5 Things Groupon Won't Tell You

Attention shoppers: You'll get the best bargains on daily deals sites like Groupon, Living Social, and others if you follow these insider tips.
These insider secrets about Groupon and other daily deals sites will keep your piggy bank very happy.
1. Hunt for deals outside of your area.
Do you live in Ohio but see a great deal in Seattle? Scoping out bargains in other cities might pay off. Quite a few "local" deals from national chains (say, Starbucks) are actually valid all over the U.S.-just read the fine print to double check.

Related: 5 simple ways to save money right now »

2. Consider secondary markets.
Sites like CoupRecoup provide a marketplace in which buyers and sellers can trade coupons from sites like Groupon, Living Social, and Social Buy. So if you're bummed you missed the window to snag great theater tickets before they sold out, or if you bought a hotel deal that you can't redeem before it expires, try these sites.

Related: How to save money while buying in bulk >>

3. Some sites are more discreet than others.
At newcomer Savored.com, for a $10 reservation fee, you get special pricing (typically 30% off your bill, and for once, that's alcohol included) at premier restaurants across the United States. When the bill comes, no need to be embarrassed by coupons; you're already in their system and the deductions are automatic. Perfect for when you don't want your date to know you're getting a serious discount or when taking a friend out for a birthday and don't want her to think you're cheap. Invite your friends to join and get $10 for successful referrals. Bon Appétit!

4. Don't expect the best service.
Unfortunately, there's a downside of saving big. Many merchants might treat you differently when you come in toting a deal since they expect smaller tips or none at all. On that note: Remember to tip your servers based on what the meal or service would have cost pre-discount.

Since vouchers can lead to a large influx of customers, some restaurants might do crafty things like skimp on more expensive ingredients at a buffet, or eliminate signature dishes. Buyer beware.

5. It's not just luxury purchases; you can save big on everyday items.
For a small handling fee (about 5 to 50 cents per coupon), choose from a selection of thousands of coupons on sites like Coupon Clippers to save big on name brands. When Reader's Digest editors tested the site, our total outlay to the Coupon Clippers came to $6.64, including the cost of coupons, postage, and a 50-cent administration fee. The savings came to $61.75 when we redeemed the coupons at face value. Some stores will double coupons, creating a savings of $123.50!
-Perri O. Blumberg

Read on for 8 more things Groupon won't tell you >>

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