Daily deal sites

It pays to be a homo these days, literally. Daily deal sites akin to Groupon are queuing up to get their mitts on our rainbow bucks. Before dropping $20 toward $50 worth of Gun Oil, read on to see just which site suits you best.

Daily Hookup thinks…
You’re a dude No ifs, ands or booties about it, Daily Hookup’s spa, grooming and clothes-heavy deals are aimed at gay men.
Money is your middle name A recent sample deal was $100 for a $250 coupon good toward a suit (average price $750–$1,000) at SoHo-based Louis Purple.
You’re coastal Bargains are aimed primarily at men living in New York; Washington, D.C.; L.A.; and San Francisco, although deals with nationwide brands exist.
You give a damn Five percent of every purchase you make goes to local charities (none in Chicago yet).
People like you The Friends with Benefits program puts $11 into your account every time someone you refer to the site makes his first purchase.
The skinny A group of eight gay men curates each deal to make sure it’s up to par for the discerning gay male; too bad none of them lives in Chicago.

Fab thinks…
Sexual orientation is a mutable characteristic (sort of) Remember Fabulis, the social networking site that was supposed to be the LGBT Facebook? It transformed into Fab six months ago and decided that it was no longer gay. Deals are aimed at both homos and heteros (with good taste).
You’re indie minded A Renegade Craft Fair–ethos pervades the site. Lots of deals, like a recent sale for art pieces made from long-exposure photographs by Chicago-based creative Paul Octavious, come from independent retailers and designers.
You take your time The site offers a pop-up shop, a.k.a. deals that stick around longer and can be viewed through a partnership with Fast Company’s new United States of Design app.
The skinny We admit it, we’re hooked. We’ve been champing at the bit for a whole bunch of deals, including light fixtures made from bottles of booze and toy-inspired jewelry. We think this site is, well, fab.

Daily Gaypon thinks…
You support gay-friendly businesses There’s no doubt that businesses want our bucks, but Daily Gaypon claims to diligently cross-reference its retailers with the HRC’s Corporate Equality Index, and to be on the lookout for fair hiring practices, partner benefits, etc.
You hate daily deal sites Despite its supposed dose of daily goodness, Gaypon e-mails deals only when it has something local to your area or an online retailer worthy of your gaydar. It took us a full nine days before we received our first deal, for 50 percent off Halloween gear at wowmycostumes.com.
You hate bullies and love the Wolverine State The West Bloomfield, Michigan–based company donates a portion of proceeds from every purchase to both the Trevor Project, a nationwide org devoted to anti-bullying, and Affirmations, a LGBT community center in gay-oriented Detroit ’burb Ferndale.
The skinny Send us more Gaypons already! We love a deal site with a heart, but this Midwest biz needs more Chicago offers.

Qpon thinks…
You live in Sweet Homo Chicago Qpon founders Tracy Baim (of Windy City Times, with whom Qpon has a marketing partnership) and Suzanne Arnold are locals. The good news for us is that Qpon deals are targeted to LGBT Chicagoans and support local businesses.
You’re a culture vulture We love that recent deals like 53 percent off NorthSide Dance Theater and 50 percent off Superstars of Burlesque are arts-focused.
You have a smartphone Buyers with mobile devices can receive a “QR code” for their coupon purchase through an e-mail alert. They can elect to have the QR code sent instantly to their phone, which allows them to collect their purchase without having to tote around a printed coupon.
The skinny We kind of like Qpon. Its Chicago-centricity is a huge plus and its diversity of goods and services, ranging from doggie day-care deals to luxe spa treatments to weekend getaway offers. It keeps us eagerly checking our inbox.