SnipSnap Quick Tip: Can I Snip it? Manufacturer Coupons Vs. Store Coupons

Hey, SnipSnappers! If you haven’t already, make sure you update to SnipSnap 2.1 and take advantage of all the latest and greatest the app has to offer. Some of SnipSnap’s coolest new features: auto-deletion and increased intuitiveness about which coupons to hide from general search results. Earlier today, I blogged about store ads vs. store coupons and how to avoid snipping the former. Now I want to talk about manufacturer coupons, why they may not work, and why you should avoiding snipping them or uploading them in the first place.

What are manufacturer coupons? Manufacturer coupons are different from store coupons in that manufacturer coupons are funded by the maker of the product and not the store that’s distributing that product. When you redeem a paper manufacturer coupon at the grocery store, the store will use the physical coupon to claim reimbursement from the manufacturer. For the reason, mobilizing manufacturer coupons is a little tricky (we’re working on it!) so SnipSnap only supports store coupons for the time being. 

How can you tell the difference between manufacturer coupons and store coupons? It’s pretty simple, once you know what to look for.

A simple search for Rite Aid coupons will show you the difference between coupons that will work and coupons that might not.

Both manufacturer coupons and store coupons may feature a specific store’s logo. But, manufacturer coupons will clearly state that they are manufacturer coupons, while store coupons will state “store coupon” or “valuable coupon” or the name of the store department the coupon is for, such as: “photo coupon.” You can see the difference between these two coupons here:

Manufacturer coupon
Store Coupon
Screen Shot 2013-01-24 at 3.14.07 PM
Manufacturer Coupon

You’ll want to steer clear of uploading and snipping manufacturer coupons because, since stores need a physical copy of the coupon to be refunded, you’re much less likely to have success redeeming a mobilized print manufacturer deal. Many manufacturer coupons will actually contain instructions for how retailers can be reimbursed for manufacturer coupons by mailing them to a specific address.

It’s simple! Avoid snipping manufacturer coupons, and you’ll see your SnipSnap success rate soar. And, remember, many SnipSnapped store coupons can still be combined with physical print manufacturer coupons (depending on your store and specific store location), as well as mobile manufacturer rebates, like the kind you can score with Ibotta.