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First Visit Help | Image Legend | Help & FAQ's
How to Use Online Coupons Article
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1) What is the 'My Coupons' category?
2) How do I save and/or remove stores from 'My Coupons'?
3) What is a coupon code and how do I use it?
4) What if I do not see the discount at checkout?
5) What if I have a problem or question about an order?
6) What Are Coupons?
7) Can anybody use them?
8) How long are they good for?
9) A coupon that is supposed to be good but comes up 'expired'
10) How Do I Use Them?
11) What are the restrictions?
12) What about the offers that begin "Save on" are these coupons?
NOTE: Important Things To Remember
What is the 'My Coupons' category?
'My Coupons' is a way for you to save favorite merchants into your own custom category. This can be used as your start page to see a summary of the latest coupons and deals for your favorite stores.
How do I save and/or remove stores from 'My Coupons'?
To save a store to 'My Coupons' just click the 'Save to My Coupons' link in the header of each stores description
To remove a store from 'My Coupons' just be sure to be in your category and from there you will have the option to remove whichever stores you choose.
NOTE: There is currently a limit of 20 stores that can be saved in 'My Coupons'
What is a coupon code and how do I use it?
Coupons for online stores generally come in the format of a coupon code. When you find a deal on our site that says "Code - XXXX", you will need to enter that code at some point during checkout at that store. It is difficult to be more specific, because many stores have you enter the code at different points during checkout.
What if I do not see the discount at checkout?
If you do not see the discount you were expecting at checkout, we recommend that you DO NOT proceed with your order. Always confirm the presence of the coupon during the confirmation screen. If you DO NOT see the discount on the final summary of your order, you will not receive the discount. This happens occasionally because coupons and deals often expire without notice and there is no guarantee that all coupons will work.
What if I have a problem or question about an order?
We advertise coupons and deals for hundreds of online stores. If you have questions about an order that you have placed with one of these stores, you must contact that store directly. If you are unsure about who to contact, we are happy to assist you in finding the appropriate contacts for that store.
What Are Coupons?
Briefly, "coupons" are ways to get your DVDs cheaper.
An online retailer of DVDs and CDs will often offer special discounts in order to publicize their site. These offers can appear in magazines such as Premiere or Entertainment Weekly, in trade magazines such as Variety, or as inserts in credit card statements.
Typically, they will offer a discount off a minimum purchase. The most common values today are $5 off a purchase of $15 or more, and $10 off $25 or more.
There are several types of coupons. The most common two are special links to hidden pages on the retailer's website (Amazon.com tends to use these), or a special code to be entered in the "Gift Certificate" or "Coupon" space upon checkout (such as the codes offered by BN.com and Staples.com).
Can anybody use them?
These offers are available to anyone; you just need to be lucky enough to find them. We're constantly scouring the typical places where they appear; when we find one, we post it here.
How long are they good for?
Most coupons have an expiration date, which --when it's known -- we post along with the coupon.
A coupon that is supposed to be good but comes up 'expired'
Sometimes, coupons expire before their posted expiration date. When a third party such as Visa offers a coupon to their customers for an online retailer, they may have in fact paid the retailer for $10,000 worth of discounts (or for the total that's been used before the expiration date, if less). Every time somebody opens up their Visa mailing and uses the coupon, Visa pays some portion of the coupon value to the retailer. If a greater-than-expected number of people use the code, the $10,000 is used up and the coupon becomes inactive. It's not the fault of the retailer or the third party; it's simply how the contract is written.
Often, too, a retailer will offer a special that is far more successful than they expected. It may be a difficult choice -- go broke, or suffer ill will by canceling the offer early. Sometimes there is no choice.
If there's a very good coupon or offer posted, we strongly suggest that you use it early.
How Do I Use Them?
It depends on the type of coupon.
The most common two are special links to hidden pages on the retailer's website (Amazon.com tends to use these), or a special code to be entered in the "Gift Certificate" or "Coupon" space upon checkout (such as the codes offered by BN.com and Staples.com).
In either case, simply click on the coupon that appears in the list, and start shopping.
If the coupon is a special link, then that page will explain what you then need to do (generally, nothing; a 'cookie' will be set on your PC, and the discount will be applied -- and appear -- automatically when you check out). Some offers though are direct links to site promotions and prices listed such as those that being 'Save on'.
If, on the other hand, the coupon is a code, you will be taken to the home page of the retailer's site, and a small browser window will be opened at the upper-left corner of your screen. This window will show the code; either keep the window around, or write the code down someplace before you close it. Then do your shopping in the main window as you normally would. When you check out, there will be a space to enter this code, generally around the same screen where you enter your credit card information (although sometimes it's the screen afterwards). Look for a space called either "Gift Certificate" or "Coupon."
After you've entered the code, and before your order reaches the final submission, there will always be another screen showing the updated total. You will always be able to see the results of the coupon before you reach the final submit screen. If the coupon is rejected, you will be offered an opportunity to use another code.
What are the restrictions?
Again, it depends on the offer. If the offer is not one of the two common types listed above, we will give the important details along with the offer on the coupon page.
Some offers require you use a specific credit card (Visa, Mastercard, etc.). Others may require more esoteric restrictions.
Generally, though, coupons are restricted to one coupon use per household. If there are ten coupons for a particular retailer, you can use each one once.
Buy.com seems to restrict most of its coupons more severely. They request one coupon use per household, and if you use ANY of their coupons, you cannot use any other. The automatic checking seems to be more along lines of credit-card number, so using a different card will allow you to use a second coupon. Some people have said that clearing your browser cookies will do it too, though I've had no success with that method.
What about the offers that begin "Save on" are these coupons?
Every merchant has a descriptive listing these are not coupons unless there is an ACTUAL discount or offer listed. These are so you can click through to the site and browse. Coupon Craze does not just list coupons but is a yellow pages of merchants.
Unless you see the offer on the landing page or when you apply the coupon codes during checkout NEVER complete a checkout until you see your discount.
NOTE: Important Things To Remember
Every effort is made to be sure that the coupons and deals are valid and functioning. If you come across an invalid coupon please submit a ticket by clicking on the red X next to each coupon. Please do not contact the individual retailer's customer service. Offers can expire or be pulled by the retailer without us realizing it, and getting in touch with the retailer will usually not produce the desired results. Retailers are not obligated to honor any deal found on this site.
Do NOT finalize any order without first seeing confirmation screen of the offer during the checkout process, unless you are willing to pay the stated price. Should you run into a problem and need to cancel your order, CALL the site's customer service right away. Don't e-mail a cancellation request - it may not be read until it's too late.
Always print out a copy of your confirmation and receipt for your records.
Some offers are for new customers only but a new customer often just means that the account is a new email and send to name. So if you have a husband, wife, roommate, family member ask them to order for you since many times new customer deals are the best.
No question about it. If you see a deal that looks great most likely it will expire soon. So make sure to act on it quickly before the deal or coupon is pulled.
Always double check shipping charges which vary from site to site greatly.
You will be charged tax only if the merchant is based in the same state in which you reside. This can be a significant cost or savings when purchasing expensive products.
Purchasing online with a credit card is very safe if you keep the following in mind: (1) Secure sites use encryption to protect your information as it is sent over the internet. Make sure the site is secure by verifying that the lock in the lower portion of your browser is closed, and that the URL of the page changes from "http:" to "https:" (2) Never use a debit card as it does not afford you the same protection as a credit card. (3) Never give out your social security number or mother's maiden name to a merchant site. There is no legitimate reason they would need this information.
Before participating in any offer, please take note of any special terms and conditions related to the offer, and confirm that the vendor is one with which you wish to do business.
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