Top 6 Social Coupon Sites for Canadians

Guest Post by Wes Walls.

Just about everyone loves a good deal and it seems that in times when the economy is a little rocky, bargains abound. Case in point: earlier this year it was announced that Groupon, the social coupon website that you’ve likely heard of, is the fastest growing company ever. Let that sink in for a second… no company in history has ever grown faster. Since Groupon went online a couple of years ago, a swath of comparable sites have exploded onto the scene. The trend is obvious – people have a little less money in their pockets but want to maintain their lifestyle. Social coupon sites are the answer to that urge. You can still have a great time and explore your city without overspending.

If you don’t know how social coupon sites like Groupon work yet, the general idea is that one really hot, specially-negotiated deal is posted each day in your city, and a certain number of people need to participate in order to get the deal. Each one varies slightly, so let’s take a closer look at our Top 6 Canadian social coupons sites:

Groupon
This is the original social coupon mega-deal site. One deal is posted per day, with a certain minimum number of participants needed to activate it. If the minimum is reached, then the participants are sent a voucher by email which they can print and bring to the business. If the minimum is not met, which almost never happens, no one gets a voucher. Groupon goes out of their way to make their daily deals adventurous and fun. One “brave soul” claims to live off nothing but Groupons. You can find Groupons for over 20 Canadian cities with the notable exception of chez moi, Montreal.

LivingSocial
Being one of the other big players in social coupons, LivingSocial is also able to post great deals each day. If you participate in a daily deal, you will get a voucher no matter how many other people participate. Not only that, but if you share the deal with three other people who also participate, your deal is free. LivingSocial coupons are available in only seven Canadian cities – including Montreal. And, for what it’s worth, LivingSocial is probably the nicest looking of all the social coupon sites.

StealTheDeal
This social coupon site is Canadian-only and offers a daily coupon with no minimum number of participants. The deals here tend to be a little less adventurous than the big players – at time of writing the deal of the day is for an indoor children’s playground pass – and their pyramid-style commission scheme is a little bit tacky, but a deal is a deal. $12 off something you might want in your community is $12 off, so it’s still worth signing up to the newsletter. StealTheDeal coupons are available in ten Canadian cities at the moment.

Dealfind
Dealfind posts daily, limited-time deals from Monday to Thursday of each week. The deals are robust, if generally not as adventurous and unique as LivingSocial or Groupon. They encourage their participants to share the day’s deal to earn cash. They tend to mostly get coupons for salons, laser treatments, spas and the like, and while coupons are available in nine Canadian cities, coupons are not always available in all of the ones listed. It’s probably only worth signing up if you live in Vancouver, Calgary or Toronto.

Teambuy
Teambuy is a Canadian-only social coupon site that emulates the Groupon model. A minimum number of people need to participate in the promotion in order for everyone to get the deal. As with Groupon, the minimum is almost always surpassed, and the quality of the daily deals is very good. This is my favourite Canadian social coupon site. Teambuy is active in about twelve Canadian cities, and if you live in one of these it is certainly worth signing up for.

GoodNews
This is a US-originating site that has expanded into Canada. Deals are only available for a few cities right now, and they are often fairly low value but fun. They donate 10% of every deal to a local charity, such as YWCA. GoodNews is advertising heavily online right now, so I’m sure we can expect to see new deals coming online fairly soon in more cities. It’s definitely one worth keeping your eye on.
There are many ways you can save and find deals on- and offline, but if you like impulsive, adventurous and relatively affordable spending, our Top 6 listed social coupon sites are certainly worth a look.
There are other websites coming online all the time offering daily coupons. Are there any other Canadian social coupon sites that you use or like?

About the author: Wes Walls is the founder of CouponPromoCode.ca, a new website that makes it easy and fun for Canadians to find online coupons, promotions, freebies and other great deals.

Best Buy Deal of the Day: Lexar 32GB SDHC Class 2 Memory Card – Online Only for $59.99. Save $40 (Nov 22 Only)

Best Buy currently has a “Deal of the Day” promo where they feature 1 Hot Product per day with incredible savings. The deal is only valid for that day and they will feature a new deal everyday. The deal is available online only.

Today’s Best Buy “Deal of the Day” (Monday, November 22, 2010) has the Lexar 32GB SDHC Class 2 Memory Card – Online Only for $59.99. It normally retails for $99.99 which is a savings of $40. This is a 1 day only sale so don’t miss out.

Best Buy offers Free Shipping on orders over $39.99  to anywhere in Canada which means this order will obviously qualify for free shipping.

Click here to check out this deal on Best Buy online.

Press the “Like button” at the top of this post if you like this deal!

H&M Canada: Download H&M iPhone, iPhone or iPod App and get 20% Off One Item Coupon (Until Nov 28)

Here’s a very cool promo by H&M. If you have a Apple iPhone, iPad or iPod, go to the Apple App Store and download H&M’s Free App. After you download it, open the application and shake your device. A special window should pop up giving you a 20% Off any one item coupon. Then just show the H&M cashier the coupon on your screen and they’ll give you the discount. I’m told that H&M will do this ever so often and offer special discounts like this in the future.

The coupon is good for one item in all H&M stores in Canada and expires this Sunday, November 28, 2010.

Click here to view H&M Apple App download page.

SUPER HOT DEAL: Flight & Hotel from Canada to Las Vegas for $12/person after tax!

I can’t thank Chris from YYC Deals enough for sharing this deal! This deal and code works for anywhere in Canada.

It’s such an incredible deal that I had to take advantage of it. I just booked a last minute flight to Las Vegas Nov 22-26. Direct Flight there and back on Westjet and staying at Planet Hollywood Resort. It came out to $212.30 per person after tax for everything (flight, hotel and taxes)! You can pay as low as $12 for flight + hotel including taxes per person if you select one of the cheaper hotels in Vegas!

Go to Expedia.ca and use the promo code “SAVE300” to save $300 Off any flight and hotel package to Las Vegas, New York or Cancun until December 31st, 2010. This is a limit time offer and likely won’t last much longer so please take advantage of this deal while it lasts.

Expedia.ca just put out a promo code for $300 off flight + hotel packages – ridiculous deals
I just wanted to let people know that Expedia.ca put out a promo code for $300 off flight + hotel packages, to Las Vegas, Cancun, and New York.

The thing is, it even works if you just search for 1 person, so it’s possible to get flight + hotel packages to Vegas down to $80 after tax, for flight + hotel.

And then you can just book the second person, and get another $300 off.

The code is valid from everywhere in Canada, and some of the deals that people have been getting are ridiculous.

I’ve already told everyone in Calgary, and you should see the prices that some people are getting using this code. As in, $50/person for flight + hotel (after tax!)…

It needs to be entered on the LAST page of the booking process, right before you actually pay.

Here’s a step by step guide…

1. Go to Expedia.ca

2. Search for flight and hotel packages from your city to Vegas.

3. Sort the packages by price, pick the cheapest, or whatever you want, such as Gold Coast & Casino for $312/person.

4. Go through the annoying booking process, clicking continue, etc…. (you’ll be hitting ‘continue with booking’ a lot)

5. You’ll finally get to one that says ‘Accept rules & continue’… click that one

6. Now you’ll get to a screen that looks like this:

Enter in the voucher SAVE300 and apply the new price, reducing it by $300.

Which brings the total cost down to $300 after tax for 2 flights and hotel to Vegas!!!

Looks like it might be just one booking per credit card, but you can get some crazy prices if you book a flight + hotel package for just one person and apply the $300 discount.

To make the next booking, you should use a different computer, different Expedia account (or guest) and a different credit.

You can end up with 2 rooms for a couple, but that’s fine, just don’t use the second room.

Click here to visit YYC Deals for more information about this deal!

Click here to read more about this deal on YYC Forums.

Thanks again Chris! My wife and I can’t wait to go to Vegas on Monday!

Press the “Like button” at the top of this post to share the deal with your friends and family so they can take advantage of the deal as well.

HOT DEAL: GAP Canada- Get 40% Off Your Entire Purchase (Nov 20 Only)

Get 40% Off your entire purchase at the GAP this Saturday, November 20, 2010. You will need to print the email invitation below and present it to the cashier to take advantage of this sale. This sale is only available in-store.

This is a sweet deal and I plan on buying a lot of stuff.

ONE DAY ONLY!

Get 40% off your Gap purchase.
Saturday, November 20. Gap Canada stores only.

To redeem, present email to cashier. Cashier: Enter FLASH40.

Offer is not valid at gapcanada.ca, Gap Factory Stores, or Gap
Generation stores. Not combinable with other offers.
Restrictions apply. See stores for details.

Click here to print the GAP Email Invitation.

Press the “Like button” at the top of this post to share the deal with your friends and family so they can take advantage of the deal as well.

Best Buy Canada: Insignia 32" 1080p 120Hz LED HDTV for $399.99. Save $150 (Nov 19 Only)

Best Buy currently has a “Deal of the Day” promo where they feature 1 Hot Product per day with incredible savings. The deal is only valid for that day and they will feature a new deal everyday. The deal is available in-store and online.

Today’s Best Buy “Deal of the Day” (Friday, November 19, 2010) has the Insignia 32″ 1080p 120Hz LED HDTV (NS-32E570A11) for $399.99. It normally retails for $549.99 which is a savings of $150. This is a 1 day only sale so don’t miss out.

Click here to check out this deal on Best Buy online.

Press the “Like button” at the top of this post if you like this deal!

Garage Canada: Free Shipping and 40% Off Sale Items (Until Nov 22)

For 4 days only, starting today until Nov 22, 2010, Garage is offering FREE STANDARD SHIPPING on all Canadian online orders, after applied discounts and before taxes. Use coupon promo code “4daysfs” at check out.

In addition to Free Shipping offer, you can save an additional 40% Off all Garage Sale items!

Click here to visit Garage’s website to start shopping or for more information about the deals.

Press the “Like button” at the top of this post if you like this deal.

JYSK Canada: 20% Off Family and Friends Day (Nov 21 6-8pm)

JYSK Family and Friends Day is this Sunday, November 21, 2010 from 6-8pm. This is an extremely limited 2 hour only sale where you will receive 20% Off your entire in-store purchase. In order to take advantage of this deal, you will need to print and bring the invitation coupon below.

I think it sucks how it’s only a 2 hour sale. I can understand if it was a crazy sale like 50% or more.

Click here to print the JYSK Family and Friends invitation.

Press the “Like button” at the top of this post if you like this deal.

McDonald’s: Free Coffee All Day from Nov 15 – 28

Thanks to Chris from McDonald’s corporate office for filling out the “Suggest A Deal” form and for telling us about this deal!

Get a Free small coffee at all participating local McDonald’s restaurants in Canada on November 15-28, 2010. This promo is valid all day and there is a limit of one per customer, per visit. You don’t need a coupon or anything to take advantage of this promotion.

It’s no secret that Canadians love their coffee! A recent survey conducted by Ipsos-Reid on behalf of McDonald’s Canada revealed that 9 out of 10 Canadians drink at least one cup of coffee a day, with most drinking on average 3 cups a day!

In honour of our great, coffee-loving nation, McDonald’s is serving up free coffee starting today, Monday, November 15th through Sunday, November 28th. Canadians from coast-to-coast will be able to enjoy a free cup of McDonald’s Premium Roast Coffee at absolutely no charge – any time of day – with no purchase necessary.

Press the “Like button” at the top of this post if you like this deal!

Tim Hortons Canada: Any Donut for $0.49 with Any Beverage Purchase

For a limited time, visit your local Tim Hortons and get any Donut for only $0.49 when you buy a fresh cup of coffee or any beverage. There is a one donut per beverage purchase limit at participating restaurants in Canada.

I love the Tim Horton’s Ice Cap and Boston Cream donut.

Tim Hortons is bringing back our popular donut deal! For a limited time, when you buy a fresh cup of coffee or any beverage, you can get any one of our freshly baked donuts for just 49¢*.

*This offer is 59¢ in Squamish BC, Canmore, Fort McMurray AB, Yukon and Northwest Territories. At participating restaurants in Canada for a limited time. One donut per beverage purchased. Not valid with any other offer or on bulk beverage purchases. Promotion not applicable to combos.

Click here to visit Tim Horton’s website for more information about this deal.

Press the “Like button” at the top of this post if you like this deal!

Entertainment 2011 Coupon Books: Get 20% Off with Free Shipping.

All Entertainment 2011 Coupon Books are currently on sale. Get 20% Off and Free Shipping. This is a limited time offer. From your hometown to your next vacation destination, there’s an Entertainment book packed with discounts that’ll save you hundreds!

For nearly 50 years, Entertainment has been helping people save in tough economic times with the big Entertainment coupon book. Today, more than ever, people realize that the premium 50% off and 2-for-1 discount coupons found in the book help them save on everyday essentials right in their neighborhood including:

Dining, Shopping, Movie Tickets, Groceries, Services, Travel, Attractions, Car Care, Home Furnishings

Plus, with each book purchase you get online access to hundreds of additional local printable coupons and incredible online shopping discounts not found in the book. The amount of valuable discount coupons available will amaze you!

Click here to buy now or for more information about the deal.

Subway Canada: FREE 6 Inch Sandwich when you buy a $25 Gift Card

Subway is giving away a Free 6-inch Regular Sandwich of your choice in-store instantly when you load/purchase a Subway Card with $25 or more. This promotion goes until December 25, 2010 and is limited to one free sandwich per purchase of one Subway Card or more at participating locations.

Click here to visit Subway Canada’s Facebook page for more information about this deal.

Press the “Like button” at the top of this post if you like this deal!