If you’re a coupon user, you probably like saving money whenever possible. But one recent coupon scheme involving Groupon and FTD left users low on savings, but high on headaches and outrage.
As a Valentine’s Day special, Groupon customers were offered $20 off an FTD flower purchase of $40 or more. And with love in the air, many customers naturally jumped for joy at the chance for savings. Except their moment of jubilation was quickly extinguished, after realizing the FTD floral price for Groupon users had actually been jacked up to be much higher than sale items on FTD’s own website. Or in other words, the coupon promoted $20. off a $40. purchase. Except a $40. floral arrangement had been jacked up to $60., which made it the original price minus the coupon.
Consumers complained this “bait and switch” type maneuver only drove up sales for FTD with false hopes for savings that didn’t really exist. But FTD Group Inc. President Rob Apatoff rebuffed such claims, saying it was clear on their website that the coupon didn’t apply to sale items.
But in a gesture of “good faith”, Apatoff said FTD will credit the customers’ accounts to give them the sale price, even if they don’t ask for it, while FTD and Groupon both say they will make full refunds if people aren’t satisfied.
Hahaha I bet this happens a lot more then they say. Raising the price and pretending to give a discount is a old trick. FTD just got caught this time. Maybe people will start to pay attention what they're buying.