Without a doubt, group buying websites have invaded the Philippines. We scoured the Internet and our latest count shows that there are at least 20 active (and legitimate) group buying sites operating in the country.
What is a Group Buying Site?
A Group Buying site banks on the power of “collective buying.” It is a well-accepted fact that individually, people don’t have much bargaining power versus the seller when buying a product or service. When these people unite, though, they can as a group negotiate for lower prices or better deals.
In group buying sites, customers can typically get discounts of up to 90%. In most cases, these deals are exclusively offered through the sites. Anywhere else, these group discounts are not available — not even in the stores themselves.
The power of group buying indeed translates to huge discounts for Filipino users.
We looked at all these sites and the types of deals they offer. The result: our list of the 5 Best Group Buying sites in the country (in no particular order) — based on our own experience with them and various consumer comments and feedback seen on blogs and social media sites .
Top 5 Best Group Buying Websites in the Philippines
1. Beeconomic – www.beeconomic.com/philippines
Their site claims that they are “A Company of Groupon,” with Groupon being one of the pioneers of group buying worldwide. Beeconomic operates in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines. Deals are on after a minimum number of buyers have pledged to buy the product or service, which usually focus on the food, health, beauty and wellness niches. Their association with Groupon is one of the main reasons why Beeconomic ranks on our Top 5.
2. Metrodeal – www.metrodeal.com
Claiming to be the first in the country, Buyanihan is one of the few group buying sites that has an active non-Manila counterpart. Aside from the Manila deals, Buyanihan also has a simultaneous offer for the city of Cebu. I personally have purchased their D’Pond Fishing deal which I’ll use when I visit Cebu next month. Like most group buying sites, their offers are in the food, health, beauty and wellness arenas. They used to have only one deal per week but starting 2011, they are now introducing simultaneous offers. Their first-mover advantage, the presence of an active deals site for Cebu, and the range of offers land them a spot on our Top 5 list.
3. Deal Grocer – www.dealgrocer.com
Deal Grocer stands out from the rest of the group buying sites because they focus on the premium line of products and services. Unlike other group buying sites, there is no minimum number of buyers required. Instead, they use a voucher system wherein the deal goes on as soon as the voucher is bought. Deal Grocer is clearly positioning itself as the site that offers “a taste of the good life” — and that is why it has earned its place on our Top 5. Check out, for instance, some of their offers: a private helicopter ride for P15,600 (orig. price: P25,000) and a P4,950 weekend stay at The Farm at San Benito (orig. price: P8,540). Sweet deals, indeed, for the good life.
4. eBay Deals – http://deals.ebay.ph
They may be late to arrive in the market, but eBay Philippines’ Deals is emerging to be a top contender in the local group buying market. Operated by auction site eBay, eBay Deals was no doubt a strategic move by eBay to further clinch their hold on the local online buyers’ market. Initially, they required a minimum number of buyers before a deal goes on. In the past years, though, the site evolved and simply highlighted special discount offers of its own pool of eBay members, with no need anymore for minimum orders. It was a good move, because eBay Deals now boasts of hundreds of discounted deals everyday from thousands of eBay members — which also explains why they are part of our Top 5 group buying sites.
5. CashCashPinoy – http://www.cashcashpinoy.com
We’ve been transacting with CashCashPinoy since the start but its amateurish site (coupled with its funny and scammy-sounding website name) prevented us from putting it in our Top 5. But with Ensogo being demoted as a problem site in 2011 (read below) and after a major site overhaul of CashCashPinoy, the latter is now regarded as a professional group buying site. The new site layout also features not just one but a dozen offers from various trusted merchants. CashCashPinoy has truly earned its spot in our Top 5.
PROBLEM SITE: Ensogo – www.ensogo.com.ph
We are demoting Ensogo as a top group buying site because of a problematic incident with them back in 2011. Read about this problem with Ensogo here. A merchant featured on Ensogo maliciously advertised a service with a 50% discount — when in fact, you can get it cheaper when directly reserved from them. A month after we complained, Ensogo even had the gall to offer only a 50% refund of what we paid. The other 50% we will supposedly get IF AND ONLY IF we remove the blog post. Talk about lack of professionalism.
Other Group Buying Sites in the Philippines
- Twangoo – www.twangoo.com/manila/en/deal
- Local Roam –
- Couppie – www.couppie.com
- Deal Spot – www.dealspot.ph
- Groupie –
- Buyanihan – www.buyanihan.com
- Crazy Deals – http://crazydeals.ph
- Cuponz – www.cuponz.com
- Melo Deal – www.melodeal.ph
- Mura Ito –
- Awesome – http://awesome.ph
- Clever Buy – www.cleverbuy.com.ph
- Tipid ‘To – www.tipidto.com
- eTreet – www.etreet.com
- My Shop Mates – www.myshopmates.com
- Pakyaw – http://pakyaw.com.ph
What’s your favorite group buying site?
