On The Cheap: Black Friday Edition — Grouponicus’ Gift Deals

As tech goes, Groupon is a company that could only have started with the internet, but it’s rarely thought of as more than a shopping portal. Groupons have ranged from custom-made clothing to sex toys, so as Thanksgiving approaches, it seems prudent to check out what other basics Groupon suggests you buy for your loved ones. Keep in mind as you look through these deals that companies want to generate future business without completely losing their shirts. That means Groupon prices tend to be close to rock bottom for goods and services. The challenge is finding a deal that you want to spend your money on.

Groupon has created a holiday gift shop called Grouponicus Gift Store (the reason for the name is hidden somewhere on this bizarre page on the “history” of Grouponicus) with emails set to arrive each Monday and Friday. That seems like an awful lot of deals for them to try to sell in a very short time. While your city’s Grouponicus store will have its own specific offerings, here are some nationally available and tech-related deals of interest:

Garmin GPS with Free Lifetime Maps — “Slim, lightweight GPS device enunciates turn-by-turn directions & illuminates efficient, eco-friendly routes with lifetime map updates.” Not much to say here because it’s a four-star rated product at various sites including Amazon and Best Buy. It’s $105 for a $180 value. If you or a loved one need a decent GPS, here’s a decent deal on one. Shipping is a additional $4.95 per unit. That’s strange, but hey, maybe they don’t expect you to find your way to a complaint department.

BirdieBall Set – “Training balls hang high in the air to simulate flight path & spin & land nearby for at-home practice.” This one is $20 for a $40 value, and you get 12 training balls and a strike pad. It’s a great gift for beginners or enthusiasts who want to be able to practice at home without breaking windows.

High-Speed Drive in a Ferrari or Lamborghini – Okay, this one is limited to the New York City area (and possibly the Dania Beach, FL location), but let’s be honest. It doesn’t matter what the blurb says. You’ll spend $99 to drive this car because you would’ve also spent $250 (actual value) to drive this car. Gotham Dream Cars sets you up for a 100 MPH sprint with training on a closed course. They also provide a CD of images from your drive. Buy this. But this for you, for me, and for anyone you know who loves cars. If you’ve really got money to burn and are car obsessed, I’d say skip the Groupon and go staight for the Dream Car Tour. If you’re on a budget but want to act like you’re not, this is the Groupon to buy (with a limit of five per person).

$50 Worth of Home Technology from The Sharper Image — “Sleekly designed high-tech gadgets such as instant wine chiller & wireless voice-alert meat thermometer streamline lifestyles.” Okay, remember how The Sharper Image was the coolest store in America? And then it shut down and went out of business and my dad cried for like a week? So, they’re back. Kinda. The store you only stopped in to use the massage chairs for offers $50 of tech for $25. The instant wine chiller sounds pretty cool, and given the kind of people who read Techcitement, this deal sounds like a great gift for someone who likes to inject technology into every possible thing. Like a voice-alert barbecue thermometer.

Maybe we’ve taken it a step too far.