Groupon

My experience with Groupon occured after an experience with the online course provider that I purchased a voucher from.

I purchased a Groupon deal (which I will NEVER do again btw- so dodgy) for a course with e-careers the other day after reading all of the fine print. The fine print stated that it would cost $15 extra for certificates to be provided, and exam fees were not included. I went to e-careers to find approx exam fee costs and could find nothing. I called the customer service to find out how much extra and was told that that information would be sent through once I was enrolled, but they didn't have the exact costs at that time. I was placated by an English voice, and polished customer service. Dumb of me.

I received my voucher and went in to redeem on their website. I got an email saying I would receive a confirmation email and further enrollment information in 3 days time.

The night of redemption I get an email from ‘Scott S' saying the following: "I understand that you have recently redeemed a course with us. The reason for my email is that we have the foundation exam at $440.00. And we have had a customer who has paid a deposit of $130.00 but is unable to pay the remaining balance, This means we have the 1 foundation exam at just $310.00 instead of $440.00′.

I write back and ask for all additional costs, and he calls me straight away and tells me that there is a further exam fee of $800+' plus a coursebook that MUST be bought through them, and then he tries to get me to pay the $310 right there and then quite pushy, as the deal will run out as soon as we are off the phone! I'm not even enrolled or have yet to see anything related to the course at this stage. I refused and he was quite rude saying ‘this is what you signed up for'. I disagreed and said I needed more time to think as I was unprepared for these significant costs so suddenly. He then told me that I had 6 months to complete the training and pay all extra costs before I got anything from them. Left a sour feeling in my mouth. I am now going through a PayPal dispute to see if I can get my money back as I think that the fine print was misleading and really don't appreciate the "car salesman" to "shakedown" tactics used by e-careers.

The rude little cow from Groupon customer service told me that it was "my own fault so they wouldn't refund me for 'change of mind'" and that next "time I should make sure that I call the vendor and get the answers before I commit to buy." when I told her what the vendor had said to me on the phone, she sid "I doubt that!'" and basically, it is "no longer our problem". Never again!

Looking for an unbeatable deal on massage therapy and thought I found it on Groupon. I mistakenly believed BodyWork Boutique had a location very near my home yet I couldn't verify this until I purchased the $49 Groupon (sneaky, sneaky) and upon doing so, of course discovered I had to make a 40 mile round trip drive to the OTHER location. 40 miles? For a MASSAGE? Not this girl, not when there are therapists galore within a 5 mile radius of my home. Naturally after wasting too much time figuring all this out, Groupon was already in possession of my $49 and was in no hurry to give me a refund. They gaily informed me I have a $49 Groupon Bucks credit to use for another fabulous Groupon deal but this isn't what I wanted. I wanted the $49 credited back to my credit card and made my desire quite clear only no one seemed to be listening. Like I was speaking Greek when I asked for my money back. Having no other choice but to pick up the phone and call them-- e-mails were getting me nowhere-- I had to Google Groupon's customer service phone number as it is impossible to find it on their website. Of course they were closed but did manage to have a live chat with one of their reps. She also was delighted to inform me I had $49 in Groupon Bucks to put toward another amazing Groupon deal. I was beginning to feel I was in the internet Twilight Zone and told her-- AGAIN, IN PLAIN ENGLISH--that I didn't WANT Groupon Bucks, that I'd never use Groupon again! She finally seemed to comprehend and told me in 3-10 business days I'd have a refund to my credit card. This statement always baffles me-- how they get my money in less than 10 minutes but how it takes up to 10 BUSINESS DAYS to get my money back! Very unpleasant, disappointing first experience with this sneaky site, will never use it again and I advise others to beware, beware, beware.

THEY ARE SIMPLY THIEVES. IF YOU DON'T BUY THEIR ADVERTISING PACKAGE THEY WILL WRITE A BAD REVIEW ABOUT YOU THAT LOOK LIKE IT IS FROM A CUSTOMER

I purchased a spa voucher as a gift for someone back in November of 2016. In january the person gave me a call stating they have been trying to get a hold of the number groupon provided us with to make an appoitnment, but they never answered. My cousin went on to say that she found the spa on facebook and called the number on file, but still no answer. I then called groupon to explain all this and they told me that i was not able to get a refund because it was not within the 3 days of purchase. I got upset and they decided to take my claim into the next process which is a team that contacts the merchant and lets them know to give me a call. Miraculously, groupon somehow is able to speak to them within the same day that i call and advises me that the nerchant will be calling me in three days, if not they will move on go the next step. I said okay and hung up. The three days arrived and their next step happened to be the same step repeated. I do not believe that they even called the mercahnt since we had tried calling since Novemver and all of a sudden they get through after one phone call. They also didnt know that one of the numbers that they provided me with was out of service but apparently they had called them? GROUPON HAS THE WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY DO NOT REFUND AND THEY HAVE FAKE THINGS TO PURCHASE. Looking into suing them after seeing many reviews with my same issue.

I have bought many coupons here. It truly saves my money. Will keep using it

Saved a lot of money with a coupons, great deals there I must say <3

Really bad customer service! They are not sending the items and do NOT accept it...

Had a terrible experience at a restaurant and Groupon refunded my money! Good customer service.

I have bought many things off Groupon & if I have ANY issues they give me a refund (only to their website) but I always find something great to buy.

Groupon sucks a bunch of $#*!s! Will never order from them again! Shipment never arrived!

Great deals, I am very happy to have discovered groupon. Makes finding deals real easy.

Was my favorite clothing site in 2014. What happened? I loved the old Ideeli site.

You do get what you pay for if it seems too good to be true.

Great products at great prices but you have to act quick because they go fast!

Always a "surprise". You never know what you get, gotta pay attention to the details...

SOB'S! I purchased a to night getaway to MONT TREMBLANT for 199$, talked to the vendor's reps and they said its and extra 50$ a night for the weekend x2 days fri-sat = 100 + 45$ taxes 145$ +199=345 regular 398$@ 50% groupon! ITS NOT 50% off! Anyways I already knew that, but they had NO dates for me too book and the groupon expires in march 2014, so naturally I called the vendor to get a refund, the vendor replied with "you contact groupon to get a refund" I contacted groupon they were sooooooo RUDE, I couldn't barely understand their language, I asked them to refund me as the voucher was never redeemed and I just purchased it today a few hours ago, they said, "no refund". Im like? Wtf, what do you mean, "no refund", they said, its not refundable? EXCUSE ME? It says in their UNIVERSAL FINE PRINT - "1.2. A refund may be issued if the voucher was not redeemed, expired, or the code was not provided to the Partner." THE VOUCHER WAS JUST PURCHASED TODAY AND NEVER USED! And they wont give me a refund, F-THAT, my fiance went straight to the bank to do a chargeback, they can go straight to hell, every last one of them! NEVER AGAIN! NEVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR AND they wouldnt let me speak to a manager, can you believe that? TRASH!

1- I contacted Groupon repeatedly and all I received were your automated responses. I sent you exact tracking info and you still ignored my plea for support.
2- A shipping label was created on the day after I purchased the item and it still did not ship as I was told by you and the shipper. Blatant lies. The USPS never received until today. I cannot tell you how it makes me feel when companies treat you like a NUMBER instead of a HUMAN BEING. I called a customer service number to try and explain it but I found out you SHUT OFF all customer support numbers? Why? To hind from your customers who REALLY need you?
3-I Tried the customer support ON-LINE chat that stated representatives are standing by? Yet another LIE. Your website states you are there but you try they say they are available? Which one is it?
4-Your company is supposed to be our advocate in all things through your site but you do nothing when someone needs you. Nothing but wait until the issue just goes away on it's on. I am DONE with your company and your supposed support. I am posting these comments on EVERY SITE I CAN FIND to get out the truth about you company. I am going to email it to my friends and I am going to post every bulletin board I can log on to.
Your COMPANY HAS FORGOTTEN WHO MADE YOU A COMPANY "THE CUSTOMERS".
5-Convently, you send me a review after the item finally shipped? What a coincidence huh? This could not be staged at all?
People need you when we need you and we actually need you to read what is sent to you not trust the third party sender over your loyal customers. Thank you for doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO HELP ME WITH MY ISSUE! It meant a lot to me.

2nd time this year, can't call the assholse, TRY and get live agent HA HA FINALLY. USE AMAZON! THEY RESOLVE YOUR PROBLEM I UNDER A MINUTE.

EACH PRODUCT I HAVE RECEIVED TURNED OUT TO BE THE WORSE CHINESE QUALITY I HAVE EVER USED, STOPPED BUYING FROM IT.

Groupon states all over its website that the value that you pay for one of their deals (and I'm very aware that "value paid" is not the same as the "promotional value") NEVER EXPIRES. When I contact the business owner, she will only honor half the value paid. I reach out to Groupon to resolve this issue. They say they will contact the business owner and get back to me within 72 hours. I've had major issues with Groupon's customer service before (I tried contacting them about one simple issue, and EACH TIME THEY RESPOND, IT'S A DIFFERENT CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVE WHO HAS NO IDEA OR RECORD OF WHAT IS GOING ON so the issue never gets resolved. They just take you through an endless loop of one outsourced rep after another. When it does get "resolved," it's usually through Groupon credit. Everyone knows American Apparel went out of business - still no refund issued for their Groupon, only credit. What am I supposed to do with credit for a company who I never want to use again?)

So I ask what will happen if no one contacts me (response: I contact them); but how will they know what's going on? AND THIS IS THE RESPONSE THAT REALLY ANNOYED ME: "But let me ask, why didn't you used this way back 7years ago?" I respond "Why do you even need to ask this question... Groupon states everywhere on their website that the value paid never expires. I'm not saying this. Groupon is... So the answer to your question shouldn't even matter." In turn, they respond with "Is there anything else I can assist you today?" and instead of waiting for an answer, THEY END THE CHAT.

I asked for a record of the chat. They assured me that they'd give me a record. Of course they didn't, so I had to take screenshots of our entire online conversation. CUSTOMER SERVICE IS APPALLING. Despicable company with unethical practices.

I am VERY VERY disappointed in Groupon and the way they are handling my experience. I am a frequent Groupon buyer, and on Sat Jun 2nd me and my husband were out looking for somewhere to eat. So of course I pull up Groupon, while he is looking for somewhere to park. I set the phone in my lap immediately after the Groupon App was pulled up, to help my husband hunt for parking spots. After we finally decide to park in the parking garage about ten min later I pick my phone back up from my lap only to see that somehow I had purchased a laptop that was more than I had in my bank account. I immediately searched for a way to undo what my lap had accidently just done. Nowhere on the App do I see a way to Cancel or anything and the customer service shows to only be open M-F which does not help me at this moment. So it says that email support is 24/7 and I will receive an email back within 24 hours. So I send email and do not get a very helpful response only to say it's too late and that I can return after I receive it... Also stating that I could have edited my order(which is not on the app) or could have called customer service before two hours after my purchase to cancel. Although I don't know how that is possible since the funds were pending out of my account about 30 min after the mistaken purchase. Monday morning comes around and I call customer service to talk with a Matt N. He only tells me that he can do nothing for me but help me return my purchase. I ask him how it is so easy to purchase from the app since my phone was sitting in my lap, only for him to insinuate that I was a liar and made the purchase on purpose since the app confirms with you three times before it goes through... I ask about the 3 over draft charges I inquired since this purchase was done by mistake and hoping Groupon would go above and beyond for their customers only to find out that since they did not charge me the overdraft fees they cannot help with them... When I requested to speak with a manager Matt N. Tells me the only manager available is not available and can give me a call back, with no time frame as well as he told me the manager would not be able to assist me(I am still waiting on the apparent call back). Well nice to know your sensitive app, that should have a code or something required before you are allowed to purchase, can just make a purchase and mess up my life and my finances and Groupon not care to help out their loyal customers. So Bye Bye App and Groupon because if my kids had my phone and made a purchase by accidently pressing the screen I can't afford to have you around at all. Thanks for not helping out at all.

Have been with Groupon for years and have used the same credit card (Amex) for years. Placed an order for 4 items one night (on/about 9/28/2016).

SEVEN DAYS (7) LATER (10/5/2016), I receive an email saying there was a problem processing the Order No. Xxxx. (I now realize I never received a confirmation of the order because I didn't have an order number before.) WHY DID IT TAKE 7 DAYS TO NOTIFY ME OF A PROBLEM WITH THE ORDER?

The email said they had a problem with the credit card and to please check card on file and update if necessary. Using their link, I did just that. I saw there was no misinformation or error in the credit card info. Also, my Groupon account shows no record of this order even though Groupon assigned it an Order #.

Nothing. No OK or confirmation of receipt.

I reentered the card information. Nothing happens for a couple of days. So I emailed an inquiry through their Contact link. In fact I send several emails. No response until days later when I get a series of canned responses which have nothing to do with my problem.

I finally call and get through to an offshore "customer service rep". I explain I checked my credit card account and there is nothing wrong on my end.

By now, almost 2 weeks after I placed the order, one of the items is no longer available.

To make a long story short: I end up having to repeat the story of my order problem to 4 different people, including a "supervisor" who did not call me back in the time frame promised and was about as helpful as a plate of cold noodles. So I lose out on the item my husband really wanted and they can't even acknowledge that maybe there is a problem at Groupon's end.

I am now so frustrated and angry at the waste of time with this series of useless "service reps" I cancelled my Groupon account entirely.

Groupon USED to offer good value for some well-chosen products/services and dining at local restaurants.

Now Groupon is no more than a "middle man" marketer/sales for sometimes shoddy, goods and services. They're just order takers. They refer you back to the vendor/merchant. Groupon has become too big, too disorganized and too far flung to do, or care to do, anything to help customers when there is a problem. Heck, they can't even admit when the problem is with them.

4 hours to change oil!
AND when it's ready the mechanic realized he put the wrong oil filter in it.