Do You Groupon?

There's a fairly new craze saving people lots of money on food, entertainment, pampering, travel and so much more. I hate to say it, but i'm a little late to some, yet ahead of most, when it comes to taking advantage of group discount websites such as Groupon, Living Social and a multitude of others. I was a little leery of trying them out at first.  I thought there must be a catch. Saving 50%-90% off featured merchants seemed a little too good to be true. I just knew there must be more too it, like a ploy to get me to sign up only for them to "spam" me to death with junk email I'll despise later. But no, they actually feature awesome daily deals anyone would appreciate. Groupon is the modern day version of the Entertainment Book which contains 2-for-1 coupons, but more hip and cooler.

The name Groupon is a blend of the words, group and coupon. Collective buying power is how customers and businesses benefit. The customers are able to receive a great deal, while merchants are able to increase their clientele.  Its a win-win situation for both parties.  Groupon was the first of its kind, which launched in October 2008.  Groupon is available in over 150 cities and 44 countries.

Here's how it works:

A Deal of the Day is featured every day.  But, just because you want it doesn't mean you'll get the deal. There is a minimum number of people who would have to sign up for the deal in order for the deal to activate, and it varies per business.  The merchant will set a targeted amount to purchase before the deal is on.  Once that number has been met, the deal becomes available and everyone gets to buy and save.

The first thing you should do is subscribe to Groupon to receive their daily deals.  A new deal is introduced each day and you only have 1 day to buy what's featured.  I would suggest to sign-up and then wait about a week or two to see how it works.  Groupon will send you an email with $10 off your first purchase just for trying their service. That's what enticed me to give them a try.  My kids had been bugging me to try a gourmet burger restaurant by our house, but i refused to pay $10+ for a burger (with no fries) they may not eat at all.  I don't believe in wasting food and, of course not money.  So, when this particular restaurant popped up as Groupon's Deal of the Day, and offered $30 of food for $15, I gladly purchased it.  Not to mention, I used my $10 off promo code and only paid $5 for $30 worth of food.  What a bargain! You can't beat that kind of a deal. As a result, we've become regular customers at this establishment.


Groupon is an excellent source for featuring businesses you never knew existed. You may have wanted to sign up for a cooking class or fitness boot camp, but thought it was too expensive. Exercising at 5 am is not my idea of fun, but it may be yours. Groupon makes it possible for anyone to try new things and go to new places at a fraction of the cost.  Make sure to also check out Groupon in other cities when traveling for added savings. I've gotten phenomenal deals using Groupon, such as a manicure and pedicure for $25, AMC movie tickets for $5, $18 for $42 worth of fun at AMF Bowling Centers and various meals for 50% off or more.

If you're an impulsive buyer and don't have time to plan ahead, Groupon features Groupon Now.  Its for buyers on the go.   If you want to grab something to eat, get your nails done, have your oil changed, or whatever the case may be, you can take a look at what's offered at that moment and make your purchase by clicking on Groupon Now.  The deal may only be redeemed during the specified hours set by the merchant on that day.  However, if you purchase a Groupon, but don't use it within the allotted time frame, you will automatically receive a refund within 30 days.

Are you are a little coupon-shy and is not comfortable presenting a coupon to the merchant? Groupon has thought of that too. You can download the Groupon app and present your Groupon using your iPad or cell phone.

Deal-A-Day websites are popping up everyday.  But, Groupon has maintained a great following by continuously providing jaw-dropping bargains.  With just a couple of clicks of a button you can be on your way to great savings as well.

Only the Strong Survive Nordstrom's Last Chance

About four years ago, I was having a conversation with a woman about where to buy a pair of designer jeans without paying the designer price.  She asked me if I had ever been to Last Chance.  I responded, "No, what's that?"  She told me its a place I could find designer jeans at a fraction of the cost.  She proceeded to tell me, "It's not like any other store you've ever shopped in.  If I were you, I wouldn't take the kids with you." I'm thinking...Wow, why not? Could it be that bad?  Being the bargain hunter that I am, and on a mission to look good while saving a buck, I had to investigate.   I have to say, I totally understood once I got there.

 Video of Last Chance at opening time

If you are a Nordstrom shopper and have utilized their liberal "No Questions Asked" return policy, you may have wondered what happens to those Jimmy Choo pumps you returned because they pinched your toes or that Armani shirt or suit that just didn't fit quite right?  Well, they end up at Last Chance.  Last Chance is Nordstrom's final-clearance store for returned and overstocked merchandise from Nordstrom stores, Nordstrom's Rack and Nordstrom.com. 

Who wouldn't want to buy quality designer items 50%-90% off the retail price, I surely do. But, Last Chance isn't for everyone.  If you don't like crowds and your patience is short, your first impression may not be a good one.  You can expect a large crowd beginning to form at least an hour prior to opening.  The veteran shoppers tend to jockey for prime positioning at the front of the gate to gain easy access to whatever items they've targeted for that day.  Many shoppers aim for the handbag bins because among the Coach, B. Makowsky, and Micheal Kors there may be a Marc Jacobs, Valentino or Burberry bag waiting to be seized, if they're lucky.  Handbags can range from $29.99-$699.99, yet retail approximately between $80-$2,500.

Customers await handbag restocking

Before the store opens its gates, an employee makes an announcement about the daily sales and advise customers of the store rules.  Rules for shopping?  Yes, there are rules such as, do not walk or run faster than the pacesetters (employees who walk slowly to the back of store to slow down the over anxious), no shoving, no profanity, no removing items from another person's basket, etc. Nonetheless, there's one rule I have to admit I was chastised for, that was to stay 2 feet back while employees are restocking an area until they give the signal to go ahead and shop. Opps, I wasn't paying attention and had an embarrassing moment. Let's just say it never happened again.

Having quick hand-eye coordination is essential when shopping at Last Chance. If you hesitate for a second, the bargain you thought you had would be more like a distant memory.  Rule of thumb is to grab, grab, grab, then evaluate later.  I know this sounds crazy, but if you don't, you will miss out on a good thing. Once you've found enough goodies, make sure to inspect your merchandise to avoid purchasing damaged goods.  There are many new items to choose from as well.  However, all sales are final and there are no exchanges.  On my first visit, I found a pair of True Religion jeans for only $49.99, which retail for $189, a pair of 7 for All Men Kind jeans for $29.99 which retail for $159 and a pair of Rock and Republic jeans for $49.99 that retail for $169.  My only problem was to decide which pair to buy.  Finding such incredible deals makes it easy to over indulge, so shop responsibly.  Recently, I stumbled across a Tory Burch clutch handbag.  Well, actually I didn't really stumble across it. It was more like snatched it up after pretending like I wasn't paying attention to the beautiful bag a woman held in her hands next to me. Once she concluded she didn't want it and placed it back in the bin, it was mine. I felt victorious. I wanted to do a happy dance, but I went to the register instead and cashed in on my prize of the day.  I love those moments.  As you can see, many deals can be found at Last Chance with a little time, persistence and most of all patience.

Check out my latest treasure. This Tory Burch 'Reva Bombé' Clutch is currently at Nordstrom.com for $325.  I paid $79.99. What a bargain!

Tory Burch leather clutch handbag with removable strap

Examples

 of 

Daily Deals

50% off Selected shoes and boots

35% off Dresses

40% off Sleeveless shirts

$2 Men shorts

25¢ Kid belts

$12.99 Kid shoes 

$1 T-Shirts and tank tops

New Leather Versace handbag

Versace handbag was $2,375 Now $699.97

Last Chance is Nordstrom's only clearance center. Its located at 1919 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix, Arizona. If you are in the area and like designer apparel or just love an awesome deal, give it a try.  It could be your lucky day.

Welcome to A Bargain's A Bargain

Welcome to my new blog, A Bargain's A Bargain.  Those who really know me, know I LOVE a good bargain. There is nothing like the rush of excitement when you've just scored a huge discount on clothes, trips, airfare or whatever it may be. You feel like jumping for joy, but that would look a little foolish in a public place.  So, you opt to tell all your family and friends....."Guess how much I paid for this...."  Yeah, I know the feeling, hence the creation of A Bargain's A Bargain.  So I figured why limit my saving tips to just family and friends, but share them with everyone.  A Bargain's A Bargain is your portal into my shopping experiences. I'll provide pertinent money saving information by sharing stories regarding my quest to not pay full price.  I'll discuss the various items and deals I come across.  I'll tell you where to get it, how much it cost and what's the retail price.  Yes, shopping is fun, but its much more rewarding when you find an awesome deal in the process.  Words I live by: "Look good and live well, for less."

Why should you pay more for anything, if you don't have to? There are so many deals out there just waiting to get your attention.  Knowing where to look for a deal is part of the battle. You may have to dig a little to find them, but they're there.  Bargain hunting takes a little skill and a lot of patience.  Lucky for me, its in my blood, I have my mother to thank for that.  When I was young and my mom would take me school shopping, we'd always start looking on the sales racks, then worked our way to the regular price items.  Shopping the sales racks first is still a common practice for me today.  You never know, you might stumble across what I call a "Treasure".  A treasure is something that has been marked down so low you feel like the store must have made a mistake.  When that happens, head to the register as fast as you can before they change their minds.  If you are like me, saving a little moola can go a long way.  My goal is to make it easier for the next person because friends shouldn't let friends buy retail.  Thanks for taking the time to read A Bargain's A Bargain. If you like what you've read please subscribe to my blog, "Like" my facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Bargains-A-Bargain/129443633822966), follow me on Twitter at @aBargainTweet and don't forget to share it with others.