“Get 10% off your first order. Just enter your email.” It is a fair trade until the store sends you three emails a week for the next five years. Here is how to shop without that, and without losing what matters.
Coupons and first-order discounts
A welcome coupon is usually sent once, to the address you enter. A temporary address works well:
- Copy your TempDog address and paste it into the store’s pop-up.
- Copy the coupon code from the TempDog inbox.
- Use it at checkout.
Read the coupon’s terms first. Some codes only work if the order uses the same email, so you may need to check out with the temporary address too.
Orders: keep the address while the order is open
Order confirmations, shipping updates and return labels all go to the email on the order. If the address expires before the package arrives, you lose the tracking link and, worse, proof of purchase for a return.
- Press Change duration and keep the address until the return window closes, up to 30 days.
- Press Save access to keep a key, so you can reopen the inbox later.
- Save the order confirmation as a PDF with Save as PDF. The email will be deleted when your timer ends; the PDF stays on your device.
For expensive items with a long warranty, use your real address. A warranty claim two years from now needs an email that still exists.
Loyalty cards and store accounts
Loyalty programs often ask for an email to send your card number or points balance. If you only want the discount at checkout:
- Sign up with a temporary address and save the card number or barcode in your phone’s wallet.
- Know the trade-off: if you lose the card number, there is no email to recover it.
If you care about points that add up over years, use your real address and unsubscribe from marketing in the account settings instead.
Payments: never with a temporary address
Do not use a temporary address for accounts that store your card, for buy now, pay later services, or for anything where a bill could be sent. Payment providers send receipts and security alerts you need to see.
Spot fake shops
A deal that is far too good can be a fake shop. Before paying, check the store’s name together with the word “scam” or “reviews”, look for a real contact address and clear return terms, and pay by card rather than bank transfer.
More on keeping your inbox clean: how to stop spam emails and signing up for free trials without spam.