eBay is paying buyers $5 to make a purchase this summer through a coupon offer. It sent an email to some users at the end of July with the subject line, “You’ve got $5!”
The invitation read, “You’ve Got $5! A Coupon Just for You. Free is always fun. Use code MYFUNFIVE. No minimum. Don’t miss out! Ends 8/22.”
The month-long coupon campaign kicked off on July 23rd and excludes items from the Coins & Paper Money, Gift Cards & Coupons, and Real Estate categories.
One user on coupon site SlickDeals.net said they believed eBay was targeting inactive accounts with the coupon. Aside from one user on the eBay boards who had difficulty using the coupon, there’s no buzz about the promotion.
Be sure to read any promotional offers you receive carefully for details and restrictions.
I’d use it to buy something worth exactly $5 with free shipping.
Lemme see if I have this in proper perspective…
They’re basically going after an impulse buy, which would likely be under $50.
They’ll break even on a $50 buy, and lose money on the lesser buys.
Bottom line…they potentially get to show increased buyers for this quarter, but no additional revenue (or even a loss) from those buyers.
Yet, the stock keeps selling as though it has bottomed out.