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Target Fights Papercuts With Cell Phone Coupons

by Caleb Johnson on March 10, 2010 at 06:20 PM

As far back as 2008, retailers were flirting with the idea of offering customers coupons via cell phones. It never really caught on, but, now, Target hopes to change that. According to a press release, the retailer began a program today that allows customers to receive digital coupons on their cell phones. Using a barcode on the screen, customers can scan and save money at any Target store in the U.S. The coupons will have an expiration date and can only be used once. To take part in the program, customers can visit a Web site to register, or download a free iPhone app.

While Target claims it's the first to offer this service at every store, other retailers have experimented with the concept. According to USA Today, J.C. Penney is testing a similar scanning technology at 16 locations across Houston, Texas, while grocery stores like Kroger and Safeway have implemented similar projects, although on a smaller scale.

It's interesting to see Target take the lead in offering digital coupons, which, research suggests, have higher redemption rates than print coupons. Still, it will take adoption from companies like McDonald's and Walmart, and continued improvements in smartphone compatibility, before digital coupons can truly go mainstream. [From: MarketWatch and USA Today]

Tags: cellphone, coupons, jcpenney, retail, retailers, shopping, target, top

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