How Does Groupon Work for Holidays/City Breaks?

[Scunner]

Any advice welcome. I guess I am nearly alone in not knowing the answer, but I have never used them for travel.

I have seen a good deal for a city break and it has price bands for different periods of the year. I choose the number of nights, I get that, and the period within which I would want to take the break (in this case a six week period). But prior to 'buying' the deal I am not asked which dates I want within that 6 week period. It says that purchasers should confirm availability for their chosen dates prior to ordering - but how? Check with who?

I don't want to pay out, only to find that the dates I want are not available.

Confused   

[echogirl1]

I am always being pestered by e-mails from groupon  but have always been put off by the small print.  Would be glad to hear of any successful people who have taken up their offers.

[marina]

Have only bought once from Groupon, a £10 M & S voucher for £5.  Bit of a no-brainer really and worked fine.

My daughter and her husband have bought loads of things from them and only once had a bad experience.  She's had hairdresser deals, a lovely new mattress, meal deals. They're usually very pleased with what they've got.

Can't unfortunately help Scunner with his problem though, don't know the answer to that one.

[Scunner]

Yes the product deals seem straightforward, I don't know how the holiday/breaks ones work as you only choose a period of time and at no stage are asked which dates within that period you actually want, prior to paying for it. We certainly couldn't just take any old dates, in fact we would want just one set of specific dates.

[loz]

  She's had hairdresser deals,
Can't unfortunately help Scunner with his problem though, don't know the answer to that one.

I don't think he will be bothering with that one ;-)   

I looked at one this morning, very tempting, £89 for 2 night for 2 people in Edinburgh hotel, bed & Breakfast wine and late check out, can be taken any time upto end of November but not available during July, so tempted, but Like Scunner not sure how they work.

[lynne]

There should be a contact number for the company offering the deal.  We haven't bought any that involved travel but we have had some hotel getaways.  We are usually quite flexible when we can go so have always just bought it, phoned the number to book a date, printed off the voucher and off we go.  I have noticed with the Pontins ones that are doing the rounds and there is a number to ring before you purchase, you check the date will be available, then you purchase, phone back and book it.  I suspect you could do the same with the travel ones.  Never had a problem with Groupon or the other companies.....

[Toky]

You need to be flexible as they cant always guarantee your dates, as a rule. There's always lots of small print terms and conditions. A great excuse used is ," lack of availabilit for dates requested". Be careful

[Scunner]

Generally, we have no flexibility on dates whatsoever. So thank you all, Groupon sounds like it is not for us.

[bewva]

I booked a driving experience once with Groupon only to find a few weeks later when I tried to secure the date that the circuit were fully booked. I rang Groupon for a refund. I got the refund by way of credit on my account which needed to be used within 6 months or I lost it.

[Jacqui Harvey]

I bumped them off a while ago.  A lot of the things they advertised where over subscribed and it was impossible to get appointments.  The Hotels they advertise are usually the ones with low scores on T.A. and these places are struggling to get bookings..  Any Hotel they advertise, I would advise anyone to look it up on T.A. first.
Lastly, they advertised a dolphin show, which totally put me off them, so I Junked them.. There was a omplaint on here about this matter.
http://www.calis-beach.co.uk/forum/calis_beach_questions_and_information/cheap_dolphin_entrance_groupon_48389.msg289687.html#msg289687