on-line coupon/discount services

The following link will take you to a CNN story about on-line discount offers for restaurants.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/busine ... tvu?hpt=T2

I've used various ones of these services from time to time and overall find them pretty favorable as a consumer. Wondering what other opinions there are on them from both diners and restaurateurs as well. Is there any better than others? good or bad for business? other opinions?

I worry about small businesses (family-owned restaurants, for instance) who take part in these promotions. They're struggling and hanging on by their fingertips as it is. Desperate to increase business, they sign on for Groupon, etc. and get slammed with customers who have a meal for a fraction of what it would cost normally. The restaurant gets some money from Groupon (let's say $2.50 on a $5 deal), but it cost them more than that to serve the meal.

Yeah, it's a good deal for customers, but I worry about the downside for struggling independent businesses. Are they losing more than they stand to gain?

I have used Groupon several times, and most of the places I've been to as a first time customer, I have also been a returning customer. There was one indian restuarant that I haven't returned to, the experience was okay and food was good, but not exceptional. Most everything else has been well worth the trying. As someone newer to the area, there are still a lot of places I don't know about so this is a good way for me to try out places I may otherwise pass up or never hear of since most of my friends live in the same general area and aren't foodies.