Posted by Discount vouchers have become increasingly popular in recent months as cash-strapped shoppers are looking for more ways of saving money as the recession bites. A number of websites now publicise these promotional discount codes, allowing shoppers to save money on a range of branded goods and services.
Every internet shopper has seen the boxes at the checkout stage that ask you to put in a discount code. After entering the correct code, the cost of the item falls by 10% or more. When they first appeared, the discounts seemed real, but with voucher code websites proliferating, some people are asking whether these discounts are genuine or just marketing gimmicks.
This week, consumer group Which? investigated the five biggest voucher sites, and found that many discount codes are out of date or didn’t work at all. More worryingly, it found that prices were sometimes lower on standard comparison sites than at retailers offering discount codes.They offer discounts on a variety of products and services including fashion, financial services, gifts, gadgets, books, CDs, DVDs, hotels, travel and eating out. The offers range from a specific price to scaled percentage reductions to free delivery. Most sites also have vouchers that you can print off and use to get discounts in high street outlets, such as two-for-one meals at popular restaurant chains.
Some sites acknowledge that codes may fall out of date, and allow you to register for offers via email. It’s worth registering with more than one site because each negotiates its own “exclusive discounts” with retailers that, they say, you won’t find elsewhere.
Most of the major players now subscribe to a new code of ethics introduced from 1 January this year by the Internet Advertising Bureau, the trade association for the internet marketing industry, which has reduced the number of fake discount problems.
Most of the codes on the sites have been negotiated directly with retailers. Some, often the most valuable, are meant for select groups of customers but leak on to the internet. A great saving tip is if you are buying online and are presented with the opportunity for inputting a code, simply open up a new tab and search through Google for the code. That way you are earning a real discount on something you were going to buy anyway.
The new code of conduct bans the practice of “click to reveal”, when there is no valid or current offer. Many websites used to (and, in defiance of the IAB code, some still do) encourage consumers to click on to a retailer’s name and go into their website, only to discover that no discount code is on offer.
All in all, discount vouchers should be an ideal opportunity for saving money, but just don’t forget to have a quick look around to see if you can get an even better deal elsewhere.
