Lots of local restaurants on Groupon

Just got a 'Taste of Groupon' email, and lots of great restaurants have specials on here-

Selena's

Cast Iron Steakhouse

Buck's

Brasserie Provence

Four Pegs

...to name a few. Hopefully this link works: http://www.groupon.com/occasion/taste-of-groupon?utm_source=channel_occasions_taste-of-groupon&utm_medium=email&sid=e66c6162-d8db-400c-b573-ea23acac1552&division=louisville&user=872552a8f337f19e9f93317b829e0cb507641ed6fc19cef132988f42a40c00b9&date=20150226&s=header&c=view-all_taste-of-groupon&d=Groupon-Occasions&utm_campaign=e66c6162-d8db-400c-b573-ea23acac1552

My recommendation if someone is running a groupon call the business and ask if you can just buy the same from them directly. They will get twice as much money from the deal. Groupon gets left out but...so what.

My recommendation if someone is running a groupon call the business and ask if you can just buy the same from them directly. They will get twice as much money from the deal. Groupon gets left out but...so what.

Jason,

Can you show me the math on that. I am terribly confused. I purchase a groupon for $25 and it is good for $50 at restaurant. Instead I call up restaurant and say, listen I saw you had a groupon for $50 but I only have to pay $25 for it. Can I just come in and get fifty dollars worth of food and only pay you twenty-five? Where is it the restaurant gets twice as much money? Because Groupon keeps half the $25 I paid? I am not sure but I don't thing Groupon keeps half.

I understand the principal. Restaurant hopes I spend 75 or 80 and usually Groupons don't include alcohol or tax or gratuity, so I get $25 toward my total bill of the meal.

Help me,

Groupon used to keep half of the selling price. I think you could negotiate it a bit, but that was the starting %.

My recommendation if someone is running a groupon call the business and ask if you can just buy the same from them directly. They will get twice as much money from the deal. Groupon gets left out but...so what.

Jason,

Can you show me the math on that. I am terribly confused. I purchase a groupon for $25 and it is good for $50 at restaurant. Instead I call up restaurant and say, listen I saw you had a groupon for $50 but I only have to pay $25 for it. Can I just come in and get fifty dollars worth of food and only pay you twenty-five? Where is it the restaurant gets twice as much money? Because Groupon keeps half the $25 I paid? I am not sure but I don't thing Groupon keeps half.

I understand the principal. Restaurant hopes I spend 75 or 80 and usually Groupons don't include alcohol or tax or gratuity, so I get $25 toward my total bill of the meal.

Help me,

Correct, Groupon keeps half. So if you pay $25 on Groupon the restaurant is getting like $12.50. Restaurants may be less likely to do this because of the higher volume it would be harder to keep track of. But for sure if it is any other local small business just call them up and say "hey can i just pay you the $25 instead" and I will almost guarantee they will take it.

I own a small business as well and we did a groupon once...never again. Generally the people you get from that are just deal seekers who won't return anyway.

[Robin Garr]

While we're on the topic, hasn't Groupon just about faded from sight? I used to see their offers constantly, and now I rarely do. This thread is frankly the first time I've seen it mentioned for months.

Or maybe I just opted out enough that they quit spamming me?

Or maybe I just opted out enough that they quit spamming me?

This must be the explanation because we keep getting offers from them almost every day. By far the largest majority are worth looking at or interesting but we have taken advantage of a couple of the restaurant offers.

I gave up on Groupon a couple of years ago. Seemed like most of the stuff was just sort of useless in my life. Glad others are finding some value.