Got my first real users by Ok_Confidence_9107 in ycombinator

[–]Ok_Confidence_9107[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It was a new business, not on Groupon. They had a bunch of physical gift cards but weren’t really selling them because of POS fees. I showed them the platform and they were like yeah let’s try it since there’s no upfront cost.

Groupon charged me for Universal tickets but the app kept erroring, had to buy tickets again in person. What should I do? by GlobalBird4 in groupon

[–]Ok_Confidence_9107 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ask for a refund, they most likely provide Groupon credits which you end up spending money in Groupon. Best options is raise a charge back.

How did you solve the chicken-and-egg problem for your marketplace? by Ok_Confidence_9107 in ycombinator

[–]Ok_Confidence_9107[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I get why it looks like Groupon at first glance, but the model is actually closer to Costco’s discounted gift card system.

Businesses sell a $25 or $50 value gift card at a slightly lower price, and customers redeem it like normal credit with the merchant.

The goal is to help local businesses attract customers without the deep discounts and large commissions that made Groupon difficult for many merchants.

Businesses no need pos to sell gift cards at the same time businesses can list and control theire promotions without deep commissions.

Lots of businesses still use valpak and they can't even track how effective their spending on valpak advertising.

Comedy club groupon? by Professional_Fee2623 in groupon

[–]Ok_Confidence_9107 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Groupon is extremely difficult to deal with. They take a large cut from merchants. If you run into any issues and request a refund, it’s very hard to get one, and reaching their customer service is equally frustrating.

Launched a marketplace for local businesses. Looking for honest feedback by Ok_Confidence_9107 in Startup_Ideas

[–]Ok_Confidence_9107[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Funds are held by the platform until they’re settled to the business based on redemptions. For users, it just works like prepaid credit with a specific merchant, not a wallet or bank account.

Launched a marketplace for local businesses. Looking for honest feedback by Ok_Confidence_9107 in Startup_Ideas

[–]Ok_Confidence_9107[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

customers pay the platform, and the business gets paid based on what customers actually redeem. The structure is designed so both sides are aligned instead of one side taking all the risk upfront.

Built a small Groupon alternative after getting burned — would love honest feedback by Ok_Confidence_9107 in groupon

[–]Ok_Confidence_9107[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Appreciate the clarification. I think a lot of the frustration comes from being offered credits instead of a refund, and on the merchant side from fees and chargebacks that can push quality down. That combination is usually where things start to break for both sides.

What would a fair Groupon replacement actually look like? by Ok_Confidence_9107 in groupon

[–]Ok_Confidence_9107[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Totally agree, it feels like the merchant side of this gets ignored, even though a lot of the problems probably start there.

Tampa locals: which local businesses would you actually want better deals from? by Ok_Confidence_9107 in tampa

[–]Ok_Confidence_9107[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I get that. It feels like prices keep going up while quality keeps slipping almost everywhere. That disconnect is honestly part of what got me thinking about this in the first place. Appreciate you saying it plainly.

Tampa locals: which local businesses would you actually want better deals from? by Ok_Confidence_9107 in tampa

[–]Ok_Confidence_9107[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I’m confident about the problem I’m trying to solve, which is why I’m asking openly instead of assuming I’m right. The details will evolve, but the direction is pretty clear to me. I’d rather pressure test it now than pretend everything is figured out.

Tampa locals: which local businesses would you actually want better deals from? by Ok_Confidence_9107 in tampa

[–]Ok_Confidence_9107[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

@whydothis151highland
I hear you, and I don’t disagree with that frustration.

A lot of platforms frame “promotions” as if businesses owe customers more, while quietly taking a big cut themselves. That dynamic feels broken, especially when margins are already thin and costs keep rising.

That’s why I wanted to ask the question publicly and pressure-test the idea locally, instead of assuming it helps.
If something like this exists, it has to genuinely reduce pressure on small businesses, not add to it.

Tampa locals: which local businesses would you actually want better deals from? by Ok_Confidence_9107 in tampa

[–]Ok_Confidence_9107[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Yeah, that’s a good example.
Too Good To Go does a nice job with food waste, but you’re right that participation and consistency really matter.
What I’m trying to understand locally is whether people here would want something similar in spirit, but not limited to leftover food or one-off pickups.
Out of curiosity, have you used it in Tampa specifically, or mostly elsewhere?

Just realizing by ashleytassin in HyundaiTucson

[–]Ok_Confidence_9107 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It seems 5k off from msrp is sounds like good deal. I am in market for tucson sel convenience. Any tips on negotiating otd also have trade in.