Drugstore/Grocery B&M Deals Index, Information, and Rules Thread (update 6/7/12)

Quote from rydergal : I would love to see a "coupon usage rules" thread (or some designated place to host the Q usage rules, even if that is just a wiki here). Slayers gave us lots of great posts about what the rules are, but they are scattered all over the place and the newbies can't find 'em (and don't know to even look for them). I had asked him about consolidating all of them into one SD Coupon Usage thread at one point, but he wasn't keen on it...I got the feeling that there may have been a reason behind the denial, but am not really sure what it was. We do have the Coupon Barcode Basics thread, but Slayers closed it a while back and while it is an important thread that definitely needs to stick around, it has some conflicting info in it. With the influx of new q shoppers (thanks TLC ), we have lots of folks trying coupons without knowing what they are doing, and making lots of mistakes...which reflects poorly on the rest of us. I'd love to have one place for all the rules as they pertain specifically to coupons and their usage (I'd even be happy to host it/put it together/assist with compiling/whatever). Thoughts on this? Anyone?

This could easily be created and wikis used to help keep it up to date. Once you have it started you can link to it in this thread in the Nonspecific section.

Quote from rydergal : I would love to see a "coupon usage rules" thread (or some designated place to host the Q usage rules, even if that is just a wiki here). Slayers gave us lots of great posts about what the rules are, but they are scattered all over the place and the newbies can't find 'em (and don't know to even look for them). I had asked him about consolidating all of them into one SD Coupon Usage thread at one point, but he wasn't keen on it...I got the feeling that there may have been a reason behind the denial, but am not really sure what it was. We do have the Coupon Barcode Basics thread, but Slayers closed it a while back and while it is an important thread that definitely needs to stick around, it has some conflicting info in it. With the influx of new q shoppers (thanks TLC ), we have lots of folks trying coupons without knowing what they are doing, and making lots of mistakes...which reflects poorly on the rest of us. I'd love to have one place for all the rules as they pertain specifically to coupons and their usage (I'd even be happy to host it/put it together/assist with compiling/whatever). Thoughts on this? Anyone?

AGREED. It would be soooo helpful for somewhere to point a poster to when they have posted something borderline (or over the line) as far as coupon usage. We find ourselves constantly having to repeat things as many may be new or haven't read through the thread in any great detail or don't ever check a particular thread's wiki. Definitely the B1G1 rule should be in there as that gets extremely old explaining the difference between a 14 and a 01 Q. Definitely we need to note what is the current rule about posting pdfs and mpps as it seems to be different in different threads. (I'll tell someone that it's not allowed in our Printable thread to post an mpp of a pdf and they'll reply to me that it is allowed in such-and-such thread and why not here. I'm just following what I was told by the mods.) Could we also highlight the no begging rule? If we're not allowed to post a pdf as an attachment, then the constant posts asking please send me this Q really piles up in a thread. (One posts it, then everybody is asking over and over again.)

If all this was contained in the rules somewhere, we could direct these questions to that thread or to a particular wiki of that thread. Would be greatly appreciated!

Quote from MsGal : I DEFINITELY feel that there needs to be some sort of "monitoring" (if you will), or people will continually post about coupon misusage, abuse, fraud, or whatever you want to call it. And when you have too many chiefs and not enough Indians .... oh, good lord!

Agreed. I've had to dig old posts from CVS where Slayers had stepped in to correct misusage almost a year ago. No one, especially the n00bs, knows to go looking through year old CVS weekly threads to find the rules on BOGO 01 vs BOGO 14 or piggybacking. I'd love to be able to pull it all together in one place, where some of the more responsible SDers can point folks that may be discussing misuse (especially if the misuse simply comes from a lack of knowledge...those that misuse knowingly always will, but we can't stop them...)

Quote from rydergal : ...those that misuse knowingly always will, but we can't stop them...

Agreed. And Slayers was GREAT about lowering the hammer on people that posted about misusing coupons and I think that strict attitude should be maintained. It's one of the reasons I choose to spend most of my time here as opposed to other sites where anything goes.

TR, I understand you are going for "warm & friendly" and I'm all for that. I'd just like to see integrity maintained as well.

Quote from MsGal : Agreed. And Kyle was GREAT about lowering the hammer on people that posted about misusing coupons and I think that strict attitude should be maintained. It's one of the reasons I choose to spend most of my time here as opposed to other sites where anything goes. TR, I understand you are going for "warm & friendly" and I'm all for that. I'd just like to see integrity maintained as well.

Yup, we love when new folks are joining in and feel like they're part of this community. But some of the misconceptions they have about using coupons is almost scary sometimes. MsGal, how many have we had ask a question in the store threads or the printables like, "Why can't I just scan a copy of this Q and go use a bunch of them." I don't think it truly is malicious thoughts they have, they just don't seem to get the concept of how wrong that usage is. And we definitely don't want to send people out doing deals they've pulled from this board and doing things that a store would consider to be underhanded or worse.

Quote from MsGal : Agreed. And Kyle was GREAT about lowering the hammer on people that posted about misusing coupons and I think that strict attitude should be maintained. It's one of the reasons I choose to spend most of my time here as opposed to other sites where anything goes. TR, I understand you are going for "warm & friendly" and I'm all for that. I'd just like to see integrity maintained as well.

Who is Kyle?

Coupon Police

I'm gonna get started If anyone has any other specific suggestions, feel free to PM me if you don't want to clog this thread (all credit will be given, I promise! Unless of course you want to remain anonymous.). I'm going to get my thoughts together and get an outline going before I post a full fledged thread and wiki.

Quote from bailey327 : MsGal, how many have we had ask a question in the store threads or the printables like, "Why can't I just scan a copy of this Q and go use a bunch of them." I don't think it truly is malicious thoughts they have, they just don't seem to get the concept of how wrong that usage is. And we definitely don't want to send people out doing deals they've pulled from this board and doing things that a store would consider to be underhanded or worse.

Yeah, what's that saying ... "common sense isn't really that common".


And TR, you may not realize what a big deal couponing has become these days and even if you do, it's about to get even bigger. (Thanks TLC. Ya' jackasses! ) If some people are misusing coupons, intentionally or not, it makes the rest of us look either stupid ... or shady.

I understand that "Slickdeals.net is not responsible for enforcing individual store policies" but I do think the rules should reflect a certain amount of INTOLERANCE for blatant misuse. We can do it with a hug and kiss for all I care ... we just need to do it.

Quote from rydergal : Who is Kyle?

Sorry. Slayers.

I hear what you are all saying about coupon misuse, and perhaps a coupon usage guideline is a way to address it. When putting this together, it is important to note that we (SD mods) can not enforce store policies, nor will we undertake this daunting task. However, we also will not tolerate blatant fraud and in fact have a 4-point warning for just such posts (you can see it by clicking here and scrolling down to Coupon Fraud).

It's a fine line, certainly, and I think you guys are on the right approach by creating a thread about it with examples of good and bad coupon usage, giving examples for each, and even down to each store's policies if you wish to include that information.

We can collate the rules SD has about coupon posting and usage in that thread as well, but I do want to be clear that we will not be issuing warnings for posts breaking store policy, while we absolutely will have a zero tolerance approach to dealing with blatant coupon fraud.

As for SD's rules about coupon posting and what is and is not allowed, I will have that clarified and I'll post it here, because quite frankly I'm confused by them myself.

I would like to see the Target thread in this forum, too. Target, in my books, is a store just like WM. I never understood why that thread isn't here, too.

Quote from DznyNeckCoolers : I would like to see the Target thread in this forum, too. Target, in my books, is a store just like WM. I never understood why that thread isn't here, too.

no problem, we can do this and i agree.

let me inform the op of the target deals thread as a courtesy first. i'm sure there wouldn't be a problem since target now sells grocery as opposed to several years ago when not all of them did.

Quote from The Raddish : I hear what you are all saying about coupon misuse, and perhaps a coupon usage guideline is a way to address it. When putting this together, it is important to note that we (SD mods) can not enforce store policies, nor will we undertake this daunting task. However, we also will not tolerate blatant fraud and in fact have a 4-point warning for just such posts (you can see it by clicking here and scrolling down to Coupon Fraud). It's a fine line, certainly, and I think you guys are on the right approach by creating a thread about it with examples of good and bad coupon usage, giving examples for each, and even down to each store's policies if you wish to include that information. We can collate the rules SD has about coupon posting and usage in that thread as well, but I do want to be clear that we will not be issuing warnings for posts breaking store policy, while we absolutely will have a zero tolerance approach to dealing with blatant coupon fraud. As for SD's rules about coupon posting and what is and is not allowed, I will have that clarified and I'll post it here, because quite frankly I'm confused by them myself.

looks like a good start.

Quote from The Raddish : I hear what you are all saying about coupon misuse, and perhaps a coupon usage guideline is a way to address it. When putting this together, it is important to note that we (SD mods) can not enforce store policies, nor will we undertake this daunting task. However, we also will not tolerate blatant fraud and in fact have a 4-point warning for just such posts (you can see it by clicking here and scrolling down to Coupon Fraud). It's a fine line, certainly, and I think you guys are on the right approach by creating a thread about it with examples of good and bad coupon usage, giving examples for each, and even down to each store's policies if you wish to include that information. We can collate the rules SD has about coupon posting and usage in that thread as well, but I do want to be clear that we will not be issuing warnings for posts breaking store policy, while we absolutely will have a zero tolerance approach to dealing with blatant coupon fraud. As for SD's rules about coupon posting and what is and is not allowed, I will have that clarified and I'll post it here, because quite frankly I'm confused by them myself.

I've never really understood why you don't issue warnings about people posting things clearly against store policy, but at the very least it needs to be understood that such posts will be removed and not tolerated. Tolerance of people encouraging blatant abuse of policy by putting "YMMV" in the post is very insulting to those of us who watch the policy change due to people pulling such stunts actually in the stores.

Quote from DznyNeckCoolers : I would like to see the Target thread in this forum, too. Target, in my books, is a store just like WM. I never understood why that thread isn't here, too.

Have to agree here, Walmart is here, Target needs to be as well.

Quote from purplefdu : I've never really understood why you don't issue warnings about people posting things clearly against store policy, but at the very least it needs to be understood that such posts will be removed and not tolerated. Tolerance of people encouraging blatant abuse of policy by putting "YMMV" in the post is very insulting to those of us who watch the policy change due to people pulling such stunts actually in the stores.

Maybe it has to do with the amount of "policing" involved? I mean, all stores like Walmart, Wags, etc. have the same corporate store policy but let's face it, the individual store policies run from one end of the spectrum to the other.

For example, RA's written policy is to NOT accept printables over $5. After I started doing RA, I asked about it at MY store and was told (by the manager) that reimbursement for those has never been a problem. Is he absolutely correct; I'd have no way of knowing. I can only attest to the fact that he was not only willing to accept them, but also encouraged the use.

But sharing that information in a RA thread is sure to cause several people to start playing policy police and then the mods have to figure out who is right, who is wrong, who should get warnings, etc. Slayers used a blanket approach ... which worked ... but I guess some people didn't like it. It wasn't "warm & fuzzy" enough?

Honestly, I don't care what people do as far as their individual shopping trips are concerned ... IF I DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT. But coming back here and talking about how they broke store policy or used a coupon they COPIED, or how they cleared out a store, or stole 118 peelies, or used a BOGO coded "14" with another Q, yadda, yadda, yadda ... always starts fights and derails the threads. Then we hit 2000 posts and *POOF*, the thread starts over and there goes the ability to search.

And for the love of God, can we get a BanHammer for the morons who think everything THEY don't want to read about is OT???? These people spend more time b*tching about what other people wrote than the other person did writing it.

Staying on topic is one thing but SD is a user-driven site and some of us actually like interacting with other members. Crazy concept, eh?

Quote from MsGal : TR, I understand you are going for "warm & friendly" and I'm all for that. I'd just like to see integrity maintained as well.

As long as this site has been here, you're the first person to ever post that combination of letters.

Really like the format, TR. It seems to me that with the personal stickies feature and the wiki capabilities, this should be really easy for any user to personalize his or her forum view depending on need.