Yep, as a local small business owner (pet boutique) I can assure you that the hardest part, by far, is getting customers into the store. Groupon is/was definite

Yep, as a local small business owner (pet boutique) I can assure you that the hardest part, by far, is getting customers into the store. Groupon is/was definitely the best service we ever found to do this. And it's pretty incredible that you only have to pay when people actually come in AND buy! I never felt very sorry for businesses who complained about the economics (even though they were bad, they were pretty straightforward). And I certainly didn't feel ANY sorrow for the businesses who "sold too much". I don't know if Groupon would have been such a hit with different discount structures. The "half off, a quarter to Groupon" was compelling to customers and easy to understand. I'm trying to envision "1/3 off and 10% to Groupon" or whatever.