Groupon Concept Store

I’ve recently been introduced to Groupon, and I’m hooked. It’s a great place to try out new products and experiences, relatively risk-​free. To give you an idea of what the collection center is like, I would like to share my first experience picking up something there.
I arrived to what looked like the set of «who wants to be a millionaire» but with low ceilings and no Regis. I noticed that next door to the collection center there is a small warehouse to stock the goods. How did I notice? Mainly from the cages-​with-​wheels haphazardly parked at the lift lobby which were left over by the staff loading and unloading goods.
I tried to shake off this poor first impression by taking a number and waiting for my turn. The place has benches set up facing the customer service counters– kind of like a classroom. And behind those counters are stacks and stacks of cardboard boxes of merchandise. I suppose the warehouse next door is not large enough for all the goodies, or would it be that the place is so understaffed that they can’t have someone next door dedicated to bring the goods over?
Anyway, I sat down amongst a bunch of customers and checked out the environment as I waited for my turn. There are a few TV displays showing some promotional videos showcasing happy Caucasians enjoying the ease and and convenience Groupon allows them to discount shop. Obviously taken in the United States, and judging from the radiant sunshine, California. If only they knew how low the ceiling this place is, and how messy its become.
On the other half of the store is a round display counter showing some of the featuring merchandise. The center of the counter where a sales staff would normally stand is also filled with cardboard boxes. A few computer stations dot the area (for checking vouchers, I presume), also arranged haphazardly, with torn cardboard boxes laying nearby.
After about 20 minutes, it’s my turn. The girl behind the counter is very pleasant and well versed with the technology used for goods redemption. She was able to effortlessly coax out my voucher from my inbox and suggested that I install the app for easier shopping in future. I was out of the shop, goods in hand, after 5 minutes, tops.
I suppose leaving out the merchandise in the shop saves time, but if the average customer sits in the waiting area for around 15 – 20 minutes waiting for their turn, the store display becomes very important as well.

I’ve gone to the Groupon collection center numerous times and have always walked away pleased with their efficient, ‘no-​frills’ service. I can be in and out of there in less than five minutes, sometimes even two if you’re lucky. When you go in, the staff will issue you a queue number — when your number is called, you simply go up to the counter, present your voucher (either on your phone/​tablet or an actual printed copy) and the staff will scan the code and then get the item for you. When the center first opened, I went there a few times to collect some items I bought and I would have to wait up to ten or fifteen minutes because the place would be filled with people waiting, and despite this not all the counters are even open. I’m glad that they’ve drastically improved their service to be so much more efficient now!
The center is also equipped with two Mac computers with printers for you to print your vouchers to present for collection. It’s actually not necessary to do this anymore as they now allow you to open up the Groupon app on your phone or tablet and show that, but you can still use the printers to print other vouchers that are for external collection/​services (i.e. anything you buy on Groupon that can’t be redeemed at the center). I’ve used the computers many times and have no problems with them — they respond very quickly and don’t freeze or anything, and the printer is quite fast in printing too.