Groupon to Try Paid VIP Program

Is that a Groupon deal I see?

Image: Milan Ljubisavljevic/Shutterstock

One of the ideas behind Groupon is that it’s for people who want to save money.

But word comes today via the Chicago Tribune that the company will be trying a new program called Groupon VIP, designed to give its best deal devotees early access to deals and the ability to buy deals that have already closed or sold out to regular subscribers.

A company spokeswoman said that the subscription-based loyalty program, which costs $29.99 a year after a three-month free trial, also allows users to get Groupon credit for vouchers that they did not redeem on time.

The program is being tested in a handful of markets, including Tampa, Florida, and Hampton Roads, Virginia.

LivingSocial has beat Groupon to the punch, though, testing a similar service called Plus since last November, as reported in the Washington Business Journal. For $20 per month, Plus offers subscribers $5 in extra deal bucks to spend on offers each month, plus access to VIP and to select closed deals. (The $20 paid rolls over each month, although the extra $5 does not.)

Groupon VIP does not apply to the company's entertainment deals through GrouponLive, travel deals through Groupon Getaway, or products sold through Groupon Goods. It’s one of a number of changes the company has announced.

It is also revamping its website, with the addition of new features such as a thumbs up or thumbs down for offers, and testing out some Amazon-like e-commerce offerings in Germany and Australia.

While we’re not sure how many of Groupon’s users will go for it, the smart thing about this program—as opposed to some other experiments such as e-commerce—is that it doesn’t seem like it costs Groupon much, if anything, to give it a whirl.