Whether buying designer running shoes on Amazon or shopping for groceries at the local store, most of us would love any deal that can help reduce the price we have to pay for a particular item or our entire cart total.
One sure way of going about this is to scout for and use promo codes, coupons, or discount vouchers. when shopping. Now, many out there believe that these three are the same, but while there are some major similarities, you can bet that there are major differences. How can you tell which is which and when or where to use them? All these and more are covered below. So, if you want to be a smart shopper and enjoy lots of savings, let’s get cracking!
What Is a Coupon and How Does It Work?
A coupon is a certificate or document that can get you a discount on a product or service during checkout. The amount of discount will be stated clearly on the face of the document and it is often expressed in percentages. Example 50% off or 20% off. However, it can also be a specific amount such as $30 off.
Coupons often have terms and conditions attached. For example, a grocery store can issue a 20% off coupon that can only be used for Apples. They can also say that customers can only enjoy the 20% off if they buy apples worth at least $50 or more. Therefore, customers should always read the terms and conditions of a coupon code and abide by them if they want to enjoy the discount.
Now, all this talk of certificates, documents and grocery stores may make it seem like coupons are only physical in nature and can only be used in brick-and-mortar stores but it is not so at all. In this day and age where so much buying and selling is done online, you have retailers and even manufacturers issuing digital coupons from time to time and they serve the same purpose as the paper coupons.
They also come with similar terms and conditions. The only difference is that shoppers do not need to hand in a paper coupon to get their discount online. All they need to do is to enter the code on the coupon into the box provided for it on the check-out page and they can redeem it there.
Also, a traditional paper coupon will simply have the discount amount and the products it applies to on the face of the coupon. But for digital coupons, they may have a code (a string of letters and numbers) which is what the customer will enter into a box on the checkout page so that they can get their discount.
Coupons come in different “shapes and sizes”. You have the store-specific coupons which can only be used at the store offering it and nowhere else. There are also manufacturer coupons which ideally can be used at any store where the manufacturer’s product is sold.
Now, let’s talk about printable and mobile coupons. Printable coupons are digital coupons which one can print out and redeem at a physical store. In contrast, a mobile coupon is a coupon that is sent to customers via mediums such as SMS and emails. Such coupons are delivered digitally and can only be used online. No printing out allowed.
In the good old days, one would have to scour the pages of newspapers, pennysavers/shoppers, and magazines to lay their hands on coupons. Nowadays, thanks to technology, it is easier to find them. You even have several websites which curate these coupons online.
Understanding Discount Vouchers
A discount voucher is a ticket that gives the user a specific amount of discount, usually defined in cash value terms, on a specific product. Restaurants, Airlines, Winemakers, Massage Parlors, and a great many other businesses often hand out discount vouchers.
They not only use it as a means of getting new customers but also for keeping the old customers happy. Let’s take for instance, that someone misses their flight for a good reason, the airline can give them a voucher which they can apply towards paying for another ticket during their next trip.
Also, if a person dines at a particular restaurant and is critical of the service and food they received, the restaurant can decide to give them a free meal voucher to appease them. A massage parlor can also decide to hand out a voucher for a free 30-minute massage to customers that patronize them regularly. So, you see, discount vouchers are not just for drumming up new business but also for maintaining the existing ones.
What Are Promo Codes and Where Can You Use Them?
A promo code is a code that you can apply during checkout while shopping online so that the price you have to pay for your order or a particular product will be reduced. For instance, an online store that sells mattresses can release a code “SPRING2025” during their Spring Sales which offers customers a 25% discount on their orders or on a particular mattress.
A promo code usually comprises a combination of numbers and letters but it can also be a string of letters only or a string of numbers only. You can usually find a promo code on the website of the company offering them or in the newsletters that they send out. Affiliates who work for a particular brand can also share codes which people can use to get a discount. Also, now that you have social media influencers playing a huge part in marketing thanks to their social media fame, you can also get promo codes from such persons.
Promo codes often have a short validity period; may last for a few days or even 24 hours. They also have limited applicability. For instance, a store can say that a promo code can only be used for a particular product and not all the products they carry. They can also state that a person’s cart total must reach a minimum amount before they can use the code.
Coupons vs Vouchers vs Promo Codes: What Sets Them Apart?
| Coupons | Vouchers | Promo Codes | |
| Format | Both digital and physical. | Both digital and physical. | Mostly digital. |
| Availability | Usually has a long validity period. | Usually has a long validity period. | Usually has a short validity period. |
| Usage method | Can be used online or in-store. | Can be used online or in-store. | Mostly used online. |
| Typical savings | Percentage discount or specified amount on a category of items or entire order. | Specified cash value amount on a defined item. | Percentage discount or specified amount on a category of items or entire order. |
| Sources | Company website, company newsletters etc. | Company website, company newsletters etc. | Company newsletters, company websites, affiliate blogs, social media accounts of brand influencers etc. |
| Purpose | Discounts to boost sales. | Discounts to reward loyal customers, appease aggrieved customers etc. | Discounts to boost sales. |
What Do Coupons, Vouchers, and Promo Codes Have in Common?
One reason many people often think that vouchers, coupons and promo codes are all the same is because they serve the same purpose i.e. offering discounts to customers.
When an online jewelry retailer offers a 20% off coupon on orders worth $200 and above, it will save their customers money. Same thing happes when a massage spa offers a loyal customer a free 30-minute massage voucher. That voucher will ensure that the customer needn’t spend a dime next time they come to the spa.
But mind you, these companies, or at least, the majority of them are not offering these incentives from the goodness of their heart. They are doing it because they want to boost their business. For instance, let’s say you want to buy running shoes and you find what you are looking for on both Amazon and AliExpress. Let’s also say that AliExpress has got a site-wide coupon that offers 30% off on the shoe. Which one are you likely to go for? Your guess is as good as mine.
In fact, while placing your order on AliExpress, you may even see other items you like and order them as well, all to the benefit of the online retailer.
Coupons, vouchers and promo codes also have limited lifespans. They usually come with an expiry date and so, those that want to use them have to act fast. Finally, when you scour coupon websites, you will find that they not only have a selection of coupons but also discount vouchers and promo codes as well.
Best Situations for Using Coupons, Promo Codes, or Vouchers
As we have shown above, you can use coupons both online and in-store. Therefore, if you have a coupon from your local grocery store, then you can use it on your next trip there provided that it has not expired. A coupon can also be used at an online store.
However, for promo codes, they can only be redeemed online and bear in mind that they often don’t last for long. So make sure to use them while they are still valid. This shouldn’t be much of a hassle seeing as you needn’t even get off your bed to redeem them. All you have to do is to whip out your mobile device, visit the website of the store, or their app, and complete your purchase.
Whether you are paying for a product or service online or in-store, you can always use any applicable voucher that you have on you.
“Quick Tip”
- Use promo codes for online-only sales.
- Use coupon codes either online or in-store.
- Vouchers can also be used either online or at a physical store for both goods and services.
Where to Find Coupons, Vouchers, and Promo Codes That Work
- Coupon websites like Wanderful, Retailmenot, or Groupon
- Company or brand newsletters.
- Company or brand emails.
- Website of the company, brand, or store in question.
- Social media accounts of the business you want to patronize.
- Social media accounts of influencers that are directly working for the brand you are patronizing.
- Websites like ID.me, Military.com, Students Beans (especially for special discounts such as students discounts, first responders discounts, military discounts etc.)
- Affiliates blog (however do make sure that the affiliate is genuine so that you don’t end up getting fake or expired codes).
- Use browser extensions like Paypal Honey and Rakuten Cashback to search for and find coupon deals and even cashback offers on thousands of sites.
- The mobile app of the company or brand (you can find codes there as well as redeem them there.)
FAQs About Coupons, Vouchers, and Promo Codes
1. Are discount vouchers the same as coupons?
No. Discount vouchers and coupons are not the same. Discount vouchers will give you a specified amount of discount in cash value on a specified product (e.g. $50 wine voucher) while a coupon will usually give you a percentage discount or a specified amount on some items (20% off on any mobile phone bought or $20 off on an order worth $200 or more).
2. Can I stack promo codes and coupons?
Some stores allow the stacking of promo codes and coupons while some others frown at the practice. So, you will have to read the terms and conditions at each store to see what they allow and what they don’t.
3 Do promo codes work in physical stores?
They typically don’t. It is coupons and vouchers that can be used at both physical and online stores. However, you can always try your luck at a physical store.
4. Are online promo codes safe to use?
Yes, they are. Remember that where you will input the code is on the website of the company and most companies have high levels of cyber security for their websites. Also, the worst that can happen when using an online promo code is a message from the company telling you that the code has expired or is not valid. They won’t try to steal your information or anything like that.
Final Words – Know the Difference, Maximize Your Savings
Now, we can clearly see that vouchers, coupons and promo codes are not all the same thing. They vary in terms of the kinds of savings they can bring, their period of validity, where to use them etc. We have also seen the best places to find coupons, discount vouchers and promo codes that are valid and actually work. Keeping these tips in mind and diligently applying them anytime you are shopping will help you score decent discount margins always.