Google preps ‘Google Offers’ Groupon clone, shocks no one

By on Jan 21, 2011 at 11:55 AM
Services January 21, 2011

Google offered up a whopping $6 billion in an effort to acquire local deal vender Groupon last year, but the Internet giant was rebuffed. $6 billion is quite a healthy amount of scratch, but Groupon apparently thought it could take over the world on its own. Of course the massively successful coupon merchant must have known at that time — just as the rest of the world knew — that Google would certainly not leave well enough alone. Enter “Google Offers.” The aptly named service will be Google’s attempt to eat Groupon’s lunch, offering great local deals on, well, lunch — among other things. Restaurant deals, shopping deals and other local deals will be emailed to users each day, and the service will be packed full of opportunities to notify nearby friends of great deals via Facebook, Twitter, Google Buzz and so on. Hit the break for a screen shot of a Google Offers page to see what we have to look forward to, as well as a fact sheet Google is sending to local businesses in an effort to get them on board.

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  • http://twitter.com/livingbasehead Shelton

    Im still waiting for goporn.

    • Anonymous

      Personally, “Groupornâ„¢” wouldn’t be a bad idea. And, yes, I’ve trademarked it!

  • Anonymous

    Groupon is D-E-A-D!
    Did someone say “scratch”?

  • Tomm

    That picture made me crave Indian food. Lunch time. NOM NOM.

  • http://twitter.com/MattSTKC Matthew H.

    Proving Google’s motto isn’t “don’t be evil” it’s “If you can’t buy them out, beat them at their own game”.

    • Anonymous

      There’s nothing evil about competition, it’s primary producer of excellence.

      • http://twitter.com/MattSTKC Matthew H.

        I agree completely

      • http://twitter.com/ctjewett Christopher Jewett

        I’m all for competition, but to clone a product, sell it as your own, and use the weight of brand naming to stifle your competition is just a tad evil. Not saying they’ve been evil *yet*, but there’s plenty of leverage for Google to become an abuser. IMHO, they’re becoming another behemoth like Microsoft, as are Apple. Personally, I prefer when companies stay smaller and focus on core business model they do best.

  • Anonymous

    Watch Microsoft join the party in 2 years once the market is over-saturated.

    • Itsjustmee

      … with a gimpled inferior product…

      • http://twitter.com/MattSTKC Matthew H.

        it will only offer you deals if you use a stylus

    • Anonymous

      “Micropons” (7) !
      Or, Tampons 7 !

  • http://www.vgchartz.com SuperChunk

    yeah… in this case with Google’s massive advertising network.. I would have taken the $6billion and walked very happily to the bank.

  • http://twitter.com/SJFee Sean Fee

    Does Groupon charge an up-front “listing fee” in order to get your discount on their site? If so… Google’s got’em there with their “no out-of-pocket expenses” pitch. I’d migrate to Google Offers on that alone.

    • Abc

      groupon does not charge a listing fee

  • TNosePickens

    The Groupon Morons (Grourons) who turned down 6b deserve to lose their shirts. If they still wanted to be active in the company and it’s future, they could have written a 30 year contract into the deal. Sell it to Google for 5b and get what you want. Absolute idiots. I will support Google just out of spite for their demonstrated idiocy b

    • Agrjack

      My sentiments exactly. Who doesn’t love a good David and Goliath story? In this case, ole Davey Boy ain’t too bright.

    • sn2

      look at growth rate versus gp…while I would of also taken the money, the facts do provide insight into why they turned down the offer.

  • Stan Winstone

    How did Google go from “Don’t Be Evil” to “Don’t Be the Last to Be Evil…” It’s like a faster moving Microsoft Copier now. Sad.

    • http://www.vgchartz.com SuperChunk

      How are they evil? They wanted to be in that new-ish market. They saw the top dog and offered them SIX FREAKIN BILLION DOLLARS!!!! That company thought they could do better in the long run and seemed too stupid to realize that Google will still enter the market … and with that they very large pre-existing ad network that gives them a great deal of established customers.

      In the end it will come down to who offers the better local deals. I’m betting on Google, however, I’ll have both for now.

  • Booboolala2000

    So easy for me, I’m sure that this will be linked to Google Checkout. So it’s a done deal for me. Plus Groupon seems slow to add new areas.

  • QNX Please

    Everyone man and his dog is offering these group deals now, I can think of 5 in my area alone. Groupons founders made a bad choice, huge competition from people with deep deep pockets will make them worth much less than $6 Billion. If I were them, I would have taken the money and started something new or invested it. Groupon is much easier to replicate than say Facebook.

  • http://t3kd.com Matthew

    I hope the call it GooPon. That would be an excellent, and funny name.

  • Anonymous

    When I glanced by the picture, I thought it said ” Gooporn”

  • Anonymous

    Guys at Groupon are probably saying, “Shit just got real.”

  • Anonymous

    the Groupon creators are going to be in LA Times as bums on “Silicon Valley’s most idiotic moves, 2011″ after a few years, prolly snorting coke with that Napster guy talking about how things could have been. Hilarious. $6 Billion, come on man the CFO should have at least Googled “how many business make over $6 Billion, EVER” and he should have then fired himself. You can’t even feel bad for these guys they are that stupid.

  • http://twitter.com/NICKVALENTIN0 Nick Valentino

    This is just dirty business.

  • James

    Grouon should have sold…

    They offer one product (recently they added some new slight variation), but in the end it is one product. It won’t take much expense or effort for someone else to come in and beat them at their game. Especially Google.

    Plus, try and get a product listed with Groupon. They talk about all this great customer service, and it may be true, but definately not for a merchant. I have called and emailed at least a half a dozen times and can’t get the local rep to call or even email me back–they seem to have a big backlog (which means merchants will go elsewhere) or poor management. Here what they replied after repeated contacts:

    “Sorry for the delay. Due to the large amount of submissions we receive, this process can take up to a few weeks for a decision to be reached. This is so we can determine the best, most profitable course of action for both businesses and customers alike. If our sales team thinks it is a good fit, they will be in touch. If you do not hear from them, please understand that they still have your information on file for future opportunities and greatly appreciate your interest.”

    BASED ON THAT REPLY, DO YOU THINK THERE IS A CHANCE FOR GOOGLE TO KNOCK THEM ON THEIR BUTTS? OH YES!

  • http://www.carolinasecurity.com Ken Cagle

    I guess when Google comes knocking with 6 billion dollars in hand and you don’t sell, EXPECT that Google will take the same 6 Billion PLUS and compete with you. Its about NOW you realize you should have SOLD.

  • Anonymous

    I tried groupon and I never got it but I’m a fan of google and their ease of use services with the acception of wave I used it but I couldn’t come up with a real reason for it… But I digress I’m ready for Goopon

  • http://www.ndot.in/products/ndotdeals-opensource-groupon-clone/ Groupon clone script

    Definitely Google offers will be a competitor with in 3 months. Now lot of people started to build Groupon like websites. Hundreds of groupon clone websites are launched by individuals every month. Using this trend lot of web development companies offer Groupon script below 100 dollars.

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