Online coupon guilt

[ChaseBurke]

need some opinions here. About to place a large $2500 purchase from one of the top online distributors and they have a coupon for X amount off of purchases greater than X amount. Would you break the order up to get and use that coupon as much as you could or place one order and use the coupon once. It would save me almost $150 but I respect this company a lot and don’t want to screw them over.

 

[Instigate]

You save $150 after paying multiple times for shipping?

 

[User1]

Depends on how the coupon works. Per item or total may work out the same. Run some numbers, math doesn't lie. When in doubt give them a call and lay out your order to them and ask them point blank. That is what I've done in similar situations and both parties won.

 

[ChaseBurke]

Correct shipping is free

 

[MnFish1]

So you mean the coupon is 15% off one item or the whole order? If it’s the whole order it’s the same. If it’s one item I would guess that the computer would only let an account use a coupon once. I mean 10% of 100 is ten. 10% of 200 is twenty. Whether you order it separately or together it’s $20.

 

[ChaseBurke]

Depends on how the coupon works. Per item or total may work out the same. Run some numbers, math doesn't lie. When in doubt give them a call and lay out your order to them and ask them point blank. That is what I've done in similar situations and both parties won.

I don’t think the coupon will work like that. I think as long as I hit the set dollar value it takes that much off. So if the order was 200 or 2000 it would be the same amount off.

 

[MnFish1]

I don’t think the coupon will work like that. I think as long as I hit the set dollar value it takes that much off. So if the order was 200 or 2000 it would be the same amount off.

Oh so then it’s not 15% off. It’s 15% off like up to $200. In any case my guess is that one customer will be allowed to use only 1 coupon

 

[ChaseBurke]

It’s $20 off $200 or more. If I broke the order out into $200 dollar purchases it would save me a lot more than one $2000 purchase

 

[BZOFIQ]

Brake it up. There is no shame in saving money. That business will make money either way.

 

[MnFish1]

It’s $20 off $200 or more. If I broke the order out into $200 dollar purchases it would save me a lot more than one $2000 purchase

When does free shipping start? My guess is that their system won’t allow you to do it. Is there a reason you’re not sharing the name Of the company? It’s free advertising for them. Btw since you titled the post online guilt. It’s clear that you think breaking it up is wrong. If the system lets you do it I wouldn’t feel guilty

 

[Bighead]

I would call the company tell them you are spending 2500 and ask them what type of discount they can give you they might hook you up more than you think I did that when I built my car and got a better discount than any coupon advertised

 

[BZOFIQ]

so what's the outcome? :) I hope you took advantage of the savings offered.

 

[A$AP-Reefer]

at the end of the day... you should just get as much off as you can! they are making their money no matter what.. why would you feel guilty if your getting a coupon you earned! duh!!!!

 

[BranchingHammer]

Break it up, but if you feel guilty +1 for asking the company point blank.

 

[stacksoner]

$20 off a $250 order = what BRS happily offers everyone.

Go for it if you don't get nailed on shipping charges.

 

[MnFish1]

In surprised so many people have the attitude that it’s ok to take advantage of a company ie get around their coupon policy. Ie if the policy is one coupon per customer you should use one coupon. If they don’t have a policy go for it. As I said before their computer may not let you even try to do it. Would be interesred in the outcome. Btw if a company has a rule about a coupon and a person tries to get around it. What’s the difference between that logic and shoplifting or taking a 10% off sticker and placing it on an item and demanding it at the register?

 

[Potatohead]

In surprised so many people have the attitude that it’s ok to take advantage of a company ie get around their coupon policy. Ie if the policy is one coupon per customer you should use one coupon. If they don’t have a policy go for it. As I said before their computer may not let you even try to do it. Would be interesred in the outcome. Btw if a company has a rule about a coupon and a person tries to get around it. What’s the difference between that logic and shoplifting or taking a 10% off sticker and placing it on an item and demanding it at the register?

I somewhat agree but you're the first guy to mention one order per customer policy. If that policy exists the OP's question is kind of moot. If that policy does not exist however there is nothing wrong with breaking the orders up at all. The retailer has no doubt determined they are still making the money they need to at that discount and pricing level (which is why it's set up at those levels in the first place) so personally I don't have a problem with multiple orders, I don't see that as taking advantage as long as the 'one order per customer' limit does not apply.

I would guess that if he is placing $2500 worth of orders, which the above example would be 10 x $20 discounts, I bet if he just phoned them and asked for the $200 off he would likely get it. Less paperwork, processing and shipping for the retailer too.

 

[MnFish1]

I somewhat agree but you're the first guy to mention one order per customer policy. If that policy exists the OP's question is kind of moot. If that policy does not exist however there is nothing wrong with breaking the orders up at all. The retailer has no doubt determined they are still making the money they need to at that discount and pricing level (which is why it's set up at those levels in the first place) so personally I don't have a problem with multiple orders, I don't see that as taking advantage as long as the 'one order per customer' limit does not apply.

I would guess that if he is placing $2500 worth of orders, which the above example would be 10 x $20 discounts, I bet if he just phoned them and asked for the $200 off he would likely get it. Less paperwork, processing and shipping for the retailer too.

I agree completely except if they wanted to give 10% off on say $2000 they probably would have not limited it in the first place. The reason for the coupon is to get people to the site and get them to buy more stuff at full price a kind of loss leader. I said it before. One problem is that it would be a lot easier if the op had said I saw this offer on this site so it was clear what the offer is. Usually imho when companies put out that type of offer it’s meant for 1 item and one per customer. Jmho