Your Guide to Print and Online Coupon Terms

There's a lot of fine print on coupons that most of us ignore. All that "official" language means something, however, and can impact whether the coupon is valid for your purchase. Learn the following lexicon of coupon terminology and you can avoid problems at the check out.

We've also included explanations for online coupon terms and abbreviations at the bottom.

OFFICIAL TERMS

One coupon per purchase: This phrase appears on a lot of coupons. It means when you buy one bottle of shampoo you can only use the coupon for that one bottle. If you have more coupons for that item, you have to buy another bottle of shampoo to use them. You may, however, use multiple coupons on multiple items during the same purchase.

One coupon per item purchased: This is the same as one coupon per purchase with clearer phrasing.

One coupon per customer or family: This term doesn't appear too often, but is usually found on Internet coupons or coupons with big savings. Since stores don't maintain a database of items your purchases, you can use one of these coupons per store visit and have no problems.

One coupon per transaction: Use these coupons the same way you would coupons that limit one coupon per customer or family. The manufacturer or store is trying to limit how many particular items you purchase using identical coupon so more people can take advantage of a sale.

Can double: If you have manufacturer coupons for 50 cents off a jar of mayonnaise, you can use two coupons to save $1 on each bottle. Double coupons also are used to lure you into purchases a second item. If you buy two bottles of mayonnaise, you'll get fifty cents off each one, even though you only have one coupon.

Do not double: Obviously, this means you can't double-up on coupons. However, if the coupon number starts with a five, you can still double-up at stores that allow doubles. Coupons that start with a nine can not be doubled.

ONLINE TERMS

Addy: Refers either to your e-mail address, home address or the “URL” of a web site.

B1G1F: Buy one-get one free. You receive two items for the price of one.

Barcode: This is the computerized code found on every product and composed of lines, spaces and bars. Barcodes are used to identify merchandise for inventory purposes and to allow checkers to quickly scan items for prices.

CO or c/o: A “dollars off” or a “money off” discount

Coupon Code: Each coupon has a specific code customers enter during checkout to receive the discount.

CPN: Abbreviation for coupon

Money Plus: Promotions that require you pay money and shipping costs

NAZ: Name, Address and Zip Code

NB: National Brand Products, as opposed to generic brand items

NED: No Expiration Date, meaning the coupon is valid indefinitely

OAS: Any One Size, means the coupon can be used on any size of the product offered

PK: Pack, as in a 3-pack of underwear

PP: Purchase Price

Premium: Item received from a refund offer

UNL: Unlimited, means you can redeem an unlimited number of coupons on a particular item