Don't see why it is cheap to take a deal. I'm not a coupon addict, but my wife is one. Since she discovered Groupon she refuses to buy anything not on sale. I think its pretty smart, I'd do the same but it takes too much time and dedication to shop that way.

>Since she discovered Groupon she refuses to buy anything not on sale. //

I can't recall the exact figures but the way Groupon's deal worked when they pitched me was a definite loss-maker. Groupon took their portion, the customer was required to get a massive headliner discount to make the deal look attractive. Effectively Groupon's proposition was for us to swallow a big loss to send them revenue.

I like a bargain but if the "bargain" means that a third party profits whilst I get to help send local businesses under then I can't take that offer. Sure for some types of business Groupon can work but they don't [didn't] only target those businesses.

Demanding unsustainable prices is "cheap" because it's not a proper saving. You end up paying for [your share of] the social welfare payments for the people that go out of business and the businesses no longer exist to serve you.