Musing on Coupon Codes
Since I've been doing some more in-depth coupon-related shopping, I can
tell you that I've seen some interesting things happening online. Most
of them have been neutral-- just tips I've picked up on how to get the
best deal-- but others have been downright strange or confusing.
The first thing that made me realize the importance of a coupon site like Coupon Winner is the chance that you'll run into a code that either causes problems or is deemed invalid by the store itself. I subscribe to several blogs and use this site to score myself bargains, and this week a code circulated from a popular chocolate company. I found the code on several deal-hunting blogs, but didn't indulge because I didn't need a couple of pounds of chocolate for $7.
What happened next is every deal hunter's nightmare. The code, which went viral on deal-hunting blogs, turned out to be invalid, and then multiple customers (we're talking hundreds) were charged an entirely different amount for the same purchase, despite the fact that their order confirmation said another amount. Some are still fighting for their money, and others have taken it to the Better Business Bureau. That's why I primarily stick to sites like Coupon Winner to save on my purchases-- I hate it when I run into issues like the one described above.
That being said, there's another reason why it's always smart to supplement your online shopping with multiple sources. You afford yourself the luxury of picking and choosing between codes, even though quite often you'll find that the more codes you see, the more you want to spend. With the right degree of restraint, you can save a ton on your purchases, keep your card safe, and shop smarter than ever.
Even if you do use sites that only drop vendor or manufacturer-approved codes, you might find that when a code becomes too popular, they pull the discount! That's just another reason to stay aware of the savings presented on multiple blogs-- you need to be ready to strike at any time, because shops will sometimes try to limit the number of deals to be had. While I don't necessarily agree with that practice, it makes timeliness all the more important.
The first thing that made me realize the importance of a coupon site like Coupon Winner is the chance that you'll run into a code that either causes problems or is deemed invalid by the store itself. I subscribe to several blogs and use this site to score myself bargains, and this week a code circulated from a popular chocolate company. I found the code on several deal-hunting blogs, but didn't indulge because I didn't need a couple of pounds of chocolate for $7.
What happened next is every deal hunter's nightmare. The code, which went viral on deal-hunting blogs, turned out to be invalid, and then multiple customers (we're talking hundreds) were charged an entirely different amount for the same purchase, despite the fact that their order confirmation said another amount. Some are still fighting for their money, and others have taken it to the Better Business Bureau. That's why I primarily stick to sites like Coupon Winner to save on my purchases-- I hate it when I run into issues like the one described above.
That being said, there's another reason why it's always smart to supplement your online shopping with multiple sources. You afford yourself the luxury of picking and choosing between codes, even though quite often you'll find that the more codes you see, the more you want to spend. With the right degree of restraint, you can save a ton on your purchases, keep your card safe, and shop smarter than ever.
Even if you do use sites that only drop vendor or manufacturer-approved codes, you might find that when a code becomes too popular, they pull the discount! That's just another reason to stay aware of the savings presented on multiple blogs-- you need to be ready to strike at any time, because shops will sometimes try to limit the number of deals to be had. While I don't necessarily agree with that practice, it makes timeliness all the more important.
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