Friday, March 15, 2013

Reasons For The Popularity Of Group Buying Sites

Group buying sites are the latest trend in online buying. They work like this: a merchant offers a “deal” for goods or services online. In order for the “deal” to go active, a minimum number of consumers must buy it. Once the “deal” is active, consumers buy them direct from the ecommerce site. The number of “deals” available is limited, as is the time the “deal” is active.
Once purchased, the consumer takes the “deal” to the merchant for redemption. This works similar to a coupon at a grocery store. The merchant exchanges the “deal” for the goods or services purchased. The merchant then turns the “deals” into the ecommerce site and is given a check for the amount of the “deals” minus an administration fee.
For consumers, group buying sites offer a number of features:
  • Steeply discounted deals and services
  • Information about new merchants to try
  • Credits for referring friends to the ecommerce site
For merchants, group buying sites:
  • Guarantees a certain number of customers for each deal
  • Bring new consumers to their businesses
  • Provide an opportunity to bring customers at times that are traditionally slow
  • Provide an opportunity to bring in customers to purchase perishable merchandise before it spoils
Group buying sites are often available as phone apps, allowing savvy consumers to make purchases of goods and services as they see the need for them. Regular newsletters inform consumers of new deals and new merchants. This increases brand awareness and impulse purchases on the part of the consumers.
Since “deals” must be used in a specific time period, this allows the merchant to better project sales for that period and schedule personnel during busy times. Bringing in customers during traditionally slack times makes better use of staff and facilities, as well.
As you can see, ecommerce sites offer something to the consumer and the merchant. Groupon Clone is an ecommerce software that runs on a Magento Ecommerce Platform. Installation and six months of tech support are free. For more information on Groupon Clone and ecommerce, check out the webpage.