Groupon's "Future"

Groupon is a popular website that allows users to sign up and then receive coupon offers in their inbox. Groupon members can decide if they want to purchase the Groupon, which will allow them to pay one price but get more than they are paying for. For example, a massage company may advertise for a $150 massage, but the Groupon user would only have to pay $75.

Groupon has launched a new service called Groupon Stores, where businesses can create pages where fans of the businesses can follow the company and receive deals.  The businesses can add their own details about the company and also their own deals, therefore they wont have to wait in line for their deal to be listed on Groupon. 

At first, I thought this seemed like a good idea. Then I really got to thinking about it. Wouldn’t a company that has enough presence on the Internet be the first to want to be part of Groupon Stores? A business that doesn’t have a good presence on the Internet would probably opt for a more, well known site like Facebook or Twitter to drive traffic. Groupon is widely known, but there are more Facebook and Twitter users than there are Groupon members. But if a business that has a good presence on the Internet decided to be a Groupon Store, well wait, why would they? Don’t they already have enough to keep up with? Theses businesses already have to update their deals on Facebook, Twitter, etc., and usually on a daily basis. Wouldn’t adding another site to keep up with only hinder the progress they’re trying to make on frequently visited sites?  What consumer wants to check tons of sites to see what the deal of the day is? It’s much easier for a Groupon member to just check their email to see what today’s deal is, rather than go to the site, search for a business they hope is having a deal and go from there. 

http://mashable.com/2010/10/23/groupon-stores/

Give a gift...from home?

Starbucks has done it again. They have taken an idea proposed to them via their community website, My Starbucks Idea, and brought it to life.

Now, anyone wanting to purchase a Starbucks card can do so from their home or office; or even from a Starbucks, but they don’t have to wait in line to do it. Starbucks’ Facebook page now has a “Starbucks Card” tab. This is an application that allows the companies Facebook friends to pick a friend, pick a card, pick an amount and pay for a gift card all while on Facebook. Buyers can either create a new card for someone, or reload their old cards, then brag about what they have done in a status update.

This was an extremely clever idea and it’s a great thing that Starbucks implemented this suggestion. The fact that Starbucks actually takes the time to read the hundreds of thousands of postings the website receives speaks volumes about the company. Putting someone’s idea into action should make people realize that Starbucks is a company that truly does care about the people that come in, whether it be daily or just once a year. The idea was proposed in March of 2008 and had racked up 42,000 votes. The idea to “give a gift” through Facebook is the eighth most popular idea of all time. 

Another reason this is a good idea is because someone could give their friend a Starbucks card. This friend may not be a regular at Starbucks, but will go more frequently now that they have been given free money to use on something they probably drink at home daily anyway. This could bring in more non-Starbuck’s drinkers and convert them to become a regular.

More information can be found at Starbucks’ Facebook page, the companies website or:

http://mashable.com/2010/10/14/starbucks-card-facebook-app/

The Do's & Dont's of Craigslist

When doing a search on Craigslist,  the last thing I would think I would find is someone looking to be raped. This is probably, because I wouldn’t dare to venture into the “Personals” section. But if I had in December of 2009 that is exactly what I would have found.

Last December Sarah, her last name cannot be found, went on Craigslist for the first time after she was told about a certain ad. She found the ad that had her picture on it and the title that read, “Need an aggressive man with no concern or regard for women. If interested, contact Sarah.”  Sarah states that she called the police but they told her they had no control over Craigslist and then suggested she contact Craigslist.  She then called Craigslist, reported the ad and they removed it immediately.  The listing that had been posted by Sarah’s ex-boyfriend, and unfortunately had already been seen by men willing to do what the ad asked; fulfill this woman’s desire to be raped.

Sarah’s ex-boyfriend and ex-Marine, Jebidiah Stipe received 161 responses to his posting and had set up several dates and times for them to go to Sarah’s house.  Ty McDowell was the first person to make it to Sarah’s house. He pushed her into her house by her shoulders, put a blindfold around her eyes, tied her wrists and ankles with rope, ripped off her clothes and began to rape her. Sarah was no match to the man that held a knife to her throat. 

I did some research and this wasn’t the first case of violence on Craigslist.  After a case of a masseuse who posted an ad was killed, Craigslist decided to remove the “erotic services” category and add an “adult services” section. Craigslist also claimed that they would now screen all advertisements before they are posted. Upon doing some searching on Craigslist myself, this clearly isn’t the case.

Anytime anyone wants to buy something cheap, whether it be a couch or a set of dishes, they’ll search on Craigslist. This is the go-to place to find a good bargain. Craigslist posters offer good bargains so Craigslist as a company should return the favor by only allowing “good” posting to be displayed. Craigslist is known by so many people and viewed by even more. This company really needs to realize what they are allowing to happen by offering an “adult services” category. People aren’t posting ads to rape and murder people on a light pole, they’re doing it on Craigslist and this shouldn’t be allowed. There is no need for a company that is capable of doing so much good, to allow their name to be drug through the mud by posting heinous acts.   Craigslist needs to recognize what is going on and put an end to it. Open your eyes Craigslist, none of your recent publicity is good. 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/13/craigslist-exotic-ads-to_n_202896.html


http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Craigslist-Rape-Victim/2