BUYanihan.com Beta -- get a group discount even without a group

With BUYanihan.com, you no longer need to form a group just so you can get a group discount. BUYanihan.com will post a weekly deal from different enterprises and businesses with very big discounts, which people can sign up to. Note that there is a required minimum number of sign-ups for the discounted deal to push through.

Lifted from their site, BUYanihan means:

Where did you get the name "Buyanihan?"

Buyanihan comes from the Pilipino word Bayanihan – meaning collective power and spirit by a group of people to overcome a challenging task. Similarly, Buyanihan means collective group buying power and enjoying big savings and enjoying life!

They started last August 2, 2010, and it looks like they have been offering interesting deals.
1st week -- 50% discount off of Zoobic Zafari Day Tour
2nd week -- 65% off from Residence Inn Tagaytay
3rd week -- 44% discount at  Malacca Restaurant
4th week -- 50% off at Zoocobia Fun Zoo

1st 4 weeks deals

5th week -- 68% off on Drink All You Can at 360 Resto Bar A.venue
6th week -- 50% on Swedish Massage at Blue Water Day Spa
7th week -- 40% off at Jacob's Shawarma
8th week -- 40% off at Tater's

9th week -- 32% off at City Kart Racing Park

Looking at the number of sold BUYanihan coupons, their bestsellers were the Zoobic Safari Day Tour Adventure and Jacob's Shawarma, while the deal with the lowest coupon sold was City Kart Racing Park.

You can pay the coupons you buy online via credit card, debit card, GCash, PayEasy, and Paypal. They also accept Walk-in payments. Their payment system offers convenience to the buyers by offering different options.

If you are familiar with Groupon in US, this kind of concept is no longer new. But BUYanihan.com prided to be the first to offer this kind of getting a group discount here in Philippines. This will be a win-win situation for both the businesses and the consumers. Consumers can find an easier way of getting a discount, while businesses can use this to promote their products and services.

For now, BUYanihan.com deals are available in the NCR / Luzon areas. But they plan to be available in Cebu and Davao by 2nd quarter of 2011. Interesting. I would love to see how Cebu market will react to this kind of group discount concept.

It is interesting to know that BUYanihan.com is owned by a Malaysian firm Platform2u.com founded by Eddie Lee. Platform2u.com also has an existing group-buying operations in Malaysia, but had closed down its  operation in Singapore. Then, opened one here in the Philippines with an initial investment of P8M. Platform2u Philippines is handled by Easy Pha-Max Philippines. (Source: Business Mirror) When I googled Easy Pha-Max Philippines, it's the company behind Wheatgrass -- it's some kind of vitamins, food supplement.