Ever since college, the Sunday paper has held a special meaning for me. Admittedly, it's not only reading a lengthier, essayistic story with great reporting through the mist in my coffee cup that excites me. It's the meat in the middle that sends chills up and down my frugal spine.
You see, I've been a consummate coupon clipper since Eve said "Want an apple?" And now ecommerce has taken the fun out of the snip-snap of my Sunday afternoon. I now have to go online to get all the savings. Or do I?
It's hard to know whether these coupon sites really save you money or are simply veiled ads. To a large extent, coupons serve to build brand loyalty. But my argument is if you're already loyal, why not take advantage of the cost-savings they offer? Therein lies the rub.
CouponWinner.com, for instance, offers 'savings'. But let's look at an example. Amazon is listed as offering 'free shipping' on any purchases $25 or above. Don't they always do that? The neat thing is the site is well-organized. They even have a savings comparison tool, which makes me all warm inside. At a closer look, however, it also requires large orders to get the 'savings' they promote. CouponWinner.com is an initiative born from a Santa Barbara-based company called SurfMyAds.com. It's clear who the real winner is here...
It reminds me of a conversation I overheard outside a bookstore one day. A mother, weighed down with a bag full of books, stopped to look at her watch while her child excitedly peered at the receipt of purchase in disbelief.
"Hey, Ma! We saved 60 bucks!"
"Yeah," the tired mother replied, "and we spent $70 to save it."
I'll continue to wield my coupon-clipping scissors with an eye towards such sites as CouponWinner.com just in case their offer matches my need, knowing full well that I'm spending a lot to get the 'deals' they purport. Sometimes you can couple your coupon with a sale, leading to real savings you would have otherwise forgone. One must be watchful of marketing schemes that enrich everyone else's pocket but your own.
