# My name is JohnT and I'm... I'm... I'm a Groupon junkie **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 23, 2011, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-johnt-and-im-im-im-a-groupon-junkie/597322 "2011-09-23T13:18:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-johnt-and-im-im-im-a-groupon-junkie/597322/1 "2011-09-23T13:18:18Z")
1/2 price Red Robin’s (hamburgers)? Where do I click!!! What, I can only buy one but “gift” two others? … Counts members of family, comes up with three… Yeah, I can do that. Buy 10 wings, get 15 free at local grub and pub? GIMMEGIMMEGIMME! 60% off 4 tickets to take the family to some farm with a cornfield maze and pumpkins? Whoo-hoo! But seriously, all they have to do is offer food and there’s a 90% chance that I’ll buy it. I’m pretty frugal, but my one “vice” is that I love to eat out, and Groupon just makes it that much easier and cheaper. My favorite is this Brazilian steakhouse downtown, who does a Groupon every quarter - I’ve already gone 3 times (took the family twice, my boss once), and can’t wait until December when the deal will roll around again. Anybody else love this site? Who hates it? And why (for both questions). ---
**Author:** ![TheMerchandise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b487fb/32.png) [@TheMerchandise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheMerchandise)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-johnt-and-im-im-im-a-groupon-junkie/597322/2 "2011-09-23T13:30:16Z")
I love it. My SO mocks me for it. But his mocking is silenced by the tasty food at the nice restaurants that Groupon allows us to visit more often! ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-johnt-and-im-im-im-a-groupon-junkie/597322/3 "2011-09-23T14:29:47Z")
I love it. We’ve gotten surfing lessons and a kayak trip both half off. Good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-johnt-and-im-im-im-a-groupon-junkie/597322/4 "2011-09-23T14:38:19Z")
I don’t allow Groupon purchases in my home any longer. The last straw was when I came home and my husband had purchased us Samurai classes when I was 5 months pregnant. Great, just great, now I can’t do the stupid class and he won’t go without me and this is going to expire long before I’ve healed from giving birth so we’ve wasted the money for this dumb class. It is too easy to purchase the stuff and forget about it later. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-johnt-and-im-im-im-a-groupon-junkie/597322/5 "2011-09-23T15:08:19Z")
I just signed up for Groupon but haven’t gotten anything on it yet. However, I had signed up for Living Social a while ago and so far have picked up a $20 Amazon gift card for $10, half-price deals for a massage, house cleaning (which I have to remember to schedule sometime next month), rug cleaning, and a $20 coupon for Whole Foods (which will just about make it worth shopping there). ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-johnt-and-im-im-im-a-groupon-junkie/597322/6 "2011-09-23T15:20:21Z")
I have to admit I’m guilty of abusing stuff like Groupon. I intended to use it as a way to save money, but it’s turned into an excuse to blow cash on stuff I wouldn’t ever buy otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-johnt-and-im-im-im-a-groupon-junkie/597322/7 "2011-09-23T15:24:47Z")
I went to sign up for this, but it wants me to put in my city. It doesn’t say anything about picking the closest one. And the closest city is in another state, so I don’t know if I should pick it or not. Anyone know how people from smaller towns are supposed to handle it? And would I have to actually go to the city to use it, or are the coupons more statewide or general area? ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-johnt-and-im-im-im-a-groupon-junkie/597322/8 "2011-09-23T15:48:55Z")
You’re only an addict if you purchase and receive the daily emails from Groupon, Living Social, Webpiggy and Dealfind. Please don’t ask me how I know. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-johnt-and-im-im-im-a-groupon-junkie/597322/9 "2011-09-23T16:01:10Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I went to sign up for this, but it wants me to put in my city. It doesn’t say anything about picking the closest one. And the closest city is in another state, so I don’t know if I should pick it or not. > > Anyone know how people from smaller towns are supposed to handle it? And would I have to actually go to the city to use it, or are the coupons more statewide or general area? Most of them are for a specific city - I’ve caught a couple in my city that are for the smaller city 45 minutes away though. Another thing to watch out for is Groupon clones. Check your local newspaper website, they might run a clone. We actually have 3 Groupon-like services going here. * * * I like! I’m a frugal chick and most of the Groupons here are for spa and salon stuff, so that’s how I get my hair done. I’m also going to Mexico this winter so I’m waiting for the tanning booth coupons to come out. For restaurants, the best sushi joint in the city does a Groupon a couple times a year. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-johnt-and-im-im-im-a-groupon-junkie/597322/10 "2011-09-23T17:16:04Z")
THanks for the reminder - I needed to print out my Groupon for the pub grub. 🙂 Jim and I go out for dinner every Friday night - we’d be going out with or without the Groupons, but with the Groupons, we often save a lot of money. I’m good with that. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-johnt-and-im-im-im-a-groupon-junkie/597322/11 "2011-09-23T17:31:43Z")
I want to like it as a concept, but in reality most things that are offered are for things that we most likely wouldn’t do, either because we’re not interested or because something about the logistics (location, time limit, etc) isn’t realistic for us. However, I did use a Groupon to go to a salon that I wouldn’t otherwise have tried, and it was fantastic and I go there all the time now. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-johnt-and-im-im-im-a-groupon-junkie/597322/12 "2011-09-23T17:49:44Z")
> [@pbbth](#): > > The last straw was when I came home and my husband had purchased us Samurai classes when I was 5 months pregnant. Samurai classes? I’m not even sure what that would entail, but I bet the Samurais would be rolling over in their graves if they knew that American suburbanites were buying Groupons for Samurai classes :D. I buy Groupons, but I really, really try to only get them for things we’d buy anyway - a restaurant we frequent regularly, a store that I normally go to. We decided we were going to buy a new mattress, so I got a Groupon for the local mattress store. My weakness is flash sale sites. [Woot.com](http://Woot.com) and [fab.com](http://fab.com) kill me, the latter especially. ---
**Author:** ![AndyLee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/898d66/32.png) [@AndyLee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndyLee)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-johnt-and-im-im-im-a-groupon-junkie/597322/13 "2011-09-23T19:15:50Z")
How do you get things you want? I signed up but nothing they send me even remotely interests me ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-johnt-and-im-im-im-a-groupon-junkie/597322/14 "2011-09-23T19:33:12Z")
I work for a sister company of Groupon and our offices are in the same building (they take up space on several floors at this point.) It’s kind of fun to get into the elevator and hear their employees talking about a deal they’d just booked w/ some restaurant in Tucson or wherever. ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-johnt-and-im-im-im-a-groupon-junkie/597322/15 "2011-09-23T21:05:30Z")
I’m a fan of the local deals they do. The ones that are for a specific time interval during the day (e.g. 11am-4pm), and if you don’t use them, the money just returns to you. I’ve had some cheap lunches that way on days I forgot to pack a sandwich. I’ve also somehow accumulated $38 in Groupon credit, but I have no idea how. Not that I’m complaining! ---
**Author:** ![Toucanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Toucanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toucanna)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-johnt-and-im-im-im-a-groupon-junkie/597322/16 "2011-09-23T23:32:07Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Buy 10 wings, get 15 free at local grub and pub?..My favorite is this Brazilian steakhouse downtown, who does a Groupon every quarter… Which wing place? I love wings. Is the Brazilian place, “Fogo de Chão”? Hubby & I love that place! ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-johnt-and-im-im-im-a-groupon-junkie/597322/17 "2011-09-24T04:20:58Z")
There wasn’t anything at all interesting for Memphis, unfortunately. This reminds me. Do people still do the big couponing thing online? I remember a few years back people were always talking about how they were practically getting their weekly groceries for free by juggling coupons but nobody around here talks about it these days. ---
**Author:** ![Zjestika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/8edcca/32.png) [@Zjestika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zjestika)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-johnt-and-im-im-im-a-groupon-junkie/597322/18 "2011-09-24T06:03:56Z")
I love them, but I always worry that the server will think I’m a cheapskate who won’t tip on the full bill. Which couldn’t be further from the truth, I always tip generously because it’s a sunk cost by the time I use it and feels like free food. Has anyone had any weird experiences with servers? I learned only to get Groupons for places we know we like or that are nearby. Nothing worse than the pressure of a Groupon expiring in a week to a place across town we’ve never been before. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-johnt-and-im-im-im-a-groupon-junkie/597322/19 "2011-09-24T13:57:34Z")
> [@pbbth](#): > > I don’t allow Groupon purchases in my home any longer. The last straw was when I came home and my husband had purchased us Samurai classes when I was 5 months pregnant. Great, just great, now I can’t do the stupid class and he won’t go without me and this is going to expire long before I’ve healed from giving birth so we’ve wasted the money for this dumb class. It is too easy to purchase the stuff and forget about it later. Whoa. Wait. Samurai classes? Tell me where I need to be, and I’ll be there to take your place. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-johnt-and-im-im-im-a-groupon-junkie/597322/20 "2011-09-24T14:05:53Z")
> [@Zjestika](#): > > I love them, but I always worry that the server will think I’m a cheapskate who won’t tip on the full bill. Which couldn’t be further from the truth, I always tip generously because it’s a sunk cost by the time I use it and feels like free food. Has anyone had any weird experiences with servers? > > I learned only to get Groupons for places we know we like or that are nearby. Nothing worse than the pressure of a Groupon expiring in a week to a place across town we’ve never been before. I’ve never had any weird server experiences. I did buy a Groupon to a restaurant in preparation for Father’s day, only to read (after the purchase, of course) that the Groupon wasn’t valid on Father’s day. But that was my fault, not Groupon or the restaurants. We still went, of course, and had a good time. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-johnt-and-im-im-im-a-groupon-junkie/597322.md?page=2)