As you know, I take a hard stance when it comes to coupon ethics and fraudulent behavior. I believe couponing should be fun, and I believe it should be done within the rules. I also believe knowing the rules can actually HELP you save money. For instance, you might discover that your store allows you to use two coupons on a buy one, get one sale or stack a store and manufacturer coupon. Rules are good for both the store and the couponer.
Last night, I happened upon a couple other bloggers who take the same, extremely conservative approach I do. Such blogs as these are a great find, and I wanted to point you in their direction and what they have to say about coupon ethics.
::The first is Moms Need to Know, and she actually wrote a wonderful series on Coupon Ethics. I hope you will read these posts; she's really done an excellent job of diving into the topic.
::The second is Faithful Provisions. She wrote an excellent post here about how one unethical couponer's actions made a negative impact for other couponers. I hope you will read this and consider. I also appreciate how honest she is in sharing how she cheated when she started couponing, and how she was convicted about this.
I am in the process of learning more about how coupons work and what constitutes as fraud. This topic is hugely interesting to me, as both a couponer and a coupon blogger. Why do I care so much? Because it's important to me that when you go to the store to do your deals that you can do so in good conscience, knowing you are doing them correctly and still saving a bundle!
So many of you have commented or emailed me that ethics matter to you, too. And I believe that! I believe the vast majority of folks care about playing by the rules. I feel a sense of obligation to share what I learn when it comes to these pivotal topics. So please see me as your ally in this, and not your judge! I truly want to help.
Are there topics related to coupon ethics you'd like me to share more on? Please speak up so I can help!
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Just wrote on this myself last week
http://dealsbydawn.blogspot.com/2010/02/friday-food-for-thought-beware-of-pdf.html
I also consider myself a conservative couponer. I hate those that push the rules, especially those that blog about it!
Thanks for sharing this, Dawn! I know there are other bloggers out there that take a hard stance too…are you one of them? SPEAK UP!! Let us know what sort of things you stand for on your blog. I’m looking for a few great ethical blogs to link to. I’m about to update my blog roll and I’ll be re-reviewing all blogs on my list for ethics. Let’s hold one another accountable.
Thanks for the shout-out! I’m glad that you enjoyed my Coupon Ethics posts!
Mindi, I am a huge admirer of yours! I LOVE your ability to say what you believe with conviction and I couldn’t agree more with your take on coupon ethics. I will be proud to add you to my blogroll. Keep up the excellent, excellent work!!
I try to blog fairly and ethically, example, I only try and test those “unadvertised” catalina deals first before I post them. I would love to be considered for you blog roll. Thanks, Dawn
I have been reading your post on ethics and I find them convicting and challenging. I seem to “trust” people to much assuming that they looked into it. So I appreciate you teaching me the “way”. While I am not perfect and am learning things along the way I am always willing to change if it is wrong. So thank you for all your help. One question I have and you may have already touched on this: Ebay coupons. Coupons are illegal to sell, transfer etc. Do you support buying them on ebay? I know that they state that they are being paid for there handling and such. and I know that it does take a lot of time to clip coupons. I haven’t suggested anyone on my blog to purchase them because I have yet to come to a conclusion on it.
I have purchased coupons (or the time to clip them, rather) from Ebay and I personally don’t see a problem with it. Especially considering how very little profit there is to be made from it (you can get 100+ for just over $1), I don’t feel that this is an unethical practice.
What irks me as far as couponing ethics go is fairness: For example, prior to knowing the policy at Safeway at states, among other things, that they will not accept any IP’s that will make a product free or deduct more than 50% of it’s value, I attempted to get in on the free La Victoria (I know!) and Wheat Thins. I was shut down by the manager of the store and lectured by her on top it! (She was so rude I contacted corporate.)
Anyway, I posted a comment about it on my local frugal site and informed everyone about the policy. Despite this, “free” stuff is constantly being advertised at Safeway via IP’s. The only way that these deals are being secured is by a cashier either knowingly breaking the rules, or UNknowingly breaking the rules. Either way, I haven’t attempted the “freebies” from Safeway since (and haven’t shopped there after being humiliated). Maybe it’s a little jealousy, maybe it’s annoyance that people are blatantly ignoring a policy (especially at a store that’s not too coupon friendly anyway), but either way it’s wrong.
Yes. I agree with the whole safeway thing. I didn’t really do any shopping there until the last few weeks because I saw some great deals. I then when to go get them and the guy said “sorry”…I was like that is weird. Went to a different store then it was fine. I then felt that butterfly feeling of was this wrong? So I called and found out there policy. So now Safeway is my least favorite and it is probably because someone used fraudulent coupons there so they are protecting themselves. And have owned a business before I can’t fault them for that.
I can’t keep up with Safeway’s wacky policies which is why I stopped following them!!
As for Ebay/Clipping Services: it clearly says on the coupons void if sold or auctioned. So how these services skirt that is by saying you are buying their TIME for clipping the coupons. I’ve never personally purchased coupons this way, although I recently considered it once. I’m still torn, and I doubt I will ever post a deal where I suggest you do this. The part that really bothers me is when sellers on ebay are selling say, free coupons that were offered one per household. It would appear that the seller has used unethical means to obtain them in the first place.
In the end, you make the call if you feel you’re purchasing the clippers’ “time” versus the coupons. Also, please note that if you choose to purchase coupons from ebay that you follow their guidelines as stated here:
http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/manufacturers-coupons.html
I hate how people will make up fraud coupons. if you take the time and are patient you will probably find a coupon for the item you are eyeing! And if you fake a coupon then you ruin it for everyone. I was really steamed about the fake coupons during the Quaker deal @ Albertsons. Really, how easy was it to come across a legit coupon to score some free stuff or make a great deal even better? But because someone passed off a fake coupon Albertsons took a hard stance not to take ANY Quaker coupons that were printed from home.
I definitely have the stance of not arguing a coupon with the store. If they aren’t accepting it I figure it is their right, and my right not to shop at that store anymore. I want to shop at stores that help me save money, and appreciate blogs like this one that point those stores out.
Albertsons wouldn’t take my Quaker coupons, either. It was frustrating since I’d legitimately printed them from the Quaker site. According to Coupon Information Corporation, the #1 fraud issue when it comes to coupons is counterfeits. While it was frustrating to not have my coupons scan, I support stores in doing whatever they have to do to protect their losses. This is their business, they provide jobs to people, and we should respect that and not be quick to criticize cashiers who are trying to err on the side of caution.
I buy coupons on Ebay from time to time. I’ve compared it to other practices such as plasma donation. It is illegal to sell body fluids in the U.S. but when you “donate” plasma, they pay you for your “time”. Same with sperm donation, I’d guess. Maybe I’m rationalizing, but it seems OK to me. I generally feel I have pretty conservative couponing ethics.
Was wondering what you thought about going to Albertson’s twice during the sale period to take advantage of the Double Coupons. I was considering that as a way to save a little more money, but of course, my integrity isn’t worth the $3 maximum savings!