Extreme Couponing & My Thoughts!
TLC’s EXTREME COUPONING : Due to TLC’s new show Extreme Couponing a lot of UNETHICAL things are happening at Alberston’s (and many other stores). Two shoppers featured on the show who shopped at Alberston’s stated that they were able to "make overage" on their doublers. One of the shopper’s featured is from Caldwell ID, Jessica Hacker. Since the show she has been featured in local newspapers and on local radio stations (KLCE). So I wanted to make sure everyone was aware that just because she said she was able to do this on national TV doesn’t mean she was allowed to or that it is ok to do it because she did.
*As it CLEARLY states in Albertson’s Twice The Value (AKA Doublers) Acceptance Guideline it states: Cash back will not be given for items
Jessica also stated that they paid here $1/1 to take home her Viactiv Chews. They were on clearance for $2.00 she said she was able to use here $3/1 coupon and make $1/1 on each one.
*As it CLEARLY states in Albertson’s Coupon Policy: Coupons that exceed the retail value of an item will be adjusted to provide the maximum value, not exceeding the price of the item (meaning you CANNOT make overage on your items)
Jessica also claims because she was able to make money on her items that her total came down to under $7.00 for everything. You have to pay full tax when shopping in Idaho.
*It clearly states in Albertson’s Coupon Policy: All applicable sales taxes are paid by the customer at the full value of the item.
So just because it’s on TV doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do. I have only seen a few episodes of this new show because I don’t have TV and honestly the show disgust me and I don’t care to watch it. It gives people false hope/views about using coupons & saving money AND teaches people UNREALISTIC things about couponing.
MIS-USING COUPONS: If people keep abusing Coupons & Store’s Policies it will ruin it for everyone. Stores and mfg. are coming out with stronger limits, which is good. But eventually they will be forced to stop all together if people don’t stop doing dishonest & unethical things. It is NEVER ok to commit Coupon Fraud it is a CRIME! Even if a Store Manager or Cashier tells you it’s ok, this DOES NOT make it right. I will be the first to admit that sometimes I’m in such a hurry I don’t read everything on the coupon. For example I have used a coupon that was $1/2 on one item because all I noticed was that really big it said $1.00 off then if you keep reading in small print it says when you buy 2. But I have NOT does this intentionally. People make honest mistakes and that is different then INTENTIONALLY mis-using coupons.
-Last week I made a quick trip into Albertson’s to see if they had any items left so I could use my doublers. I had printed the $1/1 ANY Hormel Always Tender Pork coupon and wanted to see how much it would make the Pork Chops that were on sale for BOGO. I was discouraged and mad when I saw a sign hanging next to the Pork Chops that this coupon taped to it (Hormel Always Tender FLAVORED item $1/1 (7-11-11) SS-5/8) stating on the sign below this coupon: This Coupon can be used on the Pork Chops.)
This coupon CANNOT be used on the Pork Chops because the coupon states it’s for any FLAVORED item, the Pork Chops are NOT flavored, unless I’m missing something. So just because the store puts a sign up because they discover the coupon will scan on this item, even though it’s NOT intended for this item, DOES NOT mean it’s ok to use it. This is Coupon Fraud!
The $1/1 ANY printable coupon is for ANY so it will work for the Pork Chops. (It clearly states this in Albertson’s Coupon Policy: Coupons are accepted in accordance to the stated requirements on the coupon at the time of purchase. These requirements include, but are not limited to: product type, flavor(s), size(s), quantities and minimum/maximum dollar purchase limits.) So please make sure you are reading the coupon and following the rules.
-I spoke to some cashiers & a manager at my local Wal-Mart about how many people were mis-using coupons with their doublers. I went to go check the price of the Kraft BBQ Sauce (Clearly states it for these sizes ONLY 28oz. or 40oz. .45/1 (6-5-11) SS-5/1) and was surprised to find the shelf of the 18 oz bottles wiped out. People were using this coupon on the 18 oz bottles even though it CLEARLY states they are for the 28 oz or 40 oz bottles. This is Coupon Fraud. If people continue to do this stores like Wal-Mart will stop accepting doublers (the few stores that still accept them). Mfg. will stop putting out coupons for their products if they are being misused, i.e. Hormel could choose to stop putting out coupons for their pork items if people don’t stop misusing them.
