Because the supply of coupon books is limited, the promotion will end when they are gone.
For some, that term produced images of "coupon clippers," another term you don't hear much anymore.
According to its most recent S.E.C. filing, Groupon is averaging only 42 percent of coupon revenues.
But I thought that I would have a more vivid encounter exploring the mangroves of Coupon Bight with someone who knew it well.
Of course, it's the sluggish economy that's inspiring this return to thriftiness — along with a newer digital iteration of coupon culture.
The increase in usage can cause merchants to think twice about participating in Groupons or to press Groupon for a larger share of coupon revenue.
You can search by store, sign up for alerts by e-mail newsletter or check out a list of coupon codes for various fashion purveyors.
A new breed of coupon, printed from the Internet or sent to mobile phones, is packed with information about the customer who uses it.
"I think it underestimates what a sport discount hunting is," Mark Ellwood, author of "Chasing the Sale," a coming book on discounting, said of coupon hunters.
"These are the ones I need to take care of today," she said, motioning to a pile of coupon inserts in a twiggy brown basket on her desk.
According to a Nielsen report, newspapers remain the main source of coupon distribution, at 89 percent, and newspaper inserts account for the most coupons redeemed, at 53 percent.
