Dissatisfaction with Daily Deal service related deals - what can we do?

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  vietbargain on 06/09/2012 - 14:53

  +2

  I like the concept, but a diner would still have to pay for their meal, regardless of whether or not it was good service/food/etc. Which means we're back at square one. Unless you introduced some sort of penalty for a bad experience (but again .. I can see some diners abusing this to their advantage)

  Probably the most attractive part of this is lowering the financial loss if you don't use the voucher

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  huntress_love on 06/09/2012 - 16:06

  +1

  i think that's a great idea, provided it still a good deal.
  At least this way the business will try and service you instead of treating you like S&^%
  cause they've already got your money.

  I think it's how the discount is promoted also. Instead of making the busines think they'll get money for doing nothing because most people dont show up. But rather promoted it as it is, a discount to attract new customer hence the cost of advertising.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 06/09/2012 - 16:14

    Yeah our approach to business is pretty much that we don't charge a commission and hence they should offer us a better price than they did to our competitors and we simply charge a small amount so we also break even. I think it is win for all. To your second point we always advise business that this is a marketing activity and should be looked at as a cost not a revenue stream and although we can get people into their stores it is their responsibility to make them come back since that is the only way this will work for the business' growth. We often encourage the business to give our clients a 25% towards their next visit as well. We are excited and we are business is really liking the idea. We signed up 4 more business' today.

    • 

      jv on 06/09/2012 - 16:17

      so we also break even

      so are you providing a 'public service' and not running a business then?

      • 

        [Deactivated] on 06/09/2012 - 16:25

        We have other avenues of income. This concept is only being offered for service deals with physical locations like hairdressers, restaurants etc. We still use the conventional business model for the sale of products.

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  jv on 06/09/2012 - 16:15

  Just go here

  http://www.shopadocket.com.au/Default.asp

  and print out your discount dockets for FREE, why pay

  "a small amount $1-$5 to print the voucher"

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 06/09/2012 - 16:23

    Yeah have you seen some of the deals? 20% is barely a deal nowadays and it is always the same kfc, mcdonalds or carpet cleaning deals. Plus shop-a-docket charges the business fees and is just not that exciting. Sorry. I used to own a restaurant and we ran the shop-a-docket and it was a complete fail for our business and all our neighbouring business and much like advertising in the Leader.

    • 

      jv on 06/09/2012 - 16:33

      +1

      "Yeah have you seen some of the deals?"

      yep, and they are free!!!

      • 

        [Deactivated] on 06/09/2012 - 16:51

        At the end of the day we are offering percentage discounts, even with our small fees, that are much higher than most shop-a-dockets no matter if they are free. And look that is fine I think they maybe for some business but not for others and likewise for certain customers and not for others. I guess the heavily generalised thought is that the above 40's use shop-a-dockets much like flybuys and there is nothing wrong with that all I am saying is that the product is a dying type that has pretty much climaxed 5-3 years ago and is now unable to attract exciting business and deals. And so will daily deal sites eventually. Even your numbers would reveal that and that is a regular business cycle. We just don't see how our business compares in the greater scheme of business life cycles and offers. Our target market are the 22-39 year old who just don't read the back of a receipt anymore and rarely ask for the receipt in most cases as they can find all their transaction online.

      • 

        jv on 06/09/2012 - 17:00

        At the end of the day we are offering percentage discounts, even with our small fees, that are much higher than most shop-a-dockets

        That is hypothetical…

        as they can find all their transaction online.

        Shopadocket is online too…

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  jv on 06/09/2012 - 17:05

  +2

  Personally, I just use the entertainment book…

  You know what vouchers you have up to a year in advance, your savings are typically 25%-50% off meals that range from fine dining to casual…

  The best part is you don't need to tell them at the time of booking, so you know you will get the same quality food and service that anyone else gets, because they don't know you are using a voucher until you have to pay…

  plus, you are helping a local organisation with their fundraising by purchasing the book

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 06/09/2012 - 17:15

    +1

    Agree those books are awesome. We listed our restaurant there once and it is really added value to the business and bought in really nice people. We even let some clients keep their voucher to use again. And yeah lovely charity pitch as well. But likewise Melbourne and Australia in general have too many eateries and experiences that are not covered in the book and that are worth while mentioning and being put out there.

    • 

      jv on 06/09/2012 - 17:24

      good luck, but i for one, would never pay for a online voucher…

      • 

        [Deactivated] on 06/09/2012 - 17:26

        Appreciate the honesty. As said it is not for everybody.

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  voteoften on 11/09/2012 - 00:18

  +1

  I might, but I understand that to even look at your site, I have to agree to be spammed. I don't like that.

  Also, at what point do the customers have to disclose their voucher? Most OzBers don;t want to beforehand, but if the company pulls a dodgy and starts imposing bullshit exclusions when you go to pay, you are screwed.

  I would think that any exclusions would have to be spelled out on the voucher, without exception. If something was missed, the business should pay for it. They should also approve the voucher prior to publication.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 11/09/2012 - 00:29

    Hey very good points raised. Firstly there is a skip registration button there. So you do not have to enter your email. I have been made aware that the blue button is not showing on certain browser so we are on it.
    Also, with this new deal format (first test launched today) you still have to make a booking but you do not need to tell them that you have a voucher until you check out and ask for the bill and we educate merchants about this also. We want our clients to have the full experience and avoid what has been complained about e.g.: differential treatment and portion sizes etc. All exclusions are clearly mentioned. e.g. the current voucher at Shiraaz states that it cannot be used with Banquet and Set Menus or other offers and that there is a maximum to the discount value of upto 200 dollars.
    And I agree the business must shell if they make a mistake. At the end of the day the idea is to turn clients into repeat business and that is another thing we teach the merchants we work with otherwise I don't think daily deals and offers are worth it for business and likely to be a pure loss to them.

    • 

      voteoften on 12/09/2012 - 06:36

      Thanks for your reply.

      What these group buy companies should do is have a clear dispute resolution process for when disputes happen are the venue. For example if you go to Shiraz and they try to dishonor voucher because you did byo, if the customer is forced to pay, that money should go into a escrow until the dispute is resolved. These companies need to stop being rewarded for being dodgy