The discount code does not work: the real causes
When a code is rejected the instinctive reaction is to assume it expired. In most cases the reason is something else, and it often takes thirty seconds to fix.
Updated August 22, 2026
Minimum spend not reached
By far the most common cause. Many coupons only activate above a threshold — €39, €50, €100 — and below it the shop rejects them without explaining why. Check the deal description: if there is a minimum spend, it is written there.
Excluded products
Almost every promotion excludes something: already-reduced items, certain brands, gift cards, electronics. If your basket holds a single item and it is excluded, the code has nothing to apply to.
New customers only
Welcome codes only work on a first order. Some shops check the email address, others the delivery address or payment method: using a different email is rarely enough to get around the check.
One code per order
If a promotion is already applied, the second one is rejected. This also happens when you did not add the first discount yourself: some baskets automatically apply a running promotion, which takes the slot.
Copying mistakes
A trailing space copied by accident, the letter O instead of a zero, or capitals changed by your phone's autocorrect. It is worth retyping the code by hand before writing the deal off.
Wrong country or currency
Many brands run separate sites per country, and a code meant for the Italian site will not work on the French or international one. If the price is in an unexpected currency, you are probably on the wrong site.
Code used up or expired
Some promotions have a maximum number of uses and run out before their expiry date. Others are withdrawn early by the shop. Deals on this site refresh every hour, but a code can still be pulled between two refreshes.
What to do next
If you have ruled out everything above, try another deal from the same shop: there are often several active at once, with different conditions. If you are signed in you can also tell us it did not work with the thumbs down: that vote feeds the shop rating and helps whoever comes after you.