BBB offers Advice for Making the Most of Group Buying Online

Online, February 26, 2010 (Newswire.com) - RALEIGH, N.C. (February 26, 2010) - Better Business Bureau serving Eastern North Carolina (www.bbb.org) offers advice to consumers interested in saving money by utilizing group buying opportunities online.

Online coupon access increased 92 percent in 2009, according to a recent study by Inmar, Inc., and redemption of Internet deals increased 360 percent. Last year businesses experienced the first increase in consumer's coupon redemption in 17 years, and with the economic state still in limbo, many more consumers are looking to take advantage of these deals available through group buying sites.

Group buying sites offer daily deals online for consumers to purchase services and products at reduced prices. Discounts are available through different sites for everything from theatre tickets to meals for consumers who sign up within a limited time frame. After the time ends for people to sign up for a deal, the vouchers are sent to the purchaser by email or mail.

"Group buying is not new, but more recently we have seen more sites offering this opportunity online, including a few in the Raleigh-Durham market," said Beverly Baskin, President & CEO of BBB serving Eastern North Carolina.

BBB offers the following advice for consumers to avoid pitfalls of group buying that may cost them more money in the long-run:

Comparison shop. Just because a site provides a discount does not mean that it is the best deal you can find online.

Understand everything included in your purchase. Read the fine print to ensure that you know what you are buying before you sign up with the group. Make sure you know the expiration date of a discount voucher, the restrictions, and if the deal includes tips or fees. If you do sign up for a deal, make sure you are aware of any subscriptions or additional expenses which are included that you may not expect.

Follow up on the deal in a timely manner. Make sure that you use your discount as soon as possible to avoid any expiration dates and make sure that you don't get caught in the rush of people cashing in on the same deal. In some cases, hundreds of consumers will be trying to redeem the same voucher within a restricted time period.

Understand the rules of the site. Some sites allow you to back out of your commitment before the time period ends, but it may require a request in writing.

How do you receive the discount or an additional discount? Some sites require a certain number of consumers to sign up before the discount can be claimed by everyone. On other sites additional participants could increase the value of a discount. Sharing the deal with your friends could help increase your chance of receiving the deal.

Research the company. If a deal sounds too good to be true, it just may be. Make sure you research the company offering the discount at bbb.org to ensure that you are doing business with a reliable company that will honor coupons and guarantees.

Some of the group buying sites that have gained popularity locally include:
• Groupon.com: This site is currently a BBB Accredited Business based in Chicago, but with a daily deal specific to Raleigh-Durham.
• Twongo.com: Twongo is a new site local to the Raleigh-Durham market and is not currently a BBB Accredited Business.
• eSwarm.com: eSwarm is not currently a BBB Accredited Business.

For more information on a specific group buying site, visit bbb.org.