I would remove the $100 from the equation. You got three items for $280.

Separately, make sure you use that $100 coupon for something that you actually want/need.

They want you to come back and are hoping you spend more than the $100. Bloomingdale’s and Old Navy always has those coupons for next time and they always expire on me.

I'd only see $100 as money if I used it to buy things I needed anyway like milk and paid whatever the lowest price is.
What is the real price of the 3 things? Or maybe you don't even need them.
You see $100 and that the 3 things are definitely worth $280. I see money, time, and investment opportunity lost.
List the items you bought, including items bought with the $100, and let's figure out how much you overpaid.

No. Really the store is doing this because they are betting you will forget about the coupon. All itndoes is lower the cost of more items by $100. You have already spent $280 on 3 items. You will later spend an additional sum, minus $100, on another amount of items. Let's say the next trip is $200 for 2 items. Minus $100 coupon is $100. Add that to the $280 you already spent and you've paid $380 for 5 items.

I don't think of it as getting the three items for $180. I got three items for $280. At some point in the future, I'll get $100 worth of stuff for free - so in the end I'll get $380 worth of stuff for $280. But I don't have the extra $100 to put in my bank account now, it's just a credit for more stuff, so it's not really $100 off the price of the current items.

It can still be smart to spend a few dollars more, if you have say $260 worth of merchandise ready to ring up, and adding an extra $20 will get you the credit for future purchases.

Op here. I find myself double counting these kinds of deals. I know that’s why stores do it!

I feel like I spend $180, not $280 even though I am spending $280.

Then when I go use it, I feel like I got $100 of free items.

Solve this internal debate

I spend $280 on 3 items. Incentive is I get $100 coupon toward future purchases. It will get used, no doubt.

Is this like getting 3 items for $180??

Or…

Alternately spending a little above or below $280 and getting more or less the same items. No $100.


**Does the $100 be like free money? Or is it a game where actually im spending more/getting more? As in, the $100 doesn’t count since I might spend more to get it, and I’m using it for more merchandise later?