# Coupon Values

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coupon-values/648>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 3, 1999, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coupon-values/648 "1999-06-03T15:15:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 1999, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coupon-values/648/1 "1999-06-03T15:15:00Z")

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Ok, maybe this has been answered elsewhere. If so, forgive me and gently point me to the right source 😉

Why is it on the bottom of coupons, you always see that fine print reading “Actual Cash Value 1/100th of one cent” or words to that effect. I understand that it means that you can’t take a 20¢ coupon and go to the store demanding 20¢ for it, but can you take 100 of them and demand a penny? This is hypothetical of course, as I have better things to do. Is there some formula for how much a coupon is “worth”? I noticed that my can of Coke which is good for $10 off admission to Six Flags has a cash value of 1/20th of one cent, so does the “value” of the coupon increase by how much the coupon is good for?

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“I guess it is possible for one person to make a difference, although most of the time they probably shouldn’t.”

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 1999, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coupon-values/648/2 "1999-06-03T16:17:00Z")

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Cecil did cover it in one of his books. Perhaps it’s in the searchable archive.

Some years ago you could collect a whole bunch of coupons, mail them to the vendor, and get an actual check for the total cash value. Trouble is, since 20 coupons=1 cent, it took a hell of a lot of coupons just to cover the cost of postage.

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 1999, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coupon-values/648/3 "1999-06-05T16:45:00Z")

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Guy is correct: [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_329c.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_329c.html)

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“We’re gonna have lawyers here. It’ll be a fun time.”  
–R.R.S.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 1999, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coupon-values/648/4 "1999-06-06T04:14:00Z")

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Thanks… I must of either missed that one or forgot I read it. 'Sides, Cecil’s answer made more sense then the theory that I can quit my job and start collecting billions of coupons to mail in and live like a king on my pennies.

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“I guess it is possible for one person to make a difference, although most of the time they probably shouldn’t.”