Groupon Clone Google Offer? No Thanks

Posted by taewoo on January 22, 2011 Leave a comment (0) Go to comments

Google is cloning Groupon after its failed attempt at buying out Google at ridiculously low valuation of $6 billion. What is it called? Google Groupon.

I am no internet guru, and I don’t know much. But here’s what I do know from doing lots of local internet marketing for small retailers around the country, and trying to run my own deal site for pet owners (i.e. Groupon for pet owners).

Google is high tech. Groupon is high touch.

Google is mostly run by engineers who don’t talk to the customers. Groupon is run mostly by sales people who do nothing but talk to customers.

Google has close to zero customer support, even if you spend $100k/mo. on their adwords. They have an awesome 1 out of 5 rating for their super dope customer support.

If I’m a small business owner, tech doesn’t mean shit to me. All that matters is: will a customer walk through that door? if so, how many? how many of them will be repeat buyers?

If Google offer succeeds, good for them. My guess is.. this will be another of Google’s attempt at stealing lunch from their competitors.. like they tried with Twitter (Wave), Orkut (Facebook), Video (Youtube), Dodgeball (Foursquare), Buzz (Twitter, Facebook, Digg, etc.).

All cynicism aside.. Google can succeed at it, if they spent more money on customer support.

Retailers (clients, friends & family who are in retail) ask me for recommendation. I would not recommend Google Offer exactly because of my previous (really really BAD) experience with Google customer support.