Groupon, LivingSocial, WagJag and "deal" sites...

[pixelens]

I've seen a few photographers using Groupon to sell their services. The other day in my city I noticed not 1, not 2 but 3 different deals across the different "deal" sites that are around. It really got me to thinking and I did up a post about it and would like further feedback from other photographers.

You can check out the post at Is Groupon making us sell too cheap? | pixelens photography & design and comment there or here.

Looking forward to your thoughts, especially if you've used Groupon or one of the other sites to sell your photography services.

Cheers!
Jason

[bhursey]

Originally Posted by pixelens

I've seen a few photographers using Groupon to sell their services. The other day in my city I noticed not 1, not 2 but 3 different deals across the different "deal" sites that are around. It really got me to thinking and I did up a post about it and would like further feedback from other photographers.

You can check out the post at Is Groupon making us sell too cheap? | pixelens photography & design and comment there or here.

Looking forward to your thoughts, especially if you've used Groupon or one of the other sites to sell your photography services.

Cheers!
Jason

Don't ever do it...

Can we handle another "Groupon" warning post here?

[Jim Bryant]

Wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole. You'll end up doing way too much work for those cheap asses looking for a DEAL!

[pixelens]

Originally Posted by bhursey

Don't ever do it...

Can we handle another "Groupon" warning post here?

I definitely wouldn't do it myself... just trying to see what the justification for some photographers doing it, doesn't make sense to me.

Interesting - before I posted I did a search for "groupon" and nothing was returned. :P

[pixelens]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

Wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole. You'll end up doing way too much work for those cheap asses looking for a DEAL!

Yeah, no doubt...

[bhursey]

They think its a good way to advertise without doing the math.. However if they did the math they would realize it would not be worth it..

[mad editor]

I'm experiencing that kind of mindset in the world of freelance writing. There are people out there who want 500 word stories researched and written in one hour. For a four-hour day (that is supposed to be 4 stories) this guy wanted to pay $20 a day! (I'd use several exclamation points but I have been taught never to use more than one.) I have been writing for a living all my life and someone wants my work for $5 a story? Can you say #$%^&*()?
It seems no one values talent, time, education, experience, and art!

[Biomech]

It seems no one values talent, time, education, experience, and art!

That's slowly starting to change, at least here in the UK. After years of getting screwed by faux internet companies, commercial giants with only the price in mind and bad customer service, people are starting to look for value over price. You ask anyone in the UK about going somewhere like PCWorld and 90% would tell you not a chance. Infact, most of the superstores here are in major trouble. Comet is being restructured and half the management levels have gone, staff are getting banding pay cuts, the DSG Group have been in trouble for years but now Currys and PCWorld are merging into one store. They've spent so long fighting over price, that they've driven themselves out of business. These big places generally sell at a loss but force their extended warranties (pure profit) and they throw around discount to the point that the customers expect it.

..infact, my old man went to buy a laptop the other day with his mrs & daughter. They went to PCWorld, when they refused to do discount he went elsewhere - taking another customer with him. It's like many people have said here in the past, if you start giving away your services for free, people will expect it and you won't last.

[dj-dubai]

ya i think they try to promote on internet, now in these days internet is the best was to promote yourself and business.. so they trying this is good idea

[Pinellas Guy]

Groupon just posted another one...

$12 for Photo Shoot and Collection Package Including Prints and Wall Portrait at ****** ($109.90 Value)

One 10”x13” wall portrait (a $59.95 value), one 8”x10” print, two 5”x7” prints, and eight 2”x3” wallet-size prints (a $49.95 total value).

This is for a 20 min session.