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These days, it's safe to assume that most consumers are looking to save a buck or two. And for a whole host of Internet entrepreneurs, that spells an opportunity.
A slew of new Web sites offering coupons and online promotions are flooding the Internet. While these sites offer a wide breadth of discounts, they also cause a lot of confusion among shoppers, making it more difficult to weed out the really good deals from the duds.
"There are hundreds, if not thousands, of coupon sites out there offering the exact same thing," says Edgar Dworsky, the founder of consumer advocacy site Consumer World.
The proliferation of these sites isn't just about saving shoppers money. As part of so-called affiliate marketing programs, retailers offer cash to these Web entrepreneurs each time they get a consumer to make a purchase on their store's site.
The enticements these sites use: coupons and other discounts. Each site uses a unique promotional code so the retailers know where a customer is coming from. Usually, though, that's the only differentiating factor among these discount sites. Most of the underlying deals are identical.
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Though choosing among hundreds of discounts may not seem like a bad thing at first, it's the relative sameness of these sites that makes it hard for shoppers to find the best deals and discern whether the offers they see are legit, notes Mary Hunt, the founder of money-management site Debt-Proof Living.
Some have more-extensive retailer partnerships and therefore offer a broader range of deals. Others are more diligent about updating offers and weeding out expired coupons.
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Why the experts like it: Coupons.com offers as wide a variety of timely coupons as you'd find in the grocery shoppers' gold standard, the Sunday paper, says Dworsky. Phil Lempert, the founder of news site Supermarket Guru, praises the site's simple layout, which makes it easy to browse available coupons and then print them out. Enter your ZIP code for area-specific deals.
There's just one drawback: "There are still some retailers that will not accept Internet coupons," cautions Lempert. Check to see whether your supermarket does before downloading the site's coupon-printing software.
Sample deal: Get a coupon to save 75% on prescription drugs at your local pharmacy.
Why the experts like it: CouponCabin keeps its discount fare fresh, says Linda Sherry, a spokeswoman for Consumer Action. Staffers update deals three times a day and frequently check each coupon code to ensure it works.
Sections for "most-used coupons" and "favorite deals" point shoppers toward the best continuing promotions at online retailers. An added bonus: A weekly e-mail newsletter alerts consumers to the latest deals every Monday.
Sample deal: Link to Amazon.com through CouponCabin and use the coupon to receive free shipping on most online orders of $25 or more (without the coupon, shipping starts at $1.99). The offer is good anytime.
Why the experts like it: CouponMom.com covers a lot of ground, listing online coupon codes, printout coupons and free samples, among other types of discounts.
While other sites are riddled with offers and banner ads, CouponMom.com's simple design makes finding discounts easy, says Garen Daly, the host of the "Frugal Yankee" radio show. Deals are reliably accurate, too, adds Tawra Kellam, the founder of frugal-living newsletter Living on a Dime.
Members can find all available coupons from several sources using the virtual coupon organizer. Sign up for e-mail alerts on sales at favorite retailers or on a shopping-list staple like the kids' favorite brand of peanut butter.
Sample deal: Link to Restaurants.com through CouponMom.com and use a code to buy a $25 restaurant gift certificate for only $2.
Continued: 2 more sites to visit
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