Understanding the “per” Difference on a Coupon
Couponing as a newbie can be overwhelming, confusing and time consuming. Is it worth it, absolutely! Once you get something for free you will feel a rush (aka “coupon high”) flow through your blood and the exhilaration will leave you wanting more! As a newbie couponer there is so much to learn and to sift through. There is also all that dreaded fine print on the bottom of the coupon that leaves you scratching your head.
Today I am going to explain to you something that a majority of cashiers have a hard time understanding, what is the difference between the following words on a coupon;
- Per Transaction
- Per Purchase
- Per Household
Per Transaction means that you are only allowed to use one coupon per order. So if your soup coupons read Save $1.00 when you buy 1 can of soup and the fine print states “Limit 1 coupon per transaction “then you would only be able to redeem one coupon on that specific order/ register receipt transaction. The way around this “per transaction rule” would be to do seperate orders. If your store allows you to divide up your orders into separate transactions you could then abide by the rules of one per transaction and just make multiple transactions. If your store is a stickler and states that the “transaction” rules mean per store visit then you can just drop your items in the car and go back in and visit them again!
Per Purchase means that only one of the same coupon can be applied to each single item purchased. In other words if you are buying 10 cans of soup and you have ten $1.00/1 soup coupons that each state “one per purchase” you may use all ten coupons because you are in fact purchasing 10 cans of soup. You are using one coupon per every can of soup you are physically purchasing.
Per Household is the buzzkill of coupons because that means you and whomever lives within your household (even the dog) only get to take advantage of the offer one time. You don’t normally see this on grocery store coupons but you will on other large retail store offers. When you are faced with this obstacle the only way around it is to ask a friend or family member to redeem the other for you.
So you’re a Wise Guy, are ya…
The following is taken from chapter 3 in my book “How to Shop for Free; Shopping Secrets for Smart Women who love to get Something for Nothing“
When my friend Larry was told that he could only use one of his “per transaction” coupons per visit, he said, “Let me get this right. You’re saying that I can only use one coupon now, but the next time I come into the store I can buy another and use another coupon towards it then?” When they told him that was correct, he walked out the door, turned around, and walked right back in and said, I”M BACK!!!” Although the store didn’t find the humor in Larry’s mockery of the rules, they had to honor his next “transaction” because it was technically, a return visit.
Want to learn more about Shopping for Free? Purchase my Book, Coupon Class DVD or PBS Special and start getting something for nothing!
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