In the world of promotions and discounts, there are three types to look out for. We’re all pretty much familiar with coupons, vouchers, and promo codes, but do you actually know what the difference between all three is?
It seems people get them mixed up quite a bit. So we thought to come up with an article explaining them in greater length. So with all that said, let’s jump right into it.
What Are Coupons and What Are They Used For?
While browsing your favorite online store platforms such as eBay or Amazon, you’ll hear the term coupons quite often. That’s because coupons are a great way to knock off a percentage of your next purchase. They are given to us by these stores and encourage us to shop more.
Four types of digital coupons exist out there. The most commonly used ones are coupon codes. The great thing about coupon codes is that they make it easier for the customer to use them as opposed to the other types since they can be stored on your PC or the shopping platform that you’re using. In many cases, you’ll find coupons on other websites and apply them at checkout.
The following type, automatic discounts, does that even better. They are automatically applied at checkout, making the process even more convenient. The customer doesn’t have to do anything with this type. They’re mostly used in eCommerce and online shopping, and they offer the customer some form of discount.
The next type we’ll be looking into is a downloadable coupon. What separates this type from the rest is that they’re meant to be downloaded and applied. Downloadable coupons are offered to us via mail or we can take them directly from a website. We then download the coupons and use them however we like. We can also download them to our smartphones.
Now that we’ve explained what coupons are, let’s explain what vouchers are.
What Are Promo Codes and What Are They Used For?
Similar to coupons, vouchers are yet another way for us to get something more out of our online purchase. We’ve been using vouchers for years. Their use stems from the physical world, where retailers would give vouchers straight to customers in a way for the customer to gain something by shopping with the retailer.
And that’s exactly what they do. We are given vouchers by a retailer and they’re meant to encourage us to shop more by providing a one-time discount.
Where coupons and vouchers differentiate is in the fact that vouchers work on a depletion basis. This means that they work on a first-come-first-serve basis. There are a limited number of vouchers and customers can redeem them.
If you’re too late for the part, then you’ll need to wait for the retailer to create more. Vouchers are a great way to knock off a few bucks of your online purchase. While they work similarly to coupons and promo codes, as we’ll see soon, you will need to act fast to get them. Because of that, make sure to visit grabatt.de and grab the latest coupons, vouchers, and discounts, for your favorite stores.
What Are Promo Codes and What Are They Used For?
According to Wadav.com promo code is something you’ll hear quite often when looking for ways to save money while online shopping. They do the same thing as coupons and vouchers. Promo codes can be redeemed by customers when online or in-store shopping to save money on a purchase.
While they’re mainly used in online shopping, a customer can download or scan a QR code to activate them. With promo codes, you usually get a percentage off your next purchase or X dollar amounts off.
As customers are used to getting something off their next purchase, promo codes are excellent for doing just that.
So with all that said, what’s really the difference between all three?
What’s the Difference?
By now you’re wondering, are there really any differences between all three? And the short answer is no. But there is a long answer here.
Vouchers are quite convenient for both sender and receiver as they’re meant to be distributed through email. Since we’re quite limited when it comes to using email, there is only so much the sender can do to customize the email.
Coupons are a different thing altogether. While they help achieve the same thing, we can distribute them through social media and through third-party websites. The key thing to note here is that you’ll need to engage with your audience in order to convince them to use the coupon. Unlike vouchers, coupons aren’t created with a limited number but they do provide us with a one-time use.
And lastly, we have promo codes. What separates promo codes from both is the fact that you can scan these to get some sort of discount on your next purchase.
Granted, the line between all three is very slim and all three can be put into the same money-saving category, there are still small differences that certainly need to be taken into account.
Do These Really Save You Money?
Everyone is looking for ways to save money nowadays. We do it when we shop for essentials, and when we shop for our favorite things such as clothes. And there are certainly ways to save money. Using coupons, vouchers, and promo codes is a great way to do just that.
Some people are so convinced that they don’t shop without them. Having the ability to find a coupon that will knock off $10 off your next purchase or a promo code that will provide free shipping is a great thing to have.
With both paper and digital variants of all three being widely accepted in most stores, you can choose what suits your needs the most. If the store accepts paper vouchers, then download it, print it, and you’re good to go.
As for the retailer, coupons, vouchers, and promo codes are an excellent way to drive sales.
