Groupon will no longer be offering deals on all current and scheduled gun-related deals in North America. Groupon Spokesman Julie Mossler told AOL Daily Finance:
"All scheduled and current gun-related deals featured on Groupon North America, including shooting ranges, conceal-and-carry and clay shooting, have been placed on hiatus while we review internal standards that shape the deal inventory we feature...The category is under review following recent consumer and merchant feedback."
The announcement comes on the heels of December’s Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut, and it is not sitting too well with the vendors who were offering those deals. For example, Michael Cargill, the owner of Austin's Central Texas Gun Works -- whose deal was listed last week -- is calling for a boycott “because the message they're sending is, 'Look, we do not want to support law-abiding citizens taking time out of their schedule to learn the safety surrounding firearms.’ "
In addition, last week Cargill was contacted by his Groupon rep to encourage raising the purchase limit to 1,500. But on Friday, that rep called back explaining Groupon’s new position.
So, why this sudden stance a month later? That’s not so clear.
But it’s a move people will notice, and positive PR is something Groupon could certainly use more of.
As of press time, Groupon’s stock is at $4.95.
David Wolinsky is a freelance writer and a lifelong Chicagoan. In addition to currently serving as an interviewer-writer for Adult Swim, he's also a comedy-writing instructor for Second City. He was the Chicago city editor for The Onion A.V. Club where he provided in-depth daily coverage of this city's bustling arts/entertainment scene for half a decade. When not playing video games for work he's thinking of dashing out to Chicago Diner, Pizano's, or Yummy Yummy. His first career aspirations were to be a game-show host.
