For a year, Josh Stevens says he will survive on nothing but Groupons. The Groupon challenge is a dare the online coupon business made earlier this year. Groupon put up $ 100,000 to see if someone was willing to survive off nothing but Groupon coupons for a year. Stevens went for it. He’s about 25 percent through his year travelling the nation in pursuit of Groupon offers for life’s necessities as the “Goupawn. In Stevens’ Groupon lifestyle, life’s basic needs have incorporated carriage rides, yoga classes and plenty of food.
A year on coupons tracked in Groupawn blog
Former corporate auditor Stevens accepted the Groupon challenge in May and left his cubicle behind. CNN reports that he embarked on his quest with nothing but the shoes, socks and underwear he wore, covered by a paper suit made of Groupons. He also received a laptop, camera, internet card and phone from Groupon.Stevens isn’t allowed to use cash, checks or credit cards, but he has all the online coupons a person could possible use. He must travel solo and only five visits from family or friends, lasting no more than a day, are allowed.As he barters his way across the country using Groupon coupons, his exploits could be reviewed in the Groupawn blog.
Groupawn guy goes after large cash prize
Stevens wins $ 100,000 if he completes the challenge. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel talked with Stevens last weekend.He was passing through in pursuit of the next Groupon deal. Stevens told the Sentinel he thought his travels would involve a lot more bartering on the streets. However, he said that once people hear about what he’s up to, they want to help.A little more than 3 months into his Groupons quest, he arrived in Milwaukee after chasing deals in several other cities including in New York, Philadelphia and Washington D.C..
Purchasing to the Groupon business model
Daily bargains offered by local merchants are sold as Groupons on the company’s site. The site offers Groupon deals in more than 165 markets in 22 nations to 11 million subscribers. The deal becomes valid when enough individuals buy in. If the quota is reached, buyers get links to print out their Groupons. If the deal doesn’t fly, the offer is canceled. Buyers aren’t charged for trying to money in.
Groupons can bite the hand that feeds
The Groupon business model has proven so lucrative that at least 500 copycat online websites have emerged, according to the Chicago Tribune. But Groupon coupons can backfire for a business promoting its products and services . The Tribune reports that a growing list of local merchants have been overwhelmed by the Groupon response. A Chicago bagel company’s Groupon promotion cost $ 3 for an $ 8 voucher good for any menu item. Groupon subscribers bought nearly 10,000 coupons. The bagel shop netted about $ 15,000 on food that would have sold at a regular price of about $ 80,000, after splitting the take with Groupon.
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CNN
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
jsonline.com
Chicago Tribune
chicagotribune.com
