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E-Coupons: Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is my coupon not printing?

A: Many of the typical coupon printing problems can be simply solved by first making sure you have:

  • Successfully installed the Coupon Print Activator plug-in
  • A computer operating system and browser that are supported
  • Not exceeded the coupon print limits
  • No printer issues
  • These and other topics are further discussed below, so please check the Q&A's listed here and see if your problem is solved.

Q: Why do I need to install the Coupon Print Activator to print coupons?

A: Coupons are often quite valuable. That's why many offer providers (e.g. manufacturers, retailers, etc.) require secure controls for distribution and printing of their coupons. The Coupon Print Activator plug-in is one of such controls for printing coupons. It takes very little time to download, and will complete installation automatically. It has been engineered to run seamlessly with widely used Windows and Mac OS X operating systems and popular browsers (See below). Plus, once installed, it will enable you to print future coupons without the need for additional downloads.

Q: Is my computer's operating system and browser supported?

A: The following operating systems and browsers are supported by the Coupon Print Activator:

  • Windows OS 2000, ME, XP and Vista when used with any of the following browsers: Internet Explorer 6.x and 7.x, or Firefox 2.x and 3.x.
  • Mac OS 10 and above when used with any of the following browsers: Safari 2.x and 3.x, and Firefox 2. x and 3.x.
  • The Coupon Print Activator is updated from time to time to meet newer versions and/or types of popular browsers, so please check back to see if support for your operating system and/or browser has been added.
  • Please note that in general "Beta" operating systems and/or browsers may not be supported.
  • Coupon printing is not supported under Linux, Unix or Web TV platforms.

Q: Why is the coupon no longer available to me? OR, Why did I get an exceeded limit message?

A: Given that coupons are often quite valuable, many offer providers have a limit as to how many times a coupon may be printed by the same customer/household, or total number of offers available in a promotion campaign. If you get an error message such as "you have exceeded your household limit" or "this coupon is no longer available", it is likely you have encountered such limit(s). Similarly, sometimes a coupon campaign many have expired, but the offer display may still be available - in those cases, if you click on the offer you will also get an error message such as the ones above.

Q: How can I tell if I have printer issues?

A: If the Coupon Print Activator plug-in was installed properly, your operating system and browser are supported, and you have not exceeded the coupon print limit, but you were still unable to print your coupon, check the following:

  • Is your printer turned on? Turn your printer on and try printing the coupon again by clicking on the original coupon link.
  • Is there sufficient paper in the paper tray? Double check your paper supply and try printing the coupon again by clicking on the original coupon link.
  • Is the printer properly connected to your computer? Often the simplest explanation is a faulty connection. Check the cable connection between your computer and your printer. Try printing the coupon again by clicking on the original coupon link.
  • Is your 'default' printer the printer you are expecting to get your coupon on? If you have multiple printers connected to your computer, often as part of the network, you may want to check and see if your current default printer is the printer where you expected to get your coupon print out. You can check this setting in your Control Panel/Printers and Faxes on Windows and in your System Preferences/Print Fax on a Mac.
  • Are the status lights on the printer indicating problems? Often, if your printer is experiencing problems, a red light will be lit up or blinking on its control panel. Please refer to your printer owner's manual. After following the directions try printing the coupon again by clicking on the original coupon link.
  • Are you printing to the right printer device setting? You may not print to fax machines or file-based printer (e.g., Adobe Acrobat, SnagIt) or other programs that create PDFs or image file. Please check your printer setting to make sure your default printer is a regular printer. If you have a multi-function printer (fax, copy, print), please make sure that the 'Printer' is set as the default function on your computer.

Q: What if I don't have a printer?

A: A printer is required to print our Internet print-controlled coupons.

Q. Why am I getting server error messages?

A: Most server error messages encountered are the result of a temporary situation. However, if the message you encountered persists, we'd like to hear from you. Please contact us via the Technical Support form and provide as much detail as possible about your browser and operating system, the offer you were trying to access, the site you were accessing the offer from, any error messages you encountered, and whether you had already printed the offer or not.

Q: Is there another way to get coupons without downloading your Coupon Print Activator plug-in?

A: Typically, the Coupon Print Activator plug-in is necessary for print-controlled coupons. Many offer providers consider coupons to be of value, and hence require controls in accessing and printing offers. The Coupon Print Activator plug-in is one of the necessary elements for such controls in printing coupons

Q. What is a "plug-in"?

A: Plug-ins are software programs that extend the capabilities of your browser and other applications. For example, plug-ins give you the ability to play audio files, see movies, view documents in a certain format or print coupons from your personal computer. Most plug-ins are developed by third party companies: Apple's QuickTime and Adobe's Acrobat PDF Reader are examples of third party software plug-ins.

Q: Is the Coupon Print Activator plug-in safe to install on my computer?

A: Yes! The Coupon Print Activator plug-in has been engineered to run seamlessly with Windows and Mac computers running widely used operating systems and browsers. During the download process, you may have noted that your browser states that it might be "dangerous" to accept the download. This "warning" is simply identifying that this plug-in was not developed by the original browser software developer (e.g. Microsoft). When you download or run programs from the Internet, you want to know that the program comes from a known, reliable source. That's why, after you click the "accept" or "yes" button to download a program from the Internet to your computer, your browser uses authentication to verify the identity of the program, and that it has a valid certificate. This feature eliminates the chance of someone misrepresenting a program that is intended to be malicious or intentionally harmful.

Q. What if I got an unexpected error message stating that downloading did not complete?

A: Please try downloading the Coupon Print Activator again by re-entering the site from which you were trying to print coupons.

Q: What about my privacy?

A: We value your privacy and the Coupon Print Activator plug-in is simply intended to manage the controlled printing of coupons. To learn more about our privacy policy please read the privacy statement, which is generally accessible from the site's registration or other page(s).

Q. What are "cookies"?

A: "Cookies" are small files saved to your computer by your browser. They enable us to recognize your computer without requiring you to login. By recognizing your computer we are able to deliver personalized content based on the information and preferences you previously provided voluntarily. Your browser enables you to fully control "cookies". Please refer to your browser's help feature to learn more about "cookies". Many browsers offer the ability to accept or decline a cookie on a case-by-case basis. Please note that if "cookies" are turned off within your browser, you may not be able to benefit from all of the features associated with some of the promotions.

Q: Who is E-centives?

A: E-centives provides the technologies used for these coupons. Since 1996, E-centives has been the leading provider of secure, measurable Internet coupons and a broad range of interactive promotions for many of the world's leading companies and brands. For more information about E-centives, visit www.e-centives.com.

Q: I have reviewed all these FAQ's but still have issues with printing coupons, can I get some help?

A: Yes, please complete a Technical Support request and provide as much detail as possible about your browser and operating system, the offer you were trying to access, the site you were accessing the offer from, any error messages you encountered, and whether you had already printed the offer or not.