We’ve all seen that little empty coupon code box at the checkout of our favorite online stores. And most of us are tempted by it, because we all love to save money. Although one might think that coupons are a recent shopping trend, the basic idea dates back to the 1890s in the United States. Retailers in the United States began issuing trade stamps as a thank you to customers who paid cash instead of buying on credit.

But how are online coupons best used? What should you take into account? Let’s start by debunking the myths first, and then review some helpful tips.

myths about coupons

A young trend?

Although online shopping is commonly thought to appeal to a relatively young target group, coupons also appeal to older audiences. In Germany, for example, more than half of coupon users are between 25 and 44 years old; but buyers between 45 and 54 years old still represent 16%.

Only for women?

Not necessarily. In many European and Western countries, women tend to use coupons more often than their male counterparts. With a 71.2% share in Sweden, a 64.3% share in France, and a 62.2% share in Russia, it’s fair to say that women love coupons. But other markets show a significant difference: in Brazil, men account for a 53.1% share, and in India, overall coupon use by men reaches 68.4%.

Although the percentages vary between the different shopping categories, most of the clichés are confirmed: men mainly look for coupons to use in electronics stores, while women prefer fashion deals.

Tips and tricks for online coupons

How to Spot Coupon Deals

Coupon terminology varies from one online store to another. Some are called “discount”, “coupon” or “promotion codes”, while others are labeled “coupon codes” or “purchase codes”. They are pretty easy to spot if you keep your eyes open.

Some retailers provide their own codes through their company newsletter or social media page. If you want to make the most of your shopping experience and have a variety of offers at hand, you can opt for one of the many coupon platforms. But be sure to check out Google to see what other customers have to say about their experience with the respective platform. Ideally, you want to avoid signing up for shady deals and save a lot of money during your next online shopping spree.

When to opt for coupons

The basic answer is: always. Why waste money when you can save huge amounts by spending just ten more seconds to type in a promo code? Most of the time, the extra effort spent searching for coupon deals is worth it.

Especially around Black Friday or Christmas, you can find great deals online. Electronics coupons are in high demand from August through September, when classes start; flowers and gifts peak around Valentine’s Day and Christmas is a great time for toys, gifts or travel coupons. On top of that, there is no general rule about when it is best to use a coupon. If you see the coupon box while shopping, why not use it?

Date of Expiry

Both retailers and coupon platforms have to work with limitations when it comes to the time period of coupons. Coupons are sometimes used as a marketing initiative to boost sales at a slow time of year. At other times, retailers want to increase their revenue during the busiest weeks of the year, for example during Christmas or just before Valentine’s Day. Whatever your reason, to achieve your marketing goals, they will offer coupons for that limited time only. So always make sure you read the fine print so you don’t miss the expiration date.

Exclusions and Restrictions

Trying to use your 80% off coupon on the newest Louis Vuitton bag? It probably won’t happen. If online retailers offer high-end fashion items, limited quantities, or even very heavy items, they may not be eligible for coupon discounts. Most coupon sites and retailers are pretty good at letting their customers know about restrictions, but if the fine print is too fine, you’ll notice it at checkout at the latest. Some websites may display a warning on select items, but just to be safe, always double check your cart before checking out.

Compare and save

As you would in real-life shopping situations, we encourage you to shop around. While chances are you won’t visit every store in town to compare prices on socks or paperclips, you have almost no limitations when you shop online. If you know how to use Google smartly and efficiently, you can save even more money. For example, while you can get your new tablet 30% off with a coupon and pay an extra $150 in shipping, on the other hand, you might be better off with a 20% coupon that includes free shipping.

Now you’re one step closer to mastering couponing, and the best part is that it’s quite easy to enjoy smart couponing. Clearly, the amount of money you can save will increase as you get into this helpful habit. Enjoy!