Build the same basket twice
Compare the checkout total through the referral route and directly on the retailer. Use the same items, delivery address and payment method. Promotions can change shipping, exclusions or first-order eligibility; a percentage discount is less useful if it only applies to products you did not plan to buy.
Look at the exclusions
Check minimum spend, sale items, gift cards, delivery charges and whether the code is for new customers only. A “£10 off” offer with a £50 minimum spend is only worth considering if your intended basket was already near that amount.
If you use cashback, protect tracking
Start from the cashback portal and follow its retailer terms if that is your chosen route. A referral click or separate discount code may invalidate cashback. The stacking guide explains why a second click can replace the first tracking cookie.
Pay only when the final amount makes sense
Check the charged amount, any subscription renewal and return policy. Save the confirmation and the offer wording in case the discount or cashback goes missing. We do not list an unverified ASOS referral bonus; the ASOS page is a reminder to confirm the live checkout instead of relying on an old headline.