A Disappointed Online Shopper Invented A Better Way To Find Coupon Codes …
Gidi Fisher was shopping online two years ago when he decided to look for a coupon code. 
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He found several — but they didn’t work.
“I realized in that moment that consumers go to aggregators for coupon codes, but no one has taken the time to fix the broken process,” Fisher told Business Insider. “People shouldn’t have to spend half an hour copying and pasting to see if coupon codes work.”
So Fisher started PoachIt, an in-beta website that shows users valid coupon codes for thousands of vendors’ products.
The process is simple: users grab the PoachIt button, then go shopping online. When the shopper finds an item he likes, he clicks the button to display valid coupon codes or “favorite” an item to get a notification if and when it goes on sale.
Because of increased competition online, retailers have started changing their prices as frequently as airlines, Fisher said.
“Most people think stuff doesn’t go on sale until the end of the season, but in reality merchants are changing pricing constantly,” he said. “Something on sale today might be back to full retail price tomorrow.
The company, which is based in New York, has about 20,000 users so far.
If you’re interested in using PoachIt, just visit their website and request to try the service in beta. The site will officially launch in mid-May.
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Beginner’s guide to online couponing
This post comes from Kyle James at partner site U.S. News World Report.
Couponing has always been a key ingredient when it comes to saving money on purchases.
However, coupon strategies have shifted dramatically in recent years. With the popularity of online shopping, you’re no longer required to spend hours clipping coupons from Sunday newspaper. Online coupons allow you to save without leaving your home computer — and eliminate the time required to clip and redeem traditional coupon offers.
Here are the basics on the various types of online coupons and where to find them:
Coupon codes. The first type of online coupon is also the most popular; they’re called “coupon codes” and are offered by 75% of online retailers to encourage spending and brand loyalty. The most popular coupon codes offer free shipping or a flat percentage off your order total (with no minimum purchase required).
You simply type the code into the designated box when checking out at the retailer’s website. The box might also be titled promotional code, discount code or online coupon key and is typically found on the payment or billing page. You never want to enter your credit card information or finalize your purchase until you are sure your coupon code has been accepted. Otherwise, it can be difficult to go back and try get your discount if the code was entered incorrectly or has expired.
Embedded coupon offers. The next type of online coupon is an embedded coupon, which does not have a code attached to it. These are often included in a retailer’s free newsletter, which you have to subscribe to. Simply click on the offer and it takes you to the retailer’s website, where the discount is automatically applied to your purchase.
Remember to verify your discount went through and read the fine print with these offers, since they sometimes exclude certain brands or clearance items.
Site-wide promotions. These promotions are fairly self-explanatory and include things like “Spring Sale: Save up to 55% off your online purchase.” There’s no coupon code required.
The key, though, to banking significant online savings is combining a coupon code with a site-wide promotion. You can save upwards of 80% off your purchase and often get free shipping included.
Where to find online coupons. An Internet search engine, naturally, is a good starting point. Simply type in the store name, plus the word coupons, and you’ll likely discover coupon websites that update regularly and test coupon codes before adding them. Bookmark the good sites and remember to check them before you finalize your online purchase.
If you have a few favorite retailers, sign up for their free newsletter, follow them on Twitter and “like” their page on Facebook, as these outlets are another way to monitor for great coupons.
Mobile apps. Some coupon aggregators have free apps that can get you online coupons, as well as in-store coupons directly on your phone. For an in-store coupon, as the cashier simply scans the barcode on your phone and the savings are applied instantly.
Popular stores offering in-store coupons on smartphone apps include Old Navy, Kohl’s, Macy’s, Home Depot, Lands’ End, Payless Shoes and Toys R Us.
More from U.S. News World Report and MSN Money:
- 10 mobile apps for coupons and deals
- 5 ways to get healthy and save money
- How to cut your food budget in half
- 7 savvy supermarket tips
A Beginner’s Guide to Online Couponing
Couponing has always been a key ingredient when it comes to saving money on purchases. However, coupon strategies have shifted dramatically in recent years. With the popularity of online shopping, you’re no longer required to spend hours clipping coupons from Sunday newspaper. Online coupons allow you to save without leaving your home computer—and eliminate the time required to clip and redeem traditional coupon offers. Here are the basics on the various types of online coupons and where to find them:
Coupon codes. The first type of online coupon is also the most popular; they’re called “coupon codes” and are offered by 75 percent of online retailers to encourage spending and brand loyalty. The most popular coupon codes offer free shipping or a flat percentage off your order total (with no minimum purchase required).
You simply type the code into the designated box when checking out at the retailer’s website. The box might also be titled promotional code, discount code or online coupon key and is typically found on the payment or billing page. You never want to enter your credit card information or finalize your purchase until you are sure your coupon code has been accepted. Otherwise, it can be difficult to go back and try get your discount if the code was entered incorrectly or has expired.
Embedded coupon offers. The next type of online coupon is an embedded coupon, which does not have a code attached to it. These are often included in a retailer’s free newsletter, which you have to subscribe to. Simply click on the offer and it takes you to the retailer’s website, where the discount is automatically applied to your purchase. Remember to verify your discount went through and read the fine print with these offers, since they sometimes exclude certain brands or clearance items.
Site-wide promotions. These promotions are fairly self-explanatory and include things like “Spring Sale: Save up to 55 percent off your online purchase.” There’s no coupon code required. The key, though, to banking significant online savings is combining a coupon code with a site-wide promotion. You can save upwards of 80 percent off your purchase and often get free shipping included.
Where to find online coupons. Google, naturally, is a good starting point. Simply type in the store name, plus the word coupons, and you’ll likely discover coupon websites that update regularly and test coupon codes before adding them. Bookmark the good sites and remember to check them before you finalize your online purchase.
If you have a few favorite retailers, sign up for their free newsletter, follow them on Twitter and “like” their page on Facebook, as these outlets are another way to monitor for great coupons.
Mobile apps. Some coupon aggregators have free apps that can get you online coupons, as well as in-store coupons directly on your phone. For an in-store coupon, as the cashier simply scans the barcode on your phone and the savings are applied instantly. Popular stores offering in-store coupons on smartphone apps include Old Navy, Kohl’s, Macy’s, Home Depot, Lands’ End, Payless Shoes and Toys R Us.
Kyle James operates a coupon website called Rather-Be-Shopping.com which offers free coupon codes to more than 800 popular stores. The site also has a brand new iPhone coupon app which helps consumers save money directly from their smartphone.
Unconventional Ways to Score an Online Deal
Conventional bargain-hunting methods include checking coupon websites, subscribing to retailers’ newsletters, and doing a quick Google search for a coupon code. But what do you do when these methods leave you without a discount? Consider these four alternatives that could easily ensure you don’t pay full price when shopping online:
Use live chat. Many online retailers utilize a live chat service, where they have operators standing by to answer questions about products and services. In many cases, these operators are also armed with online coupon codes to give consumers just for the asking. Offers may include free shipping and up to 25 percent off your online purchase. If you can’t find a coupon for a specific online retailer, open a chat session, if available, and politely ask the operator if they would be kind enough to share a coupon to help lower your bill. Remember to be polite, as many operators will be inclined to have you pay full price if you are rude or abrupt with them.
Abandon the shopping cart. Another online shopping trend that is gaining traction is the virtual cart abandonment strategy. In an effort to build customer loyalty, online retailers are sending a coupon code via email to shoppers who have abandoned their cart before finalizing their purchase. A few of the popular online retailers that are actively employing this technique include Best Buy, Lands’ End, Zappo’s, Home Depot, and Bass Pro Shops.
For this to work, you’ll need to register with the retailer, login to your account, add the items you want to purchase to your cart or basket, and proceed through the checkout process until you reach the payment page. It is not until you reach the payment page that you want to abandon or logout of your shopping session. By doing this, you increase your chances of getting an email from the retailer saying something like, “Hi, please come back to our site and finish your purchase. As our way of saying how much we appreciate your business, use coupon code SAVE15 to get 15 percent off your next purchase.”
Get social. Do you have a few online retailers you regularly shop at? If so, make sure you “’like” their Facebook page and follow them on Twitter. A majority of online retailers are using their social media accounts to not only interact with loyal shoppers but to share coupons and discounts. Many of these coupons are exclusively provided to their social media followers and can’t be found anywhere else online.
Discounted Gift Cards. Are you aware you can purchase gift cards to popular online stores at less than face value? Do a quick Google search for “discounted gift cards” and you’ll find reputable websites that buy and sell gift cards. These sites purchase unwanted gift cards from consumers and re-sell them for slightly more than what they paid. For example, they might buy a $100 gift card for $85 and resell it to you for $92 with free shipping. This is a great savings strategy for consumers if you know you are going to purchase a high-priced item from a specific retailer. You can easily save 10 to 15 percent by buying discounted gift cards. They also make for great last-minute gift ideas.
As technology changes, so does the way retailers interact with customers. As savvy consumers, knowledge is power, and that has never been truer than in the world of technology and the Internet. By knowing these four unconventional ways to find a coupon or deal, you have a new arsenal of tools at your disposal when shopping online. No longer are you forced to pay full price when a coupon seems unavailable.
Kyle James operates Rather-Be-Shopping.com which specializes in online coupon codes, printable coupons, and mobile coupons for over 800 popular retailers. Top stores include Lands’ End, American Eagle, Macy’s, Wal-Mart, and Best Buy.
CES: No more hunting for coupon codes
By Kelli B. Grant
It’s the mantra of online bargain hunters: Always look for a coupon code. But maybe no longer.
Kelli B. Grant
The new Couponomatic browser add-on from coupon and cash-back site BeFrugal.com automatically turns the coupon code box at more than 3,000 online retailers into a drop-down menu of available codes. Simply pick a code and click to apply, instead of laboriously opening a new window and conducting an Internet search for the retailer and the phrase “coupon code.”
BeFrugal isn’t the only game in town for this kind of technology — site DropDownDeals.com also has a browser add-on to automatically display available sales — but the real test comes down to the codes available, says Michelle Madhok, founder of sale site SheFinds.com. Some coupon sites list only deals the store authorizes them to list, meaning shoppers miss out on codes sent only to some shoppers. Others allow individual users to add codes they’ve received or stumbled upon, but don’t check their validity. Jon Lal, founder of BeFrugal, says the site incorporates both store- and user-submitted codes, and promises $5 cash back if a code doesn’t work.
The add-on doesn’t work for every site, however. So even shoppers trusting that it has all the available deals may find they still need to Google for codes when shopping some retailers.
Senior consumer reporter and “Deal of Day” columnist Kelli B. Grant travels to Las Vegas to find the best, the worst, and the most hyped gadgets at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show. Join her as she roams the exhibit floor for three days, with dispatches here and on Twitter @kelligrant.
Coupons at Checkout brings coupon codes right to your shopping cart
For intrepid deal hunters, there’s nothing better than finding the perfect coupon code right before you click “Buy.” But finding valid coupon codes for online retailers usually requires a bit of click-work, and plenty of trial an error.
Enter Coupons at Checkout, a free browser extension from the folks at the deal site CouponFollow, that makes finding and testing coupon codes dead simple.
Once installed, the extension uses a patented process to find coupon codes when you reach the checkout page at more than 100,000 online retailers. Simply click the appropriate coupon code section of the checkout page and choose from a dropdown of known codes. The extension gives you an idea of how valid a coupon may be, and if it fails you can give feedback to warn other users.
Coupons at Checkout supports Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer. And unlike those dreaded shopping toolbars, the extension is invisible until you reach an online checkout page. The company says it may occasionally launch a browser tab when you click a coupon to track usage, and it will occasionally ask for feedback.
According to its privacy policy, Coupons at Checkout analyzes and collects your browser behavior around e-commerce pages, but no identifiable information is collected. Unlike many other companies, CouponFollow is at least clear what it’s doing with your data.
Marc Mezzacca, the New York City-based creator of CouponFollow, tells me that the extension’s users saved $22.45 on average (10 percent more than just manually fishing for coupon codes), and it takes only around 21.1 seconds to find a working code, versus 80.7 seconds manually. So far Coupons at Checkout has been downloaded more than 12,000 times.
I’ve been testing out the extension while Christmas shopping, and so far it’s saved me a decent chunk of change. While there aren’t always working coupon codes at every retailer, at least with this extension you’ll know before wasting time searching the web.
Mezzacca notes that it’s not only helpful for consumers, the extension also benefits retailers: 87 percent of surveyed users said they would be more likely to complete a purchase if they saw a coupon when they were checking out. Currently, 27 percent of customers abandon their carts to seek out coupons, and only a third of those actually return, according to a recent PayPal study. Discounts also lead consumers to become an online fan of specific brands, and they also lead consumers to reconsider purchasing unbought items.
Next up for the extension: Mezzacca wants to improve the algorithms behind validating coupons, as well as track working coupons and their expiration dates better.
Photo via sdc2027/Flickr
HP Cyber Monday Coupon Code for $100 Off HP Omni 27” Desktop PC …
Our new Cyber Monday section is a fantastic destination.
Houston, TX (PRWEB) November 26, 2012
Cyber Monday has officially arrived! In fact, a great many online retailers jumped the gun by starting their sales yesterday. But there are still some great Cyber Monday deals to be taken advantage of. For example, CouponBuzz.com is featuring today an HP Cyber Monday coupon code for $100 dollars off the HP Omni 27 inch desktop PC. The coupon will be listed both on their webpage dedicated to hosting all HP coupons and deals, as well as in their new Cyber Monday coupon section.
“Some of our online shoppers know exactly what brand they are going for, so for them the direct merchant-specific web pages on our site are the perfect place to go for a deal,” said Justin Bowen, founder of CouponBuzz.com. “For consumers who might not have a strong brand preference but simply know they are looking for a certain type of item, like a new desktop, our new Cyber Monday section is a fantastic destination.”
The HP Cyber Monday coupon for $100 dollars off the HP Omni 27 inch desktop PC is valid as of 12 am EST on Monday, November 26, 2012. However, the offer is only valid while supplies last, so procrastinating on this one is not recommended, as this high performance home computer is expected to go fast. It comes standard with Windows 8 64, a 3rd generation Intel Core i5 processor, 8 GB of memory and a massive 1 TB hard drive.
The HP Omni 27 inch desktop PC offers a sleek, all-in-one design with a massive on-screen display. Individuals tired of a cluttered desktop and the hassle of endless cables and wires will fall in love with this simple one-plug design. Complete with a wireless keyboard and mouse, users only have to worry about one cord. Or they can maximize space even further by utilizing the wall mounting capabilities. Online shoppers interested in using the HP Cyber Monday coupon code for $100 dollars off the HP Omni 27 inch desktop PC can find it located in the HP coupon section at CouponBuzz.com, which can be accessed via this link http://couponbuzz.com/hp-coupons.html.
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Coupons.com Announces Cyber Monday Scavenger Hunt
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Coupons.com, the leader in digital coupons, today announced the launch of its Cyber Monday Coupon Code Scavenger Hunt in which consumers compete by using clues posted on participating blogs to find specific coupon codes on Coupons.com to win prizes. The Cyber Monday Coupon Code Scavenger Hunt coincides with the launch of Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping pages which help consumers by curating the best coupons and savings from top online retailers and putting them in one place.
The Scavenger Hunt officially kicks off Friday, November 16th and will run through Tuesday, November 20, sending consumers on a hunt to find valuable coupon codes that can be used when holiday shopping on Cyber Monday. Blogs participating in the Cyber Monday Scavenger Hunt include: Savvy Sassy Moms, Budgets Are Sexy, Org Junkie, Southern Savers and Chris Pirillo.
To participate, consumers must follow clues on the popular blogs to find the specific coupon code located on Coupons.com. Thursday through Monday, the first ten people to correctly find and enter the code on the website will receive a $100 gift certificate to the online store of the blogger’s choosing. On Tuesday, the first person to find and enter the coupon code will receive the grand prize – a $1,000 gift certificate to Amazon.com.
“When shopping on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, using coupon codes is key to saving even more money on holiday gifts,” says Jeanette Pavini, Coupons.com’s household savings expert. “Coupon codes can be found for virtually every shopping category, from clothing or jewelry to hardware or electronics. The Scavenger Hunt provides a way for shoppers to not only prepare in advance for Cyber Monday shopping, but also to try to win some extra holiday spending money.”
The participating bloggers will provide the clues on the following days:
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Friday, November 16: Savvy
Sassy Moms -
Saturday, November 17: Budgets
Are Sexy -
Sunday, November 18: Org
Junkie -
Monday, November 19: Southern
Savers -
Tuesday, November 20: Chris
Pirillo
Clues are posted on each of the blogs at 10:05 am Pacific. Visit blog.coupons.com/cyber-monday-scavenger-hunt for more details and contest rules.
To find the Black Friday savings offers from Coupons.com, go to http://www.coupons.com/black-friday/. To participate in the Cyber Monday Scavenger Hunt, visit http://www.coupons.com/cyber-monday.
About Coupons.com Incorporated
Coupons.com Incorporated is the recognized leader in digital coupons, including online printable, save to loyalty card and mobile promotions. For consumers, the company’s products include Coupons.com, the 48th largest website in the U.S. †,as well as Grocery iQ and Coupons.com mobile applications.For brand marketers, the company distributes digital coupons to millions of consumers through Coupons.com and tens of thousands of websites comprising the Coupons.com digital coupon network. The company also powers digital coupon initiatives in 1-to-1 online marketing campaigns—including display advertising, email and social media programs. For publishers, the company offers solutions to monetize website traffic, including branded microsites, and Brandcaster, a self-service coupons syndication platform. Clients include hundreds of top consumer packaged goods brands (including Clorox, General Mills, Johnson Johnson, Kellogg’s, Kimberly-Clark, and Kraft Foods), leading restaurant, toy and entertainment companies, as well as top retailers (such as AP, CVS, Duane Reade, H-E-B, Kmart, Kroger, Safeway and Walgreens). Founded in 1998, the company is based in Mountain View, CA. To start printing coupons, visit www.coupons.com. To learn more about the company visit www.couponsinc.com. Visit Coupons.com on Facebook at www.facebook.com/couponscom.
† Nielsen, August 2012
Coupon Hero Launches and Helps Consumers Save Money Shopping Online …
Copyright 2012 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved
2012-10-01
BERLIN, October 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ –
The German company Mein Gutscheincode GmbH expands to India launching CouponHero.in to help Indian online-shoppers save money online.
Online shopping has never been more popular, as Indian people are turning to online stores to buy everything from fashion to electronics. While online purchases are often perceived as more cost effective, there’s now one way to guarantee that you’re making the best savings possible – Coupon Hero (http://www.couponhero.in).
Launching today, money saver genie Coupon Hero is dedicated to partnering with the most popular Indian online retailers to make it easy to shop for less. Simply search for a coupon code for the store in which you wish to make a purchase, utilise the code when making the purchase and redeem the discount at the checkout – it’s that simple! Using the coupon codes, end customers can save up to a high double-digit percentage on their onlinepurchase.
At start, Coupon Hero offers hundreds of coupons codes for all popular Indian online stores, including Jabong, bestylish.com and Koovs. The website is updated daily with new stores and the latest coupon codes.
Coupon Hero is completely free to use and requires no sign-up.
Originating in Germany, the company was founded by Henning Kruthaup in 2010. In that time, he and his team have established a German website offering coupon codes for over 2,600 German online stores bringing consumers savings right across the retail spectrum. Besides offering coupon codes to Indian and German consumers, the company operates websites in France, Spain, Italy, Ireland and Poland.
Worldwide, thousands of consumers are already using the company’s websites to save money shopping online every single day.
Speaking of the launch of Coupon Hero, Kruthaup, CEO and founder of the company, commented, “The entire team is really excited about launching in India. We look forward to offering Indian consumers great coupon codes for their favourite online stores. We constantly update the site with the latest coupon codes and stores, so that consumers can save at any single online purchase with coupons codes from Coupon Hero.”
About Mein Gutscheincode GmbH :
Mein Gutscheincode is a very fast-growing, profitable Internet company that operates various coupon websites across the world.
In India, Mein Gutscheincode operates the coupon website Coupon Hero (http://www.couponhero.in). In Europe, the company operates Mein Gutscheincode (http://www.meingutscheincode.de) in Germany, Reduc.fr (http://www.reduc.fr) in France, Signor Sconto (http://www.signorsconto.it) in Italy, Cupones.es (http://www.cupones.es) in Spain, Moje Kupony (http://www.mojekupony.pl) in Poland and Discountcodes.ie (http://www.discountcodes.ie) in Ireland.
Consumers find coupon codes on their websites with which they are able to save money buying online for thousands of online retailers. The websites are completely free to use for end consumers and require no sign-up.
Mein Gutscheincode GmbH was founded 2010 by Henning Kruthaup. The company is based in Berlin, Germany.
Press Contact
Mein Gutscheincode GmbH
Zionskirchstraße 73A
10119 Berlin
Germany
+49(0)151-5888-2768
E-Mail : info@meingutscheincode.com
Internet : http://www.couponhero.in
Popular Coupon Code Website Is On Track For A Banner Year With Their Pays-2 …
Couponchief.com is a popular and ever-growing website that attracts visitors searching for coupon codes while they are checking out on a given online store’s web site. The Pays-2-Share program pays users a percentage of the money earned for each code a user has submitted.
HOOD RIVER, Ore., June 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Couponchief.com has saved many online shoppers money over the past few years with a considerable and comprehensive list of coupons for stores that offer online purchases. The website relies on users to submit the coupon codes and any other types of discount codes that online retailers offer for a discount on their products, or final purchase.
There are more and more online shoppers online today looking for a Kohls promo code, or The Childrens Place coupon Codes, and much more. The money saved using Couponchief.com’s website has increased steadily over the past few years. In the past months Couponchief.com has added new features which show the average amount of money saved per store and coupon. While on site, visitors can choose from store to store, and within each store, they can choose what type of coupon will best fit their purchase from the online retailer.
A record year is expected for the Pays-2-Share program with the number of users that are sending Couponchief.com coupon codes increasing over the last few years. In 2011, the Couponchief.com had over 261,000 Pays-2-Share coupons, which average out to about 715 a day. To date in 2012, there have been over 178,000 Pays-2-Share coupons, or 892 a day. This breaks down to 76% of the total coupons that have been added this year.
The payout to the users at Couponchief.com has been incredible. Thus far in 2012, Couponchief.com has paid over $171,000 to the users who have been submitting coupons via the Pays-2-Share program. This puts 2012 on track for a record year with the new growth and many new users. Couponchief.com is receiving an average of over 1,200 coupons added to the site per day, a 25% increase over 2011.
Shoppers that are at the end of their shopping cart checkout process can easily look for discounts and promo codes after landing on Couponchief.com.
SOURCE Couponchief.com
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