Groupon is the largest and most well-known of the daily deal sites, and it may seem daunting to newcomers. Are the deals too good to be true? Are there any onerous restrictions on the deals you purchase? What happens if you change your mind about a deal you purchased? With our tips, you can be assured that you won’t miss any deals. The key to getting Groupon deals you actually want is to know exactly what you're looking for and plan accordingly.
Groupon deals are best for extras, such as entertainment, restaurants, and salon services, and you get the best selection of deals when you are in a major city. Personalize your Groupon account to get deals that are relevant to your interests and wants.
If you have a specific store/restaurant/brand in mind, do a search for “Groupon + item” to see if there’s an active deal for it. Make sure the deal is still active before you try to buy it.
If you change your mind about a Groupon, you have seven days to return the purchase for a full refund. If you are unable to use your Groupon as a result of the business being closed, an event being cancelled, or a business refuses to accept your Groupon, then you can qualify for a refund. If you made a Groupon Goods purchase, you have fourteen days to return the item for a refund.
Refer friends to Groupon, and you’ll earn $10 in Groupon credit for every friend who signs up within 72 hours and makes their first purchase.
Earn frequent flier miles, rebates, and points with loyalty programs when you make purchases from Groupon. Evreward lists all the sites that will provide you with points, such as Ebates and Big Crumbs, that you can trade for cash and miles when you make Groupon purchases. Note that you can only use one program at a time per purchase.
Use a credit card with reward offerings to make your purchase on Groupon. Credit cards that give you points or cash back, such as Discover or Amazon.com Visa, will net you additional savings when you make your purchase on Groupon.
Groupon and Expedia partnered up to create Groupon Getaways, which brings you great travel deals. Sign up for the email list, and get notified when a great travel deal comes your way. Be sure to check the fine print; Groupon Getaways has a nice feature where you can ask the merchants directly about any questions you have about the deal. For example, in this Palm Springs deal, the merchant answers questions about whether there are spa services, which airport is closest to the hotel, and more.
Get discounts on consumer products such as laptops and clothing with Groupon Goods. You get free shipping with a purchase of $14.99 or more and you get free returns as well.
Want to go to a high-end restaurant but don’t have the money for it? Use Groupon Reserves for free reservations at four-star restaurants, and get discounts of up to 30% on food and drink based on when you dine. You don’t have to bring a voucher, but you should bring the reservation confirmation just to be safe.
If your Groupon expires before you can use it, you are still entitled to the amount of credit that you paid for it. For example, if you paid $20 for a voucher worth $50 that expired, the merchant is still required to honor the $20 you paid for the voucher.
Ask the business to honor the Groupon voucher, even if it is expired. A little honey and sugar can get you anywhere. If you ask nicely, you could still get a deal on that expired voucher. If you don’t ask, you’ll miss out on a deal entirely.
If the business does not cooperate or is rude, ask Groupon to intervene for you. Groupon will work with the merchant to work out an equitable solution, or if one cannot be met, you can get a credit or refund.
Sell or swap your Groupon deals. If you definitely can’t use it, why not use Swap.com or another bartering site to trade them for deals you do want?
Watch for Groupon’s mystery deals. This summer, Groupon launched $10 mystery deals, where you pay $10 for a mystery item. They were as varied as bags of Sriracha popcorn, and an HP laptop.
