Why are internet coupons hidden

[yomaster2000]

Hey all, I am a student doing a project on internet coupons and I have a question for all you hardcore coupon hunter. Why do internet retailers hide their coupons? It just doesn't make sense to me, if they want to increase their market share then wouldn't they make it well know to attract all the internet users instead of the experienced internet shopper (coupon hunters). So basically who are they targeting when they have these coupon offer, and why would they hide it if they want to increase market share with these coupons? Thank you and all ideas welcome.

[jsalba]

I'm not really sure of the answer to that. I guess some e-tailers target a specific crowd or maybe previous visitors. But there are some who are willing to offer their coupons to anyone.. and even ask that you spread the word to your family and friends. We have a Merchants section here at Deal of Day and there have been numerous posts made by some really good e-tailers offering their coupons to the thousands who visit Deal of Day each day.

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[crazycorky]

Well there are so many reason why the coupons as you say are hidden. I really wouldn't say there hidden but around, and people or sites like this one brings them all togather.
Meaning one store like pets.com has alot of $15. off coupon but the coupons are for certen web sites. Like if you sign up here or if your a member here you can use this $15. off coupon. Where we the poeple find or see these offers and just bring all the coupons to one place.
Now some store don't like that because they get so many orders they start lose money or for other reason, then they start cancel orders or claims the coupon is invalid and ect... But in the long run when they don't honor there coupons they lose alot more then a few dollors but 1000's of shoppers.
Pets.com dosen't mind if you there coupons no matter where you found it as long as you use it once.
But to answer your "?" on why there hidden, they do that so not so many people will order and they won't lose money. When they release a coupon there expecting only 1000-2000 poeple to use it. But if the offer is great and those coupons hits a site like this one there looking at 5000-15000 orders.
Hope that answer your "?", of coarse thats what i think the reason is!
Corky

[bradedit]

I'm sure some of them are "hidden" but those seem to be the ones tailored to a specific site(like if you are a member of ivillage, you can use that coupon).

Most people just do not seem to click on something even at the site that says $20 off, they think there has to be a catch! E-commerce is new to so many people that it just floors them to place an order, yet alone think that they can get it for FREE.

Its like a contest on a site, to me if I just have to fill out a few lines for a chance to win Anything, heck I'll do it, but alot of people just do not want to do the extra little work to get it.

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Tami [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now]

[ang379]

I think they're "hidden" because of this...I see the Internet (in terms of advertising) as 1 million+ TV channels. So if DSports advertises only on sports channels, I may see it, but my friend who doesn't watch sports may not. This doesn't mean that said friend doesn't need to buy sports-related items, she may have a kid who plays soccer and would be interested in their promotions.
Or if more.com's $1 Tampax offer was only advertised on Oprah, I would never know about it unless someone told me b/c I don't watch Oprah (god forbid, I know, I know - I just don't).

With so many different websites that are major advertising meccas, there's no way I could or would see them all; and there's no way an etailer could advertise on them all (except for Flooz it seems). So many etailers probably rely on word of mouth or boards like this to spread the word instead of paying 500 different sites.

I'm sure that audience-targeting plays a large role as well - such as the boatscape offer. That was for a limited audience because they were targeting people who showed an avid interest in boating b/c the code was released at a boat show.

Others are for garnering more business from high-volume customers, such as the Ashford codes (from what I've heard).

But I think mainly they seem hidden b/c you can't possibly put them everywhere on the Internet - it's too vast.

JMHO.