Promo codes, also known as promo codes, are a combination of numbers and letters that constitute a single code. This code can, with the right help, be entered into a shopping site to gain special discount on an item or service such as free shipping. But, for some shoppers the promo codes were a headache to get hold of, and so they avoided using them entirely. There was a time when promo code were hot, but as of late they have started to gather a bad reputation for being useless and sometimes being used fraudulently.

One of the main reasons that promo codes have fallen out of favour is because, quite simply, people weren't keen on them anymore. Customers weren't crazy about them anymore, and they certainly weren't keen on spending their money in them! People are generally wary about investing money in marketing campaigns unless they are offered something really great - and these discount coupons almost always aren't that great. So, even though promo codes were popular and people were investing their money in them, consumers just weren't doing it. The problem with promotional marketing campaigns, particularly those that rely on discount codes, is that they rely on people being lazy and not making themselves aware of their benefits, which means that the discount that they earn through the use of the code may not actually be worth that bit of extra money!

Another reason that promo codes fell out of favour is because they became associated with internet fraud. Vouchers that provided absolutely no benefit to the consumer were being abused and people started to believe that all vouchers were fake and so the whole idea of single-use codes were put to rest. There's nothing more frustrating than trying to save money using a discount voucher and then discovering that you've been scammed! However, even with the recent rise in awareness and concern over discount voucher misuse, there are still people who misuse the system - and they are getting increasingly clever at it.

One thing that you can do to avoid this problem is to ensure that the coupons are kept at the back of the mind when shopping. For example, most coupons for online shopping will contain a single-use code for them to be able to be used at a single point during your online shopping. However, many shoppers will take time out of their busy lives to enter this single-use code into their personal shopping carts. And what happens if they forget about the code? The code expires and you've just wasted money on your credit card.

This is why it's vital that people keep their promo or discount card offers well informed. Make a note of your favourite offers so that you don't tend to miss sales or promotions. Keep an eye on your favourite stores or websites as well to see whether there's any big deals going on. Look online for promotions and special offers too, as the internet is a great place to find exclusive deals that aren't available elsewhere, but also as a place to see if anything has changed - and it can also be a good place to find out more about how to use your chosen codes.

One way to make sure that you don't waste money on your credit card is to use promo codes that are valid for a limited time. For example, you might want to see if your vouchers are valid for the Biggest Deals of the Month promotion. Or perhaps you want to know if there's any additional discounts being offered for Black Friday. Use your favourites discount merchants to check out whether they are offering promo codes that are still valid. In these cases you can usually use your promotional codes as soon as you find out that they're valid, though you may have to wait for a few days before you can use them. Some retailers have policies that restrict the number of promo codes that can be used in a month or a year, but if you check their FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions) it's usually clear whether or not you're restricted.

Promo codes often entice customers to visit a particular merchant and make a purchase, but this can sometimes backfire. If a promo code that you used on your promotion code website was meant for a discount only, such as 50% off, but you actually bought an expensive item because of the discount you got on your coupon, then you've wasted your money. You may find that a different retailer has the same promo code, so make sure you enter the code at the correct site for the right discount before making the purchase. Sometimes promo codes can entice customers into making purchases from websites with lower prices than those they would normally purchase from, but this can also backfire, and the price you paid for the item could be higher because of the discount you received from the cheaper site. Be careful when using discount coupons online.

If you need to remember a promo code expiration date, or want to ensure that you always have access to these special deals, make use of a website that keeps track of expiration dates and promotional codes. Enter the code in the promotion area of the website, and it will keep you informed of when the code will expire and so you can still use it to save money. Sites like Card Shark will keep you up to date on expiration dates, as will several other sites which specialize in keeping you aware of promotional codes. These sites will notify you via email, text message or both so that you always know where to look for the codes that will help you save.