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Coupon Barcode Basics
August 6, 2008 at
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Last Edited by slayers750 March 10, 2010 at 08:01 PMTHIS POST IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. PLEASE DO NOT POST COMMENTS RELATING TO WAYS TO CIRCUMVENT THE NARRATIVE / TEXT ON THE COUPONS!!!
A WARNING FOR COUPON FRAUD WILL BE ISSUED TO ANY USER WHO USES THIS INFORMATION IN ANY THREAD TO CIRCUMVENT THE NARRATIVE / TEXT ON THE COUPONS!!!
SHOULD WE GET TOO MANY PEOPLE WHO IGNORE THE STATEMENT ABOVE, THE THREAD WILL BE DELETED FOR GOOD.
SHOULD WE GET TOO MANY PEOPLE WHO IGNORE THE STATEMENT ABOVE, THE THREAD WILL BE DELETED FOR GOOD.
In the past two weeks there have been two instances where valid coupons are beeping and it's resulted in a TON of thread posts with complaints, questions, and stories from frustrated couponers. Just a little bit of knowledge about barcodes can equip you with a lot of ammunition when dealing with cashiers and managers (since most of them are clueless and you'd be teaching them).
I'll explain the coupon barcodes, then show you exactly why the Lifesavers and Pert coupons are beeping.
Coupons will beep if ANY PORTION of the barcode does not match the products in your cart.
A typical coupon barcode looks like this:
1-22222-333-44-5
1 - This portion of the code will be either a 5 or a 9. It deals with doubling. If your store doesn't double coupons, then this number has no purpose. If your store DOES double coupons, then any coupon coded with a 5 will double (up to your store's doubling limit) and any coupon coded with a 9 will not double.
22222 - This number is the manufacturer's code. This code is the reason why the Lifesavers and Pert were beeping, but I'll explain those situations below.
333 - This number is the family code. Most manufacturers break their products into families. If you see a three digit number with no zeros, the coupon is coded for a specific product. If there is one zero at the end, the coupon is coded for more than one *variety* product. If there are two zeros at the end, the coupon is coded for more than one *type or brand* of product. Here's an example of how it works:
25700 100 - any Ziploc or Saran Wrap item
25700 160 - any Ziploc item
25700 170 - any Saran Wrap item
25700 164 - Ziploc containers
25700 175 - Saran Wrap disposable Cutting Sheets
If the family code is 000, then the coupon will not beep with any product which falls under the preceeding 5-digit manufacturer's code.
Some products are not broken into any families and are coded as 992. A 992 coupon will do one of two things, depending on how your store has it's registers programmed. Either it will NEVER beep, even if you didn't buy the product, or it will ALWAYS beep and require cashier intervention. These coupons were severely abused by couponers who wanted to use coupons even though they didn't buy the product, so most major retailers have now programmed their registers to beep at every 992.
44 - This is the value code. It tells the register how much to take off. Regardless of what the wording on the coupon says, this code tells the register what you need to purchase and how much to take off. Yes, in many cases there are some VERY EXTREME differences between the wording on the coupon and what the barcode actually requires you to purchase (since there are only a limited number of value codes available). Here are the codes and, again, PLEASE NO DISCUSSIONS ON HOW TO CIRCUMVENT THE SYSTEM. The wording on the coupon is the manufacturer's intended use for it.
00 "Beep" - Manual Input Required
01 Free Item - Will normally beep so cashier can input value
02 B4G1
03 $1.10
04 $1.35
05 $1.40
06 $1.60
07 B3 $1.50
08 B2 $3.00
09 B3 $2.00
10 $0.10
11 $1.85
12 $0.12
13 B4 $1.00
14 B1G1
15 $0.15
16 B2G1
18 $2.60
19 B3G1
20 $0.20
21 B2 $0.35
22 B2 $0.40
23 B2 $0.45
24 B2 $0.50
25 $0.25
26 $2.85
28 B2 $0.55
29 $0.29
30 $0.30
31 B2 $0.60
32 B2 $0.75
33 B2 $1.00
34 B2 $1.25
35 $0.35
36 B2 $1.50
37 B3 $0.25
38 B3 $0.30
39 $0.39
40 $0.40
41 B3 $0.50
42 B3 $1.00
43 B2 $1.10
44 B2 $1.35
45 $0.45
46 B2 $1.60
47 B2 $1.75
48 B2 $1.85
49 $0.49
50 $0.50
51 B2 $2.00
52 B3 $0.55
53 B2 $0.10
54 B2 $0.15
55 $0.55
56 B2 $0.20
57 B2 $0.25
58 B2 $0.30
59 $0.59
60 $0.60
61 $10.00
62 $9.50
63 $9.00
64 $8.50
65 $0.65
66 $8.00
67 $7.50
68 $7.00
69 $0.69
70 $0.70
71 $6.50
72 $6.00
73 $5.50
74 $5.00
75 $0.75
76 $1.00
77 $1.25
78 $1.50
79 $0.79
80 $0.80
81 $1.75
82 $2.00
83 $2.25
84 $2.50
85 $0.85
86 $2.75
87 $3.00
88 $3.25
89 $0.89
90 $0.90
91 $3.50
92 $3.75
93 $4.00
95 $0.95
96 $4.50
98 B2 $0.65
99 $0.99
5 Check digit...no real relevance to couponers.
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Community Wiki
Last Edited by slayers750
March 10, 2010
at
07:56 PM
THIS POST IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. PLEASE DO NOT POST COMMENTS RELATING TO WAYS TO CIRCUMVENT THE NARRATIVE / TEXT ON THE COUPONS!!!
A WARNING FOR COUPON FRAUD WILL BE ISSUED TO ANY USER WHO USES THIS INFORMATION IN ANY THREAD TO CIRCUMVENT THE NARRATIVE / TEXT ON THE COUPONS!!!
SHOULD WE GET TOO MANY PEOPLE WHO IGNORE THE STATEMENT ABOVE, THE THREAD WILL BE DELETED FOR GOOD.
A WARNING FOR COUPON FRAUD WILL BE ISSUED TO ANY USER WHO USES THIS INFORMATION IN ANY THREAD TO CIRCUMVENT THE NARRATIVE / TEXT ON THE COUPONS!!!
SHOULD WE GET TOO MANY PEOPLE WHO IGNORE THE STATEMENT ABOVE, THE THREAD WILL BE DELETED FOR GOOD.
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Some stores accept expired coupons. Check this thread to see if any stores near you have a policy to accept expired coupons:
https://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?
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I feel smarter already.
About 3-5 years ago 992 abuse reached a peak because it became commonly known among hard-core couponers that they would never beep and you could use them on any item. Unethical couponers would buy large quantities of groceries with coupons, then slip in a few random 992 coupons with their orders to cover their non-coupon items, such as produce, meat, etc. Crest Whitestrips used to print only 992 coupons and a lot of people used to brag about using one $5 Whitestrip coupon on every grocery order (they didn't use the higher value whitestrip coupons because they would sometimes beep because the registers were programmed to beep an anything over $5.00).
Even worse than the couponers who slipped through a random 992 were the ones who abused the SCO system. They would scan one 992 for every item in their carts, knowing that there were no controls over the coupons. Several years ago, the SCOs only required you to slide your coupons through a slot when you completed your order. The unethical couponers would scan 992s on every item, then throw a few in the slot and pocket the best ones for future use. Eventually the stores wised up a bit and now most SCO require you to hand your coupons to the cashier...it doesn't solve the problem, but it can help a little.
Getting back on track...
The industry caught up with the 992 abusers, so now most major groceries are programmed to beep at ANY 992. Some of the pharmacies will also beep, but it's more of an individual store programming, rather than corporate-wide like the groceries.
Now it really sucks for those people trying to honestly use a 992 coupon, because most cashiers don't understand why the coupon is beeping and they think something is wrong with the item you purchased. It's hard to explain the problem to them, since they know nothing about coupon barcodes. When I get stuck with a 992 beep, I'll usually just let the cashier check the item and almost every time it'll be pushed through. Sometimes they'll get manager approval and I'll let them. There have been two times I can think of where the cashier/manager was going to refuse a coupon because they couldn't figure out why it was beeping. Both times I then got into the 992 discussion, which I think thoroughly confused them, but they ultimately accepted the coupons.
Personally, I wish they would just delete code 992 from the system entirely and if a manufacturer truly wants a BEEP every time the coupon scans, they can code the coupon 00.
Even worse than the couponers who slipped through a random 992 were the ones who abused the SCO system. They would scan one 992 for every item in their carts, knowing that there were no controls over the coupons. Several years ago, the SCOs only required you to slide your coupons through a slot when you completed your order. The unethical couponers would scan 992s on every item, then throw a few in the slot and pocket the best ones for future use. Eventually the stores wised up a bit and now most SCO require you to hand your coupons to the cashier...it doesn't solve the problem, but it can help a little.
Getting back on track...
The industry caught up with the 992 abusers, so now most major groceries are programmed to beep at ANY 992. Some of the pharmacies will also beep, but it's more of an individual store programming, rather than corporate-wide like the groceries.
Now it really sucks for those people trying to honestly use a 992 coupon, because most cashiers don't understand why the coupon is beeping and they think something is wrong with the item you purchased. It's hard to explain the problem to them, since they know nothing about coupon barcodes. When I get stuck with a 992 beep, I'll usually just let the cashier check the item and almost every time it'll be pushed through. Sometimes they'll get manager approval and I'll let them. There have been two times I can think of where the cashier/manager was going to refuse a coupon because they couldn't figure out why it was beeping. Both times I then got into the 992 discussion, which I think thoroughly confused them, but they ultimately accepted the coupons.
Personally, I wish they would just delete code 992 from the system entirely and if a manufacturer truly wants a BEEP every time the coupon scans, they can code the coupon 00.
I don't get into the whole 992 coding thing, because (1) most cashiers could care less, and (2) I think it makes me look suspicious that I know SO much about coupons.
I try to be helpful, but not TOO helpful, if you know what I mean.
I don't get into the whole 992 coding thing, because (1) most cashiers could care less, and (2) I think it makes me look suspicious that I know SO much about coupons.
I try to be helpful, but not TOO helpful, if you know what I mean.
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If you need to push for mgr approval, use the written text of the coupon, not the barcodes.
If you need to push for mgr approval, use the written text of the coupon, not the barcodes.
Even worse than the couponers who slipped through a random 992 were the ones who abused the SCO system. They would scan one 992 for every item in their carts, knowing that there were no controls over the coupons. Several years ago, the SCOs only required you to slide your coupons through a slot when you completed your order. The unethical couponers would scan 992s on every item, then throw a few in the slot and pocket the best ones for future use. Eventually the stores wised up a bit and now most SCO require you to hand your coupons to the cashier...it doesn't solve the problem, but it can help a little.
Getting back on track...
The industry caught up with the 992 abusers, so now most major groceries are programmed to beep at ANY 992. Some of the pharmacies will also beep, but it's more of an individual store programming, rather than corporate-wide like the groceries.
Now it really sucks for those people trying to honestly use a 992 coupon, because most cashiers don't understand why the coupon is beeping and they think something is wrong with the item you purchased. It's hard to explain the problem to them, since they know nothing about coupon barcodes. When I get stuck with a 992 beep, I'll usually just let the cashier check the item and almost every time it'll be pushed through. Sometimes they'll get manager approval and I'll let them. There have been two times I can think of where the cashier/manager was going to refuse a coupon because they couldn't figure out why it was beeping. Both times I then got into the 992 discussion, which I think thoroughly confused them, but they ultimately accepted the coupons.
Personally, I wish they would just delete code 992 from the system entirely and if a manufacturer truly wants a BEEP every time the coupon scans, they can code the coupon 00.
First of all, CVS does not block the 992 code, what could have happened with you is, may be you did not have any item with a value above 4.00, and that can cause the coupon to beep. We shoud never count on overage from higher coupon value.
Second, I would put all my manufacturer coupon first before I put the 992 coupon. The reason is, the system might apply the coupon to an item that you are using a manufacturer coupon on and when it is time to use that coupon, it will beep. It happend to me during the Olay deal last month. I was buying the Olay and some other items, I think was some always pads, and the coupon was applied to the pads, and when I tried to use the pads coupon, it beeped. Next time I gave the Olay coupon at last, and it worked with the exact same items, since it was forced to be applied to the Olay since it was the only item I did not use coupon for.
One more thing I want to mention about CVS, if the coupon value is above the value of the item, it will apply the rest of the value to the second identical item. Ex, If you buy 4 dawn dish soap for 0.99 each and you have 4 1.00 coupons, it will apply each extra cent to the next bottle until the last coupon which will beep to be adjusted to 0.96. So, even if you are using $4.00 on one item and you have 2 items from the same family with total value exceed 4, your coupon will work.
I hope I did not confuse you all
First of all, CVS does not block the 992 code, what could have happened with you is, may be you did not have any item with a value above 4.00, and that can cause the coupon to beep. We shoud never count on overage from higher coupon value.
Second, I would put all my manufacturer coupon first before I put the 992 coupon. The reason is, the system might apply the coupon to an item that you are using a manufacturer coupon on and when it is time to use that coupon, it will beep. It happend to me during the Olay deal last month. I was buying the Olay and some other items, I think was some always pads, and the coupon was applied to the pads, and when I tried to use the pads coupon, it beeped. Next time I gave the Olay coupon at last, and it worked with the exact same items, since it was forced to be applied to the Olay since it was the only item I did not use coupon for.
One more thing I want to mention about CVS, if the coupon value is above the value of the item, it will apply the rest of the value to the second identical item. Ex, If you buy 4 dawn dish soap for 0.99 each and you have 4 1.00 coupons, it will apply each extra cent to the next bottle until the last coupon which will beep to be adjusted to 0.96. So, even if you are using $4.00 on one item and you have 2 items from the same family with total value exceed 4, your coupon will work.
I hope I did not confuse you all
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