Group date
Daily deals and group buying (think Groupon, Scoopon, CatchOfTheDay).
You can move 675,000 burger vouchers in 48 hours.
Or flood your business with furious clients.
For a lark, I hit up a player in this burgeoning sector.
Here’s what happened.
Merchant of Abbotsford
The online application was a breeze, the hardest part being:
‘Tell us about your business and why SocialSales* should partner with you.’
I wrote:
‘I have an ebook that every small business can use. I’ve been selling it for years and haven’t had a single return, even though I offer a cast-iron money-back guarantee.
You can check it out here. I’m also a respected leader in my field, with a high online profile.
Also, as chief freelance writer for MYOB, I could feature my dealings with you on their blog for extra exposure. Best regards, Paul. 
’
I was excited. Unlike hair removal, my electronic product was infinitely scalable and easy to provide.
Even if I offered my ebook at half price, and SocialSales took a 50% cut of that, I’d still make $2.50 on every PDF I emailed.
What a glorious way to spend an afternoon!
No deal
The reply was fast, friendly … and frank:
‘Thank you for your interest in featuring your business on SocialSales! We are always looking for great partners.
SocialSales loves locally owned businesses, and we want to make sure that we help our business partners grow their customer base and enhance their online reputation.
While we can’t support your business with a promotion right now, our subscriber base is constantly changing, and as soon as we think we have the right opportunity for you, we’ll let you know!
Thanks again for contacting us, and we hope we can work with you in the future.
Socially yours, SocialSales.’
Daily double
I felt a bit miffed.
How could my professional product be less worthy than teeth whitening, spray-on tans and weight-loss hypnotherapy?!
Then, on reflection, I figured I might have been courting the wrong audience.
Perhaps I’d end up eroding my brand as much as SocialSales’.
Group hug
I’d be fascinated to hear your experiences with this daily deal / group buying caper.
Have you bought or sold?
Why (not)?
How did it (not) go?
Hurry!
This offer expires in:
23 hours
58 minutes
10 seconds.
* Not their real name.
Paul Hassing | Founder & Senior Writer – The Feisty Empire
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Author
Malcolm Owens
May 31, 2012 at 11:45 am
Of course not!
What are you thinking??
So you are a specialist with a proven track record and offering several decades of experience and lessons for only a few bucks, why would anyone want that?
How about a nice story on celebrity make up tips or perhaps how to lose 5kg while eating nothing but green jellybeans? – now that’s great meaty stuff of high value.
Just look at the mindless, seemingly endless stream of ads stuffed into every five minutes of the latest reality show, what are they selling? Listen to the radio ads that assume you have a sub zero IQ or why else do they need to yell?
For a dose if the real world read a copy of the ‘Battler’s Digest’ also known as the Herald Sun. What average, every day, ordinary, working mum and dad have been screwed over this week. You’ll see it on the front page under the picture of the dog standing on its hind legs in a tutu.
Yesterday’s Fin Review had a story on what Lady GaGa tweeted when she arrived in Bangkok – SERIOUSLY!
SO unless your eBook provides mindless titillation that can be read in under 3 minutes by a second form drop out then forget it.
Sorry, got to go my eyelash volumiser (for thick, lush lashes) has just arrived and I’m dying to try it out.
Author
Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
May 31, 2012 at 12:04 pm
You said it M! We get the media we deserve. And man are we getting it these days!
Thank you for your most excellent rant. Now, where can I catch the webcast of you singing it in pink lycra while dancing with aforesaid dog?
Author
Leon Noone
May 31, 2012 at 11:55 am
G’Day Paul,
Reminds me of the ]ast line of “Life Upon the Wicked Stage ” from “Showboat:” “I’ve got virtue and it aint been tested, no one’s even interested.”
I’ve never even been invited!
Best Wishes
Leon
Author
Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
May 31, 2012 at 12:05 pm
I’d take that as a badge of honour, Leon. You’re just too fine for this fast-moving-crap-goods world!
Author
Jacci Q
May 31, 2012 at 12:35 pm
Hi Paul,
Great articles by the way.
We worked with two different group buying sites with our online Microsoft Excel course, but were approached by many others and the devil really is in the detail. We noticed that some of the larger group buying sites take all the money from their customers and then only pay us (the provider of the service) IF the coupon buyer uses the service. WORST still they want you to only make the offer available through their site! I’m sure that’s a restriction of trade?
Our product can scale as well, but we found that people who really wanted what we offered were more than willing to pay the price we offer it for. PLUS, we’d rather offer discounts to our existing customers than find customers who are only looking for the cheapest possible price.
We don’t think that Group buying will remain the way it is at the moment but that it will go back to the traditional owners of the customers…. the publishing houses..
All the best
Jacci Q
Author
Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
June 1, 2012 at 9:41 am
Hi, Jacci! How cool of you to weigh in.
Your version of events is fascinating. Just the sort of real-life stuff I was hoping to elicit. Thanks very much for illuminating our discussion. Best regards, P. 
Author
Jason Hess
May 31, 2012 at 7:05 pm
Allo,
I think these sites are generally B to C. Your offering is B to B.
Still, why don’t you try a couple of others and see how you go. You can’t lose, really, given there is very little labour involved on your part.
By the way, I’m not sure if your book is availabkle online as we speak, but if it is you could try to sell it with a site that has a shopping cart that lets you put in a unique discount code. Then, sell the discount code on the group buying site for say $5 bucks. Then the group buying site sends the purchaser an e-mail confirming their purchase with a link to the site to buy the book, into which they entered the code and get it for “free” (because they have alredy paid on the group site).
I haven’t tried this. It’s just an idea.
Author
Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
May 31, 2012 at 8:34 pm
You come up with the best ideas, Jas! The book is available, but I don’t have an automatic trolley as it was too expensive when I had my new website built.
But your suggestion would obviate the problem of me trying to fill 200,000 orders in one day. While a good problem to have, I don’t think I’d have it in me to send that many emails.
With best regards and many thanks for your input, which is always much appreciated.
Author
Yvonne
June 1, 2012 at 8:30 am
I tried Living Social deals twice with totally different results. I got 6 eco friendly cool fashionable bags for market shopping and great gifts for the price of 3…happy. Then I got a very shitty massage in a very dodgy joint that I wouldn’t send anyone to. The girl smelled of smoke and the torture device that was their stereo system was all crackly and keep playing on loop the same bit of a song the whole time. By the time I left there I felt I needed a bath and another massage. Needless to say they didn’t ever get repeat business!!
Just gotta say that I LOVED the first comment by Malcolm…still chuckling!!
Author
Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
June 1, 2012 at 9:01 am
Wow, Yvonne; what a comment! You really know how to paint a word picture. Thanks so much for sharing the rough end of the pineapple with us. And yes, Malcolm is a cack. Maybe he should write a book … Best regards and thanks again! P.
Author
Yvonne
June 1, 2012 at 10:09 am
Flattery will get you everywhere?? Ha ha
Author
Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
June 1, 2012 at 10:18 am
Ha! If it gets you to make a return visit (or, infinitely better, do a guest post for us) the means will well and truly justify the end.
Author
tash hughes
June 1, 2012 at 12:01 pm
I have avoided those deal sites – I love a bargain as much as anybody but cna’t face being bombared with emails and deals all the time and admit to being a bit suspicious of givng them my details ( and shoddy practises as described by Jacci only confirms that feeling).
As a business owner I don’t think my service is really suited to offering deals – and I agree with Jacci again that my clients deserve discoutns more than coupon sites. However, there is now a discount site aimed at B to B which makes it more of an option.
Paul, did they give a reason why your eBook wasn’t accepted? At least they were polite about it but I’m not sure why they were selling themselves to you in a rejection email! I have a plugin on my blog that automates eBook selling and sending, and I believe you can do it via paypal too (I couldn’t see how when I researched it but my designer has since sent me links to shwo you can!) so you don’t have ot have a fancy ecart to save yourself from 2,000 emails a day!
Author
Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
June 5, 2012 at 7:27 am
I hear you, Tash. There’s more than enough emails (and ways to do your dough) flying around already.
I’ll be very interested to see if a B-to-B model gets up. Could be just the thing for us!
The answer you read was all I got. I suspect my offer didn’t go to a committee. I also suspect they’ve got enough fiddle-with-your-body products on their books to last the millennium.
It has been a while since I had my website built. I may look into carts again. Though I do get a kick out of responding personally to each order and adding a surprise bonus. May I enjoy such massive volume that these niceties fly out the window!
With best regards and many thanks for your comment.
Author
Leon Noone
June 1, 2012 at 2:52 pm
G’Day Paul,
This is a ‘make Paul’s day” comment to ensure that you ‘Avagoodweegend’
Yesterday my wife went to a nearby suburb for a routine bloodtest . While there she wandered through the local shops. She found a little shop selling “Persian sweets.” She was looking in the window when a man came out, introduced himself as the owner . He invited her inside, introduced his wife and explained the stock. She was very impressed and spent a few dollars. The stuff tasted great.
They’re still out there Paul! Still out there!
Just look harder…..and ‘avagoodwwegend.
Best Wishes to you and Fonnie
Leon
Author
Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
June 1, 2012 at 4:07 pm
Thank you for that lovely story, Leon. Given we can’t even call the Gulf ‘Persian’ any more, your tale is all the more remarkable.
I shall dry my tears and use the other end of the tissue to clean my glasses. All the better to see the good for the trees. Best regards and have a good’un yerself! P.
Author
Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
June 27, 2012 at 8:02 am
Now HERE’S a happy ending from our man in Port Douglas, Winston Marsh:
http://www.winstonmarsh.com.au/2012/06/half-a-million-bucks-in-two-weeks/
Author
Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
July 10, 2012 at 12:13 pm
Further reading:
http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/complaints-about-online-vouchers-double-20120709-21rt0.html
Author
Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
July 12, 2012 at 8:19 am
With whom do you agree here?
http://www.theage.com.au/national/this-cosmetic-surgeon-wants-others-to-advertise-in-a-responsible-manner-20120711-21wax.html