4 ms·

Not another groupon clone please...

thankuz 15y ago
Pretty safe to say that if it's new, shiny, buzzing, makes money and users love it - Google will either (offer to) buy it, or build it.
guelo 15y ago
why not? competition is great.
hugh3 15y ago
Not just another one -- the Groupon clone to end all Groupon clones. And I mean that literally. Once Google enters the game, who else will bother? Either a) Google will lose against Groupon, proving that it's impossible to dislodge Groupon, or b) Google will win against Groupon, in which case you'd be crazy to take on Google David can sometimes beat Goliath, but if King Kong shows up to the fight as well then David should probably just go home.
- d0m 15y ago
  Unless you headshot Kong Kong (meaning have a better tool or a better way to win).
- scottkrager 15y ago
  Don't forget Living Social. I've seen better and better offers from them this year. Seem to be doing well.
- thankuz 15y ago
  But, what happens when David recruits Jane to his side? http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2471581 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2471581
  - elliottcarlson 15y ago
    Of course any evidence of that would break any confidentiality agreements that were surely put in place when stepping down from Google.
- ry0ohki 15y ago
  Maybe if it were Apple these would be the only two options. Unfortunately Google does a lot of "half ass" launches. By that I mean they release a product that is the "Google version" of something else that is out there. But they do no marketing, so unless it's amazing like Gmail or Chrome the most likely option is what happens to most things Google clones: c) Google launches, and some people use it... but not enough to make a dent in Groupon, but just enough people to justify running the service
  - zandorg 15y ago
    I saw a big billboard ad for the Chrome browser on a UK motorway a couple of months ago. I was very surprised, at least until I saw an IE9 billboard in a petrol ('gas') station the other day.
    - hugh3 15y ago
      As far as I know, Chrome is the only google product that has ever been advertised. (Y'know, outside google's own ad network.)

Pretty safe to say that if it's new, shiny, buzzing, makes money and users love it - Google will either (offer to) buy it, or build it.

guelo 15y ago

why not? competition is great.

hugh3 15y ago

Not just another one -- the Groupon clone to end all Groupon clones. And I mean that literally. Once Google enters the game, who else will bother? Either a) Google will lose against Groupon, proving that it's impossible to dislodge Groupon, or b) Google will win against Groupon, in which case you'd be crazy to take on Google David can sometimes beat Goliath, but if King Kong shows up to the fight as well then David should probably just go home.

d0m 15y ago
Unless you headshot Kong Kong (meaning have a better tool or a better way to win).
scottkrager 15y ago
Don't forget Living Social. I've seen better and better offers from them this year. Seem to be doing well.
thankuz 15y ago
But, what happens when David recruits Jane to his side? http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2471581 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2471581
- elliottcarlson 15y ago
  Of course any evidence of that would break any confidentiality agreements that were surely put in place when stepping down from Google.
ry0ohki 15y ago
Maybe if it were Apple these would be the only two options. Unfortunately Google does a lot of "half ass" launches. By that I mean they release a product that is the "Google version" of something else that is out there. But they do no marketing, so unless it's amazing like Gmail or Chrome the most likely option is what happens to most things Google clones: c) Google launches, and some people use it... but not enough to make a dent in Groupon, but just enough people to justify running the service
- zandorg 15y ago
  I saw a big billboard ad for the Chrome browser on a UK motorway a couple of months ago. I was very surprised, at least until I saw an IE9 billboard in a petrol ('gas') station the other day.
  - hugh3 15y ago
    As far as I know, Chrome is the only google product that has ever been advertised. (Y'know, outside google's own ad network.)