In most cases, $5 off a $10 gift card is nothing to email home about, but pair a popular company with a relatively new platform and suddenly it is. We've seen it time and again with offers from Amazon, Fandango and Pizza Hut, among others. For brands the formula has proven effective for initiating sales and increasing press mentions. And for the platforms -- whether it's Groupon, AmazonLocal or, as in this case, Google Offers -- it's a quick method for boosting user signups.
If all this seems a bit soulless, take comfort in the fact that Google Offers has promised to donate $3 of every purchase (up to $3 million) to the Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) for the Create Jobs for USA Fund. The fund, a joint venture between Starbucks and OFN, helps finance loans to small local businesses.
To take advantage of the deal, you'll need to sign up for Google Offers, which you can do here.