What is a coupon? Today, this word is most likely known as one of the terms used by marketers. It is associated with the provision of discounts on consumer goods. But this linguistic unit has other interpretations. Details that this is a coupon will be presented in today's review.
What do dictionaries say?
If you look at the dictionaries, then you can find the following interpretations of the meaning of the word "coupon" in them:
- A tear-off or cut-off part of a bond or other security having a specific face value or maturity, which gives the right to receive dividends or a percentage of income. (Be careful: the part to be circumcised is deleted only when the money is paid, the coupon that is separated is invalid).
- A coupon (tear-off or detachable), which gives the right to use it as a discount coupon and purchase goods or services on preferential terms. It is a document, which may be in the form of paper or digital media, with a unique code in it. (Discount coupons and certificates are circulating in the collective purchase market).
- Gift card or gift certificate, in the first case plastic, in the second - cardboard. Have any means of protection against copying. (The gift coupon contains a certain equivalent value, expressed in the currency that is accepted in the country of the issuer).
There are other meanings of the term we are studying. Consider them.
Other vocabulary interpretations
- A commodity coupon, also called a cut-off coupon, is paper that makes it possible to receive (with or without money) any product. Acted during periods of introduction of the card system, or during periods of large deficit. It was cut off or torn from a coupon book, coupon sheet or consumer card. (Commodity cut-off coupons were used in connection with the shortage of goods during the 2nd World War in the USSR, England, France, and coupons in the USSR were used in 1989-1991 in the republics and regions).
- A term used in the clothing industry, denoting a piece of fabric on a dress or skirt, other types of garments and designed for a specific cut. In accordance with this is the border, pattern, which can be printed or woven. (Tatyana understood from a lecture at a textile college that a coupon in a canvas is defined as a periodically repeating image).
- An international return coupon is a document of the Universal Postal Union that serves for its exchange for postage stamps when the minimum postage fee for sending a letter is paid. (Aleksei noticed that an ad was hanging in the post office building informing about the possibility of paying stamps for writing coupons).
Origin of the word
An interesting fact is that the etymology of the object we are studying is associated with nothing more than a “slap in the face”. But where does the slap in the face come in? Let's try to figure out how it relates to the meaning of the word “coupon”.
According to linguists, it originates from the French noun coupon, which means "coupon, cut." The latter was formed from the French verb couper, which originally meant "cut, cut off with a blow."
As for the verb itself, it came from another noun - coup in the meaning of “blow”. The French “punch” came from the medieval Latin noun colpus - “punch, slap in the open”.
The same noun came from vulgar Latin, where it looked like a colapus, in turn, it was formed from the classical Latin form, which had the same meaning.
And the scientific studies of etymologists are completed by indicating the origin of the Latin noun colaphus from the ancient Greek word κόλαφος, meaning slap in the face, slap in the face.
The analysis, which showed the connection of the “coupon” with the “slap in the face” reveals the meaning of the term under study as well as possible. It can be seen that the meaning of the word is associated with a sharp movement, which must be made in order to separate the part of the coupon intended for this.
Next, we consider in more detail two of the types of coupons described above - those associated with the provision of discounts and gifts.
Gift Certificate
The essence of its issuance is the use by the seller of a marketing move, with the help of which the company's trade turnover is artificially increased and the funds received from loyal customers are accumulated. It is also called a gift coupon, as well as a gift card, if it is made in plastic, which is the most relevant option for today, since it is protected from fake.
The ability of such a coupon to participate in a trade, as well as the prohibition on refunding money for it, led to the emergence of a new round in their development - the formation of exchange sites.
Coupon Features
A company issuing such cards is a retail network that records the fact that a certain amount of money has been paid in cash to the cash desk so that the buyer has the opportunity to donate this amount to a person in the future at his own discretion.
And this person will be able to choose for himself some thing he likes or use some service, having paid not with money, but with a gift coupon. Therefore, the card becomes an independent product. In addition, it can be freely transferred from one client to another - this is the second of the reasons why it acquires independent value.
Coupon sales
This name has the direction in Internet marketing, which enables customers, having received discount coupons, to take advantage of significant discounts on goods and services. And for companies, the benefit lies in a large expansion of the customer base due to the fact that discounts are provided to a certain minimum number of customers who make a purchase at a time.
Often, the link between the client and the seller are coupon discount sites operating on the collective purchase market. To get a product or a preferential service, you need to make purchases for a certain amount of discount coupons. In this regard, such systems offer coupons that allow you to get what you want with a significant discount. For example, buying a coupon for 100 rubles, get the right to lunch at a restaurant for 800 rubles.
How to use a coupon?
Here are a few examples that explain how to do this:
- If the user purchases a coupon worth, for example, 200 rubles, he can pay them the cost of the goods at 700 rubles. Another such coupon is called a certificate.
- When purchasing a discount coupon, for example, for 150 rubles, it is possible, paying the bill, to get a discount, say, of 50%.
- The user can receive (for example, by e-mail) or independently find a coupon on the website that offers a certain discount, and then indicate it during checkout in the store.