FAQ: A Closer Look at Target Mobile Coupons

FAQs & Basics, Target Coupons
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69 Comments

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Target Mobile Coupons are a very convenient and easy way to get great deals and stretch your savings even further. If you are not familiar with mobile coupons, then this post will hopefully help you understand how they work and how you can get started. Mobile coupons are Target Store coupons that are sent directly to your phone to be used for in-store purchases.

How do I sign up?
You can sign up to receive Target Mobile Coupons HERE. You will need to have an internet-capable phone in order to retrieve the coupons. Keep in mind– text messaging & data charges will apply depending upon your phone’s plan. If you have any questions, you can text HELP to 827438 for information. If you wish to cancel, you can text STOP to 827438 (you’ll receive a confirmation text or further instructions). You can also visit the Target website HERE for more information.

I signed up but I didn’t get the coupons?
Once you’re signed up, the coupons should arrive every other Saturday automatically. Sometimes you may not get the coupons automatically- but you should be able to text the word OFFERS to 827438 and get a text back with a link to the coupons. Once you tap on that link your coupons will come up. *PLEASE NOTE* When first signing up, you may not get the current cycle of mobile coupons, (hopefully you will) but if you don’t, you should be good to go for the next cycle. Target will send alerts to your phone whenever new coupons become available.

How do I redeem my mobile coupons?
All you have to do is show your coupons on your phone’s screen at the register and the cashier will scan the barcode that appears on the top. No scissors required. 🙂 This same bar code at the top applies to all the current coupons, so for example if you are buying 2 different products that there are two different mobile coupons for $1 Off each, when that bar code is scanned, both coupons will come off for a total of $2 savings. Each Target mobile coupon is meant to be redeemed only once as the terms read “Limit one item or offer per coupon” So if you buy 2 identical items, only one coupon will be applied.

Also rememeber- since mobile coupons are still Target Coupons, they can be stacked with MQs. You will find any possible matchups to them under the “MOBILE COUPONS” section on my Target Coupon page.

Target Baby, Plus-size & City Target coupon & savings offers….
Target has other mobile coupon programs and you do not need to be signed up for regular mobile coupons to get these savings. Unlike the regular mobile coupons- these are not on a schedule and offer periodic coupons. Also- for some, first time users will get rewarded right away with an online discount code along with occasional mobile in-store coupon offers. Here’s a summary of the programs currently being offered:

TARGET BABY: You can sign up to receive discounts on baby deals by texting the word “BABY5” to 827438. First time users will receive an instant reward – a code for 10% off Baby Purchase online only, valid for 30 days. You will be alerted to other baby coupons as they become available.

CITY TARGET MOBILE OFFERS: If you are a resident of Seattle, Chicago or Los Angeles, you can also text “CITY” to 827438 to be signed up for occasional mobile coupon offers at your local CityTarget location.

Additional Special Mobile Coupon Offers
From time to time- Target also offers special mobile coupons by texting a certain word. I try and stay on top of the latest ones as much as I can and also offer manufacturer matchups for all mobile coupons on my Target Coupon Page. Just go HERE and scroll down to my “Mobile Coupons” section.

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69 Comments

  1. Thanks for your suggestion Jen. I was able to get a coupon using my dumb phone the way you suggested it. Smart thinking. Thanks!!

  2. How do you use Savingstar at Target? I thought you had to have a rewards card i.e.Kroger etc.

  3. can i use more than one mobile coupon at one time? like one from my phone and one from my sisters?

  4. i text baby5 to target and then it sends me a text saying one more step to sign up for baby coupons just click the link to go to the form. i go to the link that it sends me on that text and it just sends me to the main page of target.com i cannot figure out how to sign up for these. help please

  9. Just a note to anyone without a smart phone!!! (Cause I don’t have one either) it’s a bit tedious but you can actually get the text code link in your text messages on a dumb phone and then type that link into your normal web browser on a computer and then print the coupon that way. It takes a few pages but it’s worth it if you really want what is available.

    In the same way I’m assuming you can load it on your tablet by typing the web address and then just bring it up on your tablet at the register.

  10. I purchased items that was one of the mobile coupons i bought those exact things and when the cashier scanned it, it said there was no items available for the savings… i still have at least a week before it expires ,what went wrong

  11. How do you find out about words to text for special coupon offers (besides the Target weekly insert)?

  12. HI CHristine- for a specific & same item no. You can only use 1 TQ per item- so if you had a $1/1 oreos mobile TQ and a $1/1 oreos printable TQ & a $1/1 Oreos MQ- you can use the MQ and then choose either the mobile or the printable TQ to stack with it. YOu can’t use both on the same one pkg of Oreos. hth

  16. I really love Target, but finding it really upsets me that I can’t get smart phone coupons. I can’t afford the mobile internet on smart phones. I try to use coupons to make great deals at Target, but would love to take advantage of the mobile featured coupons. Is there a way to get them on my tablet and take my tablet to scan?
    Feeling a bit unfair!

  21. If I have the same coupon in two different texts (spring and thanks), are these two seperate coupons? Or the same one?

  22. Hi Jen- sometimes there is a promo code but they are few and far between- you cant se every mobile coupon on line. hth

  23. I’m trying to use my mobile coupon on Target.com, how do I find the Promo Code? It says at the bottom of Mobile app that I can use it on Target.com

  25. When using cartwheel and other coupons along with it the cartwheel has to go last.. all other discounts and coupons get scanned before cartwheel.. otherwise it will crash the system.. Im a cashier at target so I know first hand lol

  26. So my husband and I both have mobile coupons. Can he forward his coupons to me somehow so I can use them from my phone since he doesnt ever go shopping? How does he do this? If not can I print them and scan his in store?

  27. Lots of produce coupons. Can I use the $2 off a $5 fruit purchase and the $1/$1 or more IN ONE TRANSACTION if I for example buy a bag of apples ($5) and a pack of strawberries ($2) ? It would be different items but I don’t know what coupon attaches to what.

    Different scenario: what if I buy a pack of strawberries ($2), grapes ($2) and bananas ($2) and have two mobile coupons for $1/$1 or more fruit purchase and one printable $1/$1 or more. Are all of them are going to apply in ONE TRANSACTION?

    REASON I AM TRYING FOR ONE TRANSACTION IS BECAUSE I GOT A $5/$30 GROCERY PURCHASE

  28. I need a baby coupon and I’m texting BABY4 but I didn’t received any coupons at all. How much time I need to wait for them?

  30. CAN YOU USE A MOBILE, MQ AND A TARGET COUPON, AND CARTWHEELS OR DOES THE MOBILE TAKE THE PLACE OF TARGET PRINT COUPON

  32. Can I use the mobile coupon for more than one of the same item in the same transaction? I am new to couponing at Target. Thanks in advance 🙂

  33. Hi Zita- it’s varoed- some times readers inform me- sometimes codes come on the mailers etc. I do my best to keep a current list on the Target Coupon page

  34. Hi, Where do you find the words to text for coupons? Right now, the only one I see that’s current is “OFFERS.” Thank you.

  35. A few things seem to have changed. Texting OFFERS no longer gives one the current coupons. You have to text HELP for that. Also CITY is no longer a valid code. At least that’s what happened when I tried those codes today.

  36. Thank you for sharing that you can get the mobile coupons on the ipod. I was feeling so left out! I’m going to try mine out today-took a screenshot picture of the barcode in case their wifi is acting up. Yay!

  37. Can anyone let me know if there is a way to get mobile coupons on the ipad? I got an iPhone now but want an ipad instead. Please let me know if anyone has any ideas!!! THANKS!!!!

  38. i no longer carry a smart phone, but i have an i pad. why cant we get mobile on the ipad and the i phone, stupid to own both…

  39. Every time I try to get the baby coupons, it sends me a link to sign up for the baby mobile coupons but it never gives me the coupons :/

  40. @Tiffany when you get the text that tells you to click that link, type it into a browser instead.
    I have to use Chrome, doesn’t work on IE.

  41. I don’t have a smart phone but can receive basic text message. And I am missing out on more coupons. I remember reading one time that someone had figured out a way around this by getting the code and then copying & paste to their kindle. Does anyone else do this? and please tell me how to do it. thanks for your help.

  42. How do I use the mobile coupons online? The disclaimer say you can, but the barcode # doesn’t work and there is no promo code.

  43. LORI P – SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME!!! So wasn’t worth the 45 minutes to check out. ANd didn’t even get to use the mobile coupons in the end b/c didn’t want to risk crashing the register again.

  44. I have used all of the coupons, mobile, cartwheel, Target, and manf. both printed and clipped, together in one transaction and have saved a ton!! Love shopping at Target!!

  45. Lori P, I have used all of the savings you stated in one transaction on multiple occasions and never had a problem. Were you getting a lot of overage?

  46. Last night my husband and I used Target mobile coupons, Cartwheel with clipped and printed coupons. We crashed one register with the clipped and printed coupons, moved to another register and crashed it with Cartwheel, moved to another register and crashed it with the mobile coupons. We then moved to a fourth register and this time the cashier took off the Cartwheel savings manually, didn’t bother with the mobile savings and scanned all of the clipped and printed. It took 45 mins to check out and to be honest after such an awful experience I’m very cautious trying to use mobile and Cartwheel again. Has anyone experienced this or heard of it happening? Or maybe the cause?

  47. Hi can anyone tell me how do I know which coupon has been redeemed by me since it still shows all the coupons as not used whereas the coupons I got from the text fresh shows the one I used as redeemed ?? Help can I use them again how do I know which one i have used ??

  48. Hi Julie- no – only 1 TQ & 1 MQ & 1 cartwheel per ite- so you would have to choose between your mobile Q & your printed TQ to pair with the MQ. hth

  49. Can you stack a target coupon (printed from their website) with a mobile coupon plus a manufacturer’s coupon?

    For instance, if I had a $1 off any laundry detergent mobile coupon, could I also use a $1 off Tide Target coupon printed from their website plus a $1 off manufacturer’s coupon from the newspaper?

  50. Hey CC- it is possible they discontinued the City program? If anyone else can comment whether or not they successfully get the city offers that would be great. TY!

  51. I live in Chicago and often shop at the relatively new City Target here. I’ve tried texting “CITY” to 827438 a couple of times but I always get the same response: “We received msg CITY but can’t identify it. Please check spelling or go to http://www.target.com.” I get the regular Target mobile coupons and the extra ones that require you to text a word (such as “SUMMER” or “FRESH”, both of which will get you mobile coupons that expire 8/31/13 – see TT’s “Target Qs” page), so I don’t understand why I get this error message with CITY. Does anyone else have this problem or know what the issue might be? I would appreciate all of your help so much!!

  52. Mariana & Calshondra- I too have Virgin Mobile. For a while I couldn’t get the mobile coupons. But last night I got a message to upload an update. When I clicked open, I was able to resign up for mobile coupons. Within 2 minutes I recieved a text for the 4 digit code and now I have mobile coupons. I am also now able to get the ones for FRESH, JULY4 text codes. I hope this helps a little. By the way, I did contact them via email through the phone explaining that I had a virgin mobile and that somehow I could not get coupons. It did take 3 days or so to get a response, but the response was worth the wait!

  54. Calshondra – I.m also with VM 🙁 Looks like they blocked all messages from/to short codes.

    I found a temporary workaround for the issue (at least, for the time being) – find someone (friend or coworker, or family member) who has premium cell provider, would not mind getting a few extra texts a month and DOES NOT use Target mobile coupons (this is important as every coupon’s set barcode is unique) and ask them to sign-up for Target mobile coupons. Then ask them to forward the text with coupon link to you. I have a family member doing it for me.

    We need to continue to bug VM and Target CS’s, I know there are more people like us out there trying to save money and not able to use Target Mobile coupons anymore.

    ps. And I know it can be resolved – I had the same issue with amazon.com – suddenly stopped getting their mobile notifications. Emailed their CS, got reply that everything’s OK on their side. But Amazon offered to do a 3-way conference-call (me, Amazon and VM) to fix the problem. Both CSR’s were from India, so I let them figure it out between themselves. It was fixed in half a day.

  55. Marina having the same issue as you’re having. I called my mobile provider. Was told nothing was blocked and called Target CS talked with them and was promised issue was fixed. Two weeks later and still nothing for me as well. I too have a lost cost service- Virgin Mobile. So, I am with you thinking they dropped me as well. What a shame because I liked and saved with the mobile coupons. Hmmm funny that we all started having the same problem.

  56. Beth – I have a similar issue, but I used to receive them for a year or more and about 6 weeks ago it just stopped coming.

    Contacted my mobile provider – numerous times – they claim they added Target short code to the list of unblocked numbers (surprise here as I did not block anything) and the problem is on Target’s side.

    Emailed and called Target CS – spend 20mins on the phone, they promised to fix the issue, two weeks later – nothing changed, emailed them again – waiting for the reply.

    Third-party – the company providing Target with mobile coupon messages services is Code Broker – thinking of emailing them as well.

    Let us know please if the issue was resolved or not for you.

    ps. While on the phone with Target CS – they asked me if I use premium mobile service provider (i.e. Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint) or low-cost ones – I use the low-cost one. I’m thinking maybe Target dropped sending mobile coupons to those with cheap carriers?

  58. Here are a list of words you can message to 827438 to get a bunch of coupons (sorry if any of them are duplicate for what is already on here). Make sure to type each word into a separate message: Offers, Baby, Summer, Fresh, July4, Plus.

    If anybody knows of any others, please let me know. Thanks!

    Happy Shopping!

  59. Beth – Target website says for assistance with mobile coupons, contact us at 1-800-440-0680. Good luck! Let us know how it works out.

  60. Jennifer – First, you will need to download the Target App to your phone, just text “APP” to 827438 (TARGET) to receive a download link. The Passbook is in the App. I would be happy to walk you thru how to use it, just email me at kelley@totallytarget.com 🙂

  61. I signed up and didn’t receive the coupons. I tried texting and the message failed saying either the short code expired or is blocked. I called my carrier and they said everything was fine on our end and that the trouble was with Target. Is there any other way to contact Target for help besides the short code number?

  62. I am new to this, what does, “add to Passbook” mean? Also, I have different mobil coupons on 2 different texts, but I plan on making one trip…Do I need to shuffle through my phone to get the right messages for the scan codes…Help!

  65. I learned about this site through a target cashier – her customer had just walked through and saved over $100.00

  68. You can now get Target Mobile coupons to your Ipod Touch – not just your phone. You can download the Target App and it will store copons in the “Passbook” App. The coupons can then be stored and ready for use offline.

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