So what are you planning to get that special someone for Valentine’s Day? Perhaps flowers? Maybe chocolates? It’s all so very blasé, isn’t it?
It’s fair to say that an overnight stay in a romantic hotel; or a meal for two at a classy restaurant; certainly hold more appeal. Of course many of us are limiting our ideas based on our budget – we may all want to take our loved one to Paris, but let’s be honest, picking up some flowers from the supermarket is much more affordable. However, you CAN treat your Valentine for less this year – if you use a daily deals website. And it seems that many of you are planning to do just that.
In love with a deal
According to a survey by Irish voucher code website Moneysaver.ie, 54 per cent of Dubliners are planning to spend more on Valentine’s Day this year compared to 2011 – and many are being smart in their search for a bargain.
The same survey revealed that 72 per cent will use daily deal websites for their gift purchases believing that they can find better deals online than they can in store. It’s no surprise either given some of the amazing offers that can be found – including spa days, meals at restaurants, hotel stays and even trips abroad.
If you’re not familiar with the daily deals concept it’s actually straightforward. Many daily deals are “group buying” offers, with websites offering their “deal of the day” – usually a significant discount they have negotiated with a local business.
If enough people sign up for that offer within the timeframe, then the deal is “on” and everyone benefits from the discount – but if not enough people sign up then the deal is “off” and nobody is charged: although nobody gets the deal either. This benefits consumers because they can potentially pick up a real bargain; while it also benefits businesses who gain from the promotion with users encouraged to tell their friends about the deal to ensure it goes ahead. Of course not all the deals on these websites are “group buying” offers – some are deals that can be bought instantly by individuals and could include everything from teeth whitening kits and massages; to unique experiences like a day in a recording studio or go-karting.
All the deals in one place
Of course the daily deals concept has become so popular that it’s hard to keep track of all the websites that have emerged – some of the big names include: Groupon, Livingsocial, Kgbdeals and more. However, if you want to see all the deals in one place and in one email to save yourself some time, check out daily deals aggregator d3als.