So, as some of you may know, I own my own business. I have owned it for around 6 months or so, which means we are obviously still quite new. We’re a photography business and do some amazing work. No, really, I’m not just saying that. I would consider us some of the best of the best, and others have agreed. There is currently an article being worked on about us for a hair styling magazine, which came from a stylist we worked with that has worked with A LOT of other photographers. She said that her experience with us was the best she has ever had (or something along those lines). To say the least, it was a pretty huge compliment.
Anyway, that is not the purpose of this post. I want to talk about how ridiculously annoying it is to try to work with Groupon. Yeah, that big huge company with the commercials that a lot of people found offensive during the Superbowl. Well, through one means or another, I decided to try this special coupon phenomenon out. Groupon, being the probably most well known of the companies in that type of business was an obvious first look. So, I applied my business to be on their deals. I got declined. Why? I have no idea. They didn’t say. They just said that we were not approved. I might mention it took them like 3 months to even respond to me about getting denied and it was after I attempted to contact them four or five times through email, phone, etc. Talk about really bad customer service.
Fortunately, I did figure out what I think is the reason. Something simple, something logical, but they didn’t ask, didn’t request, nor let me know what to add or change on our website. Personally, I believe our work speaks for itself. But, I digress. So, that was my first annoyance with them. After all, the company built its success on the back of small businesses, and now it’s like, they just don’t care.
I understand having “High standards,” of course, and being busy, but come on. We have very high standards for ourselves, that is one of the things that pushes us ahead of our competition on the quality of our photographs, but also the experience that you have with us. However, if you’re going to turn someone away, at least have the decency to let them know why. Hell, credit card company’s do that.
Ok, ok, I know it may sound like it was partially my fault on that, and maybe, just maybe it was. But, now, this is the part that really irks me now more than anything. They mailed me a flyer asking me to sign up for their program, “Groupon Now!” and I was like, Oh ok. Sure, I will do that, it sounds like it could be good. (Even though Beget.com already has something similar to it and probably better.) So, I signed myself up and of course, it required some approval thing, which then took quite awhile to get a response. Not as bad as the previous attempt at least.
Anyway, so today I get an email from them saying I have not been approved. I am like, Really? wtf for? They say we don’t have enough reviews across a slew of online search type places, yelp, google, yahoo, and a bunch of other stuff that as far as I can tell is pretty useless unless you have people go there specifically and encourage them to give you a review. We have SOME reviews, and they are all FIVE star rating as of now. More BS is that we don’t have more reviews on most of the sites listed because people don’t have accounts on those sites and aren’t going to go open an account specifically to give us a review!
We have reviews, granted, only about ten or so, but they are on more localized places, other than Google, where we have 4 five star ratings. We have one on Foursquare as well, which Groupon, obviously doesn’t check. We also have quite a few reviews on this great site called “ithinklocal” and those are also all five star ratings. They focus on local businesses only, so that to me is where the reviews are really important. Our reviews are real reviews, all from different clients, except maybe one where they posted on two sources for us.
Now I agree, I would love to get more reviews. Who wouldn’t, right? But in truth, even the people who have said they found us on Google, it wasn’t the reviews that got them to check us out, it was our photographs that are shown on Google search when you find us.
I mean, come on, I could pay people to go write me reviews and open new accounts and flood the review places with great reviews for us. Would that make it so I give the appearance of super quality? Or does our work, when you LOOK at it, since we are a see for yourself type of company, really show the quality of our work.
But apparently, it only matters if you get a review, and the review must be on these certain sites or it is worthless. Really, Groupon? Maybe that’s why you are losing money like crazy. Instead of supporting the small business types that helped make you who you are, you keep on working with those corporations, like Sears, who offer bogus deals that sound better than they are, and ignore the real professionals.
The funny thing is, I have already worked with Groupons competition and they have been great to work with. Two in particular, Tippr.com and Beget.com have been excellent. They actually review our work, not make us jump through hoops to try to get their attention.
That’s okay though, my success won’t be hindered by Groupon’s blindness. I think their competition’s success will most likely benefit from it though. So, Groupon, here’s my review for you, one star rating! Not that it matters, since, you know, I didn’t put it on Google.
