DF4_Groupon

Create a groupon.com account. Play around with it for awhile, and read a few relevant news articles. Make sure to:
 * Assignment**
 * Look at a few deals in different cities.
 * Look at a few deals on two different days.
 * If something strikes your fancy, by all means buy it!
 * As a consumer- How does social play into the experience?
 * As a business- What would prompt you to try this somewhat unconventional marketing channel?
 * As a business- would you use Groupon solely to clear out excess inventory, or is something else going on here?
 * As Groupon- What competitive advantage/defensibility are you building?

Below are some additional resources: Great analysis- http://techcrunch.com/2010/05/02/teardown-groupon/ General information- http://www.crunchbase.com/company/groupon http://techcrunch.com/2010/05/08/media-merchants/

By 20 May Thursday noon, submit a 1-2 page write up to mse237@gmail.com: Subject: DF4- Groupon Answer the following questions:
 * Deliverables**
 * What problem does Groupon solve for you (that wasn't solved before)? (perspective of BOTH businesses and consumers)
 * What was a hurdle; what made it hard to use? (perspective of BOTH businesses and consumers)
 * What would you change to improve the service? (perspective of BOTH businesses and consumers
 * What's the barrier to entry? ie: what does Groupon have that the 80+ clones don't?