You do a lot of shopping online because you don’t like paying full price. The only catch with online shopping is the shipping costs – they add up fast. Sometimes, shipping completely erases the discount. That’s where coupon codes come in handy. Coupon codes work just like regular coupons you’d use in a brick-and-mortar store. Still confused? Don’t be. They’re dead-simple to use.
How Do I Redeem A Coupon Code?
Every merchant is a bit different, but there are generally a few different places where you should be able to enter your code. Most merchants place an input box on the checkout page. This is where you would type in your promo or coupon code to receive your discount.
Sometimes, the coupon code is entered on the order review page – one page prior to the actual checkout (where you input your personal info and credit card info). Look around carefully to find the “submit” area the first time you shop with a site. If you accidentally submit your payment information, and the company sends you an order confirmation, it’s often too late to go back and add the coupon.
How Do I Redeem a “Linked” Code?
Some coupons are actually just links. The code is built right into the URL for the site. When you click on a banner advertisement, for example, it may take you to a special page on the company’s website. From there, anything you purchase will be automatically discounted. These can be a little confusing because, sometimes, it’s not obvious that you’re getting the discount until you check out.
What If I Don’t See Any Place To Input The Code?
First things first – check to make sure your discount isn’t already applied through a linked coupon code. Next, check with the website’s FAQ page. This should point you in the right direction. Failing that, check the customer service page or ring customer service before you actually buy anything.
How Do I Know a Coupon Code Is Working?
Usually the merchant will show you how much money you’re saving on the checkout page. You input the online coupons, and hit “recalculate” or “apply coupons,” and the totals for your items will change to reflect the discount. In some cases, you’ll see the shipping charges eliminated (this is true only if the merchant offers free shipping on items over a certain dollar amount or if the coupon is for free shipping).
If you don’t see your order total change after applying the discount coupon, or you get an error message, don’t submit your order. Your discount didn’t go through. Contact customer service to see if there’s another way to apply the code.
How Do I Find Coupon Codes?
Finding coupons can be tricky sometimes. One way to find out about discounts is to visit forums that are oriented around discount sites – FatWallet, for example. Another way to find discounts is to search for your favorite online retailer and add the words “discount coupons” to the search query. Finally, rebate sites like Mr. Rebates and Ebates allow you to get discounts from all major online retailers like Amazon, Overstock, Walmart, and other companies. The only “catch,” if you can call it that, is that you have to shop through the rebate site’s online portal.
Russell Matthews enjoys finding innovative ways to save money. He likes to share his findings with others online to spread the joy.
