WagJag Launches Instant Deals with WagJag Express

Yesterday WagJag announced a new approach to deals - WagJag Express is a buy-now, use-now, flash sale approach to deals.  In addition, August is $1 WagJag Express month with deals across the city for $1.

Today’s $1 deals (most of which run from 11am-2pm)  include: Thai One On, Second City, the {eat}ery, Kama, Ultra Supper Club, Cool Hand Luc, Jetsun’s Burgers, Herbal infusions Tea, Get Spun, Carido-Go, Marcello’s Market & Deli, deKEFIR, 5th Elementt.

If you download the app today – August 3rd – WagJag will donate $1 to The Stop. 

We haven’t talked much about deal sites and group buying, but it is certainly polarizing and there are many of them out there demanding our attention – WagJag, Groupon, TeamBuy, FabFind.  Some restaurants and vendors say it’s a great way to get new customers, others find the deals are

being used by regular customers to get… well… deals. Many say it’s a high risk gamble to put up an offer since there is no idea how many will be purchased and when they will be redeemed. These factors together can ruin a business. 

My personal experience with traditional deals has been pretty hit and miss. A great experience kayaking on the Humber with Toronto Adventures; spectacular failure with a wine making deal which cost us more than the deal itself; and wonderful meals at Bombay Palace, 5th Elementt and Caplansky’s.  I won’t even talk about the ones I’ve forgotten to use before they expired. I’m running about 50% success rate on deals, and frankly if I’d just purchased the successful experience full price I’d be just breaking even.

However, WagJag Express is attempting to address some of the major issues we’ve all had with deals in the past, vendors and buyers alike.

It’s flash sale, buy-now, use-now approach is designed to work well for mobile devices since buyers can use the app to check nearby deals they can use NOW.  (Yup, geolocation is hip tech these days)  Think “where will I eat lunch” and, boom, there’s a deal app for that.

Express deals means buyers won’t have deals expire on them because they forgot to use them, the deals for today have to be used in 2 to 10 hours. Vendors don’t have to worry about when something will be redeemed, because of the short deal window.

I’d love to hear about your restaurant experiences with Deal Sites and Group Buying, and now with WagJag Express (and other Flash Sales.) 

• Have you tried new restaurants or just gotten deals on ones you know (I’ve done both).
• Have you noticed any difference in staff or service when you use a deal? (I’ve actually gotten better service in most places)
• What do you think about this new, instant deal?