Coupon

In marketing, a coupon is a ticket or document that can be redeemed for a financial discount or rebate when purchasing a product.

They are often widely distributed through mail, coupon envelopes, magazines, newspapers, the Internet (social media, email newsletter), directly from the retailer, and mobile devices such as cell phones.

[4] During the great famine of 18 AH (638 CE), Umar, the second ruler of the Islamic Caliphate, introduced several reforms such as the introduction of food rationing using coupons, which were given to those in need and could be exchanged for wheat and flour.

[9] In Australia consumers first[dubious – discuss] came in contact with couponing when a company called Shopa Docket promoted offers and discounts on the back of shopping receipts in 1986.

Similarly, there are varied uses of coupons which include: to incentivize a purchase, reduce a price, provide a free sample,[11] or to aid marketers in understanding the demographics of their customer.

[2] Periodic special events double or triple coupon values on certain days or weeks.

Historically, verifying the discount offered has been via presenting coupons clipped from newspapers[1] or received in the mail.

Some retailers and companies use verification methods such as unique barcodes, coupon ID numbers, holographic seals, and watermarked paper as protection from unauthorized copying or use.

Since such restrictions are not universal and are difficult and/or costly to enforce, limited coupon trading is tolerated in the industry.