http://www.websitemagazine.com/content/blogs/posts/archive/tags/buywithme/default.aspxTags: buywithmeenCommunityServer 2008 SP2 (Build: 31104.93)http://www.websitemagazine.com/content/blogs/posts/archive/2010/12/22/google-scrambling-for-a-local-deals-site.aspxWed, 22 Dec 2010 17:08:00 GMT1e469e21-c924-44fa-a132-47b5d0a8ad47:15700Mike Phillips1http://www.websitemagazine.com/content/blogs/posts/rsscomments.aspx?PostID=15700http://www.websitemagazine.com/content/blogs/posts/archive/2010/12/22/google-scrambling-for-a-local-deals-site.aspx#comments<hr /> <p><img src="http://www.websitemagazine.com/images/blog/g-mini.gif" style="float:left;margin:10px;" height="75" width="75" alt="" /> </p> <p>Google, after Groupon famously shunned their advances -- and $6 billion -- is desperately seeking a local deals site, mostly for the local ad revenue it can provide. A <i>New York Post</i> insider is reporting that Google is in talks with two, smaller Groupon rivals. Of those mentioned are LivingSocial and BuyWithMe, a New York social shopping service.</p> <p>Google has reason to be a bit unnerved lately. Not only did Groupon give them the Heisman but Groupon also recently announced the hiring of Jason Child, a former Amazon bigwig, as the new Groupon CFO. To some, this signals a major step forward and a possbile IPO. In addition, eBay recently launched their local shopping service, GiftsNearby, taking advantage of their <a href="http://www.websitemagazine.com/content/blogs/posts/archive/2010/12/20/all-eyes-should-be-on-ebay.aspx">flurry of acquisitions</a> and seriously bolstering their standing in the social shopping world.</p> <p>It seems that Google showed up to party late, and all that&#39;s left are a few cheese doodles and light beer.</p> <div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.websitemagazine.com/content/aggbug.aspx?PostID=15700" width="1" height="1">googleebaygrouponlivingsocialbuywithme