All over the internet, group buying sites are popping up, each one with a different reason that they are better or more unique than the next. Aside from the huge-name national competitors like Groupon and LivingSocial, who are still trying to attract larger audiences, despite controversy , there are lesser-known brands who are staying alive by focusing on local markets in a local way, rather than the big companies’ national, unattached approach. While there is a seemingly endless number of these more local companies in New York City alone, I have taken particular interest in ScoopSt. and DealOn for their apparent local attitude and reachability. While my first impression of these companies was that they are very friendly and would be happy to help me in my journey into the true-local group buying world, I quickly found out that they are less than willing to speak with just any members of the press (myself included). Despite being shunned by those at the top of these allegedly community-based companies, I still lived within their communities for a few weeks and have learned much about how they operate.

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