Group buying site Groupon has launched in Sydney overnight, the first stop for the Chicago-based ecommerce giant's roll out in Australia.
Trading as Stardeals by Groupon Australia, it offered a $158 three-course meal at a Sydney restaurant for $70 as its first deal in the country. It also offered a $200 one-month membership at a Sydney gym for $48.
As part of its Australia launch, Stardeals by Groupon Australia gave away a bottle of Moët & Chandon champagne to the first three buyers.
The company publicised its anticipated launch on social networking sites Facebook and Twitter just before midnight. It's Facebook page already has over 2,000 followers after it was created on December 29.
Sydney-based Stardeals by Groupon Australia will extend deals to other states shortly, it said on its Facebook page.
Groupon made Australian headlines late last year after it was revealed that it was in a trademark dispute with Australian founders of competitor Scoopon who had trademarked Groupon in Australia. The case continues.
A recent similar incident with 1saleaday.com's US owners saw the Australian owners of the 1saleaday.com.au ordered to give up ownership and were shutdown by the World Intellectual Property Organisation.
In December Google reportedly offered Groupon's founder $US6 billion to buy the e-commerce business which launched in 2008.
CRN has contacted Groupon US and Stardeals by Groupon Australia for further comment.
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