Amazon Local daily deals to be axed

Amazon Local, which launched in August 2012, sells restaurant, spa and entertainment deals, based on a user's preferred location, via its online website and app. See our Amazon Discount Finder tool to bag 75% off deals and see our Deals and Vouchers section for a full run-down of the latest offers.

In the past it's run competitive deals, some of which we've featured on MoneySavingExpert.com – for example, a totally free £2 MP3 code, a £16 RedSpottedHanky rail ticket voucher for £8 and a refurbished Kindle Fire for £89 (usually £109 at time of publication in August 2013).

But Amazon Local will stop selling daily deals on 18 December 2015. Instead, visitors to the site will be redirected to 'Amazon Tickets', which sells tickets to music events, festivals, and theatre and comedy shows, and has done since March this year.

The retailer wouldn't tell us how many customers will be affected by the cull, or if any jobs will be lost. The move by Amazon follows Barclaycard axing its Bespoke Offers deals website and app just last month.

I've bought deals from Amazon Local. Can I still use them?

Amazon says any deals bought to date, plus any purchased between now and 18 December, are "unaffected by this change", so you'll be able to use them as normal and you'll still be able to redeem vouchers purchased until the date specified on them.

Shoppers can still access unused vouchers via this Amazon Purchases page, even after this date – you'll see a tab called 'Your Account' where it will be listed.

Amazon says customers with any problems with goods or vouchers experienced after 18 December should contact it via its help page, where you can request an Amazon representative call you back to answer any questions or issues.

Amazon Local daily deals to be axed

Why is Amazon axing its daily deals offering?

We twice asked Amazon directly why it's culling Amazon Local. But it simply says: "We've learned a great deal from the daily deals business and will look for ways to apply these lessons in the future as we continue to innovate on behalf of our customers and merchants."