Groupon Copywriters Push the Envelope of Mediocrity

As I rule, I don’t pay much attention to the accompanying verbiage on Groupon restaurant deals. In fact I don’t pay much attention to the popular discount offers at all. But my wife called my attention to one last week that was simply too good to ignore. (The restaurant is a good one but for our purposes it shall remain nameless.) The writing bordered on the atrocious and one wonders if the restaurant actually looked at the copy before signing off on it.

Here are some of the gems: “Dining out leaves you with a full stomach, fond memories, and (my favorite) pockets full of restaurant smell to take home to your kids.”

What exactly are pockets full of restaurant smell? Can you stuff the smell in your pocket and bring it home for your kids? Didn’t know that smells were pocketable. This is a true leap from creative writing to bizarre and essentially nonsensical prose.I’d be inclined to go just to see what the hell they were talking about.

Another eye opener: “Enjoy appetizing aromas with this Groupon.”

How does one enjoy an appetizing aroma I might enjoy a steak or some blackened catfish but an appetizing aroma?? I mean who the hell came up with this? If the restaurant in question were not a good one, I would have immediately dismissed this demented hyperbole. Let this be a cautionary tale to all restaurants about to sell a Groupon. Please don’t advertise “pockets of restaurant smell.” 🙂