Coupon Users Are Plagued by Expiration Dates and Invalidity

A survey commissioned by Coupon Craze and conducted by Harris Interactive reveals that though online shoppers are well-educated and relatively wealthy, many are prevented from taking advantage of savings offered through coupons because of expiration dates and other reasons for invalidity.

According to the survey, 94 percent of adults with a college degree or higher shop online, while 83 percent of those with a high school degree or less shop online.

Ninety-three percent of adults with household incomes of $75,000 and higher shop online, while those with household incomes of $35,000 or less shop online.

The survey also found that 94 percent of all adults have ever used a coupon to make a purchase. Of this group, 88 percent used coupons for groceries, 63 percent used them for health/beauty products, 54 percent for clothing, 46 percent for electronics, 43 percent for gifts, 32 percent for travel purchases and 13 percent for furniture. Eighteen percent used coupons for other purchases.

Ninety-five percent of shoppers who have ever used a print/printable coupon have had issues with an expired or invalid coupon, but 72 percent will still sometimes continue with their purchase despite this, according to Coupon Craze.

The picture for online shoppers is a bit bleaker. While 94 percent of online shoppers have had issues with expired or invalid coupon codes, 57 percent say they will sometimes continue with their purchase anyway.

To break this down further, 3 percent say they always continue with their purchase despite an issue with their coupon code, 15 percent say they almost always continue while 38 percent said they sometimes continue. Thirty-one percent say they rarely continue and 12 percent said they never continue.

Coupon Craze lists three suggestions for ways consumers can find reliable coupons:

1) “Use online coupons instead of printable coupons. If you do come across an expired or faulty coupon, you are more likely to find a replacement coupon online and end up saving that money than if you are at the store in a checkout line.

2) “Make sure the discount is applied to your total before you make the purchase — a discount will NEVER appear after you have purchased an item.

3) “Avoid using sites that let users post coupons because the chances are much higher that the coupons will be faulty or expired.”

The survey was conducted from Aug. 6-10, 2009, and received 2,022 U.S. adult respondents ages 18 and over.

Source:

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Coupon-Craze-1040930.html