The 5 Craziest Groupon Deals
Nobody likes to pay full price.
That's why everybody jumped on Groupon when it first came out with all of its crazy-cheap deals, and many of us still keep coming back. From dinners at fancy places to open bar catamaran cruises, Groupon seems to offer everything under the sun — at a steep discount.
But if you think that bikini waxes are the wildest thing that Groupon offers, think again. Here are the five craziest Groupon deals ever. (See also: How to Ensure You Use Your Groupons and Other Daily Deals)
1. Bedtime Tuck-In
Parents have been warning their kids about stranger danger for a long time. Ben Kobold wanted you to dismiss all that advice and let him give you or the recipient of this Groupon "deal" the most amazing bedtime tuck-in. Not only will Ben use his "summer-breeze-like" voice to sing you a lullaby, but he will also monitor your body temperature and breathing rate.
Priced at $100, this bedtime tuck-in deal would seem a prank. However, Groupon has established that this deal wasn't a joke and that Ben Kobold was an actual Groupon employee (he's a writer). Such level of professionalism must have been very reassuring for the two people that bought this crazy deal!
2. Serial-Killer Walking Tour
There are creepy deals, and then there are truly scary ones. A Milwaukee company caused the rage of several local residents by offering a 90-minute Jeffrey Dahmer (a.k.a. the Milwaukee Cannibal) tour for two. For $25 (deal was valued at $60), you and your guest would tour the exact streets in which cannibalistic serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer picked up seven of his victims.
Even though two decades have passed since Dahmer was arrested, his memory still haunts the neighborhood. It wasn't long until the Dahmer's hunting grounds "deal" caught the attention of the local and national news and Groupon was forced to take down the sale from its website. Despite the pull-plug from Groupon and the outcry from the Milwaukee community, the tour company was still legally allowed to fulfill its 15 sold tours.
3. DVD Signed by Leonardo DiCaprio Impersonator
When you are offering a travel package that includes...
- Round-trip airfare from any city in the continental U.S. to the nearest city of the resting place of the Titanic;
- One-night stay at a comfy hotel;
- 11-night stay at a cruise ship;
- Exploration of the Titanic shipwreck aboard a deep-ocean vessel;
- Admission to a series of lectures from experts on the Titanic; and
- A long list of Titanic-related activities,
...why in the world would you make a Titanic-movie DVD signed by a Leonardo DiCaprio impersonator the main selling point of this package? (See also: Are Groupon Getaways a Good Idea?)
To be fair, he's a professional impersonator. But, heck with a price tag of $12,500 for this deal, you would expect at least the Leo impersonator would be around to recreate the famous "I'm the king of the world" scene!
4. Role as Movie Extra
In 2014, Robert Downey, Jr. made $75 million, while Sandra Bullock earned $50 million. Dreaming of landing such big paychecks one day, several individuals kick off their careers by playing extras in over 1,800 movies released in the U.S.
And all of those extras get paid!
So, why in the world would you pay $149 for a Groupon deal to become a movie extra? This "deal" in New Orleans was called out faster than you can say "Lights, camera, action!" The Office of the Mayor of New Orleans clearly states that if you follow the rules, you'll get paid for your work as an extra.
5. Kilogram of Onions
Groupon operates in close to 50 countries, including India. One of Groupon India's most successful deals to date is Rs. 9 (roughly $0.15) for a kilo of onions.
With the price of kilo of onions at about Rs. 100 at the time of the deal, this crazy Groupon deal was able to sell 3,000 kilograms of onions in just 44 minutes. The heavy demand caused the site to crash. Once the site was back up, Groupon India sold a total of 8,000 kilos of onions during the two-day sale.
Onions are a major staple in Indian cuisine and are used in a wide variety of dishes, including the one recommended by Groupon India, onion pakora.
What is the craziest Groupon deal that you ever bought?
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