Anyone use Groupon?

I don't even know what a groupon is!

me neither...never heard of it

I was called by a Groupon representative about offering party packages with them a week or so ago. I checked into it and talked to her for a while, but decided that it wouldn't work for what she was suggesting. She said that the discount would have to be at least 50% off my normal rates, and that I couldn't put restrictions on the redemption, such as weeknights only, or 50% off the first hour of a 2 hour party, etc. She said they really wanted their customers to be treated the same as a full paying customer would be.

So, I ended up just telling her that I couldn't afford to work for half price, not even one party much less 100+ of them, preventing me from being available for any full-time work.

For a festival, this might work though? If your festival is slow and you'd be happy to get even half-price customers this might be a good deal. If you can keep a steady line for full price, it would stink to spend your day accepting 50% off coupons from tons of customers. If you do it, offer a very limited amount of coupons. That's my .02!

Yes! I've just recently found it and purchased two things - one thing was $50 worth of business materials for $25 (like business cards etc..I thought it was for Vista print, but it's actually for Vespa print - disappointed, but it's still a good deal.)

The other was bowling, shoes, unlimited popcorn etc for 2 hours for up to six people (handy as I have four kids) for $29 (usually around $55) - happy activity for Summer - I got that today.

For those actually posting a proposition for a Groupon, I like the idea that it only starts being 'valid' once a certain number of people have bid on it - it could be a really good idea for getting a number of face painting parties if there is a dearth of bookings at some point, or just to rally more interest

Good luck! I'm interested to see how it turns out

I love Groupon! And eversave, and mom.com and Living Social and Family Finds They are all the same kind of site. I have bought from them, but never offered, although I want to when I redo my website. I would love to know your experience if you go through with it

Love groupon. I've bought a few things from them.

As for not being able to add restrictions, I wonder how they determine who can and can't. I almost bought one yesterday but didn't because I couldn't use it on the weekends and some other fine print things that made it not worth the money. Hmmmm

Hmmm, that is interesting. I specifically asked the representative about offering with restrictions and she said they didn't allow it since all coupon customers need to be treated the same as full-price customers.

Maybe each local Groupon makes it's own rules? The one who contacted me was running the Shreveport Groupon.

Just be careful b/c if you offer a full face ($10) for $5. Groupon keeps half of that. So, you are actually doing a full face for $2.50.
To me, it's just not worth it. I mean, they only way to really make money from it is if people by the coupon and don;t show up to the festival.
I would hate the thoughts of doing all these coupon kids, while full paying parents walk by b/c the line looks too busy. KWIM?????

I looked into it, but Groupons seemed like it could be a huge shot in the foot. I also canceled my account w/ them after their horrible Superbowl commercial poking fun at starving kids in India. It was very poor marketing on their part...

Perry, it sounds like you've figured out the key to using for a FPer, limiting it to a single festival. I'd be incredibly wary of anything else. Groupon typically takes 50% off of a sale, so Glitterfly is correct in saying that you'll make $2.50 on a regular $10 face. At a festival, not everyone coming to you will have a groupon, so that will help.

Something else to consider, although you have a time crunch here, does Groupon allow you access to the email addresses of those buying your groupon? If so, you have an instant marketing database available. I purchased a Groupon/Living Social (can't remember which one) for a sailing trip. I had to schedule the trip through the sailing club, so they captured my email address that way. Now, I get periodic emails with additional great discounts. Good for me, good business for them.