Tested new generation of electronic coupon codes

U.S. is testing a new generation of its traditional discount coupons: electronic vouchers that can reach consumers through their cell phone or their email accounts or on Twitter and Facebook.
The new formats is helping to promote the return of an old American custom while attracting new customers and younger.

Until recently, many buyers, especially younger consumers like April Englebert, 30, rejected the coupons printed in newspapers and brochures directly to the mail arrived and seemed outdated or were present in the box shameful to pay for the merchandise.

Englebert, however, an employee of an accounting firm in Portland, Oregon, was so shocked to notice that your monthly bill for groceries fell from 500 to 300 dollars, primarily by electronic coupons, which she recommended him to friends and coworkers who tried them. "It's impressive," said Englebert. "There are many things you buy pedes free.
The use of coupons had been declining since 1992, as consumers consider them less necessary, uncomfortable to wear or even humiliating. But when the economy went into recession, austerity caused his popularity rebound.

The use of electronic discounts and coupons increased over 100% in the first half of 2009 compared to the same period last year, while the use of vouchers in general grew by 23%, according to coupon processing company Inmar Inc . It is now processing more than 3% of all coupons used, compared with 2% in 2008. Although they still represent a small part of all coupons used in total, have a strong potential for growth, giving buyers a new way to stretch their budgets increasingly narrow.

"They needed some significant external forces so that people wake up and care presteb saving opportunities available to them," said Matthew Tilley, director of marketing Inmar.
In the U.S. marketing, a voucher can be exchanged for a discount or rebate when purchasing one or more products. Typically, valesl are issued by product manufacturers or retailers, for use when paying in shops as a way to promote sales and loyalty to an article or a shop. The coupons are distributed widely for decades in the country, often in the Sunday edition of the newspaper, or received by mail.

On a recent trip to the grocery store, Englebert came with many coupons. In addition to the discounts offered by the store in its own booklet, brought manufacturers vouchers received via email and others who bought on the eBay Internet site. With them, bought a total of 14 items including macaroni and cheese and meat for a total of $ 5.98, a savings of $ 24.88.

Consumers can print digital coupons websites or email, but many can not be printed because they are completely electronic. In these cases used in loyalty cards can store or on a cell phone with a promotional code or an image. There are also programs for iPhone, handheld devices in stores and screens built into the handles of grocery carts that warn shoppers about the offers in store. Retailers continue experimenting with new formats.

The new formats of coupons can bring problems as well, as they experience their scope. The KFC restaurant chain faced an unexpected surge of customers during the second quarter in several of its business, due to a voucher offering free grilled chicken which was posted on the website of the television presenter Oprah Winfrey.
Experts say it is likely to grow both traditional print formats such as electronic, but will be a while before they reach record high in the use of vouchers of 7,900 million in 1992. In 2008, consumers took advantage of just 2,600 million worth of all types.