Most of you know that I tend to be slightly...ahem...."outspoken" when it comes to the subject of Ethical Couponing.
Kelly at Faithful Provisions (who I had the pleasure of meeting when I was in Nashville) wrote a great post this morning about the very real consequences for those around you when one tries to break the rules of using coupons. The nutshell version? Someone at her local Publix scammed the store and now every couponer who follows the rules is suffering.
Read Kelly's post here.
Want to brush up on my stance on using coupons? Check out the following posts:
The Black White and Gray of Coupons
Coupon Ethics: Why Stores Don't Trust Us
Marie
I read each and every one of the above articles. I am horrified to realize all of the dishonesty taking place. I am a newbie at this, but I never entertained a thought to try to cheat the system or be dishonest. I'm not preaching, I'm stating a fact.
You did a truly wonderful thing posting the articles. I always used coupons but am using them now more than ever. Now, I'm afraid I'll be wondering if the people watching me think I'm dishonest. One last note -- three cheers for the ones that don't take peelies when they don't buy an item. I was in Walgreens for the Valentine heart that had the $20 flower coupon and found every single heart in the store was minus the coupon. This really upsets me! Congrats for your good work!!!
Celia
As a former retail manager I want to thank you again for discussing ethical couponing. Not only is it wrong to do, but it puts the staff of the store in a horrible position . No one likes saying no to a customer. And it is sad when you see grown men and women cheating on a daily basis. I cannot tell you how exhausting it is to have people trying to do that all day long.
Heather
I'm appalled at the lengths people will go to in an effort to get something for free or as close to free as possible. I like to save money as much as the next person however, I am not willing to commit coupon fraud.
Tirade
Crossposted to Faithful Provisions:
A note about expired coupons:
Some stores will accept coupons that are only a few days past the expiration date. The reason why is that store sends the coupons out in large batches to coupon processors, so it doesn't hurt their bottom line if they receive the coupon a day or two after the expiration. The coupon is just going into the same shipment anyways. Check with the store manager if you want to be "ethical" about it (whatever that means to you; I know my ethical code isn't based on what a bunch of bloggers feel is appropriate).
Also, the Military PX will take coupons for up to six months past the date of expiration.
P.S. I don't think this article is being hard enough on Publix. If my grocery store drastically changed their coupon policy overnight, then I would vote with my dollars and take my business elsewhere. It's not MY fault that YOUR employees were too inept to not notice someone buying 90+ bags of trail mix with internet coupons. How does this not raise any suspicion at all?!!? Why should we all agree to a reactionary and unfair punishment over an incident that the store could have prevented? It sounds like the store was looking for an excuse to stop accepting internet coupons and hopped on this opportunity. Ridiculous!