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Are those online store coupons too good to be true?
Coupon discounts offered by online retailers have the potential to save shoppers money on many types of items. But how can you know for sure if an online store coupon is too good to be true? Here are a few ways to tell.
Must Complete a Survey or Provide Other Information
Many less-than-reputable companies will use the guise of offering coupon discounts to get consumers to fill out lengthy surveys or provide personal information. If either of these is a requirement of an online store coupon, skip it.
No Customer Service Department
If you are dealing with a company that you have not dealt with in the past, make sure that they have a customer service department, and that you can easily reach someone by phone. If the only way to contact customer service is via email, that should be a red flag.
Ask for Money
If a site is asking you to pay for coupon discounts, leave the site immediately and do not return. Online store coupons should be similar to regular paper coupons, and you should not have to pay for them.
No Expiration Date
While there are sometimes legitimate online store coupons with no expiration date, this is the exception rather than the rule. Most retailers are going to include an expiration date on any coupon discounts that they offer.
Absolutely No Restrictions
99% of coupon discounts are going to have some type of fine print listing the restrictions. If the online store coupon has zero restrictions, you should do a little bit of checking to make sure it is a legitimate offer.
Links Do Not Go To Retailer
If a link on an online store coupon takes you to a third party site, rather than to the retailer supposedly offering the coupon discount, that should be a huge red flag. Remember, coupons discounts are a way to increase business. Why would any retailer, online or off, offer a coupon and then send you to another site or store?
The best way to protect yourself from “too good to be true” coupon discounts is to deal with companies and retailers that you know and trust. More and more traditional stores now also have an online presence, so stick with online store coupons for stores that you know.
Now some coupon discounts that seem too good be true may actually be for real. There have been 50% off online store coupons offered on sites such as www.dealsharks.com that were legitimate.
If you doubt a deal is the real thing, the best way to feel safe is to just contact the customer service department and ask if they offer such a coupon discount. (Remember, if you can’t reach a person, don’t do business with that online store). The customer service department will be able to tell you without a doubt if the online store coupons or coupon discounts are, in fact, too good to be true.
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