Posted by: Nadim | June 18, 2010

The Group Buy model now gets you fed!

Coming this July: OfferMe’s successful Group Buy model spreads to the Sydney restaurant scene!

You may have heard of the charity ‘Meals on Wheels’. Well, in July OfferMe will be rolling out a great freebie on meals too: ‘Deals on Meals’. Using the Group Buy philosophy – negotiating discounts on bulk demand – OfferMe’s BDMs have been busy securing quality dining experiences to feature in our section. The premise behind these deals are just the same as the current running Group Buys…

Step One – Coupon Goes Live… OfferMe negotiates coupon deals for experiences such as this one at group prices. However you only need to book one!

Step Two – Coupon’s Not On… The coupon deal doesn’t go ahead until the minimum number of places are booked. So share the deal with your friends using Facebook, email and more.

Step Three – Coupon is Finalising! As soon as the minimum number of places have been booked, the deal will be finalising. Then, all who booked a coupon get the savings!

Step Four – Coupon Sold Out! OfferMe only has a limited amount of time to finalise this deal. So act fast! You don’t want to miss out.

The most important part is obviously in Step Two, spreading the word. Our BDMs negotiate these discounts based on a minimum number (usually around 99 people). So, for everyone to get a free coupon, we all need to spread the word and tell our mates about the great deal. And, really, what kind of friend would you be if you didn’t tell your mates? After all, the deal is completely free and valid for three months!

Why pay for a discount on another site? OfferMe’s handing them out… All you have to do is spread the word!

Got a flavour you’d like to see first?
Then vote on our Flavour Poll below:

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Posted by: Nadim | June 4, 2010

Bowling becomes a Group Buy Experience

A look at how AMF bowling has jumped on the Group Buy model…

In April, at the very start of the month, I celebrated my latest birthday. As I’m of an age where I no longer need to scream & whine about getting my way, I put it out to the masses to choose what I should do to celebrate. Much to my disappointment the unanimous selection was tenpin bowling.

First off, I should point out that before that day my previous bowling experience was a disaster. I managed a score in the 50′s for all three games watching my ball repeatedly clean the gutters. It was so bad my mates called me ‘Bum’ for a week, because I lived in the gutter! Being twelve at the time, you can understand why that trauma was long-lasting.

Still, I refused to allow this birthday to be spoiled by mere bowling. With nothing less than sheer determination, I agreed with my mates to give the alleys one more chance.

We paid for two games and the night began exactly as expected. The first frame I took out a mere pin, as the ball teased the gutter before finally submitting. The second frame I took out eight, and my friends, being supportive for my birthday, cheered the improvement. Then the third frame began and so did the streak of gutter balls.

“Wow… You really are crap,” said one mate, the truth even amazing him.

When the first game was over I begged my mates to let me skip the next round. But no; enjoying my moments of feeble mortality, they demanded I continue. I gave in, but with one condition: I didn’t want to talk about the score. Food, drinks, talk about the footy, whatever… just forget the count on the frames.

And right there I discovered why bowling could be so much fun. As I relaxed with my friends, simply hurling the ball along the pine and then focusing on anything but the pins, I found myself creeping towards my first triple digit score. Strikes & spares came out of nowhere and, when it was all over, I had racked up 160-some points. Sure, I didn’t win, but for the first time in years I could hold my head up high in a bowling alley.

Maybe it was a birthday wish come true – sorry, world peace – but since that night I’ve had a longing to try my hand at the sport again.

Now, thanks to AMF joining forces with OfferMe, I can get two games for the price of one! For those of you that are oblivious to the obvious, AMF Bowling is Australia’s largest tenpin bowling chain. With over 45 stores in Australia & New Zealand, there’s always a centre near you.

So, if you’re like me, grab yourself an exclusive – AND FREE – AMF coupon from OfferMe and go take on those demons from yesteryear. Simply enter your details on the following landing page:

http://www.offerme.com.au/promotions

Then enjoy life in the fast lane… Or the gutter.

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Posted by: Nadim | April 23, 2010

OfferMe’s Mothers’ Day Deals: Really, are flowers enough for your Mum?

OfferMe’s Nadim Sharbean takes a look at what the OfferMe community has coming up for Mothers’ Day in Group Buy & Group Serve.

I have to admit: whenever Mothers’ Day comes around, I hate having to buy a gift. Because, like the old saying goes, it’s not the money, it’s the thought that counts. And what thoughtful gift could possibly show my mother the admiration and respect she deserves from me?

I love my mum and I know she deserves a special day to be praised, but what am I going to get her that says a big thank you and is under $100. It’s not like when I was in kindie and I could make a porcelain vase that leaked & was painted fluoro blue. Sure, it was immediately hidden in the cupboard never to be seen again, but she was so happy.

Now that I’m living out of home, working full-time and looking to start my own family, I realise just the type of effort my mum put in to get me to this point. And a bunch of chrysanthemums probably won’t cut it.

Group Serve: To the Mothers’ Day Rescue

Luckily, I work for OfferMe, and checking out all the great deals coming up on Group Serve, I have a good idea what I’m getting for my mother. Let’s face it: flowers or gifts can easily be forgotten, but no one every forgets a great experience. And that’s what Group Serve is about; allowing the OfferMe Community to enjoy unbelievable experiences and even greater prices.

In the next week, as Mothers’ Day draws nearer, here are some exciting experiences you can share with your Mum:

Show mum the sites of Sydney Harbour

If that’s not enough to entice you, how about a FREE Mothers’ Day Lunch for 6 people (worth $600) at Sydney’s landmark restaurant: Peter Doyle @ the Quay! To enter this great competition, all you need to do is:

This could be YOUR table!

  1. Click Here
  2. Leave your email address!

That’s it! On Thursday, April 29th, one lucky winner will be chosen.

So give your mum an experience she’ll never forget:
Check out OfferMe’s Group Serve today.

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Posted by: Nadim | March 15, 2010

The Sydney Royal Easter Show comes to OfferMe

OfferMe’s Nadim Sharbean looks back at his Easter Show experiences, and how he’s ready to Group Buy a new one!

As we edge closer and closer to April, there seems to be one thing dominating the city of Sydney: The Royal Easter Show! It’s like everywhere I look, people are talking about the event. What, for a while there, was advertised as the Great Australian Muster, has now been given a different spin, with friendly cartoon animals promoting the event.

Here’s the latest ad (now updated to include the OfferMe deal):

Yes, sure, half of the Show is hype. The wood-choppers, the show bags and the fire-breathing Robosaurus. However, there’s something about the Show that ties everyone in Sydney.

I’ve experienced the Show in three very different ways.

My First Easter Show Experience…

Similar to the Coke bag I got in the 90's.

Similar to the Coke bag I got in the 90's.

Okay, I can barely remember it. I recall eating pluto pups, fairy floss and finishing it off with a snow cone. I got a Coke show bag, because they were great for carrying basketballs to school. And I remember going on my first Haunted House ride. Now that was definitely all hype. I waited the whole ride for some idiot in a skeleton suit to jump out and spook me and no one showed. What a waste of ride tickets.

My Second Easter Show Experience…

Fond memories of fireworks.

Fond memories of fireworks.

When I was 19 I spent an entire day and night at the Show with a group of friends. We rode around in tanks firing tennis balls at each other. We quizzed the officers at the cop stand about the difference between the Falcons and the Commodores. And I vividly recall sitting and watching the fireworks as a cool chill descended with the night sky. It was the last Show at Moore Park and the word was it would be the end of an era. Pffft… Whatever! A year later it was at Homebush, better and much, much, much bigger.

My Third Easter Show Experience…

In 2001 I foolishly thought that working at the Easter Show would be a blast! I went down to the open day they have to hire casual staff and ended up getting a gig as a dishwasher in the Gold Member’s Club – the Charley Room. Eight hours a day I scrubbed pots and pans while listening to angry head chefs take their rage out on the young sous chefs until everyone seemed to communicate in loud screams. Sure, I was granted free entry to the event, but I had to work there every day. So, by the time I was finished, all I wanted to do was go home and wash the filth from that day off of me.

I won’t make myself out to be someone dedicated and committed. I quit after three days and, just two days after I called in my resignation, I used my free pass to sneak in with my girlfriend. We spent the night promising people free food in the member’s stand if they’d let us on their rides. To those people, if you’re reading this, please accept my apologies as a former broke uni student. I owe you a meal. However, if it’s any consolation, you did deliver the best Show experience of them all. I guess, as the old saying goes, things are always better when they’re free!

Or cheap, I’d settle for cheap. I mean, they’re now charging adults over $30 to enter the Show. That’s doesn’t include a show bag or a ride. All it means is you get to see Robosaurus and pet the cows. For all the good stuff you’ve got to fork out even more. That’s why, during an OfferMe brainstorm session we held in January for the launch of Group Serve, someone came up with the brilliant idea of bringing the Show tickets down to a reasonable rate.

And we did! We’re now offering all Show tickets at 30% off the marked rate! That’s the biggest discount on the ‘net. The deal goes live on Monday, March 22nd with 5,000 total tickets up for grabs across a five day period. Like Group Buy, we’ll need a certain limit to finalise the deal. For this deal it’ll be 99, with a $3 OfferMe Credit per ticket discount being applicable for that first batch. That means you can get 30% plus $3 off each ticket if you order within the first 99 and have enough OfferMe Credit saved up!

Check out this inaugural Group Serve –

Go to www.offerme.com.au/eastershow

I know I’m getting into the action. And next year I’ll be back with my Fourth Easter Show Experience.

Happy Easter!

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Posted by: Bekim | March 1, 2010

Group Buy Pimp’s Your Bike

Bekim Ahmedi from OfferMe discusses how Group Buy Cycle Week is going to help you turn your bike into a real ride!

Would you trust these guys with your bike?

When I saw next week’s Group Buy promotion on the calendar, my mind went back to my last holiday in Germany. Most of us, by now have either heard of or seen MTV’s Pimp My Ride, hosted by the rapper Xzibit. The concept was simple and catchy. The team would basically find a crappy old car and fix it to look like the ultimate chariot. Bombs, destined for the junkyard, were magically transformed into show-cars filled with things most people wouldn’t even ever use in a car!

As the success of the show was so high, the Germans, always with an interesting take on the world, decided to capitalise. Whilst flicking through the various channels at my hostel I came across MTV Europe. Tears of laughter ran down my face as I took in their skewed version of the show: Pimp My Fahrrad (translated: Pimp My Bike).

Watching these guys overacting on a €50 upgrade of a €20 bike was one of the funniest things I had seen on TV in quite a while. Sure, it could have had something to do with the poor choice of television in European hostels, but I think it was more than that. In fact, I’ve even decided to share sample so you can see what I mean… Here’s the UK version:

Anyways, back to this week’s big promotions on Group Buy: Starting this Monday – March 1st -  OfferMe will be hosting Cycle Week! Instead of waiting to be selected by these larakins to pimp out your bike, you can do it yourself.

Cycle Week Group Buy deals:

  • Beto Mini Pump w/ Gauge
  • CELL 700c Wheelset
  • Maxxis CrossMark Foldable Tyres
  • IceToolz Pronto Toolkit
  • Sigma BC1606L Bike Computer
  • Merida Saddle Bag
  • Topeak Mini-6 Multi-Tool
  • X-Tech Alloy 1 Watt Lightset
  • Rock n Roll Gold 4oz
  • GU Gel Lemon Lime 24-pack

These deals will all be at unbeatable prices, so check them out at OfferMe!

Pimp Your Bike This Week

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Posted by: Nadim | February 16, 2010

Group Buy for Oakleys? ‘Cause Sydney Airport destroyed mine!

OfferMe’s Nadim Sharbean takes a look at an example of poor customer service at Sydney Airport.

Okay, so I’m going to leave my usual group buy soap box and step onto another one: Sydney Airport, where’s your customer service?

If you’ve ever watched an episode of airways – and I admit, I haven’t, but I’ve seen a series of their best ads – you get the impression that airport personnel unfortunately have to deal with a wide variety of unhappy customers who demand far too much from the people their dealing with. In fact, you get the impression that the airways staff are going above and beyond what their customer service entails.

In most cases, I’d say fair enough. If the flight you’re after is delayed because of flash flooding, for example, it’s not the fault of the person behind the desk and there’s not much they can do about it.

Yet I have a case here where I think Sydney Airport customer service simply dropped the ball…

A few weeks ago, whilst sending off a loved one at Sydney airport, I decided to climb their outdoor stairs to the Observation Deck. On the way up the stairs (similar to the set pictured), my thong caught, I slipped over and my Oakley Oil Drums dropped from the top of my head and through the gap in the stairs.

Now, I’m not the litigating type. It was clearly my fault that I slipped over and the sunglasses fell. However, what followed was out of my control.

Beneath the set of stairs was a fenced off building site. From my vantage point above the site I could clearly see the sunglasses below. They had landed on a Styrofoam wall beneath (which you can clearly see in the photo I’ve taken below). I was about to hop over the stair-railing and retrieve them when security stopped me. The Deputy Security Manager, Simon, explained that he couldn’t let me jump the fence but would try to find a key to the gate in the fence.

My lost sunglasses - in one piece.

Twenty minutes went by and I waited patiently with my family. Unfortunately, as it was a Sunday, no one in the entire airport had access to this area. Again I offered to jump the fence, but Simon insisted that he’d have to have me arrested if I were to try that. Frustrated, I had to relent and listen to my only other option: Sydney Airport would retrieve the glasses on the following Monday and I could collect them from lost & found.

“But what if something happens to them?” I asked Simon, “They’re $200 sunglasses!”

“If something does, then the airport will be liable,” replied the Deputy Security Manager.

A day went by and on the Monday I heard nothing. Worried, I called the airport and was told that the sunglasses weren’t found, but that they were looking into it. The next day they again told me that the sunglasses were not recovered and palettes had been put into the site, so there’s a possibility my sunglasses were moved. I sent them the picture of my glasses and waited. Seeing the evidence of my intact sunglasses, I was moved up the food chain to a manager of sorts.

After 10 days of back & forth phone calls, I was finally told, yes, my sunglasses were found, but were in a bad state. Further, Sydney airport informed me that, because the glasses were on top of my head at the time they were dropped, it was my fault that they were now damaged.

Here’s a photo of what Sydney Airport returned:

My retrieved sunglass - no longer in one piece!

So, my question to Sydney Airport is this: If my sunglasses were left in your care in one piece, and you returned them to me in three pieces (with one piece missing), really, how do you figure I’m to blame?

I’ve sent an email to both Sydney Airport’s Insurance & Risk Coodinator, Rebecca Ashdown, and their General Manager of Airport Operations, Graham Woods, and so far they’re mum on the subject. As might be assumed, they feel they can simply ignore the subject and it’ll go away. After all, I’m simply out of pocket $200.

But why should I expect less customer service from them, than you would expect from OfferMe?

Sorry Sydney Airport, but as Desi Arnaz would have said, “You’ve got some s’plaining to do!”

Update:

While still avoiding the dreaded L word (liability), Sydney Airport has reached out and offered me equitable compensation for my damaged sunglasses. It may not be a full-blown “sorry”, but Sorry’s won’t protect me from the sun either. Good show, Sydney Airport.

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Posted by: Bekim | February 1, 2010

Share the Love with OfferMe’s Group Buy this Valentine’s

Need help finding the right gift for Valentine’s Day? OfferMe’s Bekim Ahmedi suggests checking out Group Buy.

Wasn’t I just saying that you should check out Group Buy for Christmas gifts? How did we get to Valentine’s Day already? I really can’t believe that a whole year has passed since I was running around trying to find a decent bunch of roses to buy for my wife. Flowers, flowers and flowers. Over priced and unoriginal are just two thoughts that come to mind when I think flowers. But really, what else do I get my wife for Valentine’s Day?

Will more flowers kill the love?

Well, we’re trying to add a little more variety this year with OfferMe’s Group Buy. Our Deal Detective, Erick, is doing his best to source great deals that’ll make your partner feel the love this year. And I say partner because, ladies, we like the ol’ Valentine’s Day gift to, you know? Although, hun, if you’re reading this, no flowers!

Each week, when Erick finds something decent, he’ll ‘Heart’ it. If you see a little heart appear next to the picture, take a click and give it a look. As usual, these we’ll be at great Group Buy reduced prices.

Love laptops? Well, we’ve got a great range coming your way in February. Our Love the Laptops promotion will see four stunning machines, each a little different than the next, go on sale at unbeatable prices. There will be an all-rounder, a stylish travel companion, a back-to-school special and finally a gamer’s dream. This week’s, the all-rounder, is the ASUS U1E… Check it out!

Finally, don’t forget the results from last week’s Valentine’s Day Voting! We saw some really great gift packs take to the polls and the winner’s were:

See the Full Results

So, if you’re stressing about this year’s Valentine’s Day, breathe! You’ll love what we’ve got at OfferMe.

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Posted by: Erick | January 19, 2010

The Group Buy Summer Selection rolls on

OfferMe’s Business Development Manager, Erick Teresa evaluates last week’s Group Buy Summer Selection Sales Results.

Our Summer Selection promotion has really given our Group Buy participants the opportunity to make their voices heard by picking the products they would like to purchase. The concept is pretty simple, but if this is the first time you’ve heard about it, I’ll explain it again: Each week we introduce five new selections promoting variety, competitive pricing and the power to choose when your item is put on sale on our Group Buy site. All you have to do is cast your vote. Not only is it obligation free to vote, you’ll also get $1 in OfferMe Credit when you do!

The first week’s vote, on Games & Accessories, went to the polls two weeks ago, with the winners hitting Group Buy last week. The Week 1 Champion, the PS3 DualShock Controller, went on sale Tuesday, followed by the FIFA 2010 PS3 Game on Wednesday, and finally the Microsoft XBox Controller on Thursday.

Results were amazing to say the least. After only five minutes, the PS3 Controller had already sold 20 units and by the following day, this Group Buy deal was sold out. The hype was so intense that we had buyers looking to book multiple controllers prior to the midday launch time! Further, after selling out of all stock, numerous buyers came to us asking us to source more sellers for this particular Group Buy!

It’ll be interesting to see how this week’s sales go. For those of you that didn’t get a chance to vote last week, you missed out on deciding between an array of household appliances. The candidates were a GoDuster, a Swivel Sweeper, a pair of Stain Removing Pens, a portable Steam Iron and Digital Bathroom Scales. (For more info about these items, click here) The Scales jumped out to a huge lead, which it held onto in spite of a late surge on the Swivel Sweeper. Following in third was the electric-powered and electro-magnetised GoDuster.

Here’s the Group Buy Medals Podium:

The Scales go on sale today – Check it Out

The Swivel Sweeper & GoDuster hit the Group Buy markets on Wednesday & Thursday respectively. For those, keep an eye on www.offerme.com.au/groupbuy

This week’s Summer Selection focuses on digital cameras & accessories. This includes two high quality digital cameras, a great deal on a 7-inch digital frame and an elite professional standard, travel-secured camera bag. These are items that have seen heavy requests on OfferMe and we believe you, the buyers, will enjoy this vote.

Just make your voice heard! Go to www.offerme.com.au/voting

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Posted by: Nadim | January 13, 2010

The OfferMe Community: Voting for Group Buy

Nadim Sharbean discusses the results from Week 1 of the Summer Selection.

Summer Selection Week 1: Group Buying Gaming & Accessories

Well, a week has passed and our Group Buy Summer Selection has found its first victor. Nearly two hundred people cast their vote, making their voices heard. With the wide range of games and gaming equipment, it was a tough selection. Yet in the end one item stood far ahead of the rest.

Here’s how the Group Buy Summer Selection medal table ended up:


See Full Details

I’ll admit, I’m a tad disappointed. I voted for the item that came in fourth; the game Borderlands on Playstation 3. However I’m also keen on getting FIFA 2010, so I may redirect the Borderlands money to that.

In the end even our suppliers were stunned by the huge demand for the White PS3 Controller. With only 20 in stock, they had to race out and scrounge together whatever other controllers they have available. Luckily for them, most didn’t mind the colour. They just wanted the great price on the device! The sale went live yesterday and (at time of posting) 50 had already been sold.

Summer Selection Week 2: Group Buying Household Appliances

This week five new products will go to the polls, all in the household appliance category. Here is a brief run-down of each candidate:

Group Buy – 2 x Bleach Pen Stain Removers:

These bleach pens will make your whites shine again! These pens are great for getting tough stains out of white clothing and off household surfaces. Simply dab with either the pinpoint end or the wide end and rinse it off. Great for those really nasty stains like red wine, coffee rings, mildew and more.

Group Buy – The GoDuster:

This is an electric duster that uses electro-magnetics to help catch dust. Now, I can’t quite comment on the GoDuster, but I have used an item exactly like this myself. And I’ll say this, they’re brilliant! Just point it at the dust and it’ll whip it away. The best aspect is you can get this thing into hard-to-reach areas and get to the dust without having to do too much.

Group Buy – Portable Dual Purpose Mini Steam Iron:

This little take-anywhere device is a must have for any frequent traveller. This iron not only does the job of more traditional irons, but it also has a steam ‘n brush feature that’ll help you clean your garments on the go. Remove the creases from folded up luggage and get that suit or dress ready for a night out!

Group Buy – The Swivel Sweeper:

This is a nifty item that’ll make cleaning up little messes even easier. This Sweeper is essentially a powerless vacuum cleaner with 360-degree cleaning movement. What this means is it cleans no matter which way to push it so you never miss a speck of a dust.

Group Buy – Digital Bathroom Scales:

Want to know how harsh Christmas was on you? Well this scale is just the right item. No one likes to step on the scales, but with New Years’ resolutions about to take effect, there’s no time as the present to start measuring your success. Designed in chic black and taking up to 180kg in weight, these scales are a smart addition to any bathroom.

Seen something you’d like to Group Buy? Then you better make sure you vote for it!

This vote runs ’til midnight Sunday, January 17th, with the winner going on sale the following Tuesday. To see more product details and cast your vote, click here.

Remember: OfferMe is built to cater to the Buyer’s voice… So make your voice heard!

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Posted by: Bekim | January 4, 2010

Group Buy Voting: Whetting your appetite

OfferMe’s Bekim discusses how the Summer Selection is putting the cherry on Group Buy…

Like everyone else, the decisions I make shape my life. This statement is never more true than when it comes to spending my hard-earned money. Each decision I make, from where I buy my coffee to what type of car I purchase, is a choice I weigh up. Sure, I spend much more time choosing the car than the cupper, but you get the point. Which brings me to this week’s blog topic: Voting on Group Buys.

Group Buy: On the Menu…

Throughout the month of January we are giving users of OfferMe the choice of which products should go live in our Group Buy deals. Just like the menu at a restaurant, we will bring you a category and you get to choose what you want us to sell.

In our Group Buy newsletters and banners on our site you will see the Summer Selections banners and products you can vote on. This week’s featured category will be gaming with these five products going live:

Borderlands
(PS3)		 FIFA 2010
(PS3)		 PS3
Controller
(white)		 XBox360
Controller		 Gaming
Headset
Under
$50.00		 Under
$50.00		 Under
$50.00		 Under
$40.00		 Under
$50.00

All users can vote for the one they want to see go on sale. Voting goes through for a week, with the top three products going on sale the following week in order or 1st to 3rd on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Group Buy Voting: For Dessert…

You can also earn OfferMe Credit throughout the voting process! You’ll receive $1 OfferMe Credit for each of your votes. Plus, tell your friends to vote, and if they register and vote, you’ll receive a further $1 OfferMe Credit for each friends vote. So if you can successfully get 30 of your friends to vote, you can make a total of $31 OfferMe Credit to spend on OfferMe.com.au.

So check out for the first Summer Selection vote today by clicking here and make the decision that shapes your buying experience.

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