The deals can be stellar: 18 holes of golf and a cart rental for half price; $20 for five yoga classes that usually cost $16 each; $50 for an eye exam plus $200 worth of eyewear.
Through Groupon.com, people can buy discount certificates for restaurants, stores, salons, museums and entertainment venues in their city. The deals are only available for one day, and a minimum number must be purchased before the offer is triggered, or your credit card won't be charged.
But as with any bargain, consumers should check the fine print and be aware of any limitations or conditions.
In May, the Chicago-based website settled a class action lawsuit accusing the site of violating Illinois consumer laws that state gift cards and certificates can't expire in less than five years from the date of sale. As part of the settlement, Groupon reminded consumers of its refund policies, company spokeswoman Julie Mossler said. If buyers are unhappy for any reason, Groupon refunds their money, no questions asked.
Groupon is subject to similar laws in Maryland, where gift cards are valid for four years from the date of sale, said Raquel Guillory, spokeswoman for the state attorney general's office. But unlike a traditional gift card, after the expiration date printed on these Groupon certificates, they can be redeemed only for the price paid for the certificate.
Other consumers have reported problems with being able to redeem Groupon certificates because merchants can be swamped with new customers trying to take advantage of a popular offer.
Renee Libby of Baltimore said she bought a $42 Groupon in April for a one-hour facial at SaSa's Spa in Bolton Hill. The usual price is $85. More than 1,700 Groupon certificates for massages and foot treatments were sold at $48, in addition to nearly 300 gift certificates for facials.
"I've never actually been to the spa or heard of it," Libby said. "I thought this would be a good chance to try it out for a good price."
Libby said she called May 18 and left a message to make an appointment as instructed but has not heard back from the salon. The voice mail greeting said the salon had received a high volume of calls and would call her back to schedule, but "I haven't heard anything since," she said.
Officials for SaSa's could not be reached for comment by The Baltimore Sun, but Groupon's Mossler said the salon hired four additional contractors, two in the past month.
Groupon has 6 million e-mail subscribers worldwide and 80,000 in Baltimore, where it has been active since October, Mossler said.
Businesses don't have to offer the discount if they don't get a minimum number of people committing to walk through the door.
"It makes Groupon a win-win opportunity for the business," she said. "We approach businesses and ask 'at what number of customers would it be worth it to offer such a great deal?'"
Companies pay anything to be featured on Groupon. The website keeps some of the revenue from the sale of certificates — usually about half — and sends the remainder to the participating businesses, Mossler said.
Groupon coaches businesses to help them handle the sudden influx of demand for their product or services, Mossler said. Some businesses might need to hire more help or rent more space to accommodate demand. Others have set a cap on the number of Groupon certificates for that deal.
"We urge them to consider how to make that a great experience for that customer" so that they want to return, Mossler said.
Owners of Apothecary Wellness in Federal Hill decided to cap Groupon sales at 1,000 when they saw how popular their December offer was: $45 for a massage and foot treatment.
"The trick was to accommodate these 1,000 new clients while maintaining care for existing clients," said Rachel Costello, one of Apothecary's owners.
Apothecary, which has two massage rooms, decided to take four Groupon clients a day. At first people had to wait five to six weeks for their session. But over time the delay has declined to three weeks, Costello said.
Groupon buyers also must understand that it can take some time to schedule an appointment for a popular offer. "In exchange for giving such a great deal, the wait may be a little longer than normal to get into these businesses," Mossler said.
Libby, 26, said she's still hoping to take advantage of the deal at SaSa's.
"I paid for it," she said. "I still want it."