Groupon is a website that offers great deals through group buying. You can find bargains from holiday packages to kitchen appliances on the website. There are a few other similar group buying websites in Singapore but Groupon is one of the more popular ones. Now, while it may be tempting to buy a deal off Groupon, it is important that you take these considerations before clicking any further.
Always read the fine print
The fine print contains all the essentials details you should take note before committing to a purchase. Be sure to read through the conditions of the deal if you are purchasing the deal coupon as a gift.
Under the fine print, you would be able to find information such as the validity period of the deal, redemption, delivery or collection details, warranty information and so on. The information found under the fine print changes according to the type of deal you are purchasing.
There might also be restrictions where only first-time customers are eligible for the deal. This is usually the case for spa and beauty parlour deals. You should check for additional surcharges. For example, most deals for travel getaways do not include taxes and insurance. It is important to also read through the refund and cancellation policy too.
Compare deals with other sites
What may seem like an attractive deal may not necessarily be the best deal available. If you are hunting for the best bargains then you should not limit yourself to just one deal website, be sure to check out the other deal websites such as All Deals Asia and Deal.com.sg to compare the prices. You should also look up direct promotions on the merchant’s website, where you may sometimes find a much cheaper deal.
Look up reviews online
Do yourself a favor and check for reviews before purchasing a deal. Search online for reviews of the goods or services, which you intend to purchase from Groupon.
Review sites such as Yelp.com.sg or personal blogs are also pretty good sites to start with for reviews. If an establishment happens to have a bad reputation online then imagine all the trouble you have saved yourself by not purchasing the deal.
Do not do redemptions last minute
Avoid purchasing service deals close to the expiration date as you might end up not being able to utilize your deal coupon. For example, spa centres have limited capacity for the number of customers a day. If you were to book a session last minute, they might not be able to accommodate you into their schedule.
Most deals for services such as spas or beauty treatments also require you to make an appointment at least one day in advance. However, to avoid disappointment, here is what I would do. I call up to check if they have a slot on my preferred date and only after confirming the appointment do I commit to purchasing the deal online. So far, this method has worked well for me.
If you are purchasing an item that requires collection from the Groupon redemption centre, then be sure to take note of the centre’s operating days and hours.