Why coupon sites make you click to reveal the code
The click is how the site gets paid. On most coupon sites, pressing “Show code” opens the store in a new tab through the site’s affiliate link. That link marks your visit as theirs, and if you buy, the store pays the coupon site a share of the order.
What happens when you press “Show code”
- The coupon site opens the store’s website, usually in a new tab, through an affiliate link.
- The link leaves a cookie in your browser that names the coupon site as the one that sent you.
- The code appears back on the coupon site’s tab, ready to copy.
- If you buy while that cookie is active, the store credits the coupon site and pays it a commission.
Why the site is paid even when the code fails
The payment is for the visit that led to a sale, not for the code. A 2020 analysis by Seer Interactive found that these sites “are compensated whether customers find a valid coupon code or not.” Most stores also credit the last site you came from, so “it’s usually the last coupon site you visit that is compensated.”
That gives every coupon site a reason to put a click in front of every code, including old ones. It is why a reveal button can lead to a code that has already ended. The same pattern has been discussed on UX Stack Exchange since 2018.
Does it cost you anything?
Not in money: the store pays the commission, and your price is the same. The cost is friction, such as tabs you did not ask to open, pop-ups on some sites, and codes that no longer work.
How CouponLlama does it
- Every code is printed in full on its store page. Copying it puts it on your clipboard and opens nothing.
- The link to the store is a separate button you can use or ignore. Some of these links are affiliate links, which is how CouponLlama makes money. The affiliate disclaimer has the details.
- Each code shows how many shoppers said it worked and the day it last worked. A code nobody has voted on says so.
- There is no sign-in and nothing to install.
Browse the stores or read how CouponLlama works.
Questions
Why do coupon sites make you click to reveal the code?
The click opens the store through the coupon site’s affiliate link. That marks your visit as coming from the coupon site, so if you buy, the store pays the site a commission.
Does clicking a coupon site’s link change the price I pay?
No. The store pays the commission. Your price is the same whichever link you came from.
Why didn’t the code I revealed work?
Most often the code has ended, needs a minimum spend, covers only some products or is for first orders. Sites are paid for the visit whether or not the code works, so old codes often stay listed.
Does CouponLlama hide codes behind a button?
No. Every code is printed on its store page, and copying it opens nothing. There is no sign-in and nothing to install.