If you live in the United States or Canada, there's a chance you've used Groupon to receive discounts on a variety of products and services. "Since launching in November 2008, the Chicago-based deal-a-day website has sold over 7 million online coupons in 70 cities," notes Jackie Huba at the Church of the Customer Blog.

Groupon's success hasn't gone unnoticed, however, and it has spawned competitors. But the company has a plan for staying in the lead: a fanatical commitment to excellent customer service.

Even if coupons aren't a central component of your marketing strategy, you'll find inspiration in Huba's report from a recent visit to Groupon's headquarters. Here are some of the things the Groupon folks do well:

Flaunting the fine print. You'll reduce the chances of customer anger or disappointment by clearly outlining what they should (or should not) expect. "Groupon features terms and conditions in large type in a clearly labeled section right beside the deal highlights," Huba says. "You can't miss it."

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