Groupon: Collective Buying Power

I just purchased the family option. Looking forward to the questions that will be posted about this Groupon and the expiration date. Think I’ll get my popcorn ready for this one.

We have until “December 30th, 2010” to redeem this Groupon. The Groupon “Expires One Year After” the date of redemption.

“Please Do Not” attempt to redeem this Groupon before September 7th.

This Groupon must be redeemed “Online Only”. “Please Do Not” attempt to redeem in person.

Thanks for the info. I just bought the family Groupon and I live in Orlando. I have taken the boat tour 7 times. Love it!

So if it’s just me and my 17 year old daughter then I should jsut by the single right? Are all the deals include by one get one free or specail discount once you join?

This sounds pretty cool but I see on the website that there are 85 tours, some I am sure more popular than others. But I wonder how often some of the oft-the-beaten-path tours are offered. Anybody know? I used the calendar online but for some of the odd ones, I didn’t see a lot of options. But that could be that they don’t have 2011 loaded yet?

The offer says it expires in December 2010, but it’s a one year membership. Is it just that it has to be redeemed by December, and is good for one year from the date of activation???

If it’s not a bus tour then you have to get to the location on your own. We did the one in downtown Evanston and just took the purple line.

If I was a member a few years ago does that qualify me as new or not?

Good morning from the Chicago Architecture Foundation!

An Individual Membership only includes one adult while a Household Membership includes two adults and three children under 18.

The Groupon has to be redeemed by December 30, 2010, but once you activate your membership that is when your year membership starts.

If you are not an active member of the Chicago Architecture Foundation today then you can purchase this Groupon.

Can you please elaborate on the discounted parking @ the Grant and Millennium Park lots – what are the discounted rates? How to activate?

Are two memberships allowed, 1 single and 1 family? I’m single but would like to have a family membership available for when I have out of town visitors. Thank you!

More from the Chicago Architecture Foundation…

For a complete list of our tours please visit www.architecture.org/tours
Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on “Download the full 2010-2011 Tour Directory PDF”

Discounted parking is available for Chicago Architecture Foundation members at the Millennium Park parking garage or Grant Park South parking garage. Show your membership card at the Chicago Architecture Foundation Shop & Tour Center between 9:30am and 6pm to request your discount voucher.

You can purchase an individual membership for yourself and you can purchase a gift household membership for your out of town guests as long as its the same guests each time because it will be their names on the membership cards.

If I buy the “family” option can I use it for myself and any other adult (not a member)?

No, the other adult has to have a membership card with their name on it.

Chicago Architecture Foundation

How much is the discounted parking (regular and discount price). If we go for event other than one by CAF can we still get discounted parking. Are kids allowed on 90 min cruise (under 3)

The regular price for parking depends on how long you have been there and the discount is $4 off your total amount. You can still receive the discount if you are not attending a CAF event as long as you show your membership card at the Chicago Architecture Foundation Shop & Tour Center at 224 S. Michigan between 9:30am and 6pm to request your discount voucher.

Kids are allowed on the Architecture River Cruises, but please remember that you need to purchase a ticket for them.

Chicago Architecture Foundation

One more parking question if you can bear it: Do you still get the $4 discount at the Grant Park South garage if you’re getting the $17 flat rate that’s in place if you park after 4 pm on weekdays?

Can my brother and I(who live in different apartments) use the family deal?

Are all the walking and bike tours free to Members, or is it just some of the walking tours, which ones?

Are there discounts to Glessner or Clarke Houses?

Sounds great — I am about to move to Chicago and this seems like a great way to learn about my new city! Also curious about how much the discounts on the bus tours are, and as asked above, are all the walking/bike tours free?
Very excited to use this Groupon!

Yes you still receive the $4 discount at the Grant Park South if you’re getting the $17 flat rate.

People who do not live together can be on the same membership as long as they both have membership cards.

There are over 65 free walking and bike tours for members. For a complete list of our tours and prices please visit www.architecture.org/tours
Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on “Download the full 2010-2011 Tour Directory PDF”

The discount on the bus tours varies from tour to tour.

There are no discounts on the Glessner or Clarke houses because we do not offer these tours.

Chicago Architecture Foundation

With the family pass is it 2 discounts of buy1 get1 free or do we have to use the buy two get two free in one visit?

For the household membership buy 2, get 2 free deal- you can split it up and buy 1 get 1 free once and then use the second half later within your year membership. Please remember this is a one time benefit.

Could you pls. state clearly what are all the “free” and the “discounts” for the Family option? Thanks.

I’m curious about the bike tours. On your site I found the lakefront bike tour. Do you offer any other bike tour options?

There are over 65 free walking and bike tours for members.
Members also receive discounts on all bus and segwey tours.
For a complete list of our tours and prices/discounts please visit www.architecture.org/tours
Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on “Download the full 2010-2011 Tour Directory PDF”

The Lakefront Bike Tour is the only bike tour that we currently offer.

CAF

@ Mary C. Thanks for being here to answer questions.

The Family membership has buy two get two free for the boat tour. At first I assumed the 2 free were only applicable to kids 18 and under, but now I am thinking it can all be applied to adults. Is that correct? Are there no age restrictions on the 2 free tickets in the Family membership?

That is correct. The two free tickets can be used for all ages. Please remember it is a buy 2 get 2 free (Household) and is a one time deal.

CAF

I didn’t realize “new members” only, my membership in CAF expires Sept. 30. I already bought the deal today. What should I do?

You have two options; You can either give the groupon membership as a gift or you can apply what you’ve already paid toward your renewal membership (so you would pay $30 more for an Individual and $38 more for Household).

If you would like to renew your membership please call 312.322.1140

Hi Mary C. If we get the family pass, would we be able to buy 1 pass and get 1 ticket free for the boat tour, instead of buy 2 get 2 free? I might be interested in going twice with my significant other instead. Thank you!

… or even just forfeit the extra buy 1 get 1 free and just go the one time. Wondering if that was an option. Thanks for your assistance.

For the Household Membership you can split up the buy 2, get 2 free deal. You can buy 1 and get 1 free for one cruise and then later in your year membership use the other buy 1, get 1 free deal. It is not required to use both benefits.

CAF

I am sorry to belabor the point but if a househould membership allows two adults why would two adults who do not live together need their own membership cards, and I presume individual memberships? Why couldn’t they take the same tour under one household membership?

A Household membership is two adults and three children under 18. They do not need to live in the same house.

An Individual Membership is one adult.

Household Membership – My senior citizen father lives with me. We are the only two in the household. We need only one Household Membership – right? We live at the same address, same apartment number but different last names because one is obviously shortened from the longer Polish name. I would assume that a Household would also mean an unmarried male / female couple, a same sex couple, etc. Is that correct? I hope so because I just bought two gift Household Memberships plus my own Household Membership thinking this was correct.

For a Household membership, the members do not need to share the same address, last name, etc. Both of the names just need to be on the membership.

CAF

CAF rocks! I used to work in the Manadnock Building when you were located there. A friend of mine (Enrique O) also worked for CAF after you moved to Michigan Av. We’ve been on some of your walking tours before. They are great and visitors to Chicago love them. Thanks for the clarification on the Household Memberships – great policy!

If I buy an individual membership for $25 and get a buy one get one free ride on the architectural tour boat…..I still have to pay $32.00 dollars for one ride to get one ride free. That ends up only a $7.00 dollar discount on the boat ride. Am I missing something?

An individual membership includes a buy one get one on the Architecture River Cruise once per year. You also receive over 65 free walking tours and discount on bus and Segway tours. Members also bypass ticketmaster fees by using the Members-only tour reservation hotline number.

Does membership get you a discount at the CAF store? My son loves the merchandise there, especially the architectural series Lego kits.

Thanks Mary C!

As a member you get 10% off at the CAF store at 224 S. Michigan Ave or by going to www.architecture.org/shop. You also receive special member’s appreciation days during the year.

CAF

I am confused about the redemption/activation? Does redemption mean when I actually print my groupon..or when I purchased. Its early sat morning so I’m a little confused. This sounds like a great groupon !

You can redeem online starting on Tuesday, September 7. Once you purchase your groupon you will receive a confirmation email with directions to the redemption site. Your one year membership begins once you redeem.

CAF

I wanted to purchase 1 famiy membership for myself & 1 family membership for my friend & families, but I couldn’t see how to do that when I purchased. It seemed I couldonly buy a family membership for myself or for a gift only. So I guess I am buying 2 family memberships. Is that right? One for my family & one for my friend & her family, but in purchasing them it only asked for my payment info. Don’t I have to supply our names? I hope I’m doing this right.

Yes, you will be purchasing two separate memberships. Buy the one for yourself and then when you are about to purchase the membership for your friends click, “Buy it for a friend”. You will receive a confirmation email for each membership with a Groupon code. It will give you a link to redeem your memberships (which you can start doing on September 7) and you will fill one out for yourself and one for your friend.

CAF

My family membership expires 08/31/2011. If I purchase this Groupon, how would my renewal work ? We like these tours and a group from my building ..enjoys choosing these for outings. Thanks

This deal was only for new or lapsed members. You are not able to renew your membership with this Groupon deal.

The Groupon deal closed Sunday 5, 2010. You are no longer able to purchase this deal.

CAF

Hi Mary C.,

I am still waiting for my membership card to arrive in the mail. Is there a way to check on that?

@ Maureen M. You should probably contact them. Here’s the information.

The Company

• Chicago Architecture Foundation
• Company website

Hi Everyone
It looks like I can’t use my membership this year anymore. Is anyone interested in purchasing it from me? I’d rather that than just getting a refund from Groupon and hassling them about it.

Cheers!

BTW, Just post a msg. I’m following this topic by email. I’ll check back periodically in case that doesn’t work either.

I probably won’t be able to use mine either. I’m having problems with my knee and sometimes, my leg hurts from the hip to the knee.

Looks like I’m stuck with my membership. Will have to remember to redeem it before December 30th. Today is December 25th so I still have a few days.

I completed my membership information on Monday, December 27th. Should be getting my cards in roughly 3 weeks.