The first Google Offer from Portland just hit my inbox.
Here are the rules for the offer of the day:
Rules that apply to all Google Offers of the Day
In addition to the specific terms listed for each offer, these are the rules that apply to all Google Offers, unless explicitly stated otherwise.
- Cannot be used in conjunction with other coupons, special offers or special discounts.
- Cannot be applied toward shipping fees, tips or gratuities, taxes, or outstanding balances owed.
- Promotional value must be redeemed in one (1) visit. No cash back for partial redemption of promotional value.
- After redemption period, all vouchers may be refundable or redeemable for paid amount.
- All Google Offers are only available in accordance with applicable law.
- You must be of legal drinking age to redeem a Google Offer for alcohol.
How to be a great Google Offers customer
- Calculate your gratuity/tip from of the full value of the product/service, not the discounted amount.
- Note the redemption period. Businesses will expect you to show up between those dates and will staff up accordingly so you have the best experience.
- Tell us what you thought. Go to www.google.com/hotpot to rate the business.
Google now has help files for both businesses and consumers online.
I would like to see this come up here to Seattle. Looks like they are giving Groupon a run for their money. Interesting to see how this works out in the long run. Will Groupon come to wish they had sold out to Google?
Comment by DS (3 comments) — June 1, 2011 @ 3:11 pm
So, did you fly to Portland for your pastries, Mike? Just wondering…
Thanks for reporting on this!
Comment by MiriamEllis (636 comments) — June 2, 2011 @ 2:06 am
@Miriam
I did not but I was tempted to blow the $3 dollars to experience the purchase process and the post purchase emails… but alas frugality won out.
Comment by Mike Blumenthal (1957 comments) — June 2, 2011 @ 8:42 am
Just what small businesses need, another ‘offer’ program. All the more reason for consumers to hold off on purchasing something while they wait for a heavily discounted offer to show up. On the other hand, I’m anxious for my local Mercedes dealership to hook up with one of these deal programs and offer a SLK 350 or C350 for 70+% off.
Comment by Andy Kuiper (232 comments) — June 5, 2011 @ 11:13 am
[...] well versed in the deals arena I wanted to better understand Google’s baby steps with their Offers product. I turned to a number of respected folks, that have more experience in the field than I, to get [...]
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[...] Google Offers, their Groupon competitor, first surfaced in January, with a full blown Offers beta rolling out June 1 in Portland. Google also first rolled out Latitude Check-In Offers at SXSW in March with [...]
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