Snap by Groupon Changes
In an email sent to its users earlier this week, Groupon announced that major changes are planned for is Snap by Groupon cash-back app. Like other popular money-saving apps such as Ibotta and Checkout 51, Snap offered customers product-specific rebates on everyday grocery purchases. Smart couponers could then stack those deals with sales, store and manufacturer coupons, and even rebates on other cash-back apps.
However, Groupon has decided to shift the market focus of their Snap app and, as of March 1, 2016 it will be “transitioning from product-specific to retailer-specific promotions.”
The New Focus of Snap by Groupon
The transition away from product-specific offers will make the Snap app less helpful for the average grocery shopper and (certainly) for any couponer. However, the company’s goal with this transition seems to be to appeal to a larger audience of less-diligent shoppers. The exact details of their new offers are still sketchy, but their announcement explained it this way:
Instead of 50 cents cash back from buying a particular brand of cereal, the app will feature digital offers from some of the top brands, including Best Buy, Express, Macy’s, Target and Walmart, among others.
They also offered some sample deals which include 20% off of one item at Bed, Bath, & Beyond or 10% off your purchase at Urban Outfitters. Basically, Snap is transitioning to digital coupons for bigger ticket items and purchases and will eliminate any sort of cash back features.
What Will Happen to Current Snap Balances
Snap by Groupon will continue to operate as usual through February 29, 2016, and users can still redeem product-specific rebates through it. After that time, Groupon will allow users to “cash out” any balances above $20, as per its app’s current Policy Statement.
Users with balances less than $20 will not be able to cash out. Instead, Groupon will automatically transition that money into “Groupon Bucks” which users can then apply to any Groupon purchase. These balances will automatically round up in increments of 5, so a user with a $8.25 balance will get $10 in Groupon Bucks, and will expire September 1, 2016.
A Clever Disguise
The transition to retailer-specific deals on the part of Snap by Groupon may be good for their business, but it’s not great news for the savvy saver. The entire point of this app was to save people money on everyday purchases, not encourage them to buy more big ticket items, which retailer specific “coupons” are really all about, in my opinion. It’s a sad day for those who loved the rebates and earnings they earned through Snap, but the good news is that there are other apps you can use instead.
For more details about the Snap by Groupon system changes including what will happen to your balance, see the official company announcement, here.