Will 'Groupon remorse' cool the fever for online deals?

Plenty of people never get to use the coupons before they expire. Will that sour them on the internet's hottest shopping trend?

CoupRecoup is just one in a series of websites catering to those who purchased Groupon-like deals and can't use them.
(Image credit: CoupRecoup.com)

Bargain hunters are flocking to Groupon, LivingSocial, and dozens of other group coupon-buying websites. In fact, customers are snapping up deals — on everything from spa treatments to restaurant meals to rafting trips — so fast that they don't have time to use 10 to 20 percent of the coupons before they expire. The Boston Globe calls it "Groupon remorse," and says it is so common that it has given rise to a new breed of website where buyers can sell their unused bargains, often at a loss. Will Groupon remorse bring the soaring popularity of daily deal sites back to Earth?

Yes, customers will wise up: It's great for Groupon and its business partners when coupons expire unused, says Brad Tuttle at TIME, because they're getting money for nothing. People go for these deals because they want to feel smart. But it's "pretty foolish to spend money on stuff you don't need," and will never use. Eventually, people will figure that out.

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