Daily Deal Sites That Give You More Than Discounts

Daily deal sites are a growing phenomenon. It seems like every day I log on to Facebook, someone else is posting a new site promising to provide a deep discount on something. I probably get daily e-mails from at least five, and just this week, I discovered two I had never even heard of. Are they worth the hype?

I think they are. It can be annoying to filter through multiple e-mails offering deals I may not need, but it’s also nice to receive a steep bargain I didn’t have to work hard to find. In fact, filtering through those daily e-mails takes less time combined than it would to come across some of the deals I’ve purchased. This weekend, my husband and I had a date night at a nearby restaurant I never heard of until I received a deal in my inbox. I spent $10 for $20 worth of food and found a new place to eat, all because of the 30 seconds it took me to read an e-mail.

But not all daily deal sites are created equal. Here are a few that reward you with freebies and site credits when your friends buy, too.

Moolala

In addition to discounts of 50 percent to 90 percent on dinners, classes and all kinds of services, moolala has a five level rewards system. It pays you back two percent of your purchase price. You also get two percent of any purchases your friends make, if they mention you as the referring person or they make a purchase using your unique URL. You’ll get two percent on their friends, too, and so on, for five levels. What I love about this site is that you can create your own customized link and post it on sites like Facebook and Twitter so you get the credit for people who make purchases.

Living social

Last week, I scored four AMC movie tickets for $18. If I was paying attention, I could have had six for that price. If three different people order the same deal through your unique link, you get yours free. The deal was two movie tickets for $9. I bought one deal for myself, then went back in and ordered another deal in my son’s name. A friend of mine also bought through my link. I just needed one more person to buy. By the time I realized my husband could have gone in and ordered the deal too, it was too late. Use this link, and you’ll get five deal bucks to use toward your first order.

Lot 18

Lot18 is a membership by invitation website for wine and epicurean products from coveted producers at attractive discounts. Members have access to some of the finest wines and specialty foods, made available in small quantities at extraordinarily low prices. Join here and get a free $10 credit. You’ll also get $25 when you invite friends to join and they place their first order.

What other sites reward you for referring friends? Post a comment here so everyone can benefit.