I received a 15% coupon from Guitar Center.

The discount was good only on list prices and non-sale items. Well that sucks.

Anyway, I thought maybe I'll use it to buy an item that's seldom discounted such as Neumann microphones, Omnisphere, something like that.

Every item I mentioned to the sales clerk was exempt from this coupon; I mentionmed about ten companies and the coupon was not accepted by any of them.

Finally, I found one item where I could use the coupon. Guitar strings.

My price (list price) with my discount $12
The same guitar strings are on sale right now for $4

So, irony is alive and well in the USA too?

$12 for strings?! 
 
I think I'll stick to good old Ernie Ball Slinkies for $3 or $4. 

Rain
I think I'll stick to good old Ernie Ball Slinkies for $3 or $4. 

But are those on sale?

Coupons are not designed to save you money, they are designed to lure you into buying something you otherwise would not. Justice and fairness are concepts as alien to retailing as honesty is to politics.

The only thing I was able to buy with my coupon was another coupon...

Yeah... some other stores do the same thing.... coupon good for 20% off... then you read the exceptions and reality hits.... this is really not a valuable coupon like you first thought it might be.
 
Buy Ernie Ball string... they are good and don't cost nearly as much as some other brands. I've been using them since they first came out in the early 70's... (at least that's when I first heard about them and tried them)  I try others from time to time when they're on sale, but always end up coming back to EB super slinkies.

Guitarhacker
 always end up coming back to EB super slinkies.

Heh..me too...for over 30 years now. Old habits...

jamesg1213

Guitarhacker
 always end up coming back to EB super slinkies.

Heh..me too...for over 30 years now. Old habits...

You might want to consider changing them. They must be duller than me by now.

bapu

jamesg1213

Guitarhacker
 always end up coming back to EB super slinkies.

Heh..me too...for over 30 years now. Old habits...

You might want to consider changing them. They must be duller than me by now.

You just heard 'em. Did they sound dull?