Misleading Groupon deal?? "GPS-Enabled Pet Tag"

[matdwyer]

This deal from Groupon (http://www.groupon.com/deals/gg-ca-pethub-link-tag?utm_medium=email&utm_source=channel_goods-deals&sid=11081885&user=deb5facea0f24bb06b1a4a86d71d6d71c857e7d295748 7e4a165fbcc5dfeac4e&utm_campaign=11081885&s=body&d=gg-ca-pethub-link-tag&p=2&c=deal_img) rubs me the wrong way - I initially saw it and thought "cool! $15 a year and I can put this on my enemies car!" but after reading & investigating, it's nothing like that.

The page says:

$15 for a PetHub GPS-Enabled Link Tag and One-Year Silver Subscription Service ($52.63 Value). Shipping is Included.

GPS-enabled pet tag alerts owners of their pets location & links to URL detailing owner's contact info & pet medical info

The "GPS" data is misleading - if you find a dog, you scan their QR code and you're brought to a website with the dogs information. I presume the "GPS" data would from the persons cell phone (if their phone provides or they provide). This is ONLY occuring if a) the person who finds your dog has a smartphone and b) they decide to open a QR app, scan the collar, and go from there.

How is this different from just writing your address on a tag :facepalm:

I understand that businesses can make money on simple things, but I feel bad for the 80+ people who've already purchased this.

How does it look to you? when you read that, do you think "see my pet on a map" or "wait for a person to scan a tag and then provide me "GPS" data"

[manyapples]

+1 i was going to buy this until i read the fine print. I'll stick with my phone number on the dog tag for now!

[joann52]

+1 i was going to buy this until i read the fine print. I'll stick with my phone number on the dog tag for now!


What is the deal with this? Can you actually trace your pets where abouts ? How does this really work ?

Thanking in advance.

Jo

[manyapples]

What is the deal with this? Can you actually trace your pets where abouts ? How does this really work ?

Thanking in advance.

Jo

No, you can't. Basically, if someone finds my lost pet and scans the QR code on his collar, I would see on a website that it was scanned, and the location. There's nothing else beyond that.

[rvs007]

LOL... over 650 people bought it now. And judging by the Q&A, some people haven't clued into the fact that this is a passive GPS solution (works only when someone finds the pet and scans the tag with a smartphone).

[matdwyer]

No, you can't. Basically, if someone finds my lost pet and scans the QR code on his collar, I would see on a website that it was scanned, and the location. There's nothing else beyond that.

The thing is though, "Where it was scanned" is not guaranteed AT ALL. Discarding the thought that you have to find someone willing to scan your pet's tag (rather then the normal thing of just reading a phone number or address), but then their phone has to show the destination - typically that needs to be "agreed" to by the phone owner. Even so, I doubt it is exact anyway - you should have a pretty good idea of the "block" that your pet is in...

This just reeks of deceptive marking on a poor product. I can't imagine the % of these people that don't understand what the service is.

Their explanation:


Someone must scan the pet's tag in order for your to get a notification and if it's a smartphone then we will pull any GPS data available from that phone and send it to you. However, you can issue an "Amber Alert"-like notification to local shelters and transmit your pet's PetHub profile so that if they find your pet they already have your contact info, its photo, medications, dietary needs, etc.

OK, that last thing MAY be worth SOMETHING as it saves me from having to make a few phone calls. $5 maybe?

[Candiana]

what they hope to get with this groupon is this (https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=209&pID=67686) ... but not in Canada yet

[johnny33]

what they hope to get with this groupon is this (https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=209&pID=67686) ... but not in Canada yet

Actually, they are available in Canada... check out gpscity.ca - I bought the GTU-10 (Canadian version) from there and it works fine. The contract is with Garmin and they use the Rogers network in Canada. It comes with 1 year basic tracking.

[Candiana]

Actually, they are available in Canada... check out gpscity.ca - I bought the GTU-10 (Canadian version) from there and it works fine. The contract is with Garmin and they use the Rogers network in Canada. It comes with 1 year basic tracking.

I'm very happy to hear this is available to us. Adding to my wishlist...

[jamontoast1]

I'm embarassed to say I bought two off Groupon. I was in a rush, which is a dumb way to buy stuff.

Only one showed up, they aren't answering my emails properly and the whole company feels wrong to me-- strong on 'high tech' and almost no human behind it (even their auto email responses are creepy).

Suppoedly if I mail it back to them in 5 days then wait 30 I can get a refund. But I'm still missing one and they can't explain that.

[CheeseDie]

SCAM!

These groupons are shanking people in the wallet