The key players
Cobone.com
The low-down
Cobone.com is amongst the biggest of the collective buying sites in the region. Offering a daily deal in each of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Beirut, Amman and Jeddah, it’s supported by 200,000 registered customers and 70,000 Facebook fans across the Middle East. Future plans include Cairo, Bahrain and Kuwait, and there will be further expansion across the UAE and the Levant.
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What’s so special?
The site offers a variety of payment methods including paypal, credit card, cash on delivery, cashU and one card, making it easy for the customer to pay for a deal and helping quell security fears which are so prevalent in this region.
The site is also available in English and Arabic. Cobone.com recently launched the most expensive coupon ever sold in the world — a 15% discount on the Nissan Pathfinder 2011. At the time of writing this article, three cars had been sold generating AED 333,000 (US $90, 664).
What’s in it for you?
The customer reach combined with the activeness of the social community is what makes this site such a strong vehicle. Cobone.com can also work with you to develop a quarterly activity calendar.
For example
Offer: 53% off the full beverage brunch package at Al Muna, Mina A’Salam, Madinat Jumeirah.
Result: 1730 vouchers bought at AED 199.
Case Study: Saray Spa at the Marriott Harbour Hotel & Suites Dubai Marina
In a group buying deal, the spa at the Marriott offered users the chance to experience the milk and honey immersion treatment at 50% off the menu price.
In this instance, not only did the deal tip, but the deal hit the maximum threshold of 300 vouchers purchased.
Aftab Sayed, cluster e-commerce manager, Dubai Marriott Hotels, said of the offer: “We paced the clients coming in via bookings and this allowed us to dedicate more one on one time to the guests. The numbers we have as return guests are great — not to mention the positive recommendations.”
He goes on to say: “We will definitely be doing more of these deals across all of our Marriott properties in Dubai. Keep a look out for us.”
Case Study: Saray Spa at the Marriott Harbour Hotel & Suites Dubai Marina
In a group buying deal, the spa at the Marriott offered users the chance to experience the milk and honey immersion treatment at 50% off the menu price.
In this instance, not only did the deal tip, but the deal hit the maximum threshold of 300 vouchers purchased. Aftab Sayed, cluster e-commerce manager, Dubai Marriott Hotels, said of the offer: “We paced the clients coming in via bookings and this allowed us to dedicate more one on one time to the guests.
The numbers we have as return guests are great — not to mention the positive recommendations.” He goes on to say: “We will definitely be doing more of these deals across all of our Marriott properties in Dubai. Keep a look out for us.”
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