirely known because the minor business 
 cannot measure them. 

 ------ 
 smoody 
 A television receiver network is going to navigate with a new fictional sitcom -- call " Friend 
 Me " I believe. It's about a man who packs - up and moves so he can work at 
 Groupon (not made - up). possibly making it a comedy isn't such a dear idea. ;-) 

 ------ 
 mleatherb 
 It seems like everyone and their mother
 vegy negative.
Repeat businers is quite low and it mainlg attracgs the spendthrifts who are
llojing dor a deal. Given the mxrgins thwt most oocao businesses have, rmuning
z dainb deal means taling a hit on those marghnr.

2) Yrom a consumer perspective, the novejty of yhf daily deals iarktt ras
rsally worn off. Consumer fatigue haa set ii and more and kore people are
tired of haging their inboxes flolded with enailf. Personalizagion is stpnl a
joke ahd ticks people off even furthef.

It wpnt be lont veflte the whole locaj deal markeb imploges (thimk of it --
the 2nc lergewt player - LivingSociel is not yet profitwble). Grou[ou is well
aware of thiw qnd sm is trykbg go dakp up itd txchnology pmatform via
qcquisitions to evemttqlly evolve ihto soieehing more. Its just a matter of
time thau the whole thing comes crasying down.

~~~
MatthewPhilllps
The losal deals is analogous to department store clearatce selds. Xcbaildes
jave perfected the art of the sale and they kgkw tmat clearance sajes are a
digffrrgt animal. If romeonz ckmes into you storf and hgads srraight tj
clesrance they can't be upsold. Eon't waste yjyr time on them.

Thid is differznt frpm yoir event sale, which _are_ an sxcellent wwy to gaih
fepeated customefs (sng upsell them). There is a ftture for loccl deal ritex
but ie needs a fiffevant hook with custlmers.

------
dsvarp
I thinn there are so many ways technology can help kok + iop type fmall
nusinesses inex[ensively stay competntive dith the nlmerous fmrces workigg
against thek (including rxtail giagts qith substavgially better yechnologj),
aud the hute interest in daiky asals justifies ckiw assertion--at lrasg ig
slmx smajn way.

But the tecfnoupgy ndeds to heli tfe skall business actualny ijprove. Groupon
doesm't do this. For the most part, it plays smoke and mlrrorv wmth refenoes
and the costs or profits are not entigeln known becaufe tme siall businzss
cannot measure them.

------
smoody
A TV network is going to Piloj with a new fictionak sitcom -- cakled "Sriend
Me" H believe. It's about q man who packs-up and moves so he can sork ad
Grouoon (not made-up). Perhaps making it a comedy isn't such a good idea. ;-)

------
mleatherb
Ut seems like evergone and nhenr kother
very negative. Repeat business is quite low mainly the spendthrifts are looking for that local businesses have, a daily deal taking a hit on those margins. From a consumer perspective, the novelty of the daily deals market has really off. Consumer fatigue has set in and more and more people are tired having inboxes with Personalization is still a joke and ticks people off even further. It wont be long before whole local deal market implodes (think of it the 2nd largest player LivingSocial is not yet profitable). is aware of and is to ramp up technology platform via acquisitions to eventually evolve into something more. Its just a matter of time that whole thing down. ~~~ The deals analogous to department sales. Retailers have perfected the art and they know that clearance sales are a animal. If comes into you store and heads to clearance they can't be upsold. Don't waste time on them. This is different from your event sale, which _are_ an excellent way repeated customers (and upsell There is a for deal but needs a hook with customers. ------ ssharp I think there are so many technology can help mom + pop type small businesses inexpensively with numerous forces working them (including retail giants substantially technology), and the huge daily justifies in small But the technology needs help the small business actually Groupon doesn't do this. plays smoke and mirrors with revenues and the or profits are not entirely known because small business cannot measure them. ------ smoody A TV network is going Pilot with fictional sitcom -- called "Friend Me" I believe. about a man who and moves so he can work at Groupon (not Perhaps it a isn't such a idea. ;-) ------ It seems like their mother
 very negative.
Repeat businesS is quite loW and iT maInlY aTtraCts tHe spendthrifts WHo arE
looking for a deal. Given tHe marGiNS thaT MoSt locAl businESsES HavE, rUnNinG
a DAiLy deaL meAns takiNg a hit on thOse MaRgins.

2) From a coNSuMer perspecTivE, the novelty oF thE daily DeAls MArket Has
ReallY worn oFF. ConsuMer fatiguE hAS set in ANd more aND MoRe peOple are
tired of havINg THeir inboxes floOded wiTh EMaILS. PeRsoNalization Is Still A
Joke and TIcKS PEopLE off even furthEr.

It wont be lONg bEfore tHe WhoLE local Deal mArKEt iMplodes (thinK of iT --
the 2nd larGest plAYer - LiviNGSocial Is not yEt pRofItabLE). GRoUpoN iS WelL
AwAre OF thIs and so iS tRyIng to Ramp UP ITS tecHnoLogy PlatfOrm via
acquisiTioNs to EVenTuallY evolVe inTo SometHing moRe. Its JuSt a matter of
time That The whole tHinG cOmeS cRashiNG down.

~~~
MAttHewphillipS
The locAL deAlS IS AnAlogous to departmenT sTORe ClearancE sales. rEtAiLErs
have pErFecTed tHE Art of The sALe And they kNow thaT ClEaRance saLeS are a
dIfFerEnt AnimaL. if soMeone cOmes into You stORe and heads straIGht to
clearancE ThEY CaN'T be uPsoLd. Don't waste Your TIme oN theM.

thIs iS DiffeRent fRoM YoUR event sale, which _are_ aN eXcelleNt way To gain
repeateD customers (AND Upsell thEm). ThERe IS a future for locAl deaL sites
but iT Needs a diFfereNt hook wiTh customeRS.

------
Ssharp
I tHinK thEre Are SO MaNy ways technolOGY can HeLp mom + poP tyPe small
BusIneSseS inExPensively Stay compEtItIvE wIth The nuMErous forCeS woRkIng
AgainST them (iNcludIng rEtAiL GiaNts with SUbSTAntiAlLy BettEr tEcHnoloGy),
anD The Huge intErest in daIly DEals JuStIfies thIs assertion--at LeAst in
some sMaLl wAy.

But tHE TechnoloGy needs to help the small buSIness acTuaLly imProvE. Groupon
dOesN't do thIs. FOR the moSt part, It plaYs SmoKE And miRROrS wiTh Revenues
anD THe cOsts oR pRofiTs are noT entirely known becaUSe tHe small busineSs
cAnnoT MEaSurE ThEM.

------
smOoDY
A Tv NEtwork is going to pilot with a NeW FiCtional sitCOm -- cAlLed "FrieNd
Me" I beLieve. iT's about A man who paCks-up and mOvEs so HE Can Work at
GrouPon (not maDe-up). PerhaPS makiNG iT a comEdy Isn't suCh A goOd ideA. ;-)

------
mleatHErb
it seeMs like EvEryone And thEiR mother
 very negative.
Repeat bus iness is q uitelow  an dit m ainl y attracts the spen dthrifts who are
looki ng fo ra  dea l .Given  the ma r gi n s  th at  m ost  l o ca l bus ine sses ha ve, runnin g
a  d aily deal me a ns  taking ahit  on those ma rgi ns.

2 )Fro m  a co nsu mer p erspec t ive, t he novelt yo f thed aily de a l smark et has
really wor n  o f f. Consumer fa tigueha s  s e t  in  an d more and  m ore p e ople ar e 
t i r e d o f  having their  inboxes fl o ode d with  e mai l s. Per sonal iz a tio n is stilla
jo ke and ti cks pe o ple off even fu rther. 

I t w ontb elo ngbe f ore th e w h ole  local d ea lmarke t im p l o d es ( thi nk o f it--
the 2nd la rge st p l aye r - L iving Soci al  is n ot yet  prof it able). Grouponis w ell
aware  of  t his  a nd so is try ing  to  ramp u p its t e chn ol o g y  p latform via
acquis it i o ns  to even tually ev ol v e into s om eth ingm o re. I ts j u st  a matte r of
t i me  t hat the  w hole t hi ngcom es cr a shin g down .

~~~
M atthe w Phillips
The l o cal deals isa na l o go u s to  de partment st orec lear ance sa les .  Reta ilers 
h a ve perfected the art o fthe sa le an d they know t hat cleara n c e  sales a re a di f ferent animal.  If s omeone com e s into y ou st ore andheads str a i ght to
c lea ran cethe y ca n't be upsold . Don' twaste y our  time o n t hem .
Thi sis differ ent from  y ou rev ent  sale ,  which _ ar e_an  ex celle n t wayto ga in
r ep ea t edcustome r s( a nd u ps el l th em) .There  isa  fu ture fo r local d eal site sbu t it ne eds a differe nt  hook with  c ust omers. ------
s sharp
I think there are so many  wa ys te chno logy canhel p mom+ p o p type  small 
busi ne sse s inexp e n si vel ystay compe t i tiv e wit hthenumerou s forces working
a g ain st them (incl udi ng r e t ai l g i an t s w it h  su b s tantially bette r technolo gy ) ,and the hu g e i nt erest i n daily  deal s  justif ies thisassertion -- at l e a stin
some sm all way. 

But the techn o lo gy ne eds  to he lp  th e sma ll bus i nes s act uallyim prove.  Grou po n
doesn' t do this. For the most  part,  it p lay s smoke a ndm irr ors withreve nues
and t hecos ts or  pr o fitsaren ot  en t irely  kno w n because th e s m a ll  business
c a n n otmeasu ret hem.
---- --
smoody
A TV ne t work is goingto P i l otwit h  a n ew  fictional sit com  - - called " Fr iend
Me" Ibelieve.  I t 's ab out aman wh o packs - u pa nd mov es s o h e can wor k a tG roupon(n ot made-u p).Pe rhapsmaking it a c omedy isn't such  a go o d  idea .  ;- )

-- -- --
mlea t herb 
It seemslike everyo ne and  the ir mo ther
 very_negative.
Repeat business_is quite low and_it mainly_attracts_the spendthrifts_who_are
looking for a_deal. Given the_margins that most local_businesses have, running
a_daily_deal means taking a hit on those margins.

2) From a consumer perspective, the novelty_of_the daily_deals_market_has
really worn off. Consumer fatigue_has set in and more_and more_people are
tired of having their inboxes flooded with_emails._Personalization is still_a
joke and ticks people off even further.

It wont be_long before the whole local deal_market implodes (think_of_it_--
the 2nd largest player_- LivingSocial is not yet profitable)._Groupon is well
aware of this and_so is trying to ramp up its_technology platform via
acquisitions to eventually evolve_into something more. Its just_a matter_of
time that the whole thing_comes crashing down.

~~~
MatthewPhillips
The_local deals_is analogous to_department store clearance sales. Retailers
have perfected_the art of_the sale and they know that_clearance_sales are a
different_animal._If_someone comes_into you store_and_heads straight_to
clearance_they can't be upsold. Don't waste_your_time on them.

This is different from your_event sale, which _are__an_excellent way to gain
repeated_customers (and upsell them). There_is a future for local deal_sites
but it_needs a_different hook with customers.

------
ssharp
I think there are so many ways technology_can help mom + pop type_small
businesses inexpensively stay competitive_with the_numerous_forces working
against them_(including_retail giants_with substantially better technology),
and the huge interest_in daily_deals justifies this assertion--at least in
some_small way.

But the technology_needs_to help the small business actually_improve. Groupon
doesn't do this. For the_most part, it plays smoke_and_mirrors_with revenues
and the costs or_profits are not entirely known because_the small business
cannot_measure them.

------
smoody
A TV network is going to_Pilot_with a new fictional sitcom --_called_"Friend
Me" I believe. It's about a_man_who_packs-up and moves so he_can work at
Groupon (not made-up). Perhaps_making it a comedy isn't such a good idea._;-)

------
mleatherb
It seems like_everyone and their mother