The explosion of Foursquare is a good and a bad thing. The positive is that it allows you the ability to get recommendations from friends, unlock rewards and discover new restaurants. The negative is that the rewards/repeat business aspect of it is really lacking. That hasn't been a problem until recently with new competitor SCVNGR.
SCVNGR is a company that currently has 2 apps, SCVNGR and LevelUp. The namesake is the most similar to Foursquare. You can find local places and check in to alert your friends. However, where SCVNGR tops Foursquare is its rewards system. With Foursquare, you can only get a deal if you are the Mayor of a certain location. SCVNGR is different because you can earn points every time you visit towards discounts. It's a game within a game that makes it interesting.
LevelUp is similar in that they reward for repeat business. For example, if you spend $50 at one restaurant over a period of time then you will receive $5 off your next order. Not just that but LevelUp is also on the cutting edge of mobile credit cards. Simply enter your card details and all you have to do is flash your personal QR code at the counter and the transaction is complete. Plus, almost every place has an extra discount for your first visit ($1-2 off).
Rest assured there are many, many more competitors that we don't even know about. On Friday, we went to Ducali Pizzeria on a friend's recommendation. When we walked in there was a sticker in the window showing that they did LevelUp. Sweet, I thought, I can get a couple bucks off our meal. But wait, there was another sign hanging up for an app called Scout Mob. I downloaded it to see what it was about and amazingly they were offering 50% off! It's still getting up and running in Boston -- there are only about 8 restaurants registered -- but with discounts that severe there is no reason not to take advantage.
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