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Shops Grapple With Fallout From Group Coupons
CHICAGO (AP) -- Local shops nationwide are pulling in thousands of new customers with group coupons online. But the deals can sometimes work too well.

Some of the nail salons, restaurants and other shops that have sold the coupons have struggled to handle the surge in clients.

The coupons are sent by e-mail and Twitter and require a minimum number of participants to take effect. People might pay $20 for a massage that normally costs $84, for example.

Chicago-based Groupon is credited with creating the group discount concept.

For Crystal Nail Salon in Chicago, ratings at web sites like Yelp.com tumbled as it struggled to serve up the 5,100 manicure-pedicure combinations sold last month for 65 percent off.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
08 02 10 by Newsroom
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