How to ask companies for coupons?

[zabet17]

I'm new to the whole coupon world (but very excited so far). I was thinking about writing a few companies that make some of our favorite products in the hope of getting some new coupons but I'm not sure exactly what to say. Can you just come out and ask for coupons or do you just praise the products and hope for the best? Anyone willing to share an example of one of their letters?

[kayla_dufour]

The best way I find is to e-mail your favourite companies and tell them how much you love their product. Try to be slightly descrptive ie...if its windex say that you use it on everything, not just windows.
Hope this helps

[Teribug]

I am also new to the coupon world. The only coupon I have written to so far is SC Johnson, my email said something like, I just wanted to send a quick not to tell you how much I love your products. I was wondering if you have and coupons or samples available to send out. They sent me a reply the next day saying they were sending me a coupon for a free product of my choice and suggested I sign up to their newsletter which also sends out coupons occasionally apparently. Anyways I got the coupon in the mail yesterday!

I would suggest sending something like that out, doesn't hurt to ask right?

Teri

[rhiannon1891]

My advice would be to praise their products, try to be specific if you can (how you use it, why you like it etc) and come right out and ask for the coupons.

I've had some companies send me coupons, and some just reply and say thanks for the feedback. But it doesn't hurt to ask!

[Bloo]

some companies are really stingy like Quaker and hershy's choclate company,they make me mad!!

[FallenPixels]

I usually just email them complimenting them on the product, most times they will send coupons.

One time I wrote to a company about a problem with their website and they wrote back apologising for the inconvenience and saying that they didn't offer coupons so could they have my full name to send a cheque for the equivalent of their product

some companies are really stingy like Quaker and hershy's choclate company,they make me mad!!

Stingy like giving $4 coupons out on save.ca to all who want them?

[Bloo]

I usually just email them complimenting them on the product, most times they will send coupons.

One time I wrote to a company about a problem with their website and they wrote back apologising for the inconvenience and saying that they didn't offer coupons so could they have my full name to send a cheque for the equivalent of their product



Stingy like giving $4 coupons out on save.ca to all who want them?

Quaker makes other products too,not all of them are listed in that single coupon save.ca one

[FallenPixels]

Quaker makes other products too,not all of them are listed in that single coupon save.ca one

Yeah but we can't expectto be able to get coupons for everything, I wouldn't be mad if they dont offer them either - its their business

[mellyskater]

Quaker sent me some coupons after praising their products recently

[CentrallyCalm]

Compliments, flattery, the things you would say to charm someone...

Here are some ideas:


Hi, for many years I have found your products a staple in our pantry.

My ....relative/friend..... was brand loyal to the .......insert product name/brand....., and I have found that in my family, we have come to depend on your quality and the variety in which you offer.

I would value any coupons for your products which you could send me.


Thank you for your consideration,
....your name here....




ALSO:

In a recent letter, I found that when I asked for coupons AND recipes, they had no problem sending them out to me.


Dear (company name, or even better: a person's name)

I have been using Fleischmann's yeast for several years. It is the only type of Yeast I have ever tried! I am looking for a cinammon bun recipe to use with your product, and up until now I have found none that I am really satisfied with. Could you please consider sending me a recipe and some coupons for your yeast?

Thank you,
Tracy


****************

Worth taking time to note some things in your message to a company:


SPELLING... make sure that you spell the product you are asking for correctly, use spell checker or read the side of a box/label; (the Fleischmann's yeast is a great example, a long name which can be tricky to spell).


Although they aren't going to look at your spelling for 'corrections' sake, taking the time to spell out the product or any other name properly, is really etiquette.

When addressing a person or company, which really is "faceless" to you, treat them like you would like to be treated. It's easy to forget that a human opens that mail, which doesn't own the company or have any say on policies or decisions (like coupon distribution). At the end of the day, they are human and deserve the same kindness you and I expect. Treat the person like they are important to you, not that you are important to them having a job there!
(they have a job there because we buy their products;
and we buy their products because they have a job there)

You are basically asking for the company to grant you something, they can accept or deny your request;
either way don't take it personally.

When I wrote that I sent a message to Fleischmann's, several people followed my lead and messaged the company. The company started turning people away. It's nothing personal, it's a coupon, don't take it personal 'if' this time 'the big company' didn't give you something.

They don't have to give consumers coupons (basically more incentive to buy their product) because really, we have every intention of buying that product (or one like it) even without a coupon! (although SC's really LOVE coupons and sales)!

My coupon from Fleischmann's was for 35cents! They included a Cash For Kids coupon for Mazola oil (which I already had from the store shelves) and 2 photocopied recipes: Cinammon Buns and Cinammon Rolls. It was really a kind gesture on their part to fulfill my request. Good "P.R." (Public Relations) After all... aren't I telling you about it right now?

CentrallyCalm

[eyzlyn]

I did request st ives coupons last month, and they send 2 coupons-0.75 each last week in mail.

same to huggies and johnson.

[RobynCD]

Great ideas! I've been thinking about doing this also. Thank you!

[Giving-Small]

I think a key is being sincere - that's why there's the comments about giving details and being specific about your use/interest are key.

Also companies are different. Some don't do coupons. Some do.

Some companies like J&J have a system that they send coupons out to anyone who phones. Chapman's sends one per year.

Other companies are happy to send a coupon to their "fans" - the people who are truly excited and loyal to their product and write to them.

Sometimes I think the threads on SC backfire for the companies that send out coupons "infrequently" to fans. An SCer posts about getting a coupon and others get excited and jump on the bandwagon and write the same company all at once. Imagine opening the mail and usually getting one or two requests for coupons with a comment or question and then suddenly opening the mail to 50 to 500 requests all in one day. Granted some of the 50 or 500 are fans but which ones? And probably if you're in the occasional coupon mail out, you only have a small stack sitting there to send out.

I have only written twice to a company - once to ask for a refund or coupon for a lesser value product when I tried a more expensive product that didn't work. I got a response for the info - no coupon or refund.

Then I wrote to another company that regularly sends out coupons and got a wonderful response. I just asked if I could have a coupon and told them that I liked their product.

[ladynetz]

That's quite a guess.
I emailed Chapman - they mailed me one coupon.Maybe I should email them again, as we startded another year.
I also calle J&J and they mailed me few coupons. I called them again last week and said they're out of coupons, but I should try calling again..
I recently emailed Cold-Fx telling them that stores do not take their printed coupons, and if they can mail me few. I did get no response, yet.
I'll keep you posted.

[tommygunn]

Another thing to consider.. instead of fawning over the company's products.. mention that you have never tried them before but are interested and are wondering if they might possibly have a coupon for it.