Thanks Coupon Gal!
Cheryl
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Denny's $5/25
Thanks Coupon Gal!
Cheryl
Purchase versus Transaction
Here's another article from a year or so ago. This is really good information for when you come into those issues of purchase versus transaction. Many of us have had "those" issues before.
Here is something that may be helpful to those of you just learning how to coupon. I read this today on A Thrifty Mom, so this is from her blog.
Question from my (A Thrify Mom's) inbox this week...
First I want to thank you for your thriftymom website. I’ve been couponing for a year now and I still have questions. I learn something neew everyday about coupons….I do have a question after watching TLC’s Extreme Couponing, in the show the couponers bought a large number of items and used coupons for every item…… I’ve read the fine print on the coupon and most of these coupons have written on them “one per purchase” or “one per purchase of like item”……..I’ve tried to use multiple coupons, for instance, Act Popcorn at Winco and the cashier refused my coupons because they read, one per purchase……on the show there were items the couponers purchased and I have the same coupons and mine read “one per purchase”. So does this depend on the store and cashier to take these multiple coupons? Does it also depend on the store and cashier to double a coupon that reads “do not double”. I hope you can explain this to me.
Answer: This is a great question and asked at every coupon class I teach, so I thought it would be a good topic to cover. First let me say the fine print on a coupon should be read and honored. A store has the right to refuse a coupon ( which is silly they get reimbursed the full amount plus 8 cents). That being said this is what the fine print means…
If your coupon says ” One coupon per purchase," that means you are only able to use one coupon per item purchased. ( NOT buy 5 items and scan the same coupon 5 times). If you are buying or purchasing 5 items you can then use 5 coupons. Ask yourself or the cashier how many items did I purchase….5, so that means you can use 5 coupons (One per purchase). You can have multiple ”purchases” within one transaction.
If the coupon was to say “One coupon per transaction” then yes you are only to use one coupon for one item on that shopping trip.
If the coupon was to say ” One coupon per House Hold” then you are only use one coupon , not even on a new transaction or next shopping trip.
Many of you may have noticed P&G a few months back changed the wording on there coupons. They now reads ” Limit one coupon per purchase, Limit of 4 like coupon in the same shopping trip” The top line means the same as above, one coupon per item or purchase ( you can buy 3 of the same items and use 3 coupons)…. but then the next line gives you even further instruction. Only 4 like items in the same shopping trip. So you can buy as many P&G products as you want in one transaction….but limited to 4 of each product. So 4 toothpaste, 4 shampoo, 4 bodywash…you get the idea.
The main thing is to remember a transaction is different than a purchase. A transaction is the sum of all the items or all the purchases you made.
Thanks for this great post A Thrifty Mom!
Cheryl
Here is something that may be helpful to those of you just learning how to coupon. I read this today on A Thrifty Mom, so this is from her blog.
Question from my (A Thrify Mom's) inbox this week...
First I want to thank you for your thriftymom website. I’ve been couponing for a year now and I still have questions. I learn something neew everyday about coupons….I do have a question after watching TLC’s Extreme Couponing, in the show the couponers bought a large number of items and used coupons for every item…… I’ve read the fine print on the coupon and most of these coupons have written on them “one per purchase” or “one per purchase of like item”……..I’ve tried to use multiple coupons, for instance, Act Popcorn at Winco and the cashier refused my coupons because they read, one per purchase……on the show there were items the couponers purchased and I have the same coupons and mine read “one per purchase”. So does this depend on the store and cashier to take these multiple coupons? Does it also depend on the store and cashier to double a coupon that reads “do not double”. I hope you can explain this to me.
Answer: This is a great question and asked at every coupon class I teach, so I thought it would be a good topic to cover. First let me say the fine print on a coupon should be read and honored. A store has the right to refuse a coupon ( which is silly they get reimbursed the full amount plus 8 cents). That being said this is what the fine print means…
 |
| Photo courtesy of A Thirfty Mom |
If the coupon was to say “One coupon per transaction” then yes you are only to use one coupon for one item on that shopping trip.
If the coupon was to say ” One coupon per House Hold” then you are only use one coupon , not even on a new transaction or next shopping trip.
 |
| Photo Courtesy of A Thrifty Mom |
Many of you may have noticed P&G a few months back changed the wording on there coupons. They now reads ” Limit one coupon per purchase, Limit of 4 like coupon in the same shopping trip” The top line means the same as above, one coupon per item or purchase ( you can buy 3 of the same items and use 3 coupons)…. but then the next line gives you even further instruction. Only 4 like items in the same shopping trip. So you can buy as many P&G products as you want in one transaction….but limited to 4 of each product. So 4 toothpaste, 4 shampoo, 4 bodywash…you get the idea.
The main thing is to remember a transaction is different than a purchase. A transaction is the sum of all the items or all the purchases you made.
Thanks for this great post A Thrifty Mom!
Cheryl
Coupon Ethics
I posted this sometime last year and just wanted to share it again, since I have been trying go over a few things when trying to learn how to coupon....
Wow, this is a great article from Coupon Gal!
I have been thinking a lot lately about this HUGE issue! Coupon ethics is really important because if people use coupons unethically, then it ruins it for the rest of us! Of course I don’t want that to happen since we all benefit greatly from the use of coupons, right?
The complete responsibility of correct coupon usage falls on the consumer, not the store employee or manufacturer of the coupon. Because of this, you want to make sure you’re following the rules.
Make sure you are purchasing the size, quantity, type, etc. that the coupon intends for you to purchase.
Often, you will see the phrase “Limit one coupon per purchase.” Some retailers unfortunately tend to interpret this phrase wrong and think that it means you can only use one coupon on your entire order. This phrase, when properly interpreted, basically means that you can use one manufacturer coupon for each item you purchase. If you have a $1.00 manufacturer coupon for a box of waffles, you can only use one coupon. You can’t stack coupons and attempt to use two $1.00 manufacturer coupons on one box of waffles. If you wish to redeem both coupons, you will have to buy two boxes of waffles. Some stores (like Target) will allow you to stack one manufacturer coupon with one store coupon and that is OK.
Most stores will not accept coupons past their expiration date simply because they will not be reimbursed by the manufacturer!
Recently someone emailed me a PDF file of a FREE 1 lb. box of Velveeta Cheese and they wanted to know if it was real. That coupon was a scan of a 20-year-old coupon with no expiration date. Using that coupon would mean you were committing coupon fraud! The stores that people used that coupon at will NOT get reimbursed a dime from the manufacturer since it was not a legit coupon! You can read more about that coupon HERE.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Be cautious of any coupon in PDF version. If it is in PDF file call the manufacturer or store to verify that it is legit. I realize some PDF coupons are legit and can be found directly on the manufacturer’s website, just make sure it is so you don’t unintentionally find yourself committing coupon fraud.
It is illegal to photocopy ANY coupon! It is because of people photocopying Internet printable coupons that some stores will not accept them. Each Internet coupon has a unique serial number in the upper right hand corner. The manufacturer will NOT reimburse a store that has accepted more than one coupon with the same number. Once the coupon has been redeemed it is no longer valid!
If you return an item that you purchased with a coupon, that coupon must be taken off your return amount. It is not ethical to return an item to make the money off it. Believe me the stores catch on to this and then that just causes them to scrutinize every coupon and to buckle down on their return policy! I just spoke to Target Customer Relations about their coupon policy and they mentioned that they are aware of people doing this and are coming up with a policy to prevent it from happening. I will talk about this more in my Target Coupon Policy post!
Coupons can be a great tool for savvy consumers like us, but only if they are redeemed properly. I hope you will take into consideration these tips concerning correct coupon usage in mind the next time you head to the grocery store!
Thanks Coupan Gal for such a wonderful article!
Cheryl
Wow, this is a great article from Coupon Gal!
Coupon Ethics!
I have been thinking a lot lately about this HUGE issue! Coupon ethics is really important because if people use coupons unethically, then it ruins it for the rest of us! Of course I don’t want that to happen since we all benefit greatly from the use of coupons, right?
The complete responsibility of correct coupon usage falls on the consumer, not the store employee or manufacturer of the coupon. Because of this, you want to make sure you’re following the rules.
Read the Fine Print:
Make sure you are purchasing the size, quantity, type, etc. that the coupon intends for you to purchase.
Often, you will see the phrase “Limit one coupon per purchase.” Some retailers unfortunately tend to interpret this phrase wrong and think that it means you can only use one coupon on your entire order. This phrase, when properly interpreted, basically means that you can use one manufacturer coupon for each item you purchase. If you have a $1.00 manufacturer coupon for a box of waffles, you can only use one coupon. You can’t stack coupons and attempt to use two $1.00 manufacturer coupons on one box of waffles. If you wish to redeem both coupons, you will have to buy two boxes of waffles. Some stores (like Target) will allow you to stack one manufacturer coupon with one store coupon and that is OK.
Check the Expiration Date:
Most stores will not accept coupons past their expiration date simply because they will not be reimbursed by the manufacturer!
Be Aware of Counterfeit Coupons:
Recently someone emailed me a PDF file of a FREE 1 lb. box of Velveeta Cheese and they wanted to know if it was real. That coupon was a scan of a 20-year-old coupon with no expiration date. Using that coupon would mean you were committing coupon fraud! The stores that people used that coupon at will NOT get reimbursed a dime from the manufacturer since it was not a legit coupon! You can read more about that coupon HERE.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Be cautious of any coupon in PDF version. If it is in PDF file call the manufacturer or store to verify that it is legit. I realize some PDF coupons are legit and can be found directly on the manufacturer’s website, just make sure it is so you don’t unintentionally find yourself committing coupon fraud.
Photocopying Coupons:
It is illegal to photocopy ANY coupon! It is because of people photocopying Internet printable coupons that some stores will not accept them. Each Internet coupon has a unique serial number in the upper right hand corner. The manufacturer will NOT reimburse a store that has accepted more than one coupon with the same number. Once the coupon has been redeemed it is no longer valid!
Returning an Item:
If you return an item that you purchased with a coupon, that coupon must be taken off your return amount. It is not ethical to return an item to make the money off it. Believe me the stores catch on to this and then that just causes them to scrutinize every coupon and to buckle down on their return policy! I just spoke to Target Customer Relations about their coupon policy and they mentioned that they are aware of people doing this and are coming up with a policy to prevent it from happening. I will talk about this more in my Target Coupon Policy post!
Coupons can be a great tool for savvy consumers like us, but only if they are redeemed properly. I hope you will take into consideration these tips concerning correct coupon usage in mind the next time you head to the grocery store!
Thanks Coupan Gal for such a wonderful article!
Cheryl
FREE Country Music
Thanks Common Sense with Money!
Cheryl
$3/1 Any One Huggies Reset
Thanks The Frugal Find!
Cheryl
**HOT** High-Value Coupon for La Victoria
Thanks Common Sense with Money!
Cheryl
$1.50/3 boxes of Lean Pockets
I LOVE these coupons. By the way, I believe this has been reset. I have printed this coupon before and was able to print it again. If you are interested in this coupon, you might wanna hurry over there and print it out as the quantities are limited.
Thanks!
Cheryl
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