I Am A Victim Of Groupon Philippines

I am a victim of Groupon Philippines, and  here is my bad experience with this group buying company. Please read on, learn from it and don't be a hapless victim to this cheat.

In March this year, I've purchased a "hot deal of the day" from Groupon which was a dine-in promo at Barrio Fiesta. I was aware that the deal was valid for only three months upon purchase so I didn't attempt to redeem it when the validity expired. Thus I have no idea really if I would have encountered problems if I decided then to redeem the voucher within the validity period.  Then I decided to buy another deal from Groupon in April. I purchased five (5) Numlock watches which totaled Php 3995. It stated on its Fine Print that "Delivery will begin on May 14, 2012 and will take 5 – 7 working days" but it was months before they delivered my purchase and, alas, the 2Go courier had only 3 watches instead of 5! So I refused the package and returned it to sender. Then I immediately called Groupon, but it seemed their customer hotline was unattended because despite  the many times I've dialed it nobody was answering the phone! I repeated the futile attempt for several days but their phone was either busy or nobody was answering it. 

I then emailed them and surprise, surprise a customer agent by the name of Aya called me using the number 09175992247 and asked me about my complaint. I told her about the nondelivery of my purchase and she assured me that they will attend to it ASAP.  

Weeks passed and still no delivery, so I tried to call the same mobile number but they're not answering. Then I texted them my name and the nature of my complaint and I told them if they don't deliver soon I would opt for a refund. A woman called me back (forgot the name) and she informed me the items were already delivered,  and I told her I refused the delivery because they were 3 instead of 5 watches. She promised me that Groupon will look into it and delivery will be at the soonest. 

Weeks after and still no watches.  I sent them another text message on November (around the third week) inquiring about the delivery. A woman called me and informed me that the courier failed to find my address, and I replied "What?!" She read me the delivery address and I told her that it's accurate and she apologized then asked for landmarks so the courier would know the exact address she said. And then she assured me (again!) that the delivery will be within the week, but up to now I can't tell time because not a watch has been delivered, as in zilch and zero. 

I tried their Facebook page, and the reply was always "Please provide us with your email address so we can attend to it" just like an automaton. Through Facebook I came to learn that many are disgruntled with Groupon, and the complaints usually concern nondelivery and failure to refund. Recently though I noticed that only the "likes" and positive comments appear on their page now and I no longer encounter complaints. Maybe because negative comments swarm their Wall that Groupon block and/or screen posts.

Another US shooting spree downs 3 in Oregon

From USA Today:

10:21PM EST December 11. 2012 - PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A gunman opened fire in a suburban Portland shopping mall Tuesday, killing two people and wounding another as people were doing their Christmas shopping, authorities said.

Witnesses described a scene of chaos and disbelief as a gunman wearing some sort of camouflage outfit and what looked like a hockey mask fired rounds fire from a military-style rifle near the food court at Clackamas Town Center.

Parents with children joined other shoppers rushing to stores' backrooms for safety as teams of police officers began entering the mall to find the shooter.

(Associated Press)

Clackamas County sheriff's Lt. James Rhodes said later that the gunman was dead, apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A shopper told KATU-TV he saw a man lying on the floor with a gun next to him.

Authorities went store-to-store to confirm that there was only one shooter and to escort hiding shoppers outside, Rhodes said.

Austin Patty, 20, who works at Macy's, said he saw a man in a white mask carrying a rifle and wearing a bulletproof vest.

He heard the gunman say, "I am the shooter," as if announcing himself, Patty said. He then fired several shots paced seconds apart.