Coupon facts for kids
A coupon is like a special ticket or document that helps you save money when you buy something. It gives you a discount or a special offer on a product.
Companies that make products or stores where you shop often give out coupons. They use them as part of sales promotions to encourage people to buy their items. You can find coupons in many places, like in the mail, magazines, newspapers, or online. Many people also get them on their phones or through email.
In the past, many families in the United States used coupons regularly. While lots of coupons are given out, only a small number are actually used. Companies can even send different coupons to different areas to see how people react to different prices. Most coupons have an expiration date, meaning you have to use them before a certain day.
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What is a Coupon?
A coupon is a special offer that helps you pay less for things you want to buy. Think of it as a small voucher that gives you a price reduction. When you use a coupon, you get a discount on the original price of an item. This can be a set amount of money off, like "$1 off," or a percentage, like "20% off."
Coupons are a popular way for stores and brands to attract customers. They make shopping more exciting because you can find great deals.
The Story of Coupons: A Quick Look Back
Coupons have been around for a long time! One of the earliest ideas similar to coupons came from Umar, a ruler in the Islamic Caliphate around 638 CE. During a time of great need, he introduced a system where people received special tickets. These tickets could be traded for food like wheat and flour, helping everyone get what they needed.
The First Coupon Ever Made
The very first coupon as we know it today was given out by Coca-Cola in 1888. It was a ticket for a free glass of Coca-Cola! This helped make the drink very popular. People received these coupons in the mail or found them in magazines. It's estimated that millions of free Coca-Colas were given away this way.
Later, in 1929, a company called Betty Crocker started a program where you could collect coupons. You could then use these coupons to get free gifts, like silverware. These coupons were even printed on the outside of product packages by 1937. This program lasted for a very long time, until 2006!
In Australia, people first saw coupons in 1986. A company called Shopa Docket printed offers and discounts on the back of shopping receipts.
Different Ways to Save with Coupons
Coupons come in many forms and offer different kinds of savings. Some coupons give you a simple discount, while others might offer "buy one, get one free." You might also find coupons for free shipping when you shop online, or special deals for new customers.
Companies use coupons for many reasons. They might want to encourage you to try a new product or to buy more of something. Coupons also help marketers understand what customers like and how they shop.
Saving Money at the Store
When you go grocery shopping, you might see two main types of coupons:
- Store coupons: These are given out by the store itself. Sometimes, a store might even accept coupons from a competing store!
- Manufacturer coupons: These come from the company that makes a product. You can usually use these at any store that sells that product and accepts coupons. They help companies advertise their products and get new customers.
Some grocery stores have special events where they will double or even triple the value of your coupons! This is a great way for them to bring more customers into their stores.
Where Do You Find Coupons Today?
Coupons are everywhere! You can find them in traditional ways or through modern technology.
Old-School Paper Coupons
For a long time, people would clip coupons from newspapers or magazines. You might also get coupon booklets in the mail. To make sure coupons are real, some companies use special features like unique barcodes, special ID numbers, or watermarks on the paper. This helps prevent people from making copies.
Modern Digital Coupons and Codes
Since the mid-1990s, coupons have moved online. These are often called "coupon codes," "promo codes," "discount codes," or "voucher codes." When you shop online, you type these codes into a special box before you pay. This gives you the discount. Companies use different codes to see which advertisements work best.
You can also get coupons on your mobile phone. These might be sent to you by text message or through special apps. You can show these digital coupons at the store or use them online. Many stores now have loyalty cards or mobile apps that offer personalized discounts. Even some governments, like in Iran, use mobile apps for national ration programs.
Why Companies Use Coupons
Companies use coupons as a smart way to learn about their customers. By sending out coupons with different values, they can see how much people are willing to pay for a product. Coupons are also a big part of how companies decide on prices and promotions. They help companies understand what makes customers choose their products.
Smart Tips for Using Coupons
- Check the expiration date: Most coupons have a date when they are no longer valid. Make sure to use them before they expire!
- Read the fine print: Always check the rules on a coupon. It might be for a specific size, flavor, or quantity of a product.
- Share with friends: Sometimes, people trade or share coupons with others to help everyone save money. While some coupons have rules about sharing, it's common for people to help each other find good deals.
- Ration stamps: Historically, during difficult times like wars, special coupons called "ration stamps" were used. These helped make sure everyone got a fair share of important goods like food and supplies. It was very important that these were used correctly to ensure fairness.
See Also
- Canadian Tire money
- Loyalty program
- Trading stamp
- Split payment
- Ration stamp
