TOP SECRET! Outlet stores likely sell special outlet merchandise, and it’s not the deal you expect.
1. Sometimes the site will pay you. For example, you can get $10 for every friend you refer to a Groupon deal, for a maximum of $100 in Groupon Bucks.
2. Don’t expect the best service. Restaurant staffs, for example, might treat you differently when you come in toting a deal, since they expect smaller tips or none at all.
3. The best deals may be outside your area. Scoping out bargains in other cities and states can pay off. Quite a few “local” deals from national chains (say, Starbucks) are valid all over the United States—just read the fine print to double-check.
4. Beware of overselling. If you see a great deal for a haircut but the site says thousands are available and the coupon expires in a month, it could be tough to redeem. No single salon can cut that much hair!
5. Keep track of expiration dates. No matter how great a deal is, it’s not worth anything once it expires. As soon as you purchase a coupon, set a reminder alarm on your phone or computer calendar to go off a week before it expires.
6. Consider secondary markets. CoupRecoup and others like it provide a marketplace where buyers and sellers can trade coupons from various sites.
7. Do your homework. Some vouchers, particularly for travel packages, may be available for comparable prices—or even less!—on the vendor’s own website.
8. To get the best deals for you, personalize your account. On Groupon and similar sites, updating profile preferences gets you offers more suited to your interests. If you see a deal you like, click the heart icon, and similar options will be added to your mix.
TOP SECRET! Outlet stores likely sell special outlet merchandise, and it’s not the deal you expect.
9. You don’t have to pay for vouchers in advance. Sites like Scoutmob offer 50-percent-off vouchers—free. You just have to “collect” the deal offered each day and have it sent to your phone or e-mail address.
10. You don’t need to join all the sites to find the best deals. Save time with Yipit, which amasses more than 30,000 offers per month from over 800 sites, then filters them based on your location and interests.
11. Some sites are more discreet than others. At newcomer Savored, make a free reservation online and get special pricing (typically 30 percent off, alcohol included) at top restaurants across the nation. When the bill comes, no need to be embarrassed by coupons; the deductions are automatic. Just show your reservation receipt.
12. You can see the world on a shoestring budget. Sites like Priceline and hotels.com have excellent seasonal deals, but for nearly free travel accommodations, try house-swapping sites like Digsville, which serves over 55 countries.
13. You can save big on everyday items. For a small handling fee (about 5 to 50 cents per coupon), choose from thousands of deals on sites like Coupon Clippers. Reader’s Digest tested the site, and our total outlay came to $6.64, including the cost of coupons, postage, and a 50-cent fee. The savings came to $61.75 when we redeemed the coupons at face value!