Want To Save Money? Customers Cash In On Coupons For Local Businesses With Free Online Service

It’s an easy way to save some cash: a website that sends you daily deals on local businesses. “Groupon” has been around since November of 2008 in cities across the nation, but it just started offering coupons for businesses in the borderland about a week and a half ago.

Kinley’s House is a coffee shop in West El Paso. Employee Michael Ortega told ABC-7 several customers were happy to see a coupon for Kinley’s offered on Groupon’s site. “People say, ‘This is great! I was really excited when I heard about this,'” he said.

In the span of 24 hours, 92 people snatched up the coupon, which gives customers $10 worth of food and beverages for only $5– that’s a 50% discount.

“It’s amazing what a little coupon can do!” said Ortega.

Here’s how it works: users can sign up to receive daily e-mails from Groupon directly to their inbox. If a customer is interested in the deal of the day, they can purchase it in advance by providing their credit card information. Here’s the twist: enough people have to buy the coupon for it to be valid. If the purchase quota is not met, the deal is cancelled and you will not be charged for the coupon. Groupon makes money by taking a cut of the featured business’s profits, which is why they want to ensure a coupon will be profitable.

“People print (the coupon) out from the website and then they bring it here and we redeem it,” said Ortega.

Groupons run the gamut. Past deals have included 92% off a newspaper subscription, 50% off a gym membership, and a 60% discount at an Italian restaurant.

Dean Cyr owns a small family carpet cleaning business in El Paso called “Mighty Clean.” He told ABC-7 they’ve received about 15 new clients thanks to Groupon. “It’s been a really good experience,” he said.

Cyr admits many businesses that offer deals on Groupon lose profits due to the deep discounts they must offer in order to be featured on the site. He said he doesn’t mind because the word of mouth Groupon generates is worth it.

Back at Kinley’s, Ortega agrees. “(People) hear about it and then they tell another person and then all of a sudden you get a herd of people coming in and asking about these coupons,” he said.

Click here to visit Groupon’s site for El Paso.