Thursday 31 March 2011

Groupon Paintball Scam



Today's Groupon Scam comes to us from Sheffield:



'Paintballing for Ten with 100 Paintballs Each, plus Lunch for £19 at the Danger Zone (Value £150)'



Sounds like a great deal for a bachelor party or teenager's birthday party! Only £19 for 10 people!




But you actually have to pay £89.... Really!




The Fine Print states:



'Must pay £7 deposit for each member of the group, which will be refunded in the form of 100 extra paintballs.'



That's a £7 for all 10 people, a total of £70 for the group! But it will be refunded right?



Yes of course!.... in the form of 100 paintballs.




We're now up to £89 for 10 people to go Paintballing and have lunch. However, there is fine print about lunch as well:




'Lunch provided only to groups who start at 9AM. Around 100 paintballs used per hour.'




So in order to get lunch, you have to get 10 men on a stag do or 10 teenage boys out of bed and to the paintball place by 9AM. Good luck with that....





Even if you manage this amazing feat of getting everyone there by 9AM, you get 200 paintballs (including your refund paintballs).



According to the Fine Print, this is about 2 hours of activity, so your lunch will be at 11AM, and then you're done for the day.




Our advice for the day, always read the Fine Print, and Highlights section of the deals. If either section is exceptionally long, it's usually a good indication not to buy.

5 comments:

  1. Hi... just read the above..and it’s a load of rubbish and a year out of date..I know because I run the paintball site.

    So here goes.. I give groupon entry vouchers
    to my site and include 100 paintballs and lunch to each person that turns up...
    Groupon then sells these vouchers for £19.00 for 10 people.. If you ring me.. At my office on 0114 2852477... I charge £150.00 for 10 people
    ..Sounds good to me..
    SO WHY SO CHEAP...dead easy..
    I have empty spaces on some days which groupon can fill.. I then hope people will enjoy the paintball so much they want to come back and yes I also hope they will buy more paintballs when on site... if they enjoy it they might want to stop..
    So why is this a scam?
    YOU JUST SAVED £139.00
    IF YOU WANT TO SWAP YOUR DEPOSIT FOR EXTRA PAINTBALLS... THAT’S GREAT
    IF YOU WANT THE DEPOSIT BACK THAT’S GREAT...
    I have had people on site play all day on 100 paintballs... I personally would not want to but people have. AFTER ALL IT’S YOUR TRIGGER FINGER YOU FIRE AS QUICK AS YOU WANT..
    So why do we have the deposit.. you then say.
    The reason for the deposit is quite simple as Groupon is selling these tickets so cheap people will buy them, book on to the site and then simply not turn up. That’s all well and good but I have staff waiting for you to turn up and believe it or not they don’t work for free, lunch has to be bought waiting for you to turn up this has also been paid for, and all equipment set up ready waiting for you to turn up.


    AT LEAST YOU GOT A FEW THING RIGHT

    PLEASE DO READ THE SMALL PRINT ITS THERE FOR YOU AND ME.. SO YOU DONT GET ANY SURPRISERS ON THE DAY
    YES YOU DO HAVE TO ARRIVE AT 9AM..
    WOULD YOU TURN UP LATE FOR A PLANE OR A TRAIN OR THE CINEMA?
    THAT’S WHY IT’S A START TIME..

    I JUST THINK YOU NEED TO USE YOUR COMMON SENSE !
    if you want to play paintball and save £139.00
    then check out the vouchers on group on.

    for any more info on this paintball site in sheffield... then why not just give me a ring on 0114 2852477..thank you for you time chris c



    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How do you figure they save £139? Your math is as good as the 'deal' you're offering.

      And thank you for writing a huge speech basically confirming everything I wrote in the article. Big scam. The times are not 9AM to 4:30 because you have to arrive at 9AM. And you actually pay £89, not £19. Do you think your customers are not intelligent enough to figure this out?

      And out of curiosity, when someone pays £150, how many paintballs per person do they receive?

      Delete
  2. Hi... yes you are right... after reading the rubbish you wrote I was very mad.. And I did get the maths wrong...SORRY YOU ONLY SAVE £131.00
    WEATHER OR NOT YOU GET YOUR DEPOSIT BACK IN CASH OR PAINTBALLS..YOU GET IT BACK.. THAT’S THE POINT...YOU GET IT BACK.. your choice money or paintballs
    Yes in 2011 we took £7.00 per person deposit..This year its ether £5.00 for the zombie event or £2.00 per person deposit for the other dates..but the point is... you still get this deposit back as long as you turn up. NO CON JUST FACT
    AND THE REASON FOR THE LONG SPEECH..
    I am dyslexic and after reading your one sided view about MY company I thought you and your readers needed to know the real facts...it took me over 2 hours to write and if there’s the odd mistake then I am very very sorry about that... but I need to make the points which you did not in your article.. Which is the truth.. have you been to my site?
    And yes if you want to book direct with me you get the same offer £15.00 is entry and 100 paintballs per person..
    Why not give us a ring ... we are quite friendly to talk to..
    That’s why I put my phone number on...I cannot find yours to ring you?

    Thanks for your time Chris c

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The term 'weather' refers to rain and snow. You are probably looking for the word 'whether'.

      The article I wrote refers to Groupon from 2011. In the screen shot, it clearly states that you would only be refunded in the form of paintballs.

      I have not been to your site. I simply report on Groupon deals which have unfair terms and conditions. And this certainly was one of them. If people were aware they had to pay £89 to go paintballing at 9AM, I'm sure they wouldn't have bought the deal.

      You say I should call and that you're 'very friendly', but you certainly don't sound it. And I don't think these posts are going to get you any more customers...

      Delete
  3. Thanks for sharing such a informative post! I love to buy Paintball tickets UK. Looking forward to buy these tickets as soon as in future.

    Source:- http://www.clickit4tickets.co.uk/sports .

    ReplyDelete