Test the connection first
You know that feeling. You're scrolling through an online store and you see it: '20% off everything!' Your pulse quickens. Maybe you've been eyeing that new graphics card or smartwatch. Twenty percent off sounds like a hell of a deal. But hold on. Twenty percent off what? And is it really twenty percent off? Or is it twenty percent off a price that got jacked up last night?
I've seen this play out a hundred times. The 20 percent off coupon that only works if you spend $200. Or the 20 percent off that gets canceled out by a $20 shipping fee. Or the 20 percent off on a product that's been sitting in a warehouse for two years because nobody wants it at full price.
First, check the original price. Is it the same as what other stores are charging? Or did it get inflated yesterday? I saw a blender on sale for $120 with 20 percent off. But I knew that same blender had been $99 at another store the week before. So 20 percent off $120 is $96. Still more than $99. Not much of a deal.
You want to see what the price would be after the discount. Do the math. Twenty percent off $100 is $80. Twenty percent off $50 is $40. Simple. But sometimes they make it tricky. They'll say '20 percent off your order' but then there's a minimum purchase. Or the discount only applies to certain items.
Read the fine print. Every time. Where does the coupon apply? Is it sitewide or only on specific products? Are there exclusions? I once had a customer call me because a 20 percent off code wasn't working. Turned out it was only for first-time customers. She'd shopped there before so it got rejected. Frustrating.
Look for stacking opportunities
Sometimes you can stack discounts. Maybe there's a 20 percent off coupon and the item is already on sale for 10 percent off. Can you use both? It depends on the store's policy. Some places let you stack. Others make you choose one or the other.
I was shopping for a new drill a few years ago. There was a 15 percent off coupon and the drill was already marked down 20 percent from its original price. I asked the cashier if I could use both. She said yes. So I got 35 percent off total. Saved me almost $50. But you have to ask. They won't always tell you.
Check the expiration date
Every coupon has an expiration date. And they will not honor it after that date. I don't care if you printed it yesterday. If it says expires today and it's 12:01am tomorrow, you're out of luck.
Set a reminder in your phone if you're planning to use a coupon later. I keep a list of coupons I like in my notes app with their expiration dates. That way I don't forget about them.
See if there's a cashback offer
Some cashback sites offer extra percentages back on your purchases. Maybe 2 percent or 5 percent. You can combine that with a coupon code sometimes. Though not always.
I use a couple of cashback browsers. They'll pop up and tell me if there's cashback available at that store. It's not a huge amount usually. But it adds up over time. Every little bit helps.
Beware of the bait and switch
This is where they advertise a great deal to get you in the door. But then they're out of stock of that item. Or it's much more expensive in person.
I saw an ad once for a laptop that was 20 percent off. Got to the store and they had three left. All damaged. The boxes were torn and the laptops had scratches on them. No thanks.
Avoid the minimum purchase requirement
Some coupons require you to spend a certain amount to get the discount. Like '20 percent off orders over $100'.
But what if you only want to buy a $30 item? Now you have to spend $70 more to get the discount. And you might not need anything else. So you end up spending more than you planned.
Watch out for shipping costs
Free shipping is great. But if you have to pay for shipping, that can eat up your savings.
I've seen 20 percent off coupons that get canceled out by a $20 shipping fee. So you're not really saving anything.
Don't buy something you don't need
Just because something is on sale doesn't mean you should buy it. I've done this myself. Seen a crazy good deal and bought it even though I didn't need it. Then it sits in a closet forever.
Stick to your list. If you weren't planning to buy it, don't. No matter how good the deal is.
FAQ
What if a coupon doesn't work?
Contact customer service. Sometimes there's a glitch in the system. Or maybe you entered it wrong.
Can you use more than one coupon?
It depends on the store. Some allow it, some don't. Check their policy.
Are 20 percent off coupons worth it?
Sometimes. But not always. Do your research first.
So is the answer simply to avoid all 20 percent off coupons? No. There are legitimate deals out there. You just have to be smart about it. Do your research. Read the fine print. And don't buy something you don't need just because it's on sale.
Readers looking for more detailed comparisons might want to check out resources like peptidescore or eqno.
The bottom line is this: 20 percent off can be a good deal. But it can also be a trap. It pays to be skeptical. Do your homework before you hit that 'apply coupon' button. You'll save more money in the long run.