Groupon discrimination?!?

[hannahhanj]

Hey all,

Has anyone spotted that lots of Groupon offers are Singaporean, PR or EP holder only? I called them about this and it is down to the coupon offerer, but to me it seems really unfair. I can see that maybe they want to stop tourists if there is no chance of loyalty, but there are a lot of dependant pass holders/ LTSVP/student pass holders who have lived in Singapore for several years who can't get the voucher.

I'm a member of Groupon London and it doesn't exclude people in this way.

Sorry this is kinda minor, but really really frustrating... Anyone have any thoughts on who might be able to advise on whether it is legal to do this?

Thanks and sorry for the moan...

[ecureilx]

Has anyone spotted that lots of Groupon offers are Singaporean, PR or EP holder only? I called them about this and it is down to the coupon offerer, but to me it seems really unfair. I can see that maybe they want to stop tourists if there is no chance of loyalty, but there are a lot of dependant pass holders/ LTSVP/student pass holders who have lived in Singapore for several years who can't get the voucher.

Well, let met put it this way, maybe a rude way .. due to the extreme number of foreigners who abuse systems, a lot of offers are only open to residents - i.e. PR, Citizen, or EP Holder .. Don't blame them .. As a transit tourist, you bid and lock in a coupon and then decide to tell them to go to hell .... what happens ???

And Ministry of Trade has some grey area about doing network business and foreigners are simply no-no for obvious reasons .. Groupon maybe sitting on the grey area and hence their rules ..

Sorry this is kinda minor, but really really frustrating... Anyone have any thoughts on who might be able to advise on whether it is legal to do this?

Do you wanna sue Groupon ?? Well, I thought its like- if you don't like the way they run their biz here, just don't use them

[sundaymorningstaple]

It's purely for their financial security and rightly so. Too many people on transit or short term passes here who do runners, leaving CC's unpaid, and so forth. Therefore they was to limit exposure to long term residents who are either permanent residents (incl citizens) or have employment here. Dependents don't normally and tourists/students speak for it's self as they have no ties/income here at all and the company could not afford to have to chase them all over the world.

Your profile says manager, not being able to see this surprises me.

[hannahhanj]

Ok, but I am saying that I am not a "transit" foreigner. I was on a long term social visit pass, and now a student pass. I've been here for 3 years, and will be here as long as my EP holding partner - so he can use Groupon, but I can't!

Also the way Groupon works is that you pay up front for the voucher. So it actually works better for the company if you never redeem a voucher - they get paid without providing a service.

Do you wanna sue Groupon ?? Well, I thought its like- if you don't like the way they run their biz here, just don't use them

No I don't want to sue Groupon, but I want them to make the rules fair and transparent. I wondered if other dependent/LTSVP/student pass holders had similar issues.

[hannahhanj]

hi,
You seem to be misunderstanding the situation. Groupon is a pre-paid voucher. Thus you pay in advance (PayPal/Visa etc) and it works for them if you don't redeem it because they don't have to outlay for the service but receive the revenue.
Thanks

[ecureilx]

Ok, but I am saying that I am not a "transit" foreigner. I was on a long term social visit pass, and now a student pass. I've been here for 3 years, and will be here as long as my EP holding partner - so he can use Groupon, but I can't!

let me ease this nicely : LTVP is NOT equivalent to residency / work Pass status And as I said, there are some gray area .. about LVTP, DP etc. etc. so .. no comments !!!

Also the way Groupon works is that you pay up front for the voucher. So it actually works better for the company if you never redeem a voucher - they get paid without providing a service.

MIT doesn't accept such argument ..

No I don't want to sue Groupon, but I want them to make the rules fair and transparent. I wondered if other dependent/LTSVP/student pass holders had similar issues.

You should write to MIT and ask them to revise the law that has such restriction ..

above is My 2 cents ..

[sundaymorningstaple]

as ecureilx mentioned, an LTVP or Student Visa has no financial basis in Singapore. For companies that do business here, a lot of them, just like landlord, will not (or cannot in the case of Landlords) rent to those without proper residency, and LTVP is not residency as it, when written out, says VISIT pass. Student Passes are just that, you are here as a student only and, with strict limitations are only able to do some part time work up to a few hour a week. Life isn't always fair. In this case it is prudent for the company and they can, as a private business, do business as they like. They are not discriminating in any way. You might want to look up the meaning of discrimination. Actually, you are lucky the government even let you have an LTVP as you apparently are not married.

[hannahhanj]

Hi Sundaymorningstaple.

I don't think there is any need to be so rude to me, I'm quite surprised at how abrasive a moderator has been. "Look up discrimination", is an unnecessary and pointed comment. By the way, it means, the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people. I can see this as I wrote in the original post, you don't appear to be able to. That's fine, I get that people have different views, and I don't feel the need to be rude to you. Why didn't you leave someone else, if anyone is interested in this, to reply?

I have only asked a question, I thought the point of the forum was to ask things. As you might see I did put some question marks after discrimination. You also might notice that clearly I was soliciting responses from people other than yourself, having noted early on that you clearly did not know what Groupon was.

FYI LTSP is for civil partnerships. Thanks for that comment as well.

So thank you for your replies. No need to post anymore in this tone, I won't be checking this again since clearly you are looking to pick arguments and be rude to users.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Hi Sundaymorningstaple.

I don't think there is any need to be so rude to me, I'm quite surprised at how abrasive a moderator has been. "Look up discrimination", is an unnecessary and pointed comment. By the way, it means, the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people. I can see this as I wrote in the original post, you don't appear to be able to. That's fine, I get that people have different views, and I don't feel the need to be rude to you. Why didn't you leave someone else, if anyone is interested in this, to reply?

It's only unjust if it is law. If it is a private company, they are able to act as they see fit. Is it discrimination if I won't go out with a caucasian woman? No. It's my preference. The same goes with the owner of Groupon. It's their preference. If it costs them some money, it's their loss. Nobody is being rude to you. You are just not getting the answers you want. Big difference.

I have only asked a question, I thought the point of the forum was to ask things. As you might see I did put some question marks after discrimination. You also might notice that clearly I was soliciting responses from people other than yourself, having noted early on that you clearly did not know what Groupon was.

FYI LTSP is for civil partnerships. Thanks for that comment as well.

"and will be here as long as my EP holding partner -"
normally would not be the phrase used by a legally married person. So if you are legally married, I apologise, but if I am right, then my comment stands and you should already know that as it is usually harder to get an LTVP for a de facto spouse.

So thank you for your replies. No need to post anymore in this tone, I won't be checking this again since clearly you are looking to pick arguments and be rude to users.

And all the moderators here are regular members and answer as regular members unless they inform that they are posting as a moderator in one fashion or another.

[ecureilx]

SMS - I thought i was being frank and that was mostly construed as 'rude'

haha

[shimmeringlilies]

Hey there,

I think it is oughta be frank and blunt about this.. in Asia there is no such thing as discrimination laws. Discrimination happens everywhere everyday in Asia. People are picked on based on their looks more than their capabilities on jobs in Asia. Harrassment happens all the time.
And all of this has no definite or punitive laws that it is not allowed.
Therefore, when it comes to Groupon not allowing someone that does not have a financial income source to use/purchase their coupons. They have more than reasonable grounds to do so.

Not to be rude but this may sound really blunt because you seem to still be in the bubble thinking that everything works the same as it is back at home.

[nakatago]

I think it is oughta be frank and blunt about this.. in Asia there is no such thing as discrimination laws. Discrimination happens everywhere everyday in Asia.

Quoted for emphasis.

[ecureilx]

Discrimination happens everywhere everyday in Asia. People are picked on based on their looks more than their capabilities on jobs in Asia. Harrassment happens all the time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZV81JCAMas

Take a look see from 2.50

Not to be rude but this may sound really blunt because you seem to still be in the bubble thinking that everything works the same as it is back at home.

What Were you insinuating again ?? Que pasa ??

[shimmeringlilies]

Discrimination happens everywhere everyday in Asia. People are picked on based on their looks more than their capabilities on jobs in Asia. Harrassment happens all the time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZV81JCAMas

Take a look see from 2.50

Lols.. and I thought it was just RP out there.. now there's CJ too.. Good intro

Not to be rude but this may sound really blunt because you seem to still be in the bubble thinking that everything works the same as it is back at home

What Were you insinuating again ?? Que pasa ??

Nothing! Nothing at all

[ecureilx]

Nothing! Nothing at all

Thanks God you picked up smileys

Cheers mate ...

PS: reminds me of the time when I went to India: "Indian passport holders get quick clearence, non-Indians, spend an average of an hour or so to clear customs/immigration ...