What's the deal with BoB's 27% coupon?

[Spellbot 5000]

So I recently made an account at Books on Board, and they sent me a 27% off coupon for signing up. I assume everyone gets this coupon when they sign up, so most people know what I'm talking about.

When I went to use it though, it gave me something like a 60% discount. My original total was $55.51, after the coupon code it went down to $20.88. So what's the deal with that? Not that I'm complaining, but it seems like a hell of a deal.

I also noticed that you can use the coupon more than once, so you could use it for multiple purchases. It does expire, but if you have access to dummy email accounts, you could conceivably sign up for unlimited accounts at BoB and get new coupons for 27% (read: 60%) off indefinitely.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by Spellbot 5000

So I recently made an account at Books on Board, and they sent me a 27% off coupon for signing up. I assume everyone gets this coupon when they sign up, so most people know what I'm talking about.

Are you sure it said 27% off. Maybe it said Pay 27% which would actually be 63% off?

BOb

[zelda_pinwheel]

hmph. i don't remember getting any reduction when i signed up, certainly not 60% off. grumble.

[Patricia]

I have a feeling that they would notice if you abused the offer.
It is easy to see if multiple users are from the same IP address. And using the same bank account details would also be a giveaway.

[Spellbot 5000]

Well, I did an experiment with my alternate account, and they sent another coupon code. It was the same as the first coupon code, so it may be that a single code is generated each day and sent out to whoever signs up for an account on that day.

It worked as well for a second purchase (going as far as the confirm purchase page), so it doesn't seem anything is being tracked automatically.

Anyone can try the code: NR-xhh6S

Says it's valid until Midnight tonight, central time.

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

hmph. i don't remember getting any reduction when i signed up, certainly not 60% off. grumble.

Took a while to get the email. For both my original account and my test dummy acount, it took about 24 hours to get the email with the coupon. You may have originally got it but deleted it not thinking it was anything important.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Spellbot 5000

I also noticed that you can use the coupon more than once, so you could use it for multiple purchases. It does expire, but if you have access to dummy email accounts, you could conceivably sign up for unlimited accounts at BoB and get new coupons for 27% (read: 60%) off indefinitely.

That sounds to me to be unethical at best, and quite possibly fraudulent at worst.