Nadim Sharbean gets ready for Christmas with OfferMe and Group Buy

Don't Ba-Humbug Group Buy Christmas Shopping...

Sure, here at OfferMe we've been doing a lot of talking about Christmas Shopping with Group Buy. The truth is, we see it as a way to ensure you have a great Christmas. Think about it this way: it's December; your entire family is coming over for Christmas lunch; your boss has decided to forgo any Christmas bonuses because, let's face it, we're still in an Economic Crisis; there are no parking spots available anywhere at the local Westfields; and, if you don't get started on your Christmas gift buying, someone's going to think Santa missed them. If that scenario rings true for you, you need to listen to what we're saying.


Everyday a new Group Buy deal will be sent your way. If it's something that you believe would make a great present, jump on and book yours. That's one less gift to go hunting for and you'll be getting it at a great price. And, whilst we can't help with Christmas dinner, by making your purchases this early, you'll still have extra cash come December. So may be you can bring in a caterer!

The OfferMe Business Model...

Most of you have probably checked out an OfferMe Group Buy deal and said, “Hmmm... I don't know if that's really what I'm looking for.” Fair enough. We're not all Elton John's throwing cash away on anything we see. To be wary is to be wise. Yet the question that I get asked the most at OfferMe is “How do you guys get ahead?” I won't lie, we make cash on sales. But our business model is built to prevent the buyers from paying that cash. Essentially what we do is charge our sellers a nominal fee for selling on our site, as we handle all the advertising on their behalf. For our buyers they still win because the seller has to keep the price at a low rate to compete. In the end, it's the proverbial win-win for everyone involved. As we don't have a direct vested interest in the sales, we remain an impartial third-party to all deals. If you query the features of an item, ask us, we'll give you an honest answer... we've got nothing to lose. If you're having an issue with a seller, tell us. We'll do our best to resolve the issue or, should the seller really be at fault, we'll remove them from our site. In the end, we exist to work on your behalf. Your satisfaction results in our growth. So tell us what we can do to make sure you stay satisfied.

Group Buy really works...

Most marketing people (of which I claim not to be) rarely use what they're hawking. All talk and no show. So I thought it would be worthwhile to tell you about my own Group Buy experience. About 4 weeks ago, through OfferMe's Group Buy I purchased the Latest Monster HDMI Cable. The week prior I had made a sound deal on a WD HD Media Hub. Although a brilliant device, I knew I wouldn't get full use out of it unless I had a quality HDMI Cable to go with it. When the deal went live I did a little research and found that, while most companies weren't selling the same cable at the $299 RRP, it was generally selling over $100. At OfferMe, due to it being part of a Group Buy, the cable was only $35, plus $7 in shipping & handling. For me, it was a no-brainer. Of course, the second I told my mates about it, one of them wanted one too and I had to fork out another $42.


It took a little over a week for the cable to arrive and, I'll admit it, the wait seemed FOREVER. But in hindsight it wasn't that long when compared to the wait for some of my other internet purchases. The second it arrived I had it plugged into the Hub and man, what a difference it's made. Watching downloaded HD media is like watching One HD: crystal clear with perfect sound to match. My mate used his for his PlayStation 3 and he testifies that the picture has improved compared to the cable they gave him with the console. Due to this feedback OfferMe's BDM, Erick Teresa, is looking to put the cable in Group Buy again. He's also discussing more deals with the same supplier. Feedback like this helps us know who's reliable and who we probably shouldn't deal with anymore. Considering we have more of a vested interest in our buyers than our sellers, we listen to you to do our research. So, if you've made a Group Buy purchase, make sure you give us some feedback. It's easy; when you're signed into your account, click on the item you've bought and look for the Feedback link in the drop down menu on the right. Then say a few words about your purchase and click Done. Like I said earlier, we're all about buyer's satisfaction.

Bekim Ahmedi talks about all that's going on at OfferMe, including Christmas Group Buy specials.

Changes to the OfferMe Group Buy Newsletter...

If you're like me, you usually sit through the ads when watching TV. There are one or two ads I might enjoy seeing, but mostly I just stare at the box until my program starts again. After all, there are a vast amount of ads on TV that are in no way relevant to me. So why should I show them my attention?

My issue with television ads carries right through to the newspapers. When you buy the paper there are so many different sections. Business, sports, entertainment and there is usually one section that's just not related to me. Currently I don't need the careers section, I'm happy where I am. So wouldn't it be good if I could just select what I wanted to see?

Well, at OfferMe, this is why we have made changes to the OfferMe Group Buy newsletter. You simply choose the category you are interested in receiving and that's all you'll get. And, if you're someone who really doesn't mind watching all the TV ads or going through all the sections of the newspaper, then that's not a problem either; you can continue to receive all of OfferMe's newsletters. It's just a way for us to ensure you're getting the most out of your OfferMe experience.

Decking the Halls at OfferMe...

Christmas is around the corner, only a couple of months to go now, so you may notice changes to our site over the coming weeks. Well, of course we're putting up the Christmas decorations, with a new Christmas theme garnishing our site and a little bit of Christmas cheer being invested into our communications with you guys. We at OfferMe together with our community want to get into the spirit of Christmas and the holidays.



We're just as amazed as you that another year has ticked by so fast, but this year we're getting you prepared. Presents, presents and more presents. Family, friends and Kris Kringle... sounds like a lot of gift buying. I'm just thinking of the crowds I'll have to negotiate in the shopping centres over the next couple of months. How annoying! No parking! No seat in the food-court! Long queues at the cash register! Even longer queues getting out of the car park! Arrgghhh, I'm already over it! Group Buy will be a perfect opportunity for that gift without the hassle of the Christmas rush period in the shopping centres.

Yet just like Santa, OfferMe won't know what you really want for Christmas unless you tell us. After something special like Pandora jewellery or a bottle of Calvin Klein cologne. Then let us know. We have connections with plenty of sellers, so we can negotiate a Group Buy discount on almost anything. But without your input, how are we going to get you that Christmas gift that you've searched everywhere for?

OfferMe Credit Look Out...

Keep your eyes peeled for the OfferMe Credit logo. Starting last week, OfferMe Credit will be available on more and more select Group Buy deals. That means, on top of the 20% - 50% that you save with Group Buy, you could also get a few more dollars off! For more information about OfferMe Credit – how to get it and use it – check out this link.

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OfferMe’s Online Marketing Coordinator, Bekim Ahmedi, talks about how Group Buy and OfferMe Credit has made his job so much easier.

My name is Bekim and I'm part of OfferMe's marketing team. I've got to be honest, I really enjoy  my job and not just because of the City views from my computer. A good part of the reason I like my job is because I really am a strong believer of what we here at OfferMe have to offer. OfferMe is the future. With our features, including Group Buy, OfferMe will change the way you shop for online bargains. At OfferMe, you request what you want and let the sellers find you. Rather than you looking all day for the best prices, they come to you. There's no auctioning, no bidding; OfferMe's just a platform where you and the sellers can interact.

I'll give you a real example: I'm after a new DVD player but, like most people, I don't have the time, nor the energy, to go from shop to shop looking for the best price. And while online shopping seems easier, with the amount of people out there hocking dud stuff, it's just as frustrating. So instead I've simply put in a request for a DVD player on OfferMe and will now sit back and let the sellers find me. When one of our registered and approved sellers sends me an offer, I can either choose to accept his quote or - the best bit - haggle for a cheaper price. And it's all at no cost, OfferMe doesn't charge any membership fees. The only time I'll pay is if I agree on something with a seller.

Another feature that we have is 'Group Buy'. It's a platform where individuals can group together to create an advantage where everyone involved benefits. Similar to bulk buying, buyers from across Australia are able to purchase products at a lower price than what would have been achievable had they purchased on their own. With factory outlets and direct wholesalers becoming so popular nowadays, OfferMe Group Buy essentially delivers the same thing, to your computer. The best part is that you don't have to round up and beg your friends to join in. The deal is available to all OfferMe users, so all you have to do is make sure you don't miss out!

OfferMe Credit – Available on Group Buy

Our latest feature, though, is the sugar on top. OfferMe now also offers OfferMe Credit which can be used as currency on only on our site. The credit can be payable on any deal – including Group Buy deals – which feature the OfferMe Credit logo. It even includes payment on shipping and handling.

It basically works like this...

OfferMe Credit in Cash...
Group Buy Price = $49.99
OfferMe Credit = $3.00
The amount to be paid = $46.99 + S/H

OfferMe Credit in Percentage...
Group Buy Price = $49.99
OfferMe Credit = 5% (5% is $49.99 = $2.5)
The amount to be paid = $47.49 + S/H

The amount is automatically calculated for you when you click on the 'I Want to buy' button!

And, you can score up $30 in OfferMe Credit the day you register. Simply register your mobile and you'll receive a $30 OfferMe Credit Bonus in your account, absolutely free. Also, it's important we mention that mobile number registration is only done for security & validity purposes. We do not, in anyway, text or call you unnecessarily. It simply helps us in keeping your online shopping experience safe.

Right now you can $5 of OfferMe Credit on our Group Buy item, the Nokia Bluetooth headset. That'll bring the full price of the headset down to $21.50. Check it out

And when you're done that, I dare you to comeback and tell me that my job isn't great!

It's interesting how times have changed so much, yet the same issues remain unsolved. If anything, people have become more confused. For a long time, we spent countless afternoons driving to different shops looking for a good deal. We spoke to different shop assistants asking about different products and trying to haggle a bargain price. More often than not, we ended up driving home empty-handed knowing we had wasted precious time; time we could have spent with the family going to the beach or a picnic.

The emergence of the Internet as a viable retail solution only ended up muddying the waters, leaving us even more confused and worried whether the e-retailer we were dealing with was legitimate and not just a scam aimed at our hard earned dollars. Further, with so many stores booming online, people were still wasting countless hours, yet this time it was spent searching different websites, trying to find that elusive online bargain.

There had to be an easier way. People demanded convenience and needed peace-of-mind, knowing that they could quickly and easily get the right product they were looking for, at a competitive price. They wanted back their free time, to return their focus to their children or their mates. They wanted to spend romantic weekends with their partners, without worrying about the annoying hassles of day-to-day life.

If you could go to one place to achieve all of the above, wouldn't that make things so much easier?

Well, that's my job. My name is Erick Teresa and I'm a Business Development Manager at OfferMe.com.au

Every morning, when I step into the office, I get on the case of finding the best deals on the 'net. My team and I start with the OfferMe customers. Knowing what buyers, like yourself, are interested in purchasing is vital to our process. Then we go about handling all the searching that you'd normally spend half a day doing. This goes beyond simply comparing prices and quality between verified e-retailers. It's the aim of our team to build relationships with reputable sellers and negotiate special deals for our growing list of buyers. What we want is for you to find the best prices on OfferMe. By doing this we can assure your convenience and peace-of mind, while offering you a quality service.

At least once a month I'm going to get on here and tell you how it's going in my side of the company. Perhaps I'll let you know about some new products we've got coming up on Group Buy. Or maybe I'll be able to give you some goss on what we're looking for. I'd really like it if you guys jumped on and told me what you're after. And please, no one say PS3... I'm already on the case (and as soon as I find a great price you'll be the first to know). So go on, go enjoy your weekend. Just check in every now & then and see what we're offering you.

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