Understanding digital coupons and e-coupons

What is a digital coupon?

Digital coupons, also known as e-coupons, work the same way as traditional paper coupons: They feature a barcode or promo code that can be scanned or entered to save money on your purchase. Digital coupons can provide practically any kind of discount, whether it’s a percentage off your total or a buy one, get one deal. If you’re shopping in-store, digital coupons can be printed out or you can present the coupon on your phone at the register. If you’re shopping online, simply enter the e-coupon code at checkout.

Where to find digital coupons

Luckily, there are plenty of places to find digital coupons. First and foremost, you can utilize the built-in features provided by Microsoft Edge. Many of the coupons available for retailers will be available directly through the Microsoft Edge shopping features, so you can always feel confident that you’re paying the lowest price on Microsoft Edge. If you’re looking for other easy deals online, try these tips:

• On the store’s website. Many online stores have a webpage dedicated to coupon codes.
• Digital newsletters. It’s wise to sign up for emails from the places where you shop the most. This way, you’ll be notified whenever they run a sale. Many brands provide e-coupons in their emails during a sale, too.
• Digital coupon apps. There are dozens that you can install on your phone. These apps allow you to search by store or brand for available coupons.
• Extension add-ons. If you do most of your shopping online, adding a digital coupon extension to a web browser like Microsoft Edge will ensure that you never miss a deal. Many browser add-ons notify you at checkout if a coupon can be applied to the items in your cart.
• Coupon sites. Be sure to explore websites dedicated to finding coupon codes. You can easily search within a site to find the brand or store you want.

Digital coupon troubleshooting

Having trouble using a digital coupon? Consider the following solutions:

• Make sure you have the right code. If the coupon requires you to enter a code at checkout, be certain you are entering the code correctly. It’s usually easiest to copy and paste from your browser into the checkout.
• Look for exclusions. Just like physical coupons, digital coupons sometimes exclude specific products. If you find a digital coupon isn’t working, make sure the items in your cart can be used with the code.
• Check the expiration date. Sometimes shoppers try to use digital coupons that are no longer valid. In this case, check the store’s terms and conditions. Look closely because some stores still honor the code if it expired within a set timeframe.
• Read the location requirement. In some instances, e-coupons can only be used online, even if the company has physical locations. Be sure to check where you can use the coupon to save yourself an unnecessary trip.
• Brighten your screen. If you’re using your phone in-store at the register, be sure to brighten your screen when you present the coupon. This will make it easier for the scanner to pick up the barcode or for the cashier to read it.

Other money-saving tools to use with your digital coupon

Shopping with Microsoft Edge is one of the easiest ways to save on your online purchases. Check out some of these other Microsoft Edge features you can use to save more money in addition to using a digital coupon:

Compare final prices after applying a digital coupon

E-coupons can help you save money, but you should check the prices at other online stores and vendors to make sure you’re getting the best deal possible. Manually checking the prices of items online is tedious because hundreds of stores may sell the item. Save time and money by using Microsoft Edge’s built-in price comparison tool. It’ll alert you if it locates the item at a lower price than what you’re buying it for, and it can provide you more digital coupons, if applicable.

Earn cashback after you’ve purchased your discounted item

Digital coupons save you money before you buy an item. However, Microsoft Edge features like Microsoft Cashback save you more money after you buy an item. It’s free to get rebates and cashback from qualified retailers when you shop with Microsoft Edge as a Microsoft Rewards member. After you make your purchase, you’ll receive a notification that explains how to get cashback or money from your rebate.

Apply your e-coupon to a low-priced item

Some retailers will let you apply your digital coupon to an item that’s on sale or marked down at a lower price. You won’t have to keep track of price changes when you shop with Microsoft Edge. Microsoft Edge has a built-in tool that lets you review price history and trends. Get alerts when the price of your items drops to use your e-coupon at the optimal time.

To make finding and using digital coupons even easier, try Collections in Microsoft Edge. Collections allows you to create tabs where you can save webpages, snippets of text, or images. You can create a “Coupons” tab to easily locate your deals. Microsoft Edge also offers a variety of coupon-related add-ons to your browser. Start shopping with Microsoft Edge to get notified of new ways to save.