How to use Steam Coupons

A detailed guide on everything about Steam coupons

What is a Steam Coupon?

During the time you've been a Steam user, you may have heard of coupons.
Steam coupons are discounts you can use on games available in the Steam store.
Link: http://store.steampowered.com/

• Most coupons are earned via crafting badges from card drops through selected games or voting in Summer/Winter Steam sales.
  
• Others are automatically added to your Steam inventory through more global promotions.

While you may not own any, fear not - their uses are limited! There is nothing to be jealous of.
In fact, while many promotions bring new buyers in, they are often available LONG after the game is released. Most people who are curious about coupons simply want to try a new game or play something they wouldn't consider at normal retail.
If you are here, you will find 3 tutorials....
-Locating your Coupons
-Using your Coupons
-Trading your Coupons
....and learn the answers to many detailed questions in the FAQ part of this guide.
Feel free to go straight to the FAQ on the sidebar, as it covers the same material as my tutorials and more.
Alternatively, if you wish to read Steam Support's short FAQ about coupons, please click the following link:
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=4210-YIPC-0275#trade

Tutorial A - Locating your Coupons

You may realize you have a coupon when you're in the checkout area, but most people will have browsed their inventory before then. If you're considering which games to buy...
1. From the Steam interface, hover over your name and click on INVENTORY

2. From your inventory, you may see your coupons right away. OR from the "ALL STEAM ITEMS" drop-down menu, select "COUPONS"

3. Click on a coupon to see more details. Take note of the orange expiration date.

4. If you're not familiar with the game, or the base price...Click "View Applicable games." From the preview, you can visit the game's store page

Tutorial B - Using your Coupons

From the game's store page, click "Add to cart." The coupon is for the base game (no DLC) unless stated otherwise

You should be taken to your cart page. By default, Steam applies discounts OR you can select which % coupon discount to use, if applicable. The higher discount is the default if you have 2 different coupons for the same game. However, if a game happens to be on sale, no coupons will be applicable.

Continue with your purchase or continue shopping. Any remaining funds - not covered by the coupon and/or your Steam Wallet balance - will be deducted from your backup payment method. Be sure to select "gift" if you are specifically buying the game for a friend.

Once you complete the transaction, the coupon will be removed from your inventory.
The game is ready to download or be placed in the gift inventory.

Tutorial C - Trading your Coupons

There are 2 ways to do this:

• From your "View Friends List" in the bottom-right corner, right-click a user's icon. You can send them a trade offer before or after you chat with them. The trade interface also has a chat window.
  
  Again, you can use the drop-down menu to filter in only the coupons you have. Drag the coupon(s) you want to trade to the empty boxes on your right.
  
  You may trade coupons for nothing in return and so can your partner. The trade will be marked as suspicious for your protection. You may choose to continue if you certify you want nothing in return
  
  Make sure both parties check the "ready" box and "Make the Trade!"
  
  
• OR you can go to your inventory and select "Trade offers" sometimes, this is a less intrusive way to give your friends coupons, especially if they are experiencing a bad internet connection
  Select "new offer, and choose a friend, select the items to give them and choose what you want in return, if applicable. Your friend will receive a notification and hopefully respond when they're no longer busy or playing a game.

You can read more about trade offers here:
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=2178-QGJV-0708

Steam Coupon FAQ

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• Q: Where do I get the coupons?
  A: Again, 1. crafting 2. promotions 3. voting during Summer and WInter Steam sales 4. Directly from the game's website (be wary of 3rd party) 5. trading with the Steam Community
  It's easiest to collect coupons from people who have the games already. Check out the Coupon Trading and Coupon Dumpster groups on Steam for more info.
  Links:
  
  • Coupon Trading Group
    http://steamcommunity.com/groups/Coupon-Trading-Group
    
  • Coupon Dumpster
    http://steamcommunity.com/groups/coupondumpster
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• Q: How much are the discounts?
  A: Most coupons will range between 25% - 90% off of selected titles. It really depends on how badly the game needs marketing or how long it's been available. New games will lean more towards 25% off. Give it a year or more and you will see 50-90% off.
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• Q: Does it get cheaper?
  A: No, not really. Not unless you go to a game bundle site. Humble Bundle [www.humblebundle.com] is probably the most well-known. The list goes on. Those can be up to 95% off. Again, depending on many marketing factors. But they're designed so you can't stiff the devs, the host, OR the charity.
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• Q: What kinds of games usually give discounts?
  A: To be fair, it's mostly up-and-coming developers (Indie labels) who will have their (Indie) games such coupons. Simulators and tablet, iPad or iPhone-based games will often be discounted. Also, games that haven't had other sales or are selling poorly will make coupons that you can POSSIBLY get. Community feedback plays a huge role here. Devs aren't going to discount a game just because you ask them. It depends if you're getting your money's worth.
  Again, marketing. One of my friends got a 90% off Portal Coupon. Go figure!
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• Q: Do I have to use a coupon?
  A: No, you do not. It will stay in your inventory if you de-select it while shopping. You can use this to save coupons to trade to friends. You will have to pay the resulting cost of the game though (usually full price). If you no longer want the game - remove the item from your cart, or navigate away to refresh the store page and remove the item. As long as you haven't agreed to pay for the game, none of your funds will be deducted and the coupon will remain in your possession (Inventory).
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• Q: Can I use this coupon on another store page, besides Steam?
  A: No. That is why they are "Steam" coupons
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• Q: Can I sell my coupons on Steam Community Market or 3rd party sites?
  A: Nope.
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• Q: Can I use a coupon on a game I already own? (Can I buy a game for my buddy with a coupon?)
  A: Yes. It will automatically go to your gift inventory OR you can change the default if you want your friend to own the game when you haven't bought one for yourself.
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• Q: Can I stack coupon discounts for the same game?
  A: No, you must select which discount you wish to use. The store will usually determine your higher discount and make that the default.
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• Q: Can I use a coupon on a sale item?
  A: It depends. Usually with the timing of coupons, that shouldn't be an option. However, if you try to checkout with a sale with your cart - and a coupon option appears - it would be in your best interest to apply that discount.
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• Q: Can I pay for the remaining sum with my Steam wallet?
  A: Yes. It will be one of the 1st options you see during checkout.
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• Q: Can I buy a game with a coupon if I couldn't otherwise?
  A: If your account's purchases are disabled, then no. However, if you were short on money in your Steam Wallet or backup payment method, the game should be more affordable now.
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• Q: Can I pay the same price with this coupon that my friend in another country did?
  A: Probably not. Base prices and availability vary by country. Additionally, sanctions in certain countries may ban certain games from being available to you.
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• Q: Can I buy a game that doesn't match my system specs?
  A: Yes. Now this may be good or bad. If you want to update your computer - but not now - go ahead and buy the game at a discount. Install it when you are ready.
  If you can't use the game at the moment, consider buying it for a friend, or giving away the coupon.
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• Q: Can I extend a coupon's duration or expiration date?
  A: No. Once your coupon is gone, you no longer get the discount price. However, you may get the same coupon in the future. It depends on the developers' marketing intentions and their input with Steam store.
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• Q: What happens to expired coupons?
  A: They will disappear from your inventory after the allotted time. You can view the expiration date from your inventory.
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I hope that answers everything. Otherwise, contact Steam. I don't work for them, so I don't know how the entire system works.

Coupon Scammers/Spammers

Beware of scammers! They blight the world of coupons.
Coupon scammers are one or more of the following:

• harass you to trade with them, when told otherwise
  
• those who want more in return than the coupon's discount value (original price - discounted price). Coupons may be "free", but some cases are reasonable to expect something in return.
  
• those who refuse to tell you the expiration date on the coupon(s) [hover over the item during the trade - you may be able to check the expiration date yourself. Do check it!!!]
  
• those who want undefined, future favors or services in exchange for coupons

Remember that coupons are essentially a privelage and are free. If you got free coupons in a trade, too bad.
-->IF YOU DIDN'T OFFER ANYTHING FOR THE COUPONS, YOU ARE WASTING YOUR TIME REPORTING CLOSE-DATED COUPONS!
-->IF YOU WERE HARASSED INTO TRADING, KEEP READING!
-->IF YOU DID LOSE ITEMS OF GREATER VALUE THAN THE COUPONS IN A TRADE, KEEP READING! HERE'S WHAT TO DO:
If you encounter any of the problems highlighted above - or other suspicious activity....

• go to the (ab)user's profile trade and on the options drop-down menu (near "Add Friend"), select report violation. If the user is being verbally abusive in chat DURING the trade, click the flag button!
  
• Make sure to file a detailed report, not just "this guy's a scammer." You could say, "gave me coupons he said were good for longer than in reality" or "gave coupons that were worth less than what I traded him" Steam will obviously note if you traded coupons for nothing because you were warned.
  
• Again, if the trade was made through harassment in any form, report it!
  
• In addition, consider changing the privacy settings on your inventory to deter unwanted trades.

External Resources + Credits

If you have need of coupons, or want to give your unused coupons away, check out the following groups on Steam (and others).

Coupon Trading Group
http://steamcommunity.com/groups/Coupon-Trading-Group

Coupon Dumpster
http://steamcommunity.com/groups/coupondumpster

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Thanks to DoN1 for all the coupons. I don't know what I am going to do with these. Oh wait, I wrote a guide! Thank you so much for your help!!!

Steam Store and Valve (for allowing coupons for users =D )
http://store.steampowered.com/

Thanks to Steam Support (all unanswered questions and stuff)
https://support.steampowered.com/
and
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=4210-YIPC-0275

Thanks to HowTech for the idea of going to a game's site to look for coupons. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0inqgaTs40

Thanks to Humble Bundle and others for offering alternative discounts
https://www.humblebundle.com/

Mission Statement

Thank you for reading this guide. Feedback is important - please rate and comment!
If you want more, go to my guides section and “follow”!
I have written dozens of --> guides on Steam games. <--
I enjoy helping people play games, but I can’t do it alone!
Encourage your friends to write guides…for games!
-Catherine

[Luftwaffle]

Anyone interested in Iris. Fall?

[Broken_Te]

i need 3 dollars in my steam wallet but steam wont accept my refund for geometry dash

[Mr.Crow]

damn it, thats mean only works for specific games and these games are sucks

[That Wun Wabbit]

I would test it at checkout. I'm guessing no though, because you usually get a special price for bundles like that

[ttv/official_EFIE]

I have one coupon for this one game. And this game has a bundle with the game itself, OST, and art book. Can I use the coupon for the bundle?

[That Wun Wabbit]

I wouldn't be able to help you without knowing more. You'll have to contact steam support

[RedGammaVenom]

my coupon hasent expired but for some reason it doesn't work

[✪]

ow thanks, I appreciate the fast response :D

[That Wun Wabbit]

No, don't think so. But the higher discount will be the default coupon for Steam to deduct from your inventory

[✪]

I can't use 2 coupons of the same kind to purchase a game?