Ok so the first thing you need to know about me is that I'm not a 'couponer'. I don't cut, print or tear anything off for a deal. Not because I don't want one, but mainly because I end up forgetting I have it and the deal will expire before I remember its taking up space in my wallet.
So imagine my surprise when I purchase a $25 deal for unlimited boot camp for a month by Living Social. There was that voice in my head that said 'Karin, you know how this goes. You're not going use it', but I gave in especially when a classmate said she would go with me.
That was back in the first week of May and I have yet to even email them to register, let alone find out when I can attend classes. Yep… that's the extent of my couponing. But I’m sure I’m not the only one who fails on the follow through with coupons. How many of us are out there? And do sites like Living Social and Groupon factor us in when they analyze their potential profits? The fact that I have purchased a product or service and did not use may weight negatively on my experience with the deal, and as a result the website.
So imagine my surprise when I purchase a $25 deal for unlimited boot camp for a month by Living Social. There was that voice in my head that said 'Karin, you know how this goes. You're not going use it', but I gave in especially when a classmate said she would go with me.
That was back in the first week of May and I have yet to even email them to register, let alone find out when I can attend classes. Yep… that's the extent of my couponing. But I’m sure I’m not the only one who fails on the follow through with coupons. How many of us are out there? And do sites like Living Social and Groupon factor us in when they analyze their potential profits? The fact that I have purchased a product or service and did not use may weight negatively on my experience with the deal, and as a result the website.
I started to think of ways for these sites to make it easier for us non-couponers to get the most bang for our buck. Maybe the company we’ve purchased our deal from should make a phone call or email to confirm purchase. Or there can be a tracking system to see who has used their deal, and if it hasn’t been used automated emails can be sent out if as a reminder.
And then I started to think about the cost and hassle associated with implementing such systems. Can you imagine if 200 people purchased a deal from a small massage parlour and someone needs to call everyone to confirm that they’ll show up? Or having to input 199 tracking numbers so that one person can be reminded not to waste their money?
Well when I think of it in those terms it just seems silly. Yes I would like to blame theses kind of sites and vow never to use them again, but it really boils down to me. If I want the deal, I’ll make the effort to go get it. After all, I made the effort to type in my credit card number. And clearly they’ve manage to structure their business in a way that gets people hooked. How do I know? I’m looking at a manicure and pedicure deal right now haha.
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