Here’s an interesting piece from Seth Godin’s blog, the thing about coupons…

Different perspective about coupons, straight from a marketer’s viewpoint.

Which leads to the third benefit: a coupon can mean now. Give me a coupon and I am forced to make a decision. Will I buy the service or product before the coupon expires or gets lost, or should I forfeit this thing of value?

Although I’m not a frequent coupon user—because most of the ones I’ve come across are horrid ones that screams: “this is just us trying to get you in the door so we can sell you other crap” (e.g. car dealership coupon for services)—I do occasionally come across worth-it coupons for products that I do purchase. Which brings me to the now factor Godin mentioned above.

Ever hold a $1.00 off coupon in your hand for a bag of Cheetos? Sure, you love Cheetos, but today’s grocery trip didn’t include it on the list. But this is a whole dollar off! No strings attached! It expires in two weeks, are you going to come back before then, just for a bag of Cheetos?

So you grab the bag of Cheetos and head towards the cashier, but then you get the same lousy treatment Seth Godin got with his 10% off Barbeques Galore coupon, and you listen to the lame-o excuse the cashier gives about why that coupon doesn’t work with that particular bag of Cheetos you’re holding.