Spectacular business opportunity!

I seem to be getting a lot of these lately, both via e-mail and phone calls:

I am Abdullah Jones, Crown Prince of Nigeria, I am Jane Smith, sales Representative of Poop-on discounts and deal-of-the-week, I am about to make you an offer you can't refuse.

You will be allowed to service my  customer base!  Of course, for this privilege, you must give a 50% discount on your goods/services to my customers, and from the remaining 50%, I might give you--if I feel generous that day- a whopping 25% back.  Make no mistake, these are MY customers--that is, they pay me money, you provide them the goods, and I give you some pennies.  You are NOT allowed any customer information from my data base, you are only a third party.

Hopefully you have not heard the viscous rumours that Poop-on needs you more than you need Poop-on.These are outrageous, untrue and wrongful lies!  Nothing could be further from the truth!  It's just that our marketing techniques are too overwhelming for your simple minds, and explaining them to you would crush your fragile, eggshell heads.  So don't ask how our superior marketing will do wonders for your business.  However, if you should make any kind of money in the future, Poop-on will take all the credit for this---it has nothing to do with your goods or services.

So, now that I have taken my precious time to patiently explain this marketing scam technique, you are indebted to Poop-on and will take our services.  Your Visa#,  banking information, and first child are required now before we can proceed.

Aggressively,

Apfelmus-Tortenguss Orgasmus, Ceo and Coo of the First Nigerian Savings & Loan

Jane Smith, Poop-on Discounts and deal-of-the-week.

How 'bout you guys?

Yup.

Most of the restaurants smartened up , but a few still do it even now.  These are the ones trying to sell the place and need it full of "customers", or complete noobs who bought into the "marketing hype".

Some businesses sit up and beg for it.  These are the guys who've bought a container of 1980's era Soviet swim wear and are selling it "at half price".

But they are persistant lite (deleted) -ers.  They tell me "Their customers" have asked that my business to be featured on Poop-on or whatever.  DOH! Of course, who doesn't want it at 50% off?

Uh..well, I was having a little fun with the "Nigerian" connection, but the main text is pretty typical of what I've been getting since late Jan..

No, Margcata, this is  totally a N.American thing, called "Groupon" or "Deal of the week" or many other names.  I doubt if it is Mafia or organized crime related.  Like "Cheez whizz", I hope it nevver, ever, makes it to Europe.  It is, however, popular in most N.American cities.

These are businesses that have a group of "customers" that they offer deals to, and this is usually done via smartphone.  The customer buys the deal through Groupon or whatever and Groupon pays the business offering the goods or service.  It's kind of like having your clothes on fire while you're on a motorcycle, everyone thinks that if they drive fast enough they can out run the fire.

Groupon (or others) contact normal business owners and ask them to offer goods or services at usually a 50% mark down on thier advertising scheme, and from the remaining money, they take 25%. It is pretty disgusting listening to their sales pitch.  I've had people call me all sorts of nasty names, and given me nasty gestures, but this sales pitch makes me want to push thier phones in body crevices so far up that surgery would be required to extract it .