I have never used Groupon, but I can definitely share the same feeling that using coupon can make some people feel like using food stamp. However, interestingly enough we don't have a problem using retail coupons. You would sign up for a Macy's card and use the coupons you get in the mail every time you shop. You would also have no problem walking into a local supermarket and use the deal coupons.
I think the size of business is definitely a factor, but also this needs to be a culture change. You have to get used to it, people have to get used to it.
Food, in general, seems more precious than the rest of the things we do in our life with money.
Maybe in the future when you pay everything electronically, you never have to let people know you are a groupon user, you just swipe and discount at the end. BTW, why do people need to disclose that they are groupon users when they walk in? That's my impression of stories below.
I'm not sure it's so much feeling like using a food stamp but, in a restaurant with a server, using a coupon is just an awkward transaction. You have to lay it out on the table before the meal to make sure the server knows you have a coupon, i.e. you have to sort of make a big deal about it. (Over and above any issues with the server now suspecting they might get a crappy tip.)
For a more conventional purchase situation, you just hand over the coupon with your credit card and things are taken care of in a very transactional way.
I think the size of business is definitely a factor, but also this needs to be a culture change. You have to get used to it, people have to get used to it.
Food, in general, seems more precious than the rest of the things we do in our life with money.
Maybe in the future when you pay everything electronically, you never have to let people know you are a groupon user, you just swipe and discount at the end. BTW, why do people need to disclose that they are groupon users when they walk in? That's my impression of stories below.