CVS $4 of $20 coupons from ebay: question?

First off, you can post this in the CVS coupon thread as it relates to that. We've actually already been discussing this and it's not a VERO violation so we're not really sure what happened. $4/20's still work, you can still get them so it might just be a seller issue.

The more people talk about this openly, the more certain the death of the $4/20 becomes.
Just saying.

Quote from Kren : The more people talk about this openly, the more certain the death of the $4/20 becomes. Just saying.

If its legit it will not die, if its not - it must die! no matter how much people talk....

Quote from Prasha : If its legit it will not die, if its not - it must die! no matter how much people talk....

Just HOW legit do you think it is for people to profit on something that is actually free? People selling these are leeches, feeding on people's desire to save a couple of bucks. Not good for the majority, and sooner or later ALL the loopholes will be plugged. My 2 cents and then some!

Quote from relics4U : Just HOW legit do you think it is for people to profit on something that is actually free? People selling these are leeches, feeding on people's desire to save a couple of bucks. Not good for the majority, and sooner or later ALL the loopholes will be plugged. My 2 cents and then some!

People profit everyday selling coupons from FREE RP/P&G/SS. Just sayin'..

Quote from relics4U : Just HOW legit do you think it is for people to profit on something that is actually free? People selling these are leeches, feeding on people's desire to save a couple of bucks. Not good for the majority, and sooner or later ALL the loopholes will be plugged. My 2 cents and then some!

I think CVS is aware of this coupon sold on ebay, they will stop when it does not serve their purpose, irrespective of people talking or not

I respectfully disagree with this - I don’t think it’s quite that cut and dry. People will have a wide variety of situations on both sides of the coin. For instance, If I somehow had access to numerous copies of the Wag diabetes books, I might be inclined to sell some of them on eBay, not only to make some money but because there are people who want them and will buy them. And from the other viewpoint. I don’t realistically think I’ll ever see these books again, but if another meter deal comes down the pike, I might be inclined to buy some coupons from whoever is selling them on eBay. So I make only $3 per meter instead of $5. That’s still better than zero.

As well, “free” isn’t really free. There is a value to the time spent searching for these items. Especially if it is a search with a low probability of success. Some people choose to invest the time and get things for less money and some people don’t.

Last week I was behind a lady at Wag with a whole cartful of stuff. Cosmetics, Scrubbing Bubbles, Valentine candy, the kind of stuff that is always on sale. Didn’t have a card, didn’t want a card, total was like $135, she wrote a check and went out the door. Of course, I am in physical pain watching this, but to her it’s just another routine trip to the store to buy her everyday things. With a 30 second effort to sign up for the card, she could’ve saved some money. With some time invested matching coupons, she could’ve saved more. With still more time invested on clever Wag shopping, it could’ve been free. Oh well.

Also, what Prasha said. The markup at CVS or Wag is 300%+ anyway. As long as someone is using the coupons and they are not fraudulent, then I suspect they are just fine with it.

I agree with WBBell. Let’s say I decide to pay some guy $50 to fix the brakes on my car. I provide the supplies and tools, he just does the work. Does it make sense to complain that it doesn’t cost him anything to fix my brakes? Should I complain that he got his hands, muscles, and eyes for free? Of course not. The simple reality is that he is providing a service. I am paying for his time, his energy, and his skill.

So it’s really no different from providing coupons. It’s a service. If someone buys coupons, they are really paying for someone else’s time, energy and even skills. Many people don’t know how to get so many coupons. Others wouldn’t bother if they knew. Just as I might decide to pay someone to fix my car or clean my yard, someone else might decide to pay another person to find and deliver coupons to them.

If you don’t want to pay someone to fix your brakes, fix them yourself. If you don’t want to pay someone to get coupons because they are free, then go get the free coupons yourself.

Quote from WBBell : I respectfully disagree with this - I don’t think it’s quite that cut and dry. People will have a wide variety of situations on both sides of the coin. For instance, If I somehow had access to numerous copies of the Wag diabetes books, I might be inclined to sell some of them on eBay, not only to make some money but because there are people who want them and will buy them. And from the other viewpoint. I don’t realistically think I’ll ever see these books again, but if another meter deal comes down the pike, I might be inclined to buy some coupons from whoever is selling them on eBay. So I make only $3 per meter instead of $5. That’s still better than zero. As well, “free” isn’t really free. There is a value to the time spent searching for these items. Especially if it is a search with a low probability of success. Some people choose to invest the time and get things for less money and some people don’t. Last week I was behind a lady at Wag with a whole cartful of stuff. Cosmetics, Scrubbing Bubbles, Valentine candy, the kind of stuff that is always on sale. Didn’t have a card, didn’t want a card, total was like $135, she wrote a check and went out the door. Of course, I am in physical pain watching this, but to her it’s just another routine trip to the store to buy her everyday things. With a 30 second effort to sign up for the card, she could’ve saved some money. With some time invested matching coupons, she could’ve saved more. With still more time invested on clever Wag shopping, it could’ve been free. Oh well. Also, what Prasha said. The markup at CVS or Wag is 300%+ anyway. As long as someone is using the coupons and they are not fraudulent, then I suspect they are just fine with it.

I agree with everything you said except the markup part. If you get shoppers like me in the store who buy sale and clearance items with $4/$20's, it can really trash their profit margin. I'd be interested to know how CRT's work. When I buy Tresemme at 2/$7, is the 2/$2 CRT like a coupon that the manufacturer pays for or is CVS actually selling the Tresemme to me for 2/$5? When I use a $4/$20, is the store taking a $4 loss in profit or does corp pay the store back? If the store is taking the hit and the store's figures are above budget, I don't see where the $4/$20's would be a problem. If the store's figures are below budget, the $4/$20's might be a problem for the store but corp would probably force them to take the coupons anyway.

Quote from doubleq7 : I agree with everything you said except the markup part. If you get shoppers like me in the store who buy sale and clearance items with $4/$20's, it can really trash their profit margin. I'd be interested to know how CRT's work. When I buy Tresemme at 2/$7, is the 2/$2 CRT like a coupon that the manufacturer pays for or is CVS actually selling the Tresemme to me for 2/$5? When I use a $4/$20, is the store taking a $4 loss in profit or does corp pay the store back? If the store is taking the hit and the store's figures are above budget, I don't see where the $4/$20's would be a problem. If the store's figures are below budget, the $4/$20's might be a problem for the store but corp would probably force them to take the coupons anyway.

If the item is on clearance, means they want to get rid off it. there is high cost to dispose off the inventory according to EPA guidelines. U are doing a favor clearing their inventory.....
This type of discussion is up and up in the air, their marketing dept must know what they are doing, sometimes they gamble and loose a bit that is not our responsibility. We can use the coupons ethically, legitimately and cleverly....

Quote from Prasha : U are doing a favor clearing their inventory.....

obviously, you've never seen me shop...

Quote from WBBell : I respectfully disagree with this - I don’t think it’s quite that cut and dry. People will have a wide variety of situations on both sides of the coin. For instance, If I somehow had access to numerous copies of the Wag diabetes books, I might be inclined to sell some of them on eBay, not only to make some money but because there are people who want them and will buy them. And from the other viewpoint. I don’t realistically think I’ll ever see these books again, but if another meter deal comes down the pike, I might be inclined to buy some coupons from whoever is selling them on eBay. So I make only $3 per meter instead of $5. That’s still better than zero. As well, “free” isn’t really free. There is a value to the time spent searching for these items. Especially if it is a search with a low probability of success. Some people choose to invest the time and get things for less money and some people don’t. Last week I was behind a lady at Wag with a whole cartful of stuff. Cosmetics, Scrubbing Bubbles, Valentine candy, the kind of stuff that is always on sale. Didn’t have a card, didn’t want a card, total was like $135, she wrote a check and went out the door. Of course, I am in physical pain watching this, but to her it’s just another routine trip to the store to buy her everyday things. With a 30 second effort to sign up for the card, she could’ve saved some money. With some time invested matching coupons, she could’ve saved more. With still more time invested on clever Wag shopping, it could’ve been free. Oh well. Also, what Prasha said. The markup at CVS or Wag is 300%+ anyway. As long as someone is using the coupons and they are not fraudulent, then I suspect they are just fine with it.

But the ones that were being sold on ebay were fraudulent.