healthworks deal @ groupon

[thespian.livejournal.com]

24 visits for $24 at Healthworks

(use at multiple locations, the Porter location is in the building of the CVS, entrance next to Emack and Bolio's)

Unlike previous incarnations of this voucher, it doesn't have the MUST NEVER HAVE EVER SET FOOT IN OUR CLUB (don't even look at it) clause.

Also, you can extend that a little further by participating in their 'Open house'; free programming that's happening for the first two weeks of February: http://www.healthworksfitness.com/extras/sharethelove.php

I am really happy to see this one up: I loved Healthworks (I really wish it wasn't women-only, so I could share it with more of my friends), but can't really afford the club right now (so I go to Planet Fitness, which doesn't thrill me, but IS cheap). I was taking boxing classes at Healthworks, which were a revelation to me; I had always sort of forced myself to do classes, bored and looking at the clock. Boxing classes would end, and my first thought was always, 'awww.' :-)

Comments

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Is it really necessary to keep posting these ads any time it is even remotely connected to Davis Square? I feel like they've been posted enough times that anyone who really cares will subscribe on their own. I know I'm not the only one who's getting annoyed by it.

[thespian.livejournal.com]

others have publically thanked me in the past for doing it because no, they don't actually check the sites and instead prefer this. Which is why I keep doing it.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen many public thanks in the LJ for some time, whereas I've received private complaints so I figured I'd finally say something. (I'm not talking about ads in your own LJ, of course.) It also doesn't come across as all altruistic given the referral bonus, and it's unclear that you'd be posting so many of them if you didn't get anything out of it.

[thespian.livejournal.com]

I only get a referral bonus for groupon if someone has *never* bought anything there in the past. So I get one a week. Sometimes.

If 3 people buy a Living Social deal, yes, I get it free; the last time they did anything in Davis was Lyndell's, and I spent the day changing the code in my post so that as many Davis Square LJ people as could got the referral bonuses.

None of the other sites offer any bonus; I get nothing from them except that I've maybe saved someone some money, which I like doing; I'm forever posting stuff in my journal for people to get free things; you read my journal and should know that.

I've posted CoupMe and Qponus and BuyWithMe vouchers in the past for no reason other than to let people know when deals are offered because regardless what people think (when they could, you know, ask me instead of complaining privately to you), I really don't get much out of this.

[juldea.livejournal.com]

I wasn't going to POST a thanks, but since you say something here I figure I should point out that I was happy to see this reposted as I had somehow missed it earlier this morning and it's a deal I'm interested in.

thespian isn't reposting them every day, just the good ones, from what I can tell.

But you know how many complaints you're getting and I don't, so no clue what weight I have. ;)

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

FYI (in case this aspect wasn't more clear) people complain to me privately about things on DSLJ because I'm a mod, which probably make it feel more official.

appreciated

[fishkiss56.livejournal.com]

I like having the applicable ones posted here. I don't really want daily emails from all of the different services, particularly if they're not local deals.

[yagagriswold.livejournal.com]

Perhaps things like this could be put behind a cut?

[ursamajor]

FWIW, I like seeing the actual hyperlocal ones posted here, and I haven't noticed any that I felt were outside the Davis Square (maybe Porter/Teele radius?) area. But if people are complaining, maybe a descriptive cut on these isn't a bad idea? (I want to know before I click through that it's something I'm interested in; if the cut doesn't contain the key info, I'd probably scroll by unawares.)

As for the referrer bonus, my opinion boils down to "if the only thing thespian is contributing to davis_square is these Groupon-type posts, *and* she gets (money? additional discounts?) for it, then it's kinda spammy." But I haven't been getting that feeling, personally.

[kennygster.livejournal.com]

I agree with fishkiss that it is helpful to have the local deals posted here and I don't feel like there has been overposting.

Plus, it is publicizing local businesses which I view as a positive.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

Minimally, this. I get the email in my inbox, and I'm happy to filter it there. Don't really need a repost.

[thespian.livejournal.com]

I also never post anything that I'm not buying myself without being very clear about it; I don't know why, but if I did that it'd feel more like advertising - it's all local businesses that i support normally offering good deals (i'd be happy for others to post when i don't, and they have, though I do know I post more). Despite the comments above, I do do it out of altruism; I'm a member of free stuff and other sites, that give me nothing for referrals... but I like finding things (vouchers, freebies, coupons) and sharing them.

At the SF con that happened in Cambridge 2 weeks ago, Arisia, I ran the freebie table where the con gave out posters, dvds, t-shirts, sunglasses, necklaces, and more. I was told repeatedly it was one of the best freebie tables Arisia's ever had, and that was because it's a joy to me to see people get free stuff and brighten up because of it. It's corny and trite, but true.

(I actually watch groupon for 4 cities and point out things to friends of mine all over because I really like it when I find something they wanted and are happy that i pointed it out).

I was also trying to talk, a little, about the local businesses that the vouchers are for, and my personal experiences with them. I'd actually like to see more discussion of that here that isn't provoked just when service is bad.

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

i agree, i don't want to sign up on these sites, but do appreciate the heads up.

a second moderator chimes in

[ron_newman]

I think posts about temporary offers are useful if the business is reasonably local. So Porter, Teele, Ball, maybe Union Square count. However, there should at most one post per business.

Descriptive lj-cuts are a good idea.

(I haven't received any complaints about the posts.)

Edit: Looking back at the recent history of this LJ community, I see five such posts in the past two months, for Lyndell's, Redbones, Tavern in the (Porter) Square, Zing Pizza, and now Healthworks. That doesn't strike me as repetitive or excessive.

[obie119.livejournal.com]

I like it too - I would have used this deal if I'd checked in time!

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

I would love to get in on this offer but I don't live near Healthworks anymore unfortunately. Great price.