Ever had a deal that you thought would be popular, but wasn't?

Smulder on 09/09/2014 - 13:54
Last edited 09/09/2014 - 14:46

Have you ever found a deal that you thought was so great you couldn't wait to post it on Ozbargain, then refreshed over and over waiting for your 'likes' to skyrocket, but it never happens?

Rather than your deal being spectacular, it barely manages to raise itself above mediocrity?

Post a link to your deal here, and your explanation of why you think it failed. Then everyone else can give their opinion of why it failed, and maybe we will all learn something about what makes a true bargain!

Couple of rules:

1) All feed back/opinions should be objective and constructive, no personal attacks or putting people down because you think they are dumb for expecting a deal to be good when you personally think it is obviously bad..

2) Please don't 'like' a deal someone has posted here if you did not like it on its previous posting. This isn't meant to be a chance for people to get a few more likes on their failed deal. (Of course, if you legitimately end up taking advantage of the deal you should like it)

I will start:

I figured this deal would be more popular than it was. Free pizza and all! I suppose it failed due to being too location-specific and the vague nature of what they would actually be offering.

Free pizza from Crust

General Discussion

Comments

  • ilostnemo on 09/09/2014 - 13:59
    +3

    I think you're reading too much in to why your deal didn't meet your expectations.
    Don't worry adbout it, move on, some deals just don't appeal to all.

    I wonder why some deals blow the roof off, ie $5 paypal and $1.30 mcflurry

    The deal which did do well and should of as well was the MS office for $15.00

    • Smulder on 09/09/2014 - 14:03

      Perhaps I am reading too much into my deal, but I didn't mean for this to be just about my deal in particular, more a chance for everyone to discuss various deals and why they failed.

    • sparkles on 09/09/2014 - 15:39
      +1

      Until I see the free $5 in my PayPal I was never going to be excited about that deal. Obviously 2000+ people disagreed LOL.

      • zelda707 on 09/09/2014 - 19:37

        Same, I'll wait until I actually get my $5, but i don't see what the fuss is about it's only $5… plenty of other deals here have a saving of over $5

  • bluedufflecoat on 09/09/2014 - 14:03
    1. I think I didn't see your post.
    2. I am in VIC, so it didn't apply to me.
    • Smulder on 09/09/2014 - 14:27

      Valid reasons! Although frequently I have seen people vote for deals that they aren't able to take part in (eg out of state).

      Is it fair to vote for a good deal whether or not you can participate? Something to ponder…

      • bluedufflecoat on 09/09/2014 - 14:58
        +1

        Personal preference I think.

        Some prefer to vote anyway, and others tend to vote when applicable.
        OzB under "my Account" allows you to look at the posts you voted on, or commented on. I tend to vote on the deals that applied to me, so I can go back to them easily via the My Account option.

  • 2ndeffort on 09/09/2014 - 14:12

    A few months ago I found this deal for Brand New Bike Frames https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/153823 I had been looking at bike frames for a while looking to build one up into a bike as a kind of hobby and to teach myself about how a bike goes together. I couldn't believe my luck when I found this deal as most of the frames I had been looking at were manky old 2nd hand things that cost many times the price of these Brand New frames. Additionally, most of the frames I had been looking at were being sold 2nd hand on eBay and Gumtree etc where the ones in my post were brand new from a reputable B&M shop.

    I was challenged whether or not this was a bargain at all, probably because the common audience on OzB aren't mad cyclists I guess. In retrospect this appeals most to folks that are crazy about bikes and I can understand the reservations and disinterest from people that aren't into this as much as I am. I guess there are plenty of 'bargains' that get great numbers of hits for stuff that I couldn't care less about (supermarket bargains, ebooks, music streaming etc).

    I bought 2 of the frames and have had a ball, not from building them up or riding them, instead I have loved the process of identifying all of the bits I will need to build the things and then scouring the globe for the best bargains. 1st bike is almost ready to go and the 2nd one is waiting for various bits to arrive from the myriad of overseas shops that I bought parts from.

    • Smulder on 09/09/2014 - 14:26
      +1

      Yes, I guess someone like me who has no passion for cycling would have no idea whether $40 for a bike frame is a good deal or not, and without that interest in the subject, wouldn't bother researching to discover that it is in fact a good deal and vote for it.

      Glad you got a bargain anyway :)

    • [Deactivated] on 09/09/2014 - 14:49

      I think its good what you did. The likes don't really mean anything in then if its a niche area. If one person took advantage of your bargain that should have been good enough (for the purpose of the community). Personally, I don't see every day nor do I try to gauge whether they are "good" or deserving of + or not. If I make use of it, it gets a + from me.

    • outlander on 09/09/2014 - 17:37
      +1

      I feel for you 2ndeffort. It tests your patience when you post a deal that has a few conditions for a fantastic price, and the first comment is 'Hey! You can get something slightly easier for 3x the price over here". You'd think you where posting parts for an engine.

  • [Deactivated] on 09/09/2014 - 14:16
    +9

    Sometimes I wish upvoting didn't exist for deals. I reckon some people get too fixated on getting a high vote count above all else.

    Though I can see how the upvoting system also works positively as incentive for us to post deals.

    Personally I wish I simply found deals to post lol. But I live under a rock and rarely shop for popular or generally useful items, thus I never see sales/bargains/discounts to share. My only source of that type of thing is spam emails from various subscriptions, which most people here already receive, and there's always someone quicker to post it on here.

    • KBZ on 09/09/2014 - 17:57
      +1

      Sometimes I wish upvoting didn't exist for deals. I reckon some people get too fixated on getting a high vote count above all else.

      I agree as well but I like you said it incentives people to post deals as well. But I also agree that it detracts people from posting deals which would be niche or even okay deals.

      The only other option is making the votes not view-able but then we come off as being all mollycoddling and with people these days I don't want to encourage that.

  • mskeggs on 09/09/2014 - 18:58
    +1

    People up vote if:

    • they have an idea of the usual 'real' price, and the post is substantially cheaper
    • people madly up vote if they have an idea of the price, it is substantially cheaper, and they can benefit themselves
    • people go ape shit over free stuff if they can get it.

    So a post on, for example, solar panels could genuinely save thousands, but few know the current prices, few can take advantage and it isn't free - so it would get a modest vote at best.

    While a cheap mcflurry or a free sample gets people going nuts.

  • scotty on 09/09/2014 - 19:30
    +2

    As of Crust Pizza deal — it's still a few days away, and in very limited locations. Neutral Bay and Mosman — not the kind of bargain hunters' suburbs I am afraid.

    • dylanando on 09/09/2014 - 20:01

      right on, restricted to a few areas, id up vote it but id feel sad as i didnt get any free pizza :(

    • SirFlibbled on 10/09/2014 - 17:31

      Crust Pizza did a deal? I'm shocked!!! I'd up vote it on the principle lol. I don't think I've ever seen them do a deal.

  • [Deactivated] on 09/09/2014 - 20:00
    +1

    I thought my better than half price deals on cereal and bread would get more votes. Is there a problem with posting good deals for healthy foods?

  • Cozdog on 10/09/2014 - 09:18
    +1

    I thought the free bottle of RWT with a case of any other Bin wine from Penfolds by Dan Murphy was a terrific deal, but didn't get nearly the same kind of love as the $75 Lagavulin. Just goes to show Ozbargainers are big whisky drinkers I guess!

    • 2ndeffort on 10/09/2014 - 19:05

      As a Scot myself, it's almost a stereotype joke for cheap whisky on a Bargains forum!

      • goosegog on 11/09/2014 - 16:59

        Make your own !! Buy a still - which are readily available from legitimate outlets + ingredients & away you go. All instructions are included. Although it is a learning process+ the initial outlay & is a little time consuming the ongoing value is worth it all. Make any spirit for apx. $12.00- $14.00 for 1.125 ltrs. We have been making our own through our still for over 10 yrs. now. It is perfectly legitimate + the added bonus is a spirit which is smooth & without chemical overtones. Cheers !!

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