Let’s face it—everyone loves a good deal. Whether it’s two-for-one pizzas or 70% off a spa day, scoring a discount feels like a mini victory. And for a while, discount deal sites like Groupon, Scoopon, and MyDeal were at the top of their game, turning that feeling into big business.
But here’s the thing: that early excitement? It’s starting to wear off.
Back in 2008, Groupon launched with a simple idea: group buying for discounts. Their first deal? A two-for-one pizza from a place in their building. It sounds small, but it sparked a revolution in online shopping. Suddenly, couponing wasn’t something your grandma did—it was social, techy, and even a little bit cool.
By 2009, even AdAge was calling Groupon a comeback story for coupons in the age of Facebook and Twitter. The Wall Street Journal said Groupon captured the economic mood of the time—tight wallets, but big appetites for value.
Why did it work so well? Scarcity and urgency. Deals were short-lived and felt exclusive. You had to act fast—or miss out. That kind of pressure got people clicking “Buy” like crazy.
But like any trend, others noticed. Soon, competitors like LivingSocial, Amazon, and even Google jumped in. The market got crowded, fast.
And with competition came questions. Are these deals actually good for businesses? Some merchants said no. They saw floods of one-time bargain hunters, not loyal customers. And when things went wrong, unhappy buyers took to Yelp to vent. The so-called “Yelp Effect” started hurting businesses more than helping.
Over time, people also started questioning the quality of the deals. Was it worth the money if the product or service didn’t live up to expectations?
Meanwhile, interest in discount deal sites began to slip. Just check Google Trends—searches for sites like Groupon have been declining steadily over the past five years.
So where do we go from here? Well, while daily deal emails might not spark joy like they used to, people still love saving money. Discount vouchers are far from dead—they’ve just gone niche.
Today, most deal sites focus on digital products or experiences: things like e-learning bundles, software subscriptions, or travel deals.
But to keep shoppers engaged in the future, these platforms need a serious upgrade—and one app thinks it’s cracked the code.
Imagine hunting for discounts like you’re catching Pokémon. That’s the idea behind Zukaz, a location-based augmented reality (AR) app that lets you collect real cash vouchers in the real world. You can redeem them in-store or even trade them for profit.
It’s a gamified way for merchants to reach consumers—and here’s the kicker: they don’t pay unless you actually use the voucher.
Created by Matthew Endresz and advised by Allan Endresz, Zukaz is gearing up for a global rollout. The team is already working on strategic partnerships to help it scale fast.
Zukaz aims to reinvent the deal game, combining the thrill of AR with the savings people crave. Think achievements, incentives, and exclusive vouchers from major merchants—all while building a loyal user base.
Discount deal sites shook up the shopping world once. But to keep buyers coming back, it’s time for a fresh approach—one that combines value, experience, and tech in a way that feels fun and rewarding.
The future of discounts? It might not be in your inbox. It could be hiding just around the corner, waiting to be caught—Pokémon style.
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