MARTIN SLOANE | Supermarket Shopper Web site is source of cool online savings

Back in the late '90s, the Internet was supposed to change retailing including grocery shopping. It was also supposed to change the way smart shoppers found their grocery savings, with manufacturers moving their coupons online instead of using the Sunday coupon inserts. Neither has happened. However, one source of online grocery coupons is prospering. At www.coolsavings.com the Grocery Coupons section recently included some interesting offers:
I started with an offer from Suave. I clicked on "Reveal Your Bonus Savings." Up came two multiple-choice questions asking about my use of this type of product. I answered the questions and clicked on "Reveal My Savings." The savings turned out to be a 50-cent coupon, and I clicked on the "print my savings" button.
Answering a few questions is the price some manufacturers ask in return for their online coupons. I answered the questions to receive a coupon for $1.50 off a Hormel Beef Roast Au Jus entree and $1 off the 4-pack of Dannon la Creme yogurt.
No questions asked
Some of the offers on coolsavings.com don't ask questions. An example was $2 off on ThermaSilk products. I clicked on "more information" and found product information as well as the coupon's expiration date of Feb. 28. I went back to the previous screen and checked the box "select this coupon." I found other "no questions" offers that included a 75-cent coupon good on the purchase of two packages of Gorton's Crispy Battered or Crunch Golden Fillets; 75 cents off two Gorton's Shrimp Bowls; a 55-cent coupon on any brand of California dried plum, 12 ounce or larger; $3 off an Alluna sleep product; and 55 cents off any variety Red Baron product (pizzas). When you are through making your selections from the "no questions" offers, you will find a "print now" button on the bottom of the screen. Also printed out with the Gorton's fillets coupon was a recipe for a Crunchy Green Bean and Fish Fillet Casserole. The coupon offers are usually limited to one per household and after you have printed out a coupon, you will not find the same offer the next time you visit the Coolsavings Web site.
Free registration
To receive the savings, you have to register with Coolsavings. Registration takes only a minute and is free. Interestingly, the coupons you print out have your name and in my case said: "Cashier check ID. Coupon for use only by The Sloane household." Coolsavings.com has licensed its coupon technology to grocery product manufacturers and visits to their Web sites will allow you to print out coupons. These sites include Abreva, BlueBunny (look for the "Be a Kid Again Sweepstakes" 55-cent coupon) and Gorton's.
At www.abreva.com, the Web site for this cold sore product, I clicked on "Get Instant Savings Now." To receive an Abreva coupon, I had to fill in a survey form. It asked for personal information including household income but only a zip code and e-mail address were required. I provided this limited information and a few seconds later my printer produced a $2 Abreva coupon along with information about the product.
Other well-known brands are using the Coolsavings technology to offer consumers coupons in their e-mail messages. They include Dove, Centrum, Dixie, Dreyer's Dreamery, Edy's Dreamery and L'Oreal Paris.
In addition to grocery savings, at www.coolsavings.com you will find a section of free offers and another section for savings at online retailers including Wal-Mart, Target and Sears. The coolsavings.com Web site is worth a weekly visit.
XSend questions and comments to Martin Sloane in care of The Vindicator. The volume of mail precludes individual replies to every letter, but Martin Sloane will respond to letters of general interest in the column. Check out Martin Sloane's Web site at www.martinsloane.com.
United Feature Syndicate