Online group buying

Group buying is also known as collective buying, online group buying, or ‘deal of the day’ offers.

Group buying offers discounts on goods and services by:

  • grouping you together with other people to buy in bulk
  • asking you to give your payment details to ‘pledge’ to the program.

Once the minimum number of people sign up, they will:

  • confirm your purchase
  • finalise your payment
  • send you a voucher to redeem the deal.

We have received reports about:

  • non-supply of goods or services
  • only partial supply of goods or services
  • difficulty in redeeming vouchers
  • difficulties booking in for services.

Some businesses find that these programs greatly increase the demand for their goods or services. They may find it hard to cope with all the extra business.

Protect yourself

Use common sense and do your research on any offer. If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. Make sure to read the terms and conditions carefully, especially for cancellations.

Talk to the participating business to find out:

  • what is included and what is not included in the deal
  • if the deal is a genuine discount
  • expiry dates or cancellation dates
  • what happens if they sell out of stock before the deal ends
  • whether they can honour the deal at a time that suits you (regardless of any increase in demand).

Find out your consumer rights and responsibilities

Office of Fair Trading

Go back to Office of Fair Trading home.

Making a complaint

It’s illegal for any trader to accept your money if they can’t supply you with their goods or services in a reasonable time.

If you have a problem with a group-buying offer, the first thing you should do is talk to the business. Usually, people want to do the right thing and will be happy to fix any problems.

Talk to the business

Go back to the website or business that you purchased the voucher from. Make sure you set out the problem and how you would like them to fix it.

Get some tips

Lodge a formal complaint

Sometimes the business won’t help.

If you are unable to redeem the offer or get a full refund, you can make a formal complaint to us.

Make a complaint