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Forum Thread

People taking peelies (coupons) off items in the store

486 September 25, 2008 at 05:01 PM in Chat (4)
Do you think it is wrong or okay for people to take peelies (coupons) off of items in the store when they don't ever buy that item?
Do you think it is wrong for people to take peelies (coupons) off items they don't buy in the store?
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Joined Dec 2004
L3: Novice
> bubble2 255 Posts
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Kerbitz
02-07-2010 at 08:05 PM.
02-07-2010 at 08:05 PM.
For everyone that thinks it's not stealing... I dare you to go ask a police officer watch you take a peelie sticker off a box of chocolates without paying for it. I'd be willing to bet one of two things 1) You don't have the balls to do that. 2) You won't walk away without consequences.

The sticker is part of the product, you can't just take it.

Quote from kobe0007 View quoted comment :
I am a firm beleiver that the company wants you to have them. If they didn't they would protect them. I don't believe in opening sealed products to get the coupons or if the peelies are completely part of the package (i.e. sealed in a packet that has to be cut). If it is peel or just hanging on the item, the company has to realize what is going to happen to the coupons. Besides, the MF put the coupons out to be used right? It isn't like you can use these on other items, they are still going to be used as intended.
So then I guess I can just take whatever I want from any store if it's not protected. Nice attempt trying to justify STEALING.
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Last edited by Kerbitz February 7, 2010 at 08:06 PM.
Joined Dec 2006
Permanently Banned
> bubble2 649 Posts
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imnotanasshat
02-07-2010 at 08:08 PM.
02-07-2010 at 08:08 PM.
Quote from rickag View quoted comment :
Like I'm going to buy these codes from a thief on Ebay for $15 when I know very well I could buy them at Walgreens for $5.
Once again, you not only have the class to call names when you have NO PROOF that the Ebay seller didn't buy the chocolate, buuuut you ALSO prove the point of why buying them at Walgreens, keeping the chocolate, and then selling the peelies on Ebay for a profit (which, I reiterate, there is no prohibition on doing), makes this deal extra slick.

Especially if one just wanted free chocolate...and money.


Quote from rickag View quoted comment :
I'm not as stupid as you look..
Aw, now I think you're short-changing yourself...I bet you're much more stupid.


Quote from rickag View quoted comment :
You just made yourself look like an ass, but I'm thinking that's not something new for you.
Everyone reading this thread appreciates you not self-promoting by linking the Amazon page where the book you wrote on the subject is sold. K, thanks!
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Joined Jun 2005
Pessimist
> bubble2 27,193 Posts
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ionizer
02-07-2010 at 08:33 PM.
02-07-2010 at 08:33 PM.
Quote from rickag View quoted comment :
There is an especially fat cow that goes by the*scent*lady on Ebay that is selling a ton of these peelies. She claims she bought the boxes of chocolate. Sure she did. Sure she bought over 25 boxes. She first claimed she only bought a handful when I messaged her. Now all of a sudden I see she's got new auctions up for a lot more. What a fat tub of lard she must be. I almost feel sorry for her. Almost.

Don't worry though. I won't say who I work for but I will say that Ebay and 1-800-Flowers are taking a good hard look at this situation and there will be consequences.

Oh and btw, I realize that the*scent*lady is most likely an SDer and that she'll read this post. I hope you do. I just know you'll be too chickensh*t to identify yourself.
Not that I in anyway condone whatever the person you mentioned did, but I like to look at things from a legal standpoint:

What possible avenue could ebay or 1-800 flowers do aside from shutting down the auctions (if there is even a violation to be found)? Its not like there is anyway to prove whether someone bought the chocolate or not and implying guilt w/o reason is not something I see them planning on doing as part of a "promotion"
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Joined Jun 2005
Pessimist
> bubble2 27,193 Posts
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ionizer
02-07-2010 at 08:35 PM.
02-07-2010 at 08:35 PM.
Quote from gibbersome View quoted comment :
Good point. But still taking 20 peelies isn't great for the community, even though it's good for you. If everyone behaved in that manner, SD wouldn't function as well as it does. So while it's okay to go and get those peelies, the action should be discouraged. Also, I'm seeing a few $20 codes online on ebay already (user "idewhearts7" has gotten quite a few of them it seems).

BTW, I checked Rite Aid and didn't find any of those boxes. My local CVS did have some though.
Agreed, taking them is definitely "not nice". Whether it's bad for SD community as a whole is debateable.

This goes to my Ionizer Theory of Internet Popularity:
Back in the day you only had a few people on these boards, enough to control that everyone would not "binge" on a deal for fear of the deal being ruined. Instead a deal would be milked slowly. However, nowadays there are so many people on SD it doesn't matter if you got 1 person doing something 20 times, or 20 people doing it one time, there's more people than supply of a good deal, so it doesn't matter anymore which way it happens.
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Joined Jun 2005
Pessimist
> bubble2 27,193 Posts
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ionizer
02-07-2010 at 08:37 PM.
02-07-2010 at 08:37 PM.
Quote from socrilles View quoted comment :
Just because you can physically separate something from a product, doesn't mean it isn't stealing to do so. In the case of this deal, these peelies were not intended to be used as a coupon on another purchase of the chocolates, they were not intended to be given away, they were intended to be included with the chocolates but are on the outside of the box so they can be used by the person who purchased the chocolates without damaging the box. If you think for some reason because you can peel it away it is not stealing you are wrong and I don't think there is really any grey area here. It is more the equivalent of going to the cereal section, finding a box of cereal with some promotional code inside (such as free movie tickets when you buy cheerios), opening and taking the empty cereal box while leaving the actual sealed bag of cereal behind.
The gray area is due to the fact that they are on the outside. A cereal box with a promo code on the inside would require you to open a package. In theory when its opened, you should have paid for it.

If they wanted to do what you stated, which is allow the person buying to not open the product, but get the coupon, they coulda still put it in some plastic wrap around the outside. I am guessing they intended to do this, but for whatever reason, ran out of time or didn't think about it enough.

Again, taking them w/o buying is definitely morally wrong and I am not in anyway condoning it, so please don't misinterpret, but whether its "stealing" by definition of the law could be argued.
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Joined Jan 2008
Stockin' up-just in case
> bubble2 652 Posts
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dpags
02-07-2010 at 08:40 PM.
02-07-2010 at 08:40 PM.
Quote from rickag View quoted comment :
The sticker was on the outside of the box, but it was probably stolen long before you walked into the store. But oh wait, according to some of these genius posters, nobody has stolen any of these stickers because "it's not stealing" or "there's no proof" of it. So yeah, you got screwed.
Teehee
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Joined Jun 2005
Pessimist
> bubble2 27,193 Posts
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ionizer
02-07-2010 at 08:42 PM.
02-07-2010 at 08:42 PM.
I have a question for all those debating:

When you go to home depot, they have paint sticks, the paint sticks have no price associated with them, but they are intended for customers purchasing paint.

However, there is no price on them, no expectation to be paid for them. The peelies have no expectation to be paid for either, they are merely an accompaniment to a product.

SO MY QUESTION:

If you think taking a peelie is stealing, do you also think that taking some wood sticks from home depot is stealing if you aren't buying paint? what if you bought paint another day or plan to in the future?

IF there is no price associated with an item and the item is intended for customers (meaning your not taking a light fixture from the store), then how can you call it stealing?
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Joined Jul 2008
You can call me "Al"
> bubble2 18,308 Posts
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MsGal
02-07-2010 at 08:45 PM.
02-07-2010 at 08:45 PM.
Quote from ionizer View quoted comment :
I have a question for all those debating:

When you go to home depot, they have paint sticks, the paint sticks have no price associated with them, but they are intended for customers purchasing paint.

However, there is no price on them, no expectation to be paid for them. The peelies have no expectation to be paid for either, they are merely an accompaniment to a product.

SO MY QUESTION:

If you think taking a peelie is stealing, do you also think that taking some wood sticks from home depot is stealing if you aren't buying paint? what if you bought paint another day or plan to in the future?

IF there is no price associated with an item and the item is intended for customers (meaning your not taking a light fixture from the store), then how can you call it stealing?

Huh

Are you serious? Annoyed
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Joined Dec 2009
We Run This State
> bubble2 349 Posts
109 Reputation
rickag
02-07-2010 at 08:50 PM.
02-07-2010 at 08:50 PM.
Quote from ionizer View quoted comment :
Not that I in anyway condone whatever the person you mentioned did, but I like to look at things from a legal standpoint:

What possible avenue could ebay or 1-800 flowers do aside from shutting down the auctions (if there is even a violation to be found)? Its not like there is anyway to prove whether someone bought the chocolate or not and implying guilt w/o reason is not something I see them planning on doing as part of a "promotion"
Well, if you must know, this "sticker stealing" has been going on in a lot of stores. There have been enough complaints that a memo has been sent to Walgreens management to relocate these particular displays and keep an eye on shoplifting. Yes, they consider this shoplifting. So these "consequences" apply to those who try to do this tomorrow and the next day, etc.

As for Ebay, they can ask where the promotional gift cards came from and then require a proof of purchase before selling them. (It's in the user agreement)
But yeah the worst they could do is shut the auction down and prevent new auctions from popping up, which is good enough in my book.

So yeah, it's not like these people are going to be hauled off to jail in the middle of the night, but at least steps are being taken to curb the profiting.
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Joined Aug 2006
L2: Beginner
> bubble2 37 Posts
16 Reputation
lnreddy
02-07-2010 at 08:51 PM.
02-07-2010 at 08:51 PM.
Quote from rickag View quoted comment :
The sticker was on the outside of the box, but it was probably stolen long before you walked into the store. But oh wait, according to some of these genius posters, nobody has stolen any of these stickers because "it's not stealing" or "there's no proof" of it. So yeah, you got screwed.
not good.....
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Joined Jan 2008
Stockin' up-just in case
> bubble2 652 Posts
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dpags
02-07-2010 at 08:53 PM.
02-07-2010 at 08:53 PM.
Quote from rickag View quoted comment :
Well, if you must know, this "sticker stealing" has been going on in a lot of stores. There have been enough complaints that a memo has been sent to Walgreens management to relocate these particular displays and keep an eye on shoplifting. Yes, they consider this shoplifting. So these "consequences" apply to those who try to do this tomorrow and the next day, etc.

As for Ebay, they can ask where the promotional gift cards came from and then require a proof of purchase before selling them. (It's in the user agreement)
But yeah the worst they could do is shut the auction down and prevent new auctions from popping up, which is good enough in my book.

So yeah, it's not like these people are going to be hauled off to jail in the middle of the night, but at least steps are being taken to curb the profiting.

Teehee
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Joined Jun 2005
Pessimist
> bubble2 27,193 Posts
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ionizer
02-07-2010 at 08:56 PM.
02-07-2010 at 08:56 PM.
very serious. I take wood sticks from home depot all the time. Whether I'm using it to mix paint I bought there and have stored or ones I bought at Sherwin Williams, I don't recall or care to think about it. I'm there, I know im going to be mixing, I take some. If I asked, I'm sure the guy would say "yeah they are here for you to take"

not sure what part of my question you don't take as being serious
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Joined Dec 2006
nope.
> bubble2 18,431 Posts
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Sr. QA
wuzzy | Staff
02-07-2010 at 08:56 PM.
02-07-2010 at 08:56 PM.
And this thread LIVES ON! woot
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Joined Jan 2008
Stockin' up-just in case
> bubble2 652 Posts
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dpags
02-07-2010 at 08:59 PM.
02-07-2010 at 08:59 PM.
Quote from love2beeamom View quoted comment :
so, what about the tearpad type coupons.. do you take one even if you aren't purchasing at that time? And how many is okay to take? I personally just tear off a stack when I see them.. don't usually take them all or count them, just tear some. But I am sure some folks say taking more than one is a crime too!
There seems to be a really strong tearpad magnet in my purse that usually rips that sucker right off the cardboard backing. Dontknow
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Joined Dec 2007
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> bubble2 1,138 Posts
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cubsgirl23
02-07-2010 at 09:00 PM.
02-07-2010 at 09:00 PM.
Quote from dpags View quoted comment :
There seems to be a really strong tearpad magnet in my purse that usually rips that sucker right off the cardboard backing. Dontknow
I have many a coke and pringle cvs coupon from last week....uh oh! Smilie

what about the magnets on the coke bottles? My kids really like those...I promise though, I only would move them from the coke to the sprite. So, you can't come after me for that! Smilie
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Last edited by cubsgirl23 February 7, 2010 at 09:08 PM.
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