Savings 'Deals' sites Australia

There has been a proliferation of "Deals" sites in Australia over the past few years, offering around 50-60% discounts for meals, holidays, services, goods etc.

They started with daily deals, offering one deal each day, and have expanded to offering a range of deals for a couple of weeks or so. The deals usually involves a voucher that can be redeemed within a few months. Some of the holidays can be for thousands of dollars, and the sites usually offer a refund if you can't book preferred dates within a week or so.

Gradually many of the smaller sites have vanished, some swallowed up by larger sites (Our Deal seems to have the same layout and deals as Cudo and Ouffer...).

There have been many complaints about goods that never arrived, services or meals that turned out to be substandard or unavailable, or uncooperative and surly service from some of the 'suppliers', but there have also been thousands of satisfied customers.

It's essential to check the fine print before buying a deal, and to check the refund/backup policy. It's worth also reading reviews of the company involved (though I have had lots of good experiences despite some alarming reviews). It's also worth thinking about why the company is offering the deal; if it's a struggling restaurant or business, they may close in 6 months so don't wait too long to redeem a coupon. Holiday deals are often offered in off-peak times, so be aware that the beachside resort may not be all that you imagine.

Keep track of any deals you have purchased so you can use them within the stated time frame (note that some require you to make a booking several weeks before the coupon expiry date). Late cancellation of bookings usually invalidates a voucher, so check that also.

Some restaurants will allow more than one voucher per table or will offer deals for more than 2 people, so you can use the deal with a group; others are only suitable for a couple. Some holiday deals can be extended with multiple vouchers; others can't. Check the fine print and inquire if necessary before you buy.

Check that you are actually making a saving before buying a deal; a meal deal on the other side of town may not be worth the extra petrol and driving all that way. Some of the goods offered may be available at your local discount store for the same price with no postage costs, or on eBay at competitive prices.

Extra discounts: lately I've had several emails offering $15% off any one deal, so it's been worth checking what's available (we got a 2-night stay by the coast worth ostensibly $540 for around $160 - pleasant, good location and good value at that price though the cool autumn nights were no match for the heater and I wouldn't consider it worth over $500 despite the tennis court and indoor spa pool).