Top 5 Group Buying sites in the Philippines

Without a doubt, group buying websites have invaded the Philippines. We scoured the Internet and our latest count shows that there are at least 20 active (and legitimate) group buying sites operating in the country.

What is a Group Buying Site?

A Group Buying site banks on the power of “collective buying.”  It is a well-accepted fact that individually, people don’t have much bargaining power versus the seller when buying a product or service. When these people unite, however, they can as a group negotiate for lower prices or better deals.

As in the offers of these group buying sites, customers can get discounts of up to 90%. In most cases, too, these deals are exclusively offered through the sites. Anywhere else, these group discounts are not available — not even in the stores themselves.

For example, eBay Kuponan recently offered an 85% discount on a Gold’s Gym package (discounted price: Php2,011; original price: Php13,100).

A 3-days, 2-nights stay at Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa priced at P48,000 was offered to Deal Grocer‘s members for only P25,000.

Buyanihan recently offered a 56% discount from the original overnight rate of P9,010 at Crown Regency Hotel in Cebu.

The power of group buying indeed translates to huge discounts for Filipino users.

We looked at all these sites and the types of deals they offer. The result: our list of the 5 Best Group Buying sites in the country. Judging by the number of Facebook likes they sites have gained compared to the other sites, group buyers in the Philippines seem to agree with our list.

Top 5 Best Group Buying Websites in the Philippines

1. Beeconomic - www.beeconomic.com/philippines
Facebook likes: 57,000+ (as of June 2011)

Their site claims that they are “A Company of Groupon,” with Groupon being one of the pioneers of group buying in the world. Beeconomic operates in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines. Deals are on after a minimum number of buyers have pledged to buy the product or service, which usually focus on the food, health, beauty and wellness niches. Their association with Groupon and the exclusivity of their offers (for example, Hexagon Lounge at the RCBC Tower and wagyu steak at Melo’s) are some of the reasons why Beeconomic ranks on our Top 5.

2. Buyanihan - www.buyanihan.com
Facebook likes: 31,000+ (as of June 2011)

Claiming to be the first in the country, Buyanihan is one of the few group buying sites that has an active non-Manila counterpart. Aside from the Manila deals, Buyanihan also has a simultaneous offer for the city of Cebu. I personally have purchased their D’Pond Fishing deal which I’ll use when I visit Cebu next month. Like most group buying sites, their offers are in the food, health, beauty and wellness arenas. They used to have only one deal per week but starting 2011, they are now introducing simultaneous offers. Their first-mover advantage, the presence of an active deals site for Cebu, and the range of offers land them a spot on our Top 5 list.

3. Deal Grocer - www.dealgrocer.com
Facebook likes: 34,000+ (as of June 2011)

Deal Grocer stands out from the rest of the group buying sites because they focus on the premium line of products and services. Unlike other group buying sites, there is no minimum number of buyers required. Instead, they use a voucher system wherein the deal goes on as soon as the voucher is bought. Deal Grocer is clearly positioning itself as the site that offers “a taste of the good life” — and that is why it has earned its place on our Top 5. Check out, for instance, their latest offers: a private helicopter ride for P15,600 (orig. price: P25,000) and a P4,950 weekend stay at The Farm at San Benito (orig. price: P8,540). Sweet deals, indeed, for the good life.

4. eBay Kuponan - http://kuponan.ebaysocialapps.com
Facebook likes: 73,000+ (for the whole eBay Philippines site)

They may be late to arrive in the market, but eBay Philippines’ Kuponan is emerging to be a top contender in the local group buying market. Operated by auction site eBay, Kuponan no doubt was a strategic move by eBay to further clinch their hold on the local online buyers’ market. Like the other sites, they require a minimum number of buyers before a deal goes on. Health and wellness are a staple in their offers but they also cater to the men’s segment as seen in their past deals of car body kits and sports watches. With eBay behind the site and the thousands of eBay users as potential sellers, Kuponan will surely rank among the top group buying sites in the country.

5. CashCashPinoy - http://www.cashcashpinoy.com
Facebook likes: 41,000+ (as of June 2011)

We’ve been transacting with CashCashPinoy since the start but its amateurish site (coupled with its funny and scammy-sounding website name) prevented us from putting it in our Top 5. But with Ensogo being demoted as a problem site (read below) and after a major site overhaul of CashCashPinoy, the latter is now regarded as a professional group buying site. The site’s credibility is enhanced with the “About Us” page mentioning the companies behind the venture. The new site layout also features not just one but a dozen offers from various trusted merchants. CashCashPinoy has truly earned its spot in our Top 5.

PROBLEM SITE: Ensogo - www.ensogo.com.ph
We are demoting Ensogo as a top group buying site because of a problematic incident with them. Read about this problem with Ensogo here. A merchant featured on Ensogo maliciously advertised a service with a 50% discount — when in fact, you can get it cheaper when you directly reserve with them. A month after we complained, they even had the gall to offer only a 50% refund of what we paid. The other 50% we will supposedly get IF AND ONLY IF we remove the blog post. F*ckin’ BS.

Buying vouchers with Ensogo? You’ve been warned. We will also post in a next article other Ensogo clients who experienced problems with the site.

List of other Group Buying Sites in the Philippines

• Twangoo – www.twangoo.com/manila/en/deal
• Local Roam – http://localroam.ph
• Couppie – www.couppie.com
• Deal Spot – www.dealspot.ph
• Groupie – http://groupie.ph
• Metro Deal – www.metrodeal.com
• Crazy Deals – http://crazydeals.ph
• Cuponz – www.cuponz.com
• Melo Deal – www.melodeal.ph
• Mura Ito – http://muraito.com
• Awesome – http://awesome.ph
• Clever Buy – www.cleverbuy.com.ph
• Tipid ‘To – www.tipidto.com
• eTreet – www.etreet.com
• My Shop Mates – www.myshopmates.com
• Pakyaw – http://pakyaw.com.ph

What’s your favorite group buying site?

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