subject: How Mobile Coupons Apps Can Help Coupon Ninjas [print this page] Coupons are being used by more shoppers as staple items' prices rise and the economy remains unpredictable. Consumers seek any way to save on their household's monthly budget. Some shoppers have gone to extreme couponing and have become Coupon Ninjas.
These consumers rarely purchase an item without coupons in hand. This was true with an Atlanta shopper whose coupons were refused at a major grocery store chain. She has a family of 10 and said that she, like most Coupon Ninjas, never buys an item unless she has a coupon to match. The supermarket said they would not accept her coupons, not because of the volume of coupons she had. The store manager called her a habitual coupon user and objected to the way she was couponing. The grocery store claims they have the right to refuse any coupons and/or limit the amount that is redeemed. This is true, and they were free to exercise their right in this manner.
However, this Coupon Ninja may have been able to avoid this couponing debacle by using a mobile coupons app. These couponing apps are tied to most major grocery retailers and their loyalty cards and are becoming another tool in Coupon Ninjas' arsenals. Instead of handing over a pile of clipped coupons from the Sunday paper, shoppers simply hand the cashier the loyalty card for that store.
Grocery stores would most likely not refuse any discounts issued from their own loyalty card. The way these mobile coupons apps work enables shoppers to stay organized and save time with their couponing. Armed with a smartphone, shoppers can scan an item's barcode, the mobile app locates any savings offered by that store and the manufacturer. The applicable coupon is then uploaded to the shopper's loyalty card for that store.
Coupon Ninjas often spend several hours each week clipping out discount offers and then creating a shopping strategy for the week. They determine which stores they will hit on which day and start to plan their lives around shopping with coupons. Gas money can be wasted driving all around town looking for the best deal on discounted products.
Mobile coupon apps empower Coupon Ninjas to save while on the go, without a complicated couponing strategy. They can find savings from the store in closest proximity by using an apps' geolocation technology (although not all apps have this feature). Shoppers benefit from having all discount offers for each store on their smartphone. When they are out and about, smart shoppers can simply pull up the mobile app to see which nearby store that is offering savings on their desired products.
Building and organizing shopping lists for preferred items offers mobile coupon app users additional organization. Spending a little time up front building a list of commonly purchased items and products saves smart shoppers time, car fuel, and money in the long run. Savvy shoppers using a mobile app's shopping list can select the store they plan to visit and the app's geolocation technology will pull up coupons that apply to that store.
If a Coupon Ninja is in a particular store and cannot find a coupon for a desired item, the mobile app will recommend a similar product that does have a coupon. For the savvy, budget-conscious shopper, this means never having to purchase an item without a coupon. These apps will even trigger double and triple coupons for stores that offer shopper those types of discounts.
Extreme strategies for couponing have debuted on TV shows, blogs, and websites. It is no wonder that Coupon Ninjas are popping up all over the country, ready for the next big savings adventure. Mobile coupon apps can help these savvy shoppers avoid being refused coupon usage and help to create a simple and organized couponing strategy.
