Why a coupon code doesn't work at checkout
A coupon code can stop working for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes it has expired, but just as often the problem is something in your cart or one of the conditions attached to the offer. Before trying another code, it's worth checking a few things.
The code may have expired. Stores don't always publish an expiration date, and they can end a code whenever they like. One that worked yesterday may not work today. If you found the code on Couponism, look for the test date next to it. Codes we've tested show the date we last tried them at the store's checkout.
Something in your cart may not be eligible for the discount. Sale items are a common example. A coupon may work on regularly priced products but not on items that are already discounted. Stores may also exclude clearance items, gift cards, subscriptions, certain brands or specific products. If the terms aren't clear, try the code with a regular-priced item and see if the discount appears.
Your order may also be below the minimum purchase. If the offer is 15% off orders of $100 or more, for example, a $99 order won't qualify. Keep in mind that the minimum usually applies to the merchandise in your cart, so shipping and taxes may not count toward it.
Another possibility is that the code is being entered in the wrong place. Some stores have one box for coupon or promo codes and another for gift cards or store credit. If there are two fields at checkout, make sure you're using the one labeled for coupons or promotions.
A simple typing mistake can cause a code to fail too. A missing letter or number is enough. If you typed the code yourself, go back to the coupon and use the copy button instead, then paste it into the coupon field at checkout.
Finally, check whether another discount is already being used. Some stores let you combine discounts, but many don't. If adding a coupon removes another discount, compare the order total before and after so you can see which one saves you more.
What to do if your coupon code isn't working
- Read the offer terms. Check for an expiration date, a minimum purchase and any products or brands that aren't included. The reason a code isn't working is often somewhere in the terms.
- Check what's in your cart. If you're buying a sale item or haven't reached the minimum purchase, the code may not apply. Check your cart against the terms before trying another code.
- Copy the code again. Go back to the coupon and use the copy button, then paste the code into the coupon field at checkout. This avoids mistakes from typing the code yourself.
- Make sure you're using the right field. Some stores have separate fields for coupon codes and gift cards or store credit. If you see more than one, make sure you're entering the code in the coupon or promo code field.
- Check the order total. Not every store gives you a clear message when a coupon works. Look at the order summary instead. If the discount is there and your total went down, the code worked.
- Try another tested code. If you've checked everything above and the code still isn't working, it may have expired. Try another code that was tested recently. On Couponism store pages, you'll see that date on every code we've tested.
What we do about codes that stop working
We test coupon codes at the store's checkout and go back to check them again over time. If a code that worked before doesn't work when we test it again, we flag it and move it lower on the page. If it fails a second test, we remove it until we can confirm that it's working again.
This is one reason you may find fewer codes on a Couponism store page than on some other coupon sites. We'd rather show a shorter list than leave codes up after our own testing shows they've stopped working.
You can read more about how we check coupon codes on our How we test page.