Almost all online stores will offer you some coupon code with a discount as a sign of their ‘goodwill’ so you decide to purchase things from them. It’s an excellent way to attract new customers and have the word spread among people, especially on social media.
This isn’t a new thing; stores were always offering discounts or coupons, except this thing is now moved to the online stores.
Some people are entirely addicted to this type of shopping and are saving a lot of money this way.
But, in this crazy online shopping thing, you can’t help but wonder – if this thing is a scam?
Not every store offers scam coupons; you can be sure in that (this is why you should always seek stores that are well-known and have a good reputation). But, you should still be careful and make sure you do a little research before you decide to make your purchase.
How can you recognize a scam when comes to coupon codes?
1. It’s too good to be true – If the whole coupon code thing seems like too good to be true, then it indeed isn’t. Stores won’t just give you 70 percent off of their products just because you have entered their website or because you are their 1000th customer for the day. Don’t fall for scams like this. Make sure you check whether their coupon codes are verified. Yes, the deal might seem like once in a lifetime chance, but if they ask for your personal information, credit card number, address, make sure you get out of there immediately. Some codes might not ask for such personal or financial info but will use your e-mail to spam you.
2. Read reviews – If you think that this coupon or code seems a little bit too good, but still, you can’t find anything suspicious about the online store, always search for reviews (on other websites of course). People love sharing their experiences especially when comes to poor service or scams like these. It’s a fantastic way to protect yourself and your money, and you’ll learn a thing or two you didn’t know about the store or coupon codes in general.
3. A coupon code is always free – If you ever come across a website that asks for some cash to give you a 50 percent coupon code, get away from that. It’s a scam. A legitimate site that cares about their customers and offers coupon codes will never try to sell them. An excellent example for free and verified coupons is http://nolahmattresscoupon.net/ – make sure you use the codes from the seller and again, check for reviews from other customers.
4. Check the date – Yes, many coupon codes are suitable for use only for a short time (a couple of days for example). Sometimes, the code may be still available on the website, but it doesn’t mean that it is still applicable. So, to avoid this, make sure you check for how long the coupon is usable and whether you can use it. Sometimes, such codes are visible for the customers, so they decide to purchase the things they want.
5. If the discount is huge, be suspicious – Usually online stores offer discount code and coupons from 5 – 30 percent. It’s not weird to find a coupon that provides a discount above this percentage; it’s just so rare and usually happens only for special occasions like holidays. There is always a catch – if the coupon has a high discount percentage, then you’ll be asked to pay for an incredibly high delivery fee. Make sure you check such offers twice.
