subject: Three Things That Consumers Should Avoid With Daily Coupons Websites [print this page] New daily coupons Websites are popping every week in the US. Some are international companies offering deals in different states and countries. Others are localized, focusing only on one or a few particular cities or areas.
Industry research estimates that half of Internet users have used Internet coupons at least once. Many have used them two or more times. A significant number of these consumers have memberships with at least one daily coupons or deals Websites.
In other words, the Internet is a great place for businesses to publish offers and daily coupons. It's also one of the best places for consumers to find discounts.
Daily coupons and deals Websites are businesses in and of themselves. They partner with businesses in a particular area. The businesses create deals or coupons which are then published on the Website. Consumers can visit the Website and print offers or daily coupons on their home computers.
Some of these sites offer free coupons. Others charge consumers for an offer, but the fee is much lower than the discount being offered. Some sites are a combination of both free and paid deals.
Joining one or more of these sites can net you some fabulous offers. Many consumers join as many of them that do business in their area. After all, there's nothing to lose if basic membership is free, right?
Be careful. Most daily coupons and deals Websites are legitimate. The offers they make are authentic. However, some of these sites may do things or make offers that you should avoid. Here are three of those things
1) Toolbar downloads: Some deals Websites may offer you a free, downloadable toolbar. Consumers, they tell you, will be able to instantly click and print offers and daily coupons. They'll also have one-click access to the site.
These toolbars can actually be problematic for various reasons. They may allow the publisher to collect information about you by tracking your computer usage. They may also contain adware. This allows the publisher to target you with specific types of ads.
Sometimes toolbars contain viruses that can harm your computer. Other times the toolbar simply isn't very compatible with your computer. It interferes with other programs and slows your computer down.
You don't have to download a toolbar to get daily coupons. If an offer is legitimate, you can get it by going to the site directly and printing it off. If downloading a toolbar is a requirement for joining a deals Website, avoid it.
2) Sites that sell your information to other parties: It's hard to avoid this entirely. Very few companies exist that don't sell members' info to other businesses. (It's just part of how they make their money.)
However, legitimate deals sites should allow you to opt out of having your information sold. In fact, this is the law in some states and countries.
If you don't want your information shared, be sure to "opt out." Usually you have to do this by clicking on a box or field. The problem is that these "opt out" boxes can be difficult to find. (Websites do this on purpose because they want to be able to legally sell your information.)
It should be located somewhere near the field where you entered your email address. Sometimes it's located near the "submit" button. It may even be on the "Terms and Conditions" page. Be sure to take the time to look for this. Otherwise you can expect a new wave of spam emails in short order.
3) Sites that ask for too much information: All you should ever have to share to receive daily coupons and other offers is your basic information. Many deals sites only ask for your name and email address (you'll also usually have to create a user name and login ID). Avoid giving out any more information than that.
