Facebook Deals app offers high street discounts

Social networking website Facebook has launched a Facebook Deals application, giving users access to special offers, rewards and discounts from high street retailers and restaurants.

Facebook Deals allows users to search for offers in their local area from a mobile phone, or find out about money-saving tips through friends via their news feed.

“By bringing valuable and relevant offers to the user wherever and whenever he or she wants them, Deals delivers a powerful experience that combines technology and location in a way that a pure online or offline experience could never deliver”, said Facebook vice president Joanna Shields.

Users simply need to open Facebook on their mobile phone browser, open "Places", then click "Check In". A list of nearby places will appear, and a yellow ticket will show next to places offering deals.

Types of deal differ, from individual deals offering one-time discounts or free merchandise, to loyalty deals that reward you for being a frequent customer.

This week, YO! Sushi is giving away 2,000 meals to the first 1,000 diners to check in at one of the 47 participating restaurants, tag their friend and show a member of staff their Facebook confirmation message.
 
Alongside the UK, Facebook Deals also launched in Canada, Spain, Italy, France and Germany this week  – with brands such as Starbucks, YO! Sushi, O2 and Mazda all offering deals.

Seven UK-based companies have signed up to the initiative so far. More will follow suit later in the year, but a Facebook spokesperson was unable to reveal further details of future deals.

The spokesperson did confirm however, that wine and spirits retailers would be eligible to take part in the scheme, despite the high proportion of Facebook users under the age of 18, as each deal is individually reviewed, so those involving alcohol will be gated to under 18s.

The site, which has over 500 million users worldwide, is currently not making money from the service.

Lucy Shaw, 02.02.2011