Coupons and Rebates: Shopping With Free Coupons

Purportedly invented in 1894 by Asa Candler, who acquired the formula for Coca-Cola six years earlier, coupons often represent a mainstay in the lives of anyone who regularly shops for goods and services. By offering a free glass of Coke in exchange for a written slip that he had distributed, Candler launched a method of promotion that would come to be used almost universally in advertising and selling new and existing products. For those buying the products, coupons represent an opportunity to save money on everything from electronics equipment to their weekly grocery bills.

And while clipping coupons from the Sunday paper represents the traditional method of distribution for these money savers, nothing could be more effective in distributing them at both the local and national levels than the World Wide Web. Another perk to Web distribution of coupons is the targeting factor that allows users to receive only coupons relating to their interests or purchasing habits, an option that is simply not available in the local paper.

Most of the sites offering coupons to users require little more than some personal information and an e-mail address during the signup process. In exchange, "members" typically receive free access to coupons and various features that allow them to easily locate coupons of interest to them and to use them to buy goods and services at both Internet-based stores or traditional "brick and mortar" shops. When choosing a coupon site to use, it is important to note the various rules that apply to each.