Online coupons yield the most value when you shop for big-ticket items
(ARA) – Is hunting for online coupons costing you time instead of saving you money? If you spend your online time chasing coupons you could easily find elsewhere – like grocery or health and beauty items regularly advertised in your local paper – you’re not getting the most for your time.
While online coupon use soared by 80 percent last year, online coupons still make up less than 1/2 percent of all coupons distributed, according to NCH Marketing Services in Deerfield, Ill. However, most people are more likely to use the online coupons they save – the redemption rate for downloaded coupons was 4.9 percent last year, versus just .6 percent for printed ones.
The biggest advantage to online coupons comes on big-ticket items, like brand-name consumer electronics (think Dell coupon codes or Lenovo coupon codes) or even travel. Using online coupon codes for purchasing laptops or other electronics can yield hundreds of dollars in savings, as opposed to the few pennies or dollars you might save on other products.
Here are a few points to consider in order to get the most for your online coupon-clipping efforts:
* There are different kinds of “online coupons.” Some, you actually need to print out and carry with you to the retailer’s physical location. Others are discount or coupon codes that you can use during the purchase process with online retailers. Once you’ve selected your merchandise and proceeded to checkout, look for the “coupon code” field where you can plug in a special code and receive the advertised discount or promotion.
* Plenty of reputable sites act as a third-party to consolidate online coupon codes in one spot. But others are not so honorable. The Better Business Bureau advises you to be especially wary of pop-up ads that promise immediate redemption, or sites that require you to provide a lot of personal information before you can access the deals.
* Beware coupons that arrive via e-mail and never open anything attached to an unsolicited e-mail from someone you don’t know. Don’t assume a coupon is legit just because it’s been forwarded to you by a friend or family member, the BBB also advises.
* Look for Web sites that give you the coupon information up front, without making you jump through hoops for it. CouponSnapshot, for example, provides the codes immediately, allowing you to use them immediately by clicking through to the retailer’s Web site. While the site offers additional benefits for those who create an account, it’s not necessary to do so to take advantage of the codes and discounts featured on the site.
* While many retailers are offering coupons, codes and discounts on their own sites, you can streamline your hunting process by focusing on consolidator sites. CouponSnapshot, for example, features 20,000 coupons and deals for nearly 6,000 online stores and products, including Dell coupon codes and HP coupon codes. The site also has some exclusive deals with retailers and can offer codes you won’t find anywhere else. You’re more likely to find the best coupon deal – and find it faster – if you look on a consolidator site.
For more online coupon shopping tips and to sign up for a free newsletter on online coupons, visit www.couponsnapshot.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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