Darin S.

This morning I received an email from Groupon offering 20% off any local deal, which could be used up to 3 times. So I went to purchase a local deal -- Archibald's diner, $20 worth of food for $12.

When I went to purchase the Groupon, I entered the coupon code and received $0.60 off, that's 5%. So I chatted with the customer service rep and our conversation went like this:

Darin: I received a coupon for 20% off up to three local groupons. When I selected the Archibald deal for $12, it shows only 5% off, $0.60 cents rather than $2.40.
Isabel H: Thank you for contacting Groupon. My name is Isabel H.
Darin: Good morning.
Isabel H: Hi Darin!
Isabel H: My apologies for the confusion on how the code works.
Isabel H: It only applies to one unit per transaction.
Darin: Ok, the $12 groupon is one unit
Isabel H: The deal is for 4 vouchers.
Darin: Ok, so I can buy just one voucher?
Isabel H: You might want to apply it to a different deal.
Darin: Why is that?
Isabel H: This deal offers 4 Groupon in 1 transaction and discount will only apply to one Groupon.
Isabel H: *4 Groupons.
Darin: And yet the ad says a "24 Groupon", not "$24 Groupons"
Isabel H: Sorry for the confusion.
Darin: Since this coupon that I received says I can apply it to 3 deals, I can thus apply this to the Archibald deal 3 times, right--since it apparently is 3 separate Groupons.
Isabel H: You can apply the code three times in three separate transactions.
Darin: So to buy this single Groupon, I only need to make a single purchase but it's actually 4 Groupons? BUT, to apply the coupon to 3 deals, I must purchase it 3 times?
Isabel H: The code applies to 1 UNIT per transaction. And you can apply it up to 3 times.
Darin: Let's face it, this isn't "confusion" it is a lie. Groupon is misleading people with bait & switch tactics hoping people won't notice. It is a single unit that is being purchased, and I can purchase it NO other way, but you want to sub-divide it to get around your own 20% coupon. It is deceptive, despicable and dishonest.
Isabel H: I apologize but that's how the code works.
Darin: NOWHERE does this coupon say it is for a single UNIT, it says 3 "local deals" -- THIS is a deal $12 Archibald Groupon
Isabel H: Please read the banner, it is stated there.
Darin: If it was for a single unit within the Groupon, you should say that or let people purchase A SINGLE UNIT
Isabel H: Actually, it's written on the banner.
Darin: Ok, then let me apply this to three vouchers within the deal. It doesn't say that cannot be done.

Because of their deceptive practices, I want nothing more to do with them!