The idea to use your phone for bargain hunting is not new and some companies have been testing the waters for quite a while. One more website opened doors to the public today aiming at assisting you with finding hot shopping deals while you are on the go.
Text2store is a Chicago based startup that wows to find the best deals and bargains for you and deliver them to your mobile phone. Text2store doesn’t require a service plan or software installation. You open a free account, setup your alert preferences (that is product category and a search string) and wait for the deals to come your way by email and/or SMS.
Sounds simple, huh? It is simple. I have taken the service for a run and though I haven’t received the confirmation code to my cell phone (did I really expect all bugs fixed the day of the launch?) setting it up was really no brainier. This is how the deal alert configuration looks:
I am not sure if I am going to keep it though. My service provider charges me for each SMS message I receive and I don’t feel like jacking up my already fat cell phone bill even more.
My main concern with Text2store is the company’s ability to attract merchants to fill in the service with attractive coupons and promotions. Unfortunately it is a chicken and egg problem. Unless you have a decent user base, no merchant will have business with you. Unless you have coupons, no users will come to your site. I wish Text2store good luck solving this very common for a startup problem. And hey, fix that confirmation code bug!
Hello Van and thank you for metionning us. As per why should you recieve a text message with a coupon specific to what you are looking for. Think about all those newspaper coupons sent to your house that you have no use for. You wonder if the company only know which coupon you want instead of sending you junk that clogs your gabbage container. Imagine, when you want to make a purchase at the store but the coupon for the deal you forgot to bring it because you left it on the counter table. Think of when you have to spend several hours online searching for a deal on things you want to buy? . What if you don’t have to spend the time you should be spending with your family on the computer looking for deals. These problems are what we’ve found a solution for.
What if you can get a big saving on your restaurant meal and purchases ,a lot of convenience and saving on time and you control the process. it makes sense to not have to clip coupons anymore but have it with you all the time and you are in control of the whole process of wht you get. You only pay few cents when you receive a text or $5.99 or less for 200 text a month with a plan( depending on the phone carrier). That comes to less than 1 cent.
About merchants, we have signed up several businesses in Chicago and many are joining daily from various parts of the country( thank you for helping to get the word out). We have over 500 coupons and best offers in the system before we launched and are adding new ones daily.
About your confirmation code. As stated in the sign up. You should get a confirmation code( one by text message and the other by e-mail) you cannot sign on to request a coupon until the confirmation code is added in the confirmation code box. This is to ensure you are the actual owner of the phone. So if the phone is not with you when you signed up. you will unable to complete the process.
I like to look into why you did not receive a confirmation code? I did check the report and it shows everyone who signed up yesterday go a confirmation. ( please send me your cell phone number to check)
Hi Ola! Thanks for your comments. I understand what you are saying about saving time and environment, and I am with you on that.
I am more of an impulsive buyer and even though I use coupons and discounts a lot, what Google does about it makes more sense to me
http://probargainhunter.com/20.....lly-trash/
Nevertheless I believe your service has a potential. Unfortunately SMS is not as popular in the US as it is in Europe hence the adoption rate is going to be slow.
The idea to go search coupons online when you need one is fine. You still have to print them, pay for ink and paper which is average of 24 cents per print. Online coupons are easy to duplicate( good for the consumer but bad for the businesses)
At text2store.com, we provide our coupons to on-the-go consumer’s phone. Nothing to print, just show it at the pizzeria or store. Above all you control the whole process. Not for everyone. People who do not have time searching and clipping coupons or want to spend more time with their family.
Ola,
If I were to use a phone based coupon service, I would use one that could work around my shopping habits. What I mean is that if I were shopping at Best Buy, I could query your service and get 10% off coupon on the fly.
Mike thanks for your comment. Our service presently will send you based on your preferences and criteria the type of coupon you need or asked for. I will suggest not to limit your saving. What if our system find you a deal from Fry, Circuitcity or XYZ store for 25% off 2 day only deal. Will you limit yourself to Bestbuy’s 10% off. There are several stores out there that can beat or out perform the big brands we all know. Many companies will have a special sale on certain product e.g Ipod just to entice you enough to come to their store to make other purchases.
A feature is coming in our next roll out that will also allow you to name a merchant. We are daily adding new companies with solid savings.
Our goal is to save you time and money.
Ola Ayeni DVM
CEO
Text2store Mobile Technologies
Http://www.text2store.com
Ola,
I realize you are limited by the amount Merchant of agreements you have, but maybe you can include “store favorites” for places that your customers might frequent.
Mike
Hey Mike. Thanks for your suggestion. We will certainly consider it. By the way are Mike of Zixxo
Ola,
No I just run a deal site.
I will sign up for it and see how it goes.
Mike