Google Offers (Groupon clone)

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Portland is the test market.

http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2011/04/google-groupon-2/

Spurned by daily deal site Groupon, Google is now testing it’s own service for sending users deeply discounted offers for local businesses, starting with Portland.

Yes, it’s YADDS (Yet Another Daily Deal Site), but Google has the advantage of already having both millions of users and advertisers.

Google reportedly tried to buy Groupon for $6 billion in December, only to be rebuffed. Groupon, based in Chicago, exploded in popularity in the recession, likely becoming the fastest-ever billion corporation. After spawning dozens of copy-cat sites, Groupon is now looking to IPO.

The beta of Google Offers is launching in Portland, and a splash screen prompting users to sign up began showing up on Thursday.

Google confirmed that Google Offers is now official.

“Today we launched a marketing campaign inviting Portlanders to sign up for a test of Google Offers — to get great deals delivered right to their inboxes,” a company spokeswoman said by e-mail. “Offers is part of an ongoing effort at Google to make new services that give consumers great deals while helping connect businesses with customers in new ways.”

Google is offering users in five other locations — NYC Downtown,, NYC Midtown, MYC Uptown, Oakland/East Bay, and San Francisco to sign up as well.

Businesses interested in testing Google Offers can fill out a form to join the beta.

 

[Ed O]

Groupon should have taken the money and run. The space is saturated and is going to shake out with the big players (Google, Facebook) that already have relationships with MASSIVE user bases blowing the little guys out of the water.

Ed O.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

holy shit they turned down 6 billion dollars for their coupon site? lol

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I don't believe Google really offered it, I think groupon leaked it to increase their value and to shock.

If they did turn it down they are idiots.