Few things are more frustrating than adding items to a basket, entering a discount code, and finding out at the last step that it no longer works. A few checks before you get to checkout can save you that disappointment and help you find a working alternative more quickly.

Check the listed expiry date

Most discount codes are shown with an expiry date on the site or page where you found them. If a code is past its listed date, it is unlikely to work, so it is worth checking this first before trying it at checkout.

Look for usage limits and exclusions

Some codes are limited to new customers, a specific category of product, or a minimum order value. A code can be genuinely still active but simply not apply to your particular order, which looks the same as an expired code once it is rejected at checkout.

Try the code without extra spaces or characters

Copying a code from a website or email can sometimes include an extra space at the beginning or end, which stops it from being recognised. Typing the code manually, or checking carefully after copying it, can resolve this simple issue.

Check whether it can be combined with other offers

If your basket already includes a sale item or another promotion, some codes will not stack on top of an existing discount. Removing a sale item temporarily, or checking the code’s terms, can clarify whether this is why it has not worked.

Have a backup option ready

If a code does not work, it is worth having a second option ready, whether that is another code, a current sale, or simply checking prices at a different retailer, rather than assuming no saving is available at all.

CheckoutDeals lists current, checked discount codes with their terms shown clearly, making it easier to find one that is genuinely still active before you reach checkout.