I love to shop. Over the last few years, shopping has become more and more like my favorite game: Find the best bargain, and I WIN. I think it has a lot to do a lot with the couponing trend that is so hot these days. No, I’m not talking about clipping coupons for groceries. Like many 30-somethings, I don’t have a newspaper subscription, so I don’t clip coupons from the Sunday FSIs.
The new trend in couponing brings sales and discounts right to your e-mail inbox. And that means the fun kind of shopping — shopping for clothes for myself and my family. I have a personal e-mail account that I always use when stores ask for my e-mail address to send coupons. When I log in to this account, I find nothing but sales and discounts to my favorite places.
Here’s what I’ve discovered: I am very brand loyal to the companies that send e-mail. I will shop there before I shop anywhere else because conveniently, right in my e-mail inbox, I know about their latest specials or sales. Sometimes it is so convenient that I don’t even need to physically go into the store to make my purchases; in two clicks of a mouse I can order my items online.
Another thing I have discovered about my shopping habits is that I won’t shop in some of my favorite stores unless I have a coupon. They send me coupons so often that I can almost always use a coupon. The downside for these stores, however, is that there have been instances when I needed something from them but I didn’t have a coupon, so I didn’t buy because I felt like I was getting ripped off by paying full price.
Retailers can avoid this couponing snafu with a loyalty program. Today’s shoppers also like loyalty programs. Instead of making me come in with a coupon, some companies scan my loyalty card, and I automatically get the discount. No need to for a coupon; I am a loyal customer and a brand advocate for the store, so I automatically get the discount.
Another new trend is sending coupons via text message. This is a convenient solution for many of us who are on the go; so many times my printer runs out of ink or I forget the coupon. Instead, I can just show the message on my phone and I get the discount.
Do you find yourself always shopping with coupons? If so, what types of coupons do you use and where do you find them?
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