Why did people stop using Groupon?
Groupon is a great way for businesses to get noticed, but it also comes with some drawbacks. When businesses list deals on Groupon, they have to offer steep discounts, and then Groupon takes a big cut of the revenue. That means less money going back into improving our lanes, food, arcade, and overall experience. In recent years, Groupon has shifted greater focus toward higher-margin local experiences and services, phasing out lower-margin goods. As of 2025, Groupon’s Local segment in North America was the primary growth driver.
Why is Groupon not popular anymore?
Groupon’s business model relied heavily on offering deep discounts to attract customers, which did not result in long-term customer loyalty for the merchants. Many businesses complained that the deals were not profitable and did not lead to repeat customers. Here’s the short answer: Groupon is a legitimate marketplace that connects you with verified businesses offering real discounts. Still, your experience depends on reading the fine print, understanding how vouchers work, and knowing when Groupon—not the merchant—handles refunds.Best Alternatives to Groupon There are several sites that offer a similar business model, like LivingSocial, Yipit, or Woot.Looking for alternatives or competitors to Groupon? Other important factors to consider when researching alternatives to Groupon include price and customer service. The best overall Groupon alternative is Vagaro. Other similar apps like Groupon are Travelzoo, dealsaver, Localflavor, and Gilt.
Why is Groupon declining?
Summary. Shares of Groupon have continued to slide, as revenue trends worsen despite higher marketing spend. Groupon’s business model suffers from dis-economies of scale, requiring costly sales efforts to chase local deals, leading to a vicious cycle of revenue decline and expense cuts. The customers they won with damagingly low deals on Groupon did not become loyal customers but moved on to exploit the next amazing deal, leaving small businesses with only the costs. As a result, they pulled back from their deals, and Groupon had to expensively acquire new businesses to keep the deals site full.The deals offered daily through Groupon start at 50 percent off and can go as high as 90 percent cheaper than the normal price. Groupon can offer such steep discounts because it guarantees business owners a minimum return on their investment and the possibility of becoming an overnight sensation.
What are the disadvantages of Groupon?
Groupon Deteriorates The Value Of Your Business If company X can offer a 50% discount and still make a good profit, then they must be jacking up their prices. Once a customer receives a large discount, it trains them to wait for later coupons and deteriorates the value of your products and services. Additionally, any unredeemed voucher may be returned to us within the first three days of purchase for a refund of the amount paid unless the deal is marked as final sale. After that three day time period, Groupon will not refund any voucher and all sales are final, unless otherwise stated in the Fine Print.If you have an expired Groupon, you can often still use it with the merchant for the amount you paid for the deal. The expiration date found on your Groupon refers to the date that the value listed on the deal page—also known as the promotional value—is no longer valid.