tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14963913.post6194689078534305378..comments2023-10-27T20:27:57.900-04:00Comments on Kid Dynamite's World: Groupon CEO Andrew Mason Has Huge BallsKid Dynamitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17475987512856310577noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14963913.post-46441507169977459922010-12-11T12:37:56.009-05:002010-12-11T12:37:56.009-05:00My wife thinks Groupon is the best thing ever, whi...My wife thinks Groupon is the best thing ever, which surprised me because she isn't usually wrapped up in all of the hot trends. That was enough to make me wonder what the possibilities were. If they really are getting some highly customized offers out there that people AREN'T ignoring,<br /><br />So I signed up, describing myself as a 40-something male in our huge metro area. My initial offers were: knitting supplies, $50 off my next manicure/pedicure, and half-price pole-dancing lessons. I am not making this up. <br /><br />I think try should taken the $6 billlion.justafednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14963913.post-57377077970593125292010-12-07T15:21:44.220-05:002010-12-07T15:21:44.220-05:00Groupon, LivingSocial and our local paper all offe...Groupon, LivingSocial and our local paper all offer a daily deal email where I am. I honestly look at all 3 (and honestly, because I've bought from all 3 have 3 separate emails coming from each of them). The deals are comparable (with Groupon having national/online deals while the other 2 are truly local) and I don't distinguish between them. I generally buy those from places I know, though I have a twinge of regret using a discount at a place I frequent.<br /><br />My point is the barrier to entry is low, but the opportunity to scale like Groupon has is limited. The utility of it will get diluted over time. My secondary point is how many of those "active user" numbers are duplicate email addresses like mine?Gregghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15510228306666781112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14963913.post-38665303122239023502010-12-06T01:32:48.997-05:002010-12-06T01:32:48.997-05:00Kid,
Investing in a service like Youtube is all ...Kid, <br /><br />Investing in a service like Youtube is all about the long term cash flow. And Goo is currently getting a better return than if they had the 1.6 bil in the bank.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14963913.post-30571846434501247522010-12-04T13:53:33.531-05:002010-12-04T13:53:33.531-05:00Oh and this guy is suing groupon for stealing his ...Oh and this guy is suing groupon for stealing his "new idea" about this fabulous invention called wholesale:<br /><br />http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2010/12/03/ewinwin-sues-groupon-for-patent.html<br /><br />emphasis mine: <br /><br />The company’s founder is Gregory Mesaros, whom the lawsuit said is considered by many to be the <b> definitive expert</b> on the applied theories of demand aggregation, group buying and dynamic pricing. Mesaros founded the company based on the idea that grouping buyers, as well as competitors, together to achieve economies of scale benefitted everyone in the supply chain, the suit said.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11552651364016310445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14963913.post-56081502024405584752010-12-04T13:42:18.042-05:002010-12-04T13:42:18.042-05:00Another thing that groupon and their wannabe compe...Another thing that groupon and their wannabe competitors seem to think is valuable is their intellectual property:<br /><br />http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-03/groupon-ipcom-nokia-bayer-icann-intellectual-property.html<br /><br />"Closely held Ewinwin Inc., based in Tampa, said it has been operating since 1999 and maintains a site where businesses promote their products and set prices based on the number of customers who place orders."<br /><br />Our patent system is a complete joke. Some how these people seem to have patented the laws of supply and demand that have been existence for eternity. WTF.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11552651364016310445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14963913.post-57817635225176251132010-12-04T13:40:25.443-05:002010-12-04T13:40:25.443-05:00Brian - I very much agree about Facebook, and I wa...Brian - I very much agree about Facebook, and I want to clarify that Groupon's salesforce sells Groupon to the merchants - it doesn't sell the deals to Groupon's users...Kid Dynamitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17475987512856310577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14963913.post-75327453034737501352010-12-04T13:35:36.802-05:002010-12-04T13:35:36.802-05:00I can't believe groupon turned this deal down....I can't believe groupon turned this deal down. I tend to agree with those that think there is a low barrier to entry. <br /><br />I've spoken with someone who is <br />familiar with the deal (or lack there of at this point). He said what groupon comes to the table with is the 2,000 (or mabybe 20k) strong sales force that knows the other half of the problem that the Silicon Valley guys don't: the people who own the local restaurants/businesses. I have a very low opinion of sales people in general, but his opinion may have some weight. <br /><br />On the other hand, I can see how Facebook could leverage their huge user base to create a FacePoun pretty quickly. I'm sure almost all of the local restaurant/business owners who would use groupon also have facebook accounts. The amount of relevant facetime (no pun intended) a coupon would get on Facebook would significantly out weigh the lack of a good "salesforce" IMHO. Its almost like the old Netscape / Internet Explorer thing. Facebook controls what a lot of people see everyday/hour/second so if/when they get in the game, everything will change.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11552651364016310445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14963913.post-51011292901770585612010-12-04T12:17:34.455-05:002010-12-04T12:17:34.455-05:00I would have pulled the trigger on that sale so fa...I would have pulled the trigger on that sale so fast and been on a yacht littered w/hookers and blow so fast your head would spin.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14963913.post-69721501495806473352010-12-04T08:43:00.207-05:002010-12-04T08:43:00.207-05:00Dobbs - is Youtube worth more than what GOOG paid ...Dobbs - is Youtube worth more than what GOOG paid for it? They still have no clue how to monetize it... I didn't think it was any sort of slam dunk purchase for them so far.Kid Dynamitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17475987512856310577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14963913.post-91578171495531928712010-12-04T00:28:50.978-05:002010-12-04T00:28:50.978-05:00Kind of refreshing for these guys to turn down the...Kind of refreshing for these guys to turn down the deal and keep on building their baby. Very Google-like behavior actually. Eschewing the easy buck, and continuing on the 'mission'<br /><br />Anyway - whatever happens, even if its ends up being a bad financial move, I like the attitude.<br /><br />I'm sure a lot of lower level people were praying for the payday, but - would sergey and larry have sold google after 2 years to Microsoft or somebody sitting on cash?<br /><br />I doubt it.<br /><br />Game on.. for nowscharfyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18309882331114382248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14963913.post-49161850508806060562010-12-03T23:19:02.085-05:002010-12-03T23:19:02.085-05:00i absolutely agree. i think their is a certain pri...i absolutely agree. i think their is a certain pricepoint at which it makes sense for the retailer and certain areas where you will get killed. For example i purchased 5 trips to a yoga studio for $25. There was no incremental cost to them and it will bring in some new customers. For restaurants the key is pricepoint - if a high end restaurant does a $30 of food for $15 and the average dinner entree is $25 most people are going to go with a significant other and spend $75 so the restaurant does pretty well - this was the case where I knew the restaurant owners and she did well. Small discount, high average check. <br /><br />Best Groupon ever just happened - $50 at Nordstrom Rack for $25. I bought 3.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14963913.post-19639677396680759132010-12-03T23:12:26.863-05:002010-12-03T23:12:26.863-05:00anon - of course they have to get some repeat bus...anon - of course they have to get some repeat business - I didn't mean to imply that they get none. But by nature, Groupon is targeting a relatively less-desirable type of customer - that's all i meantKid Dynamitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17475987512856310577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14963913.post-25679565585794703822010-12-03T23:06:40.228-05:002010-12-03T23:06:40.228-05:00i've heard different things regarding their cu...i've heard different things regarding their customer base - i use the service all the time, use what i can and rarely go back to the merchant. but i know an upscale restaurant owner who said everyone who came in spent way more then the coupon amount and has had repeat business.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com