SmartSource Xpress – For a New Generation of Coupon Clippers

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor

Although this might not sound very succulent, I was once an avid coupon clipper. But, quite frankly, I got tired of having coupons pile up at the bottom of my purse and getting all ripped and soiled and the whole thing just became too much of a hassle.

Now, before you mention that there are accessories to organize coupons, you should know that I also had a coupon folder to help organize but when I changed purses, it did not always find its way into the one I was using. By the time the coupon folder became too worn to repair, I tossed the whole thing out – coupons and all. I still do randomly clip coupons and, inevitably find them still at the bottom of my purse, past expiration date. Until now…. Digital coupons!

It’s quite by accident that I noticed that my two favorite grocery stores’ websites  had digital coupons. I initially thought they were coupons that I would print from their website. Au contraire! NO printing.  Digital coupons work by selecting specific coupons on the grocer’s website and these automatically upload to your loyalty (shopper) card. When you purchase the product, the coupon discount is automatically deducted (after you’ve entered your loyalty card). It’s like magic!

Little did I know that the concept has been around for three years at selected big chain grocery stores that have loyalty cards. Now widely used for all loyalty card based stores (i.e. Krogers, Safeway and so on), it is an easy way to save.

But wait, there’s more!!! Savings just got even easier. Yes, you guessed it!  There is now an app for that! It saves you the time from entering digital coupons on each loyalty card you own. Debuting next month, SmartSource Xpress allows you to register all of your loyalty cards (check participating retailers) and the coupons you select will be applied to all of your cards. If your favorite grocery store is not there, you should still sign up for updates. SmartSource Xpress is expecting to dramatically expand within the year. And really why would they not! They will carry every coupon in every magazine and Sunday paper savings, which makes it easy and fun to find and redeem savings from brands that you use everyday.

I suspect that this will bring a whole new generation of savers by making coupon clipping very succulent indeed!