Slickdeals Drugstore and Grocery Store Coupon Usage Rules and Guidelines

Quote from Supergirl9801 : I'm just curious where the information about the B1G1 "01" and "14" coding comes from...and I don't just mean the "barcoding thread". I mean...where did whoever the "powers that be" find that info from to begin with? A call to a manufacturer? Also, why is this the supposed "rule"? I have used "14" coupons with $ off coupons before and have had them NOT beep...then again sometimes they do. I'm not sure what does/does not cause it to. But I must say, since the wording on the coupon doesn't preclude (unless of course it does obviously) using another coupon with it. I just don't understand why this "rule" exists on this board. To me, if a MF wants to prevent a customer from using another coupon with it then it should be written on the coupon...like the DND q's. Otherwise it should be allowed. I agree with another poster who said that MFQ's aren't supposed to be so "difficult" to use...otherwise a FAQ or Instruction Booklet of some sort should be in every coupon insert.

Yes, it was a call to the Manufacturer. Actually, it was calls made to several manufacturers. And I know this to be factual because I made the calls.

Coupons that are coded "14" attach to BOTH items at MOST stores. It does not work that way at wags because it is a register/programming error. I do not have a Target where I live but I have heard that "14's" do not attach to both items there as well ... also a glitch. "01's" do NOT attach to both items and thus allow for a second coupon to be used. The manufacturer's know this and can have their coupons coded however they request but cannot control programming errors at the store level.

This is where PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY comes into play. We, as couponers, have a personal responsibility to use the coupon as intended by the manufacturer .... not carte blanche just because the store or the cashier may not know any better.

It's one thing when someone tries to use a $ off coupon with a "14" at Walmart just because they were allowed to do the same thing previously at wags. The $ off coupon will beep at WM because the "14" already attached to both items, thus leaving the consumer confused as to why it worked at one store but not another. That is why it has worked for YOU at some stores, but not at others.

But ... it's something altogether different if you KNOW the manufacturer's intent and you purposely use those coupons at a store with the glitch, just because you know you can get away with it.

It is coupon fraud and those that try to argue that are the ones that will go out of their way to use those coupons at the stores with the programming errors. If it were not fraud, they would try to use them at places like WM. But of course, they already know what will happen there.

Us "old timers" (I really hate that term ), of the DS forum know that people will do what they want and that's fine. I'm only responsible for me, no one else. What we try very hard to discourage is the discussion on SD of using coupons incorrectly. We're not Mods and we're not the coupon gestapo ... we just know what happens when people start talking about using coupons incorrectly. It not only teaches newbies the WRONG way to coupon, it often starts arguments and sometimes causes threads to get locked. More importantly, it draws attention to coupon abuse and that just leads to more limits and fine print being added to the coupons themselves.

To some this may be a "game". But for some of us, couponing is important to our livelihood and we'd like to see it continue.

Quote from Supergirl9801 : I'm just curious where the information about the B1G1 "01" and "14" coding comes from...and I don't just mean the "barcoding thread". I mean...where did whoever the "powers that be" find that info from to begin with? A call to a manufacturer? Also, why is this the supposed "rule"? I have used "14" coupons with $ off coupons before and have had them NOT beep...then again sometimes they do. I'm not sure what does/does not cause it to. But I must say, since the wording on the coupon doesn't preclude (unless of course it does obviously) using another coupon with it. I just don't understand why this "rule" exists on this board. To me, if a MF wants to prevent a customer from using another coupon with it then it should be written on the coupon...like the DND q's. Otherwise it should be allowed. I agree with another poster who said that MFQ's aren't supposed to be so "difficult" to use...otherwise a FAQ or Instruction Booklet of some sort should be in every coupon insert.

I used to question a former mod here, all of the time regarding that. It took some time for me to understand WHY slayers advocated so fiercely for stronger ethics in the Drugstore Forum.

I think many of us misinterpreted coupons in the past and sometimes unintentionally hurt the very stores we have grown to love. When too many people are abusing too many coupons it does affect the stores. If the store is not getting reimbursed for a poorly used coupons, then they fire cashiers who accepted bad coupons, raise prices and start imposing limits.

I look back at how things have changed since Extreme couponing show started airing. I think back to Slayers diligent work to keep us on the straight and narrow and WHY it was so important back then.

CVS and Target did not agree with some of the practices we were particpating in on some threads and they stepped in and because of that we had to make several changes on those discussion threads and what we are allowed and not allowed to discuss or do.

Rampant abuse has caused Publix and Kroger and Rite-Aid to make Huge and Drastic changes to their coupon policies.

Before the EC craziness, slayers not only heard and saw that the stacking of coupons caused issues at many stores and with help made the rules that many of us still stand by. He and many, many others made conscious and ethical guidelines for the forum that would not only help us to learn but help the stores from stressful or impractical situations.

Fast forward to the here and now. Due to the popularity of Extreme Couponing, the amount of coupon fraud, abuse and shelf clearing is rising. Stores are becoming aware of the growth in the couponing community and quickly making changes.

There are now many more store coupon policies than before and some of them have set stricter rules then before.

In May of this year there was a big industry conference. Many, Many things were discussed and we will start to see some huge changes in the next few years, so that the stores can keep up with demand but also prevent fraud and abuse.

http://www.prologicredemption.com...y2011.html

You can go to several industry website like above and see that they take the CIC recomendations seriously.

There is a list that is From the CIC it is the suggested voluntary best practices to retailers to fight coupon fraud and mis-redemption

Suggested Voluntary Best Practices: Retailer Coupon Acceptance Policy

The list of best practices was generally endorsed by several retailers at the CIC Summit in March

http://www.couponinformationcente...p?st=93d32

Here is the one section from that link that our mods should consider when we M/A a post where they are stacking a Bogo and cents off coupon

BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE COUPONS (BOGO)
1. BOGO coupons cannot be “chained” (i.e., two BOGO coupons cannot be used to on two items to get
both for free). Unless stated otherwise on the coupon, the use of one BOGO coupon requires that two
of the valid items are presented at checkout; one item will be charged to the consumer and the second
item will be discounted by its full retail price.
2. In a BOGO transaction, a second cents-off coupon cannot be counted towards the purchase price of
the first (buy one) product.


If many retailers are already agreeing to these suggestions then its just a matter of time before they are ammended into store coupon policy across the board and written into the terminology itself.


If you know of an unwritten rule and abuse it, its one thing. If you knowingly go against the rule and share across the net to abuse the rule then you shouldn't be upset when the unwritten rule becomes industry standard written rule.

Many people said that it was a matter of time before P&G put limits on their coupons. Now the coupon limits are not only written on the coupons but in bold text.

P&G has said, by phone and by email that they do not want their Bogo and $ off coupons stacked. Its just a matter of time before the rule is written on their coupons, in store coupon policies and across all internet deal forums.

SD was just a leader in Ethical Couponing, before Ethical Couponing became cool!

MsGal,

add to the fact a certain SE prominent grocery chain that currently is programmed to only look at the VALUE of the Q (not the MFG, not the product code) which allows for all kinds of fraudulent behavior (Cottonelle Q on Charmin, etc). Thru trial and error folks 'learn' what they can get away with and then are clueless as to why it doesn't work at other stores and are pissed off when a different store in the same chain catches them.

I so LOVE that you're calling it coupon "abuse" and coupon "fraud" when it says NO WHERE on the coupons that they cannot be combined and they go through with no problems. MFQ's have been around FOREVER, if the MF's want to change the way the coupons are being used then they should DO IT. Not expect every couponer to just "know" what is and isn't the right way to use them by trying to figure out their stupid barcodes. I can call every MF 15 different times and get 15 different answers. Everyone knows that. P&G did it right...they don't want more than 4 used, so they printed it on the q's. Whether those who use cents off q's with BOGO q's will cause the "end" for everyone else...that may be...or may not be. Again...it's up to the MF and it's really ridiculous for you all to keep getting on your soap box, adding blurbs to wiki's, and accusing people of coupon "fraud" for doing so. I encourage people to use coupons...it's bad enough to get scared off by some cashier who doesn't know what they're talking about and accused of coupon fraud, then to come to a message board and be accused of the same thing. It's NOT coupon fraud if it's not printed on the coupon and enforced by the store. Plain and simple.
Oh...and TN...no one here is talking about what someone can "get away with" or blatently using coupons fraudulently (as in for items other than what the coupons says they're for).

Quote from Supergirl9801 : I so LOVE that you're calling it coupon "abuse" and coupon "fraud" when it says NO WHERE on the coupons that they cannot be combined and they go through with no problems. MFQ's have been around FOREVER, if the MF's want to change the way the coupons are being used then they should DO IT. Not expect every couponer to just "know" what is and isn't the right way to use them by trying to figure out their stupid barcodes. I can call every MF 15 different times and get 15 different answers. Everyone knows that. P&G did it right...they don't want more than 4 used, so they printed it on the q's. Whether those who use cents off q's with BOGO q's will cause the "end" for everyone else...that may be...or may not be. Again...it's up to the MF and it's really ridiculous for you all to keep getting on your soap box, adding blurbs to wiki's, and accusing people of coupon "fraud" for doing so. I encourage people to use coupons...it's bad enough to get scared off by some cashier who doesn't know what they're talking about and accused of coupon fraud, then to come to a message board and be accused of the same thing. It's NOT coupon fraud if it's not printed on the coupon and enforced by the store. Plain and simple. Oh...and TN...no one here is talking about what someone can "get away with" or blatently using coupons fraudulently (as in for items other than what the coupons says they're for).

Most bogo coupons do state that they cannot be combined with other coupons.

So if a bogo coupon is for 2 items and coupon states that it cannot be combined with other coupon then you are breaking the rule set on the coupon by using a secondary coupon for the two items.

Fraud/Abuse/Mis-redemption are the terms that the manufacturers and retailers are using because the rampant abuse hurts their bottom line.

I wish that the inserts would come with a set of guidelines and I really wish stores had their policies at the registers for customers and cashiers to both see.

I encourage you to call P&G 15 times and please let us know what they tell you each and every time. I bet more of the calls will say no then will say yes. Make sure you call and speak to someone in the coupon marketing or redemption departments though, they are usually much more clear cut than just calling a 1-800 customer service rep .

Quote from Supergirl9801 : I so LOVE that you're calling it coupon "abuse" and coupon "fraud" when it says NO WHERE on the coupons that they cannot be combined and they go through with no problems. MFQ's have been around FOREVER, if the MF's want to change the way the coupons are being used then they should DO IT. Not expect every couponer to just "know" what is and isn't the right way to use them by trying to figure out their stupid barcodes. I can call every MF 15 different times and get 15 different answers. Everyone knows that. P&G did it right...they don't want more than 4 used, so they printed it on the q's. Whether those who use cents off q's with BOGO q's will cause the "end" for everyone else...that may be...or may not be. Again...it's up to the MF and it's really ridiculous for you all to keep getting on your soap box, adding blurbs to wiki's, and accusing people of coupon "fraud" for doing so. I encourage people to use coupons...it's bad enough to get scared off by some cashier who doesn't know what they're talking about and accused of coupon fraud, then to come to a message board and be accused of the same thing. It's NOT coupon fraud if it's not printed on the coupon and enforced by the store. Plain and simple. Oh...and TN...no one here is talking about what someone can "get away with" or blatently using coupons fraudulently (as in for items other than what the coupons says they're for).

Supergirl, you sound angry at the responses you have gotten and I really don't understand why. You asked for an explanation and some of us have given you one. No one has accused you of anything.

I myself, have never added a "blurb" or addendum to ANY wiki about the use/misuse of BOGO, "14's" or "01's" so I'm not sure what you are alluding to with that. But I have, on many occasions, posted in a thread about the manufacturer's intent regarding a coupon and I have requested many times that people NOT post about blatant misuse. I try very hard to do this in a way that is respectful. I answer questions both in threads and via PM. The mods have requested that we try to guide/teach people the correct way to use coupons. They do not wish to play babysitter each day.

Lastly, (and again), it IS coupon fraud if you knowingly use another coupon in conjunction with a "14" at Store A as opposed to Store B, because you know it will work at Store A but will beep at Store B. You know why it beeps and that your transaction will not work, so you avoid this store.

You can attempt to justify it any way that you like but at the end of the day, "just because you can, doesn't mean you should."

Quote from MsGal : Supergirl, you sound angry at the responses you have gotten and I really don't understand why. You asked for an explanation and some of us have given you one. No one has accused you of anything. I myself, have never added a "blurb" or addendum to ANY wiki about the use/misuse of BOGO, "14's" or "01's" so I'm not sure what you are alluding to with that. But I have, on many occasions, posted in a thread about the manufacturer's intent regarding a coupon and I have requested many times that people NOT post about blatant misuse. I try very hard to do this in a way that is respectful. I answer questions both in threads and via PM. The mods have requested that we try to guide/teach people the correct way to use coupons. They do not wish to play babysitter each day. Lastly, (and again), it IS coupon fraud if you knowingly use another coupon in conjunction with a "14" at Store A as opposed to Store B, because you know it will work at Store A but will beep at Store B. You know why it beeps and that your transaction will not work, so you avoid this store. You can attempt to justify it any way that you like but at the end of the day, "just because you can, doesn't mean you should."

MSGAL I'm in no way upset at YOU per se..or anyone in particular. I'm just speaking in general terms. I know you are respectful in your posts and I do appreciate it. Sorry if I'm coming across rude instead of aggravated (which is what I am). I do however disagree that it's coupon fraud. Here [http] is P&G's written "redemption policy". The only mention even regarding the wording of coupons says this "Coupons are redeemable only by a consumer purchasing the brand/size(s) indicated thereon with the face value of the coupon deducted from the retail selling price. Multiple P&G coupons (two or more, in any form including using a paper and digital coupon
together) may not be applied against the purchase of the same item."
Hmmm...this to me says you can use more than one coupon if you're "purchasing" more than one. And as for the wording "Limit one coupon per purchase of products and quantities stated"...that's on every coupon and a "purchase" is an "item" as has been discussed a gazillion times. If the MF is going to take the time to write out a "redemption policy" and limit "like" coupons ON the coupons then they can write a specific guideline pertaining to BOGO q's IF THAT'S THEIR DESIRE. But none have done so. Taking the stance that phone calls to representatives explaining bar codes is the companies official "stance" on something is wrong. They wouldn't be able to convict someone of coupon fraud on this b/c they don't have anything in writing on it.
Oh and if it works at store A and not store B, then that is an issue at the store level with their programming and unless they have something specifically in their policy (like RA for example) then you should be able to argue the use of the cents off q. Now knowing if it will beep or not is still nice to know for those that want to avoid the beepers and the arguing of course.
Oh and as far as the wiki updates, I know you personally haven't done that MsGal, sorry again if I sounded like I was accusing you of it. I just know it's out there...well...for now anyways.

Quote from sgtrazor : Most bogo coupons do state that they cannot be combined with other coupons. So if a bogo coupon is for 2 items and coupon states that it cannot be combined with other coupon then you are breaking the rule set on the coupon by using a secondary coupon for the two items. Fraud/Abuse/Mis-redemption are the terms that the manufacturers and retailers are using because the rampant abuse hurts their bottom line. I wish that the inserts would come with a set of guidelines and I really wish stores had their policies at the registers for customers and cashiers to both see. I encourage you to call P&G 15 times and please let us know what they tell you each and every time. I bet more of the calls will say no then will say yes. Make sure you call and speak to someone in the coupon marketing or redemption departments though, they are usually much more clear cut than just calling a 1-800 customer service rep .

I don't know that MOST bogo q's state that. I'm looking at the recent P&G Gillette/OS ones and they don't have anything other than the normal blurb of "limit one coupon per "purchase" of products and quantities stated". The discussion of "purchase" meaning "item" and not "transaction" has gone on forever. But of course, if it does have that wording, then yes you would be breaking those rules..but that's not what I'm talking about.
I too wish inserts would come with a set of guidelines...it'd be a lot less confusing for everyone .

You can't use the blanket statement that "purchase" equals "item". Otherwise, if you purchased 4 items, you could try to argue that you could use 4 coupons, even if the coupons in question are $1/4. That would be abuse.

I know you are talking only about bogo coupons, but if you are going to make a generalization like that, you need to be aware of the ramifications of said generalization.

As to the argument at hand...lots of people have lots if different theories about combining a bogo q with a $x/1 q. I'm not saying that one is any more valid than another, nor am I saying that one is right and one is wrong. However, SD has set their rules about what is considered proper and ethical usage, and if anyone wants to continue to participate in SD, SD's rules of conduct need to adhered to when posting. If you have a store that allows you to use a second q with a bogo 14, good for you. But that sort of talk is frowned upon here.

Quote from rydergal : If you have a store that allows you to use a second q with a bogo 14, good for you. But that sort of talk is frowned upon here.

Exactly.

Quote from rydergal : You can't use the blanket statement that "purchase" equals "item". Otherwise, if you purchased 4 items, you could try to argue that you could use 4 coupons, even if the coupons in question are $1/4. That would be abuse. I know you are talking only about bogo coupons, but if you are going to make a generalization like that, you need to be aware of the ramifications of said generalization. As to the argument at hand...lots of people have lots if different theories about combining a bogo q with a $x/1 q. I'm not saying that one is any more valid than another, nor am I saying that one is right and one is wrong. However, SD has set their rules about what is considered proper and ethical usage, and if anyone wants to continue to participate in SD, SD's rules of conduct need to adhered to when posting. If you have a store that allows you to use a second q with a bogo 14, good for you. But that sort of talk is frowned upon here.

That is my point exactly and has been brought to the attention of the mods here and will be addressed later. This thread's "wiki" is being looked at as if it were SD's "rules for couponing" and it's NOT. SD's "rules" are what were written by Raddish ABOVE the wiki. Everything in the wiki are just "guidelines"...NOT rules. I think that's why so many posters are getting frustrated because they're expecting the mods to smack the wrists of people not following the "rules" when it's not the "rules" being broken..just the "guidelines" that whoever wanted to write up could. As for "that sort of talk is frowned upon here"...well, it shouldn't be...unless it goes against that particular stores WRITTEN policy. I'm just tired of people policing other people's usage of coupons. And your first statement makes absolutely no sense at all. If the coupon is for $1/4 obviously you have to buy 4 to use the coupon since it says "Limit one coupon per purchase of products and quantities stated". If the coupon is for $1/1 and you buy 4 and have 4 $1/1 coupons then you don't have to separate your items into separate "transactions" to us all 4 $1/1 coupons because you're "purchasing" 4 items...meeting the $1 off one stipulation.

Quote from Supergirl9801 : That is my point exactly and has been brought to the attention of the mods here and will be addressed later. This thread's "wiki" is being looked at as if it were SD's "rules for couponing" and it's NOT. SD's "rules" are what were written by Raddish ABOVE the wiki. Everything in the wiki are just "guidelines"...NOT rules. I think that's why so many posters are getting frustrated because they're expecting the mods to smack the wrists of people not following the "rules" when it's not the "rules" being broken..just the "guidelines" that whoever wanted to write up could. As for "that sort of talk is frowned upon here"...well, it shouldn't be...unless it goes against that particular stores WRITTEN policy. I'm just tired of people policing other people's usage of coupons. And your first statement makes absolutely no sense at all. If the coupon is for $1/4 obviously you have to buy 4 to use the coupon since it says "Limit one coupon per purchase of products and quantities stated". If the coupon is for $1/1 and you buy 4 and have 4 $1/1 coupons then you don't have to separate your items into separate "transactions" to us all 4 $1/1 coupons because you're "purchasing" 4 items...meeting the $1 off one stipulation.

I'm not arguing on the difference in purchase vs transaction. I know I don't have to split 4 items into four transactions just to use 4 $1./1 MQ's. All I was trying to say is that one "purchase" does not equal one "item". You can't use those terms interchangably when the purchase requires more than one item to begin with. That's why coupons say "one per purchase" instead of "one per item". But if you want to go down this road a little further, let us do so now...
A $1/2 coupon requires the purchase of two items in order to use that coupon, and no other MQ can be used on that same purchase of two items, correct? Hence the wording "limit one coupon per purchase of products and quantities stated". I don't think anyone would disagree with me on this...2 items, one $1/2 q. Period.

But what about that BOGO q? The coupon requires you to buy two items in order to use it...just like a $1/2 does. And the fine print will say "limit one coupon per purchase of products and quantities stated"...just like that $1/2. So shouldn't you only be allowed to use that one coupon on the pair, regardless of the coding? If we all follow just the wording, I would say yes, we should only use one.

We know about coupon coding however, and SD set forth the rule that since the manufacturers have the option to code that coupon with 01 or 14, and they know what the ramifications of an 01 are, the usage can be expanded to include a $x/1 coupon when using an 01 bogo.

And in case you don't know, all the rules in the wiki were written by the previous mod of the DS forum. I just compiled them all in one place. Slayers wrote them, but never wanted them all listed out in one place for easy access...why? I dunno. But when he left, I approached TR about compiling everything in one place. Rules were pulled straight from Slayers' posts all over the forum by myself, which I then sent via PM to TR. From what I understand, the list I compiled was reviewed by SD legal. So yes, everything in the wiki is an SD RULE, reviewed and approved by the mod team.

As I said before, if you have a store that accepts a bogo 14 with another mq, great for you. I'm not judging your usage. But SD's rules don't allow that type of conversation here. If you want to discuss it publicly, maybe you need to find a different forum.

I agree that trying to explain 01 vs 14 to someone who doesn't coupon can be awkward. But the alternative as I see it is to ban all usage of a $x/1 with any type of BOGO coupon, since that adheres more to the wording "limit one coupon per purchase of the items and quantities stated".

Quote from MsGal : Yes, it was a call to the Manufacturer. Actually, it was calls made to several manufacturers. And I know this to be factual because I made the calls. Coupons that are coded "14" attach to BOTH items at MOST stores. It does not work that way at wags because it is a register/programming error. I do not have a Target where I live but I have heard that "14's" do not attach to both items there as well ... also a glitch. "01's" do NOT attach to both items and thus allow for a second coupon to be used. The manufacturer's know this and can have their coupons coded however they request but cannot control programming errors at the store level. This is where PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY comes into play. We, as couponers, have a personal responsibility to use the coupon as intended by the manufacturer .... not carte blanche just because the store or the cashier may not know any better. It's one thing when someone tries to use a $ off coupon with a "14" at Walmart just because they were allowed to do the same thing previously at wags. The $ off coupon will beep at WM because the "14" already attached to both items, thus leaving the consumer confused as to why it worked at one store but not another. That is why it has worked for YOU at some stores, but not at others. But ... it's something altogether different if you KNOW the manufacturer's intent and you purposely use those coupons at a store with the glitch, just because you know you can get away with it. It is coupon fraud and those that try to argue that are the ones that will go out of their way to use those coupons at the stores with the programming errors. If it were not fraud, they would try to use them at places like WM. But of course, they already know what will happen there. Us "old timers" (I really hate that term ), of the DS forum know that people will do what they want and that's fine. I'm only responsible for me, no one else. What we try very hard to discourage is the discussion on SD of using coupons incorrectly. We're not Mods and we're not the coupon gestapo ... we just know what happens when people start talking about using coupons incorrectly. It not only teaches newbies the WRONG way to coupon, it often starts arguments and sometimes causes threads to get locked. More importantly, it draws attention to coupon abuse and that just leads to more limits and fine print being added to the coupons themselves. To some this may be a "game". But for some of us, couponing is important to our livelihood and we'd like to see it continue.

As I have stated from the beginning... most typical couponers do NOT understand coding, and they shouldn't have to learn "coding"... typically, THAT leads to coupon fraud. No one is encouraging people to use them incorrectly, but it is WALGREEN's problem if their registers are not reading codes correctly. There is NOTHING on the coupon that says it cannot be used in conjunction with other coupons. I absolutely WILL not decode every coupon to determine the correct usage. If they do not want it used in conjuction with a $1.00 or $2.00 off coupon, then they should specifically state that in their coupon. Obviously, they can do that... P&G coupons have more written restrictions than any other coupon that I've ever seen.

Quote from dlw902 : ..... it is WALGREEN's problem if their registers are not reading codes correctly. There is NOTHING on the coupon that says it cannot be used in conjunction with other coupons. I absolutely WILL not decode every coupon to determine the correct usage.

YOU don't have to decode the coupon. We here at SD did that for you. Now it's up to YOU as where to use said coupon. And if you knowingly use a $ off with a "14" at Wags ... you already know the difference ... therefore, it is fraud. You made the choice to shop where it won't beep BECAUSE you want to use both Q's. Otherwise, just take your BOGO to WM (or wherever), and just be happy to get one item for free ... as the manufacturer intended by the coding.


You can throw a dress and lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig.