Google Offers was a service offering discounts and coupons. Initially, it was a deal-of-the-day website similar to Groupon, but it later changed focus. Rather than a small number of prepaid offers, it instead offered many smaller discounts. It is additionally integrated with both Google Maps and Google Wallet for mobile offers.[2] In 2014, Google announced it would be shutting the service down.
History
In 2011, Google began to drop hints of entering the Offers market. Nate Tyler, a Google spokesman, stated that the company is "communicating with small businesses to enlist their support and participation in a test of a prepaid offers/vouchers program. This initiative is part of an ongoing effort at Google to make new products … that connect businesses with customers in new ways."[3] Users receive an e-mail with a local deal of the day. They then have the opportunity to buy that deal within a specific time limit (usually 24 hours). Unlike Groupon, an offer on Google Offers is valid regardless of how many people take it.[4][5] Google Offers is powered by Google Checkout[6] and integrates with Google Wallet.[1] It will also include Facebook, Twitter, Google Reader, Google Buzz and e-mail sharing options.[7] Google Offers development information was leaked after a failed attempt by Google to buy Groupon for US$6 billion in December 2010.[8]
On April 21, 2011, via Google Places Facebook page, it was announced that "Offers BETA is coming", and provided a link to a signup page listing a few select cities, with the first beta city being Portland, Oregon.[9][10]
On May 26, 2011, the service was officially launched; the first offer was on June 1, for Floyd's Coffee Shop in Portland.[1] During its first month, the most popular deal was $20 worth of Powell's Books merchandise for $10: "5,000 Powell’s vouchers sold out in a matter of hours."[11] That deal's price turned out to be Google Offers' median offer price for the month.[11]
On July 4, 2012, Google Offers Chrome extension was launched.[13] This extension has been "retired".[14]
On March 6, 2013, offer extensions in AdWords were launched, allowing businesses to distribute promotions through their AdWords campaigns. These offers are discoverable when a user searches for a business, brand, product, or service. They save the offer to their Google Account from the Search ad and then redeem in-store or online.[15]
In March 2014, Google announced that it would be shutting the service down.[16]
