How to Use Online Coupons and Links 

For those of you new to shopping online where you wish to use our links to connect to featured Merchants or their products and specials or to redeem online coupons to save signicant money, we are providing this information to assist you.

Many online retailers issue electronic coupons, discounts and deals to attract shoppers to their sites. We spend several hours each day scouring the internet for these deals so that you don't have to! Check in with our "Today's Coupons" section on our homepage each day for the latest deals all in one place.  The coupons offered vary widely, but most fall into two categories:  Link-Only Deals and Code Deals.

LINK-ONLY DEALS

To visit a merchant's site or to redeem a link-only deal, merely click on the merchant's link on Shopping-Universe.net and you will usually be brought to a page on the retailer's site detailing the offer and how to proceed or the discount will show up in your shopping cart at checkout. Shop as you normally would and the offer should be automatically reflected at checkout.

CODE DEALS 

Many coupon offers are coupon code deals. These can be distinguished from link-only deals because they will reflect that you must enter a particular code to receive the savings.  To redeem a coupon code deal, first click through on the Shopping-Universe.net link.  Usually you will NOT be brought to a special page, but instead to the retailer's home page.  Keep in mind that the discount is not automatic - you will need to enter the coupon code you found on Shopping-Universe.net.  Most sites prompt you to enter your coupon during the checkout process; however, some give you the opportunity to do so earlier.  Coupon codes are entered differently on every site, you should look for a box marked "Coupon/Discount", "Source Code" or "Promotion Code." (Not to be confused with the Gift Certificate box which is generally NOT the place to enter the Coupon Code.) Once you enter the coupon code, the discount should be reflected as you continue the checkout process. 

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IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER:

1. We make every effort to ensure that the offers posted on Shopping-Universe.net are intended for the general public and are valid and functioning.  Should you discover a non-working or invalid offer, please e-mail us so that we can remove it from the site.  Please do not contact the individual retailer's customer service.  Offers can expire or be pulled by the retailer without us realizing it and getting in touch with the retailer will usually not produce the desired results. Please be advised that the retailers are not obligated to honor any deal found on this site.

2. Don't finalize any order without first seeing confirmation of the offer in the checkout process, unless you are willing to pay the stated price.  Should you run into a problem and need to cancel your order, CALL the merchant's customer service right away.  Don't e-mail a cancellation request - it may not be read until it's too late.

3. Print out a copy of your confirmation page/receipt showing the discount/offer and retain it for your records.  Don't bookmark this page because you will not be able to return to it.  Also, keep all e-mail order and shipping confirmations in the event you need to track the order, etc.

4. Some offers are available only for first-time customers to a particular merchant.  This is usually stated next to any applicable offers.  However, don't give up if you are a returning customer! I have often called up dear ol' Mom and established an account with her information to get the deal.  Works like a charm and it's perfectly legitimate!  You can even choose to have the order sent as a gift and have it delivered directly to your house!

5. If you see a terrific offer, use it right away! We never know how long offers will be available and it is not uncommon for the great ones to be available one day and pulled later that day or the next.  Don't miss out or you'll be kicking yourself for it... (We speak from experience!)

6. Shipping charges vary greatly from merchant to merchant.  Take this into consideration when comparing deals and prices.

7. Generally speaking, most merchants will charge tax only if the merchant is based in the same state in which you reside or has a physical store there.  This can be a significant cost or savings when purchasing expensive products.  Usually the merchant's address can be found in the "About Us" section of their site.  We also encourage you to check their FAQ's or Information section for information about whether tax will be charged.

8. Purchasing online with a credit card is very safe if you keep the following in mind:  (1) Secure sites use encryption to protect your information as it is sent over the internet.  Make sure the site is secure by verifying that the lock in the lower portion of your browser is closed and that the URL of the page changes from "http:" to "https:"  (2) Never use a debit card as it does not afford you the same protection as a credit card.  (3) Never give out your social security number or mother's maiden name to a merchant site.  There is no legitimate reason they would need this information.

9) Before participating in any offer, please take note of any special terms and conditions related to the offer and confirm that the vendor is one with which you wish to do business.

Thank you for helping to support this site by purchasing through our links!