12 Coupons That Made You Buy Random Stuff
Coupons have a way of making shoppers buy random things they never intended, from fast food to home decor.
- Alyana Aguja
- 4 min read
Coupons are more than just discounts; they are marketing tools that nudge people into unplanned purchases. Whether it’s Kohl’s Cash, McDonald’s Monopoly, or Old Navy’s Super Cash, the psychology of “not wasting a deal” drives consumer behavior. These examples show how coupons turn routine shopping trips into opportunities for impulse buying.
1. Bed Bath & Beyond’s 20% Off Coupon
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For years, Bed Bath & Beyond’s 20% off coupons showed up in everyone’s mailbox, often in giant blue envelopes. The discount seemed too good to waste, which made people buy things like quirky kitchen gadgets or extra bath towels they didn’t need. Even if you had no plans to shop, that oversized coupon was enough to convince you to walk inside.
2. McDonald’s Monopoly Coupons
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McDonald’s Monopoly game made millions of people buy extra fries, drinks, or burgers just to collect little paper game pieces. The coupons often promised free food items, which encouraged customers to keep ordering more in hopes of completing the board. It turned a regular fast-food trip into an addictive coupon-driven scavenger hunt.
3. Pizza Hut’s “Buy One, Get One Free” Coupon
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Pizza Hut’s iconic BOGO coupons had a way of convincing families to buy twice as much pizza as planned. Even if you only wanted one, the coupon made it feel like wasting money if you didn’t get the second. This led to many refrigerators packed with leftover slices that lasted for days.
4. Kohl’s Cash
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Kohl’s introduced “Kohl’s Cash,” where customers earned coupons to spend on their next visit. The catch was that you had to come back within a short window of time, which pushed people to buy things they normally wouldn’t. Many shoppers left with random home decor or clothes they never planned to purchase just to use up the coupon.
5. Subway’s Footlong Coupons
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Subway coupons for discounted footlong sandwiches often encouraged people to buy two instead of one. Even if you were only hungry for a six-inch, the coupon made the full sandwich feel like a bargain. It often resulted in leftovers, but the lure of saving money was irresistible.
6. Old Navy “Super Cash”
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Old Navy’s “Super Cash” was designed to make shoppers return for another round of spending. Customers would earn coupons worth $10 or $20 but only if they spent a minimum amount on the next visit. That meant many people bought random T-shirts or accessories just to avoid “wasting” their Super Cash.
7. Target Circle Offers
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Target’s Circle app provides rotating coupons on snacks, cleaning supplies, and seasonal goods. Shoppers often added items to their carts simply because the app said “15% off today only.” The combination of convenience and urgency made it easy to justify unnecessary buys.
8. JCPenney $10 Off Coupons
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JCPenney frequently offered $10 off coupons that could be used on almost anything in the store. Customers often bought random socks, clearance items, or small kitchen appliances to get the most out of their deal. It was the perfect excuse to grab something inexpensive but unnecessary.
9. Best Buy Reward Zone Coupons
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Best Buy used to mail Reward Zone certificates that felt like free money but required a purchase. Even a $5 coupon could nudge someone into buying a new video game accessory or a DVD they never planned to get. It was a clever way to clear out random inventory while making customers feel rewarded.
10. Domino’s Pizza Coupons
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Domino’s often handed out coupons for pizzas with two or three toppings at a steep discount. Many people ordered extra side items, like breadsticks or dessert, just because they came bundled in coupon deals. What started as a simple dinner plan could easily turn into a feast.
11. CVS ExtraCare Bucks
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CVS ExtraCare Bucks acted like mini coupons printed on long receipts. Shoppers would use them to grab items they never thought about before, like lip balm, candy, or nail polish. The coupons created a cycle where people bought more than they intended to keep earning more rewards.
12. Bed Bath & Beyond Beyond+ Membership Coupons
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Aside from their regular 20% coupons, Bed Bath & Beyond offered Beyond+ membership with exclusive coupon discounts. Members often felt pressured to use their benefits regularly, which meant picking up random home gadgets or seasonal decor. The subscription-style couponing made unnecessary shopping feel like getting your money’s worth.