Couponing should be fun and I love finding great deals. So it’s important to follow the rules and use coupons correctly when you are trying to save money. Coupon Ethics is really important because if people use coupons unethically, then it ruins it for the rest of us!
Here is a list of things that you may want to know and follow when you are using coupons:
Grabbing Coupon Booklets - I know that it’s very hard not to grab 20 coupon booklets when they are laying out. So don’t be shelfish, be mindful that they are other customers that would also want to get the same deal and grab a few and leave some for others.
Check Coupon Expiration Date – Most stores will not accept coupons past their expiration date simply because they will not get reimbursed by the manufacturer. Check to see if your store has a policy to accept expired coupons.
Never Photocopy Internet Printable Coupons - Manufacturers limit most coupons to print 2 per computer. Photocopying coupons is fraud. So if you have several computers in your home you can print the limit from each computer.
Barcode Decoding- Learning how a cash register reads a coupon in order to sneak coupons past the register by using them for products for which they were not intended. There is value in learning about barcodes read my previous post Understand the UPC Coupon Code so you can be knowledgeable and you will not use coupons for products they are not intended for.
Zip Code Specific Coupons - Some coupons sites offer ZIP code specific coupons for certain regions. These coupons are only for these ZIP codes. Manufacturers have their reasons for restricting the promotions and we should play by their rules.
Purchasing Coupons – It’s illegal to buy coupons online. The fine print on many coupons say “void if sold”. There are a couple of ways to look at this, you are either paying for the service of clipping coupons or paying for the coupons. You decide what to do in this case – to purchase or not to purchase coupons!!
Returning Items purchased with coupons - In my opinion it’s NEVER okay to buy with intent to return. If you have a legitimate reason to make a return, then check the store policy. The bottom line is, once you purchase an item and use a coupon the store submits the coupon and the reimbursement process begins. If you take your receipt to return the item, they can see you paid with a coupon, but they can’t give you the coupon back so that coupons becomes as good as cash.
Follow your store’s coupon policy/rules – This may vary by store. It helps to know the rules before you shop. Ask questions to get to know the rules at the store you are shopping in.
Unfair treatment at the register – If you feel you were not treated fairly at the register with your couponing, it is best to ask politely for a manager or contact the store by phone or e-mail later. Remember it’s important to Vocalize your Opinions.
And lastly a few courtesies points:
Don’t clear the shelves - While I may talk about buying 15 boxes of cereals in a sale, I don’t buy them all at once. I make sure the store has plenty in stock for other shoppers or by making multiple trips to different stores. If you would like to purchase a large quantity of an item, check with your store manager to see if they will special order the product you want.
Click Here to get your Free e-Book with lots of tips on how to stack and save with coupons. The best places to find coupon and rebates, freebies and a lot more.
Do you ever wonder where the UPC codes come from and what the numbers mean? Well I do so I decided to research it and share with you. If you look at the packages in your pantry you will notice that they all have a UPC bar code printed on them.
The UPC which stands for Universal Product Code. Was created to help grocery stores speed up the checkout process and keep better track of inventory.
- The first number is the number system character. Most manufacturer coupons is a 5 or 9. This number is only important because when read, it tells the system whether or not that coupon can be doubled. Coupons that begin with 5 may be doubled, the ones that begin with a 9 will not double.
- The next 5 digits are what is known as the manufacturer code. This code identifies the company which manufacturers the item shown on the coupon. Each manufacturer has its own set 5 digit number.
- The next 3 numbers is the family code. Manufacturers make several different lines (or families) of products. These three numbers identify into which category the product falls.
- The next 2 numbers are called the value code. These numbers describe the value of the coupon.
- The last number is called the check digit. This is a computer generated number, generated when the UPC number is purchased by a company for use on their coupons which assists in preventing coupon fraud.
That’s it! Now that you know how to read a coupon, it’s important that you don’t cut off any of those numbers when clipping your coupons. In the event that your coupon barcode doesn’t scan, the cashier can enter those numbers(some may not want to do it) into the system to get the same outcome.
Coupon use has increased after 15 years of decline, according to the Promotion Marketing Association’s Coupon Council.
You may ask yourself if the time you spend searching and clipping coupons is worth it, IT IS. Using coupons with the right strategies can trim your grocery bill by 75% to 80% if you have the time, discipline and patience.
But entering a store with a pocket full of coupons does not guarantee savings. It’s important that you learn the Basic Rules on how to effectively use your grocery coupons to maximize your savings.
To get the most from your coupons, try the following ideas:
- Clip coupons only for products you buy. Use coupons only if they actually benefit you, or if you really want to try a product at a reduced price.
- Watch the weekly store ads. Buy the item you need only when it’s on sale, and use a coupon for extra savings. Know your store coupon policy.
- Take advantage of “double coupons,” but be sure you know your prices. Often stores with double coupons charge more for things.
- Shop at stores that will take manufacturers’ coupons and the in-store coupon for the same product.
- Pay attention to refund offers. Often a product is on sale at a special price to promote a refund offer. Use a manufacturer’s coupon when you shop, and you will save three ways. Be sure to keep the sales receipt, the refund offer form, and the “proof of purchase” together. Often there will be offers on the package itself.
- Take your coupon box with you to the grocery store each time you shop. Things may be on sale that are not on your list, but are good buys then you can begin your stockpile.
When I get good customer service, I recognize it. When I don’t, I vocalize my opinion and let someone know. Many companies are receptive to feedback good or bad and are serious when it comes to quality.
Save the item and contact the company either by writiting a letter or email, detail the entire process including names, dates, phone numbers, and issues. Be sure to mention if someone has been particularly helpful or rude. Also, make sure you articulate exactly what you want they want to make you a satisfied customer and will either send out a replacement product, refunds or you may get a coupon for free items in the mail.
A good example of this is my friend Olivia she vocalized her opinion about the constant problems she was having with her cell phone and GUESS WHAT? She got a brand new upgraded cell phone for FREE!
Did you know many stores will match a competitor’s price with a current ad? And you can always get the lowest price advertised no matter where you shop.
With price matching you bring one store’s ad into another store and because they want your business they will sell you the product at the lower advertised price. It’s worth asking your store manager or Customer Service desk if they will price match a product for you. Some of the large retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Best Buy offer price matching right now.
Follow these simple rules when price matching:
- Use your weekly sale Ads to get the Best Deal
- Know the Store’s Price Matching Policy
- Also find out how they would like the ad matching to occur
- Be aware of Ads even after you’ve made your purchase, some stores will allow you to ad match AFTER your purchase the product
When Price Match Won’t Work?
- Products are different sizes
- One product is a special edition
- Location conflict
Have you ever gone to the store to buy an item that’s on sale, but it’s sold out, don’t panic you can Ask for a Raincheck to pick the item up later at the sale price.
Here are some tips for rainchecks.
- Ask for a raincheck when the store is sold out of the item you want.
- Check the expiration date on rain check(each store have a different policy). That way you use it before it expires.
- Staple coupons and the ad for item needed to the raincheck. This will help you when you go back to purchase the item.
- Make sure you tell the cashier you have a raincheck before you start to check out.
So the next time you go the store and they are sold out, don’t forget to Ask for a Raincheck.
This year I have decided to track my grocery savings for 2010. Mommy Snacks.net has 2 free google doc that she shares with everyone which makes the tracking very easy. You can save these files to your personal computer.
You can go over to Mommy Snacks.net and check out the free google doc HERE.
This is a list of a few sites where you can print online coupons. Please check with your local stores to make sure that they accept them before you go shopping.
Starting a food stockpile can save you money. Here are several tips to get you started.
Get organized
Before you start building up your stockpile, it’s important to decide where you are going to store it. Will it be a part of your pantry? Stored on shelves in the basement? Determining the location of your stockpile will help you to determine how much you can buy and what items you can store safely.
Make a list
Decide what items you’d like to stockpile, and then determine how much of each item you’d like to have on hand. This will require you to become more familiar with your family’s eating habits. For example, if you decide you’d like to stockpile a month’s worth of cereal, you’ll need to know just how many boxes of cereal that is.
Many stockpilers find it helpful to create a master list for their stockpile. This would typically show how many of a particular item you have on hand, as well as how many you need to add to your stash.
Learn the sales
For effective stockpiling, it’s important to know how frequently stores place items on sale. Each time an item you need goes on sale, jot down the date. If you do this for a few months, you will start to see frequent patterns. Once you’ve determined the pattern, you’ll have a better idea of how much you need to stockpile to avoid paying full price for any grocery item.
Know the prices
To get the best prices on all of your stockpiled items, start a price book to record the price you paid for each stockpiled item. By doing so, you’ll be able to determine if a current sales price is worth acting on. It will also help you to determine which store offers the best price on each item.
Pay attention to expirations
Stockpiling only offers a cost savings when you are using all of the items that you’ve purchased. Be careful not to overbuy, or you could find yourself with more product that you can use before the expiration date.
Stockpiling is a great way to cut costs. Start building a stockpile for your family, and before long you won’t be able to believe that you ever paid full price for your groceries.
