We’ve all been there.
You’re about to complete an online purchase –the shoes you’ve been eyeing, the electronic gadget that was just released, or perhaps a delivery order to fill your grumbling stomach — and you see the“Promo Code” box, or whatever the equivalent is on your site of choice.
Sometimes, you have a code handy. Perhaps it’ seven why your there in the first place. But other times, you don’t have a code, and yet, you want one.
If you’re reading this, you’ve likely searched a maze of websites looking for your next code to save a few — or more — bucks. If so, you still may find some new tidbits within.
And if you haven’t been involved in the world of online couponing, well, welcome. Enjoy this Coupon Code Day site guide and start saving immediately!
The Basics
Let’s quickly touch on the basics, just to get everyone up to speed.
There are a variety of types of coupons and discounts you’ll find, from free shipping (a common one among online merchants)to percentages or dollar amounts off. You’ll learn how these types of codes are typically structured; for instance, anything with “FREESHIP” in the code will likely be free shipping, of course.
Some of the sites that you might find these codes on will spell out what they’re supposed to be fore next to the code, but other times you’ll need to use your couponing intuition.
Of course, the easiest way to find out for sure what the code is for is copying and pasting (or screen shotting the code if it isn’t able to be highlighted in your browser) directly into the form on the checkout site for your preferred merchant and be sure to hit “submit” or“apply.”
Verifying that the coupon has been accepted
In most cases it should be very clear what,exactly, your discount is, and if the code is rejected, you’ll see that communicated clearly as well.
It depends greatly on the website, but there is usually a breakdown of the pending sale that includes the dollar amount saved.If it was easy to grab your promo code and input it, consider trying a couple additional codes to see if you can find one that saves you more money.
For instance, free shipping may not always be the best deal available, especially if you have to convince yourself that you need just one more sweater or pair of jeans or whatever to meet a required minimum. (Side note: pay attention to minimums, as many sites will require you to meet a minimum subtotal of your purchase before the coupon will be applied.)
What to do if the coupon isn’t working
Well, the first thing is obviously to make sure that it was input correctly, especially if you had to type it manually from a screenshot because copying and pasting wasn’t an option.
The second thing to check is what was mentioned above: is there a minimum purchase required? If so, and if you still think you’ve met it, check and make sure that the subtotal (before tax and shipping)is an adequate amount. If you were looking at the grand total, then get back in there and find some more merchandise to hit your minimum.
Final Thoughts
There are plenty of coupon sites out there, and plenty of codes that do (and do not) work.
Trial and error are your best friend here;there’s no reason to not try a bunch of codes. It can be frustrating, of course, as merchants often change their codes — for obvious reasons. But try a few different things in a few different ways and you’ll likely be rewarded.
Happy couponing!
