Ethics and Fraud

Mar

Just because it’s in a coupon ebook, doesn’t make it legit

A concerned reader emailed me tonight about an ebook they’d just downloaded for free. Folks, in case you are not already aware, ANYONE can create an ebook for download. Just because someone has an ebook does not mean that the information is true or good. I did locate the book and was floored by what I read.

Here is a snippet of the ebook in question (which I will NOT link to or publicize):

Another trick is to look at the coupons when you print them out and see if the serial numbers are the same. If you’ve printed out multiple coupons and all the serial numbers match on them, you can simply go to a photocopier and print out a few more. Don’t tell the checker you did this, as the practice is frowned upon at most stores. Be careful not to copy coupons where the serial numbers are different. These codes are tailored to your individual account on the coupon site and copying them is considered fraud.

Seriously, my jaw is still on the ground. Where to start?

Well, let’s start here. Photocopying coupon is ALWAYS considered fraud. Photocopying coupons is not merely “frowned upon” or a “gray area.” It’s wrong.

On the Coupon Information Corporation’s website:

Photocopies. Do not photocopy coupons. This is counterfeiting and is a criminal offense.

And then there’s this story Jill Cataldo shared where one of her readers LOST her Coupons.com printing privileges due to photocopying fraud.

And then, if that’s not enough? The coupons themselves plainly read:

Void if reproduced, altered, or expired. (Or some similar message).

I don’t know about you, but photocopying sure sounds an awful lot like reproducing to me.

And then, if you’re still not convinced? Just refer to any number of store coupon policies. Here’s a few to get you started:

Albertsons: Albertsons only accepts original coupons and does not accept photocopied or reproduced coupons.

WinCo: No photocopied or visibly altered coupons

Safeway: We will not accept photocopies of coupons.

The email I’ve received from the reader tonight unfortunately isn’t an isolated account. I’ve had other readers tell me about coupon instructors informing them this practice was a good way to stock up on extra coupons. This is unfortunate.

So what’s one to do?

Refer to the Coupon Information Corporation’s page on Considerate Couponing. I very much work to keep this site in alignment with their best practices for consumers. Jill Cataldo is another resource I highly recommend for ethical couponing.
Refer to Store Coupon Policies! I do my best to keep this page up to date. Stuff does change, and policies can vary from store-to-store. (Incidentally most of these policies do clearly state that photocopied coupons are strictly prohibited.)
Be on guard for questionable advice. Just because it comes from a coupon site, a coupon ebook or even in a coupon class you’ve paid money for – does NOT mean it’s correct. Always weigh everything against #1 and #2 above.
Subscribe to your paper. I get four copies of the Tacoma News Tribune delivered to my door. I do not advocate the buying or selling of coupons and I certainly do not want you out photocopying coupons.

Finally, I want to remind you that I’m committed to ethical and sensible coupon usage here. You can always refer to my Coupon Ethics stance and if anything I share here is ever not in alignment with what I’ve set out this site to be, you can contact me or leave a comment. That’s my commitment to you.

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Mar

Printable coupons and zip codes: the discussion continues

As you might have noticed, I take a pretty conservative stance around here when it comes to coupon deals that I share on the blog. Where matters are gray, I err on the side of caution. Two reasons:

I want the deals I share here to work for the majority of readers. I don’t want to waste your time or efforts!
I see myself as a leader – someone that can make an impact for either good or bad. I want to make a positive difference for both couponers and the stores and manufacturers that provide us the deals.

What this means is that you’ll often find me silent on coupons and deals other bloggers are reporting. In many instances it’s not because I’m not aware of those coupons or deals, it’s because I have specific reservations in sharing them with you.

A couple of years ago, I decided that entering zip codes to obtain printable coupons was something I wanted to steer clear of. I came to this conclusion after a conversation I had with an editor at Red Plum.

After watching this practice continue to grow, I decided it was time to see if anything had changed. Was there more I could learn on this topic? I approached two of my affiliate contacts for Coupons.com. It is through these affiliate relationships that I serve the Coupons.com links here at The Coupon Project.com. (For more information on my affiliates, please see my Disclosure Policy.)

The answers I received differed from each other. One response indicated that it was acceptable to share the different zips (but without a definite policy in force), while the other had some more specific guidelines and official stance on this topic. Here’s what I learned from the latter affiliate:

The only coupons I can highlight are the ones nationally available – that means without having to input a zip code. This means if I find a great coupon that’s available at zip 12345 and nowhere else, I should refrain from sharing that with you.
I can state what zip I happened to find a nationally-based coupon in. For instance, I might say, “I found $4/4 Kellogg’s printable coupon under zip code 33333″ as proof that the coupon is available and my posting is not in error.
Couponers may not be able to redeem coupons they print from other zip codes. For this reason, suggesting you print coupons for zip codes you don’t live in is discouraged.

After some further clarification with that affiliate, the issue may be more of a practical one than ethical one. I don’t want you heading to checkout with coupons that potentially won’t work. What I’ve learned recently echos what I was told a couple years prior – that some manufacturers may wish to release a certain coupon offer in a select market. Why? Well, I don’t know. But should it matter? Sometimes offers are available in certain areas. I’m alright with leaving it at that.

I also contacted the CIC for additional thoughts on this topic, but as of this posting, I’ve not heard back. According to this forum discussion, Jill Cataldo (“Coupon Maven” in the thread) is also researching this topic and is planning on sharing soon. I greatly admire her insight and ethics stance, and will be curious to see what she discovers. Thus, more thoughts on this topic may be forthcoming.

So what do I do with all this? One group is telling me it’s OK, another had something different to say, and then there’s the conversation I had a few years ago. But most of all, there’s my gut feeling that says there’s something that just doesn’t sit right with me about it, again for both practical reasons and ones that bug my conscience a bit. Therefore, you can continue to count on me to only promote coupons that are available nationally. If you see me reference a zip code on occasion, note that it’s to validate the coupon’s existence (as per #2 above), and not to highlight a coupon as being only available in one zip code. If you have problems seeing a coupon appear, I would suggest you start by entering your own zip code. (Heck, you should be entering your zip code anyways – you might see some coupons you won’t find otherwise!)

From an ethical standpoint, there are bigger fish to fry in my opinion. I feel more strongly about say, copying coupons or barcode decoding. However, I wanted to give my personal conclusion on the topic since it’s coming up more and more, and I hope this post serves to clear some of that up for you.

It’s always possible that my stance, opinion, and thoughts on this topic will evolve as I continue to learn more for myself and for your information. On a personal note, thank you for following my site, even if it means you aren’t always notified about all those “hot” coupons and deals out there. And thanks to those of you who are invested in wading through all these meaty “gray” topics with me.

PS. Feel free to leave your comments and questions on this topic today. Heck, I welcome opposing viewpoints as well so long as it’s kept nice.

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Sep

How far is too far in “doing the right thing?”

(Image credit)

I recently got an excellent question from reader Kim.

Here’s her question:

I was at a Target store using coupons for free items (legitimate ones direct from companies). The cashier was putting in the highest allowed value on the coupons instead of the actual value. I commented and told him how it should be done and how much the items were priced. However, he said he was doing it his way.

How far do you push to be ethical with the coupon process? I was being honest but he wasn’t listening. Should I have gone above and beyond to customer service… wait in line… to say they were over paying me?

This was over a month ago but I’m still thinking about it.

So, what do you think?

Do you think Kim did her part by bringing it up to the cashier, or, should she have done more? Have you had similar things happen? How did you handle them?

(Thanks, Kim, for allowing us to discuss your question today!)

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Sep

Blogging ethics: behind the scenes at The Coupon Project

(Image credit Jan Flaska)

There is a topic that’s near and dear to my heart, and I’ve debated for some time on if or how I want to share it with you. Today, I’ve decided to go for it.

The topic? YOU.

Awhile ago, I decided to write a set of values that would govern the content on this blog and the way I would conduct myself here. The first value I penned was this:

“Offer content that provides value to the readers first.”

Bottom line, living out this value has meant I’ve left money on the table. The relationship I’ve built with my readers here will win every time over a quick buck. Why am I sharing this today? Because I want you to know how committed I am to providing you the very best content I can here at The Coupon Project. I also wanted to give you an inside look at how I decide which deals and content to post, and which to leave well enough alone.

#1. You can count on me to listen to you. There are a few affiliate offers I’ve promoted in the past that initially felt like win-win situations. They seemed like legitimate deals, and yes, I made a few bucks in the process. However, when you tell me that you had serious problems with the company, that the freebie was less than stellar, or you wouldn’t recommend the deal to a friend…I listen. I can think of two specific offers I’ve not posted in recent days that would have undoubtedly earned me a nice lil’ paycheck…but I wouldn’t have felt right about promoting to you. In both of these instances, I’ve shared specific feedback with affiliate managers about what you had to say. Behind the scenes, you can count on me to stick out my neck for you.

#2. When there are no deals, I stay silent. If deals are light, I’m not going to try to drum up deals that just aren’t there. I don’t want to speak just to make noise. I may choose to fill in with tutorials, vlogs, or giveaways, but I’m not about to pass off an Amazon non-deal as something truly awesome.

#3. You can count on me to disclose. I make a best effort to disclose shipping costs, fine print, and other information integral in giving you a full picture of a deal. I’m not into trickery to get you to click on my links. I’ve also been very forthcoming in how I make money here. And, you know what? I’d do so regardless if the FTC required it or not. (Read my Disclosure Policy for more information.)

#4. I started this blog because I love to write. When I started this blog, I spent several months developing content before I took out my business license and began the monetization process. I write many posts here (such as this one) that don’t earn me a single cent. I write these for the pure joy of writing. My degree was in English/Creative Writing and my Senior Project was a short story series. I worked as a freelance copywriter a couple years before I started this site (I still do work as a copywriter on the side, too). I’ve been a storyteller as long as I can remember.

I’m not going to lie - it’s great being able to support my family with what I love to do – but it’s also great when I receive comments from you saying how my post brightened your day, made you laugh, or inspired you to live better. That means so much to me.

#5. While I love your support, I’m not a charity case. Let me make this clear: you owe me NOTHING. While I would love it for you to click on my Coupons.com or Groupon links, you are not obligated to do so. Ever. I’m not going to encourage you to help me earn an iPad by bringing me a zillion referrals. I’m not going to beg you to share my Facebook page with your friends so I can hit some magic number. I want you to share my site and my posts because you genuinely like them. Isn’t that the entire point of social media anyway?

If you’ve ever wondered about the decision-making process involved in content development here, I hope I’ve been able to shed some light on that topic for you! And I’ll do my best to answer additional questions if you have them.

Finally, thank you for your honest feedback, comments, and emails. Rest assured, I listen.

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Sep

Coupon Ethics Question: Is it OK to take advantage of a company’s error?

Photo Image Bob Smith

Much of couponing is black and white. For instance, most of us will agree that it’s not OK to pass expired coupons or photocopy printables. (And in case you were unaware, no, you can’t do these things.)

But the more you get into couponing, the more you’ll discover the gray areas – those situations where it may not be so black and white. In these instances, the question isn’t “can you do this?” so much as it’s “should you do this?”

One topic I’ve been mulling over quite a bit and would love your feedback on today is this: if a company makes an error, is it OK to take advantage of it?

For instance, recently I shared a Dove Register Reward deal at Walgreens that at first glance, looked like a killer unadvertised deal. However, several of you commented to inform me that this wasn’t merely an unadvertised deal, it was an error. At that point, I didn’t feel it was OK to advocate others do the deal, and I updated the post. While it may be easy to say, “well, too bad, so sad, it was their fault,” I would like to give pause.

Here are some examples I’ve seen in the couponing world. How would you handle each of these situations:

A company puts a .pdf coupon up on Facebook. They didn’t set proper controls, and you quickly realize that you can print as many of these coupons as you want. The coupons yield a freebie with a current store sale. So, do you print 2 or 52?
You are expecting a $1 Register Reward to print for a product you’re buying at Walgreens. Instead, two print from the same manufacturer, turning a good deal into a moneymaker. Do you then run home and email your pals (and maybe some coupon bloggers) and tell them to hurry and do the deal before it’s pulled?
A grocery store’s ad has a deal pictured a little too good to be true. Do you clarify with the store first, or attempt to do the deal before they realize their mistake?
A new online daily deals site is offering a hot coupon code that yield you free items. You do the deal once for yourself, and then proceed to do the deal for your husband, your 5 year old daughter, and your elderly aunt who lives at a retirement center three states away. Hey – it’s one per person, right?

I think it’s worth considering that company errors may result in negative impacts for couponers everywhere including raised prices, lower coupon values, or cancelled incentive programs. And behind these companies, remember, are people. People who perhaps made an honest mistake and perhaps now have a job on the line.

What I’m not talking about here? Deals that are just plain…hot! It’s true, you can snag great freebies legitimately. I share them all the time! I also am not talking about the times when it’s not clear a company has made a mistake. I’m talking about those instances when you’ve got a pretty good hunch a company goofed.

In thinking about the above situations, I’ve decided that I want to make a best effort around here. If I see a deal that seems too good to be true (aka an error), I’m going to do my best to get some clarification for you before posting. At the end of the day, it’s not just about saving money in my book. It’s about feeling good about the way you got those deals in the first place.

I would love to hear from you on this topic. Do you agree with me in thinking that responsible couponing means asking “should” I do this deal versus “can?” Or, do you disagree and think that if a manufacturer or store makes a mistake that it’s their loss? Or, maybe you see it another way altogether? Weigh in!

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Aug

Dumpster Diving, Part Deux: the manufacturers weigh in

A couple weeks ago, I shared my thoughts on why I think dumpster diving for coupons is not a good idea.

So you can imagine my interest when my contact from The News Tribune sent me this article on coupon security. (Interestingly enough, when I inquired at the Coupon Information Corporation on this topic, they sent me the same link.) It’s an interview of Ronald Cole from News America (AKA SmartSource). Then, the same set of questions were posed to Barry Haselden from Valassis (AKA Red Plum). I wanted to share an excerpt of these interviews with you today, because I don’t see this kind of information often discussed in the couponing world.

For the questions below, RC is Ronald Cole and ABC is the Audit Bureau of Circulations:

ABC: Why does it matter if someone steals coupon inserts from a recycle bin? Aren’t they being thrown out anyway?

RC: Security guidelines require newspapers to be accountable for the destruction of returns and leftovers. Unauthorized distribution or obtaining coupons in bulk is a serious violation of the security policy. Coupons that are obtained illegally drive up redemption costs for the manufacturers. This could ultimately lead to the manufacturers ceasing distribution of coupons. Then everybody loses.

And here’s Barry Haselden’s response to the same question:

ABC: Why does it matter if someone steals coupon inserts from a recycle bin? Aren’t they being thrown out anyway?

BH: Yes it does matter. First, stealing in any form is illegal. Additionally, there is a specific process for the destruction of coupon inserts by the newspapers, which includes overall accountability of overage and returns. Excess coupons that are distributed via unauthorized channels — for example, stealing them from a recycling bin — could add significant costs to the manufacturer’s redemption budget for the coupon promotion. This may result in the manufacturer offering fewer coupons in the future due to cost overruns related to unauthorized coupon distribution.

And then check out this:

ABC: How should inserts be properly disposed?

RC: As required by our strict security policy, newspapers must account for all unused coupons and destroy them. Every newspaper is required to provide documentation of how many copies were destroyed and method of destruction for each and every insertion date.

In his interview, Mr. Cole also discusses the impact of Extreme Couponing. He says that while he thinks the promotion of coupons is a good thing, News America (again, SmartSource), cannot condone the illegal practices depicted on the show. I did find it encouraging that he said that coupon security remains high.

One thing that suprised me on my dumpster diving post is how few people commented about the impact to manufacturers and newspapers. I’m not sure why it is, but people would rather discuss the “ick” impact over the “this could hurt manufacturers and couponers everywhere” impact. Mr. Cole seems to make it pretty clear when that “manufacturers could eliminate coupons or raise prices to cover the cost” if coupons are mishandled. Incidentally, see why buying or selling coupon inserts may also pose a problem?

I would encourage you to read both full interviews: Robert Cole Interview and Barry Haselden Interview.

Do you think couponers should take the time to learn more about these kind of topics? Do you think couponers are somehow entitled to have the discarded coupons? What else did you find interesting about the interviews?

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Is Dumpster Diving for coupons a good idea? Legal? Smart?

July 18, 2011

Image credit Sandy Yin I’m hearing more couponers and bloggers suggest dumpster diving as a smart way to get coupons for free. What disturbs me is how casual this suggestion is starting to come off – or how shows like Extreme Couponing have even tried to make this practice normalized, or even savvy. Yes, I’ll admit [...]

80 comments Get the full scoop! →

Albertsons Twice the Value Coupon Policy now Available

May 17, 2011

Reader Andy and Coupon Connections alerted me yesterday that Albertsons has posted on their site some clarification on the acceptance of their Twice the Value coupons. I just love it when companies make it easy for couponers like this! Here is what the site says: We allow 3 transactions in a row Customers may [...]

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Facebook users: please beware of phony “free” sites

May 10, 2011

I’m seeing more and more links left on The Coupon Project Facebook wall to sites I believe to be scams, so I wanted to do a quick post to alert you. First off, let me state that I fully believe that the people leaving these links are just trying to score a freebie, and aren’t personally [...]

13 comments Get the full scoop! →

Celebrity Couponers Apprentice

April 21, 2011

THE BOARDROOM Mr. Trump: Our two teams, Super Couponers and Extreme Couponers, were asked to show the American public how coupons save money. Super Couponers, your project manager this week was Jill. Jill, how did you decide to approach this challenge? Jill: Well, Mr. Trump, I decided to teach the American public through radio, television, and [...]

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