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Coupon Fraud?

by Jo Oliver in Issues, January 17, 2012

Are you a couponer? Where do you draw the line on how you use and obtain your coupons? Is decoding okay? Is it okay to swap a coupon or two? Is it okay to buy coupons off ebay and clipping services? Is it okay to bend the one shopping trip rule and make three transactions out of one shopping trip? Is it okay to use more than one computer to print more than two online coupons when the rules clearly state two prints per household?

I recently wrote an article here about how I saved hundreds of dollars off P&G products at my local Winn Dixie store. A quick overview – the store allowed shoppers to use a coupon for one product on an entirely different product. This action is usually not allowed, and is, in fact, prohibited within the small print of most coupons. That said, I engaged in the ‘coupon swapping’ because the manager at my Winn Dixie said both the store and the manufacturer was okay with the swap.

I never imagined that the article would get the attention it did…much less evoke the negative, often vile, comments that it did. It seems that fellow couponers were irate that I had engaged in “coupon fraud.” Apparently, I’m a cheat, fraud, liar, and give other couponers a bad name. Somehow, my actions were also loosely linked to everything from myself going to jail -to- getting “innocent”  cashiers and managers at Winn Dixie and staff at Proctor and Gamble fired. Wow!

I would like to reiterate that the manager at my Winn Dixie told shoppers, including myself, that P&G and Winn Dixie corporate were aware of the store’s coupon activities and approving; other Winn Dixie’s, including those in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, were also taking coupons intended for one P&G item on an entirely different P&G item; and the lines of people doing it caused customers to wait hours just to check out.

Read more in Issues
« Inequalities of The World
12 Things to Do When Someone Doesn’t Understand or Like You »

If P&G wasn’t aware of this, my sincere apologies, as it would indeed be a case of millions of dollars worth of fraudulently used coupons. That said, I have no reason to doubt what the manager of my Winn Dixie told to customers. I have contacted P&G, and, as of this article, have not yet received a reply.

While the above inspired me to write this article, it isn’t so much about the above, but rather one of the comments from the article. 

The comment was about couponers trading, buying, selling, etc.. manufacturer coupons. Depending on the coupon and manufacturer, each coupon will read a little differently. However, most coupons have a message to the consumer that the coupon is void if sold, transferred, auctioned, swapped, traded, bought, reproduced, or altered. 

Many couponers pay careful attention to ensure that they’ve bought the exact product, size, amount, and other stipulations of the coupon’s use. In fact, there’s usually a line in the sand between couponers looking to decode and get cheaper products with high-value coupons and those that wouldn’t dare use a coupon for an item .1 ounce lower than what’s specified on the coupon.

Yet, most couponers don’t think twice about getting together with friends and swapping coupons, which, according to the coupon’s fine print, voids any coupons involved. Some couponers even use clipping services to obtain coupons. Yeah, this kinda skirts the line of ethics since the couponer is actually paying someone to clip some coupons that the clipper will ’give’ the couponer. Reality? This is just a technical loophole allowing someone to legally buy clipped coupons. Then there’s those couponers that realize P&G can’t possibly tract and void bought and sold coupons, and these couponers feel nothing ethically wrong with buying entire inserts from brokers and eBay users.

There’s moral outrage by the coupon community over decoding, altering, and printing fake coupons. Most tout that such gives couponers a bad name; I agree. Most tout that it makes it harder for everyday couponers to find a store willing to take coupons; I agree. Most tout that it morally, ethically  wrong; I agree.  My problem comes with cherry picking of the rules. If the actions in this paragraph constitute fraud because forbidden by the manufacturer,  then so is swapping coupons with a friend, buying and selling coupons through eBay and clipping services, and using more than four coupons in the same “shopping trip” (not transaction).

So, there you have it. What constitutes misuse of a coupon, fraud, or just shady couponing obviously varies from person to person. While one person may have no problem using a clipping service or doing three transactions in the same shopping trip, but cry foul on the decoders, another may feel the manufacturer and retailers should catch them if they can when it comes to decoding. Judging by the billions of dollars manufacturers claim they receive in fraudulent coupons, I’d be willing to bet that those that abide strictly and exclusively by every single rule on coupon usage are far and few between.  

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User Comments

  1. girishpuri

    On January 17, 2012 at 7:03 am


    big fraud…

  2. Kelly

    On January 17, 2012 at 2:42 pm


    Yeah, you’re still a dumbass. You got caught, just admit you did something wrong. No manager would approve a transaction like yours.

  3. Steve

    On January 17, 2012 at 3:54 pm


    Sure I’ll be accused of being on a high horse, but you asked.

    Never bought a coupon from a clipping service or eBay.
    Don’t have swaps with family/friends.
    Rarely do multiple transactions due to store sales with permission granted from the store (and even then I feel badly tying up the cashier and causing additional credit card swipe fees). Has nothing to do with the coupon. If a coupon expresses limits per trip, I abide by it. I drive past the store nearly every day anyway, so extra stops is no big deal.

    Yes, there are some couponers that have varying lines about what constitutes misuse. But an overwhelming majority agree that creating your own coupons, altering coupons to increase value/extend expirations, making unauthorized copies, and using knowledge of software systems to get unintended discounts (aka-decoding) is over the line and always unacceptable.

    But it sure is nice to see the one who boasts about breaking the rules (even if it’s “just this once”) is now throwing stones.

    I find it interesting yesterday you named several locations that were “participating” in your little deal, and when they were contacted for confirmation most were reportedly shocked to hear of it. Now today, you only name one other location. Story keeps changing.

    If Manager told you (no signs, no flyers, nothing but verbal communication) that everyone could simple take a Mars candy bar at the register without paying as part of a “promo”, would you think twice? How about a deal with the dairy to give away free milk gallons? Or a deal with Coca-cola to give away free 12packs? Or free Butterball Turkeys because it’s January and they want to unload them? How about if the ATM was cracked open because Bank Of America is giving away free $20 bills to all shoppers today? At what point does something sound “too good to be true” and warrant further investigation on your part?

    Your receipts showed they were days apart, nowhere in that time did you think to google for more info on the deal? or reach out to P&G to confirm? or WD corporate? Comeon… Your descriptions of the stores (if we can actually take your word on that…) sounds more like a store being looted than an actual promotion. In fact, I would think a deal that crazy and causing a disruption would make the local news. Or cell phone videos of the chaos. But there seems to be no record of what you’re describing anywhere…

    Americans are generally pretty forgiving to people who fess up, admit mistakes, and try to make amends. Digging in your heals like this isn’t going to help your cause or defend your actions. Only thing it’s going to help is your readership stats and whatever fees you generate for that. And for contributing to that, I feel sleazy already…

  4. Jo Oliver

    On January 17, 2012 at 4:14 pm


    Kelly, if resorting to childish name-calling and profanity is a marker for IQ, then I guess I’m a “dumbass.” Anyhoo, a cashier with the smarts of treebark would not let me walk out of the store woth $8oo dollars of stuff for little of nothing without calling a manager. But, as I explained in my original article, I was only one of hundreds of people in my store doing this, meaning millions of dollars in P&G coupons. Now, you really think that a cashier, manager, and Winn Dixie itself would risk taking millions of dollars in coupons that P&G might not take? I should think not. One last time I will say that the manager told me and several other couponers that questioned the approval of using a coupon for one item on an entirely different item that he, Winn Dixie, and P&G were onboard with what was going on. Otherwise, I would not have done this. Winn Dixie, at least the one here, is no longer doing this. However, feel free to use the phone# on the sales slip to call them and ask if they were taking 3700 coupons for any item with a 3700 barcode!

  5. Jo Oliver

    On January 17, 2012 at 4:48 pm


    Steve, You seem to be of sound mind. Like I told Kelly, the number to Winn Dixie, Columbia is on the sales ticket. Call them and ask if they were doing this up until last week. Ask them why they allowed it. The manager’s name is Guss. I listed an example in Hattiesburg because the two Winn Dixie stores that I personally went to use my coupons were Columbia and Hattiesburg. I called the other stores that I mentioned yesterday to see if they too were doing it, but no, I didn’t visit those stores in person. They did say, however, that they were accepting the 3700 coupons. As to a high horse, I personally like to keep my feet on the ground. I just found it rather interesting the psycology of where one draws the line, ethically and morally speaking. I too never use clippers or any of the others. I do share coupons with my mother…shame on me. I have always tried to play by all the rules, but in the case of this Winn-Dixie thing, the rules were set aside by those that made them, the store and manufactuer. I had no reason to suspect that the store, via its’ manager, was lying about anything. I don’t call Borden milk company every time Piggly Wiggly gives away free milk with a $20 purchase. As one of the other comments said … I don’t call Starz when Dish tells me I can try it free for three months. None the less, I have sent P&G an email because of all the fuss. You don’t know me from Adam, but I value my character and reputation as a nurse and writer. I would never have used the coupons, much less written about it, if I had any doubt in what I was told by the store(s).

  6. Jo Oliver

    On January 17, 2012 at 5:09 pm


    BTW Steve, it may help you wipe the ick off and not feel so sleazy to know that what little, and I do mean little, I make her goes to help pay for extra days of physical therapy for my daughter. http://kaitlynnsplace.blogspot.com/ – about her, if you’re interested.

  7. elaine rhodes

    On January 17, 2012 at 6:02 pm


    Ok so I just read the first article and I was taken back AT FIRST… Now I understand everyone’s hatred over the use of these coupons HOWEVER is it hatred over the use of them or jealousy that they too could not do it? Now jaime of TLC she used her fraudulently everyone knows that, it was done on national t.v. and she repulses me in all honesty. BUT if the store allowed those coupons to be use in that matter then it falls on the store and not the shoppers im sorry. Let the hate responses to this commence it’s fine but in all reality if your in a position to use the coupons in a different manor that was approved by the store manager and the company (if the company does come back and say it was approved) then it is not this ladies fault, she was using the coupons correctly and therefore should not be attacked in this way. And if P&G replies and says NO this is not acceptable then necessary action will fall on the Manager and that store will lose all that money not the company because the company will deny payment on those coupons if they were not used correctly. I personally would of made sure P&G was on board because it could fall back on the couponers who used them as well. Coupon sharing is not allowed according the coupons and that is just plain ridiculous in my book. We should be allowed to share coupons with people who will use the coupons for the products indicated. I don’t have babies but why am I not allowed to print off a 10.00 off coupon for formula for a friend who needs it? It’s about helping our community save money when times are hard. Anyway I just feel like everyone jumped to a harsh conclusion without really thinking of the whole story. Now if she used those coupons without the consent of the manager to do that then by all means she is the horrible person you all claim her to be but she didn’t therefore you all should be writing hate mail to P&G for allowing certain stores to do this and not making it and equal right to all of us.

  8. Mark Gordon Brown

    On January 17, 2012 at 6:34 pm


    My wife and I agree that the problem is the stores not the consumers who take advantage of a good thing.

    The name calling on your other article was bad.

  9. steve

    On January 18, 2012 at 1:13 am


    Jo,

    I’m glad you find me of sound mind. I do try to keep my discussions above the board, avoid the name calling and cursing and reporting that does nothing to resolve a debate and simply makes things more difficult. I am sorry to see other commenters disparaging you in such a personal manner. I’m fairly certain my comments never spoke of you or your family negatively, only of your actions. I would hope the other commenters would have the guts to apologize for some of the things hurled your way, but I’ve seen enough Internet to know that’s unlikely.

    I have two overall main points about this situation. First, your original story is pretty close to a blueprint on how to defraud stores with coupons. Assuming for a moment everything you’ve said is 100% true, you would be perfectly ok in your use. But what about the person with less ethics than you who reads your post and heads to Target to match family codes without any permissions? Who bares some of the blame for their actions? I hope you can acknowledge that your information, in the hands of less than honorable people, can potentially cause massive problems for other stores/chains. Or the newbie that tries it at another store and “hey, it worked” and thinks it’s ok and never asks? Yes they may find this info elsewhere online but that doesn’t mean another place with the info should be created or the practices validated. So I think you should seriously consider editing the original post.

    Second is the acts themselves. I’m not in your head or in your stores, so I have no idea what actually happened. I can understand being caught up in the excitement of it all, trusting the manager you’ve known forever, going with the crowds of people you say taking cartloads of stuff, and using the coupons you have on you inappropriately. But where the story breaks down to me is – where’s the corroboration? You say you don’t double check the free milk promos and the like, but that’s not quite the same. First, it’s a printed file so there’s evidence of the deal and that gives it a sense of legitimacy. I assume there is no written proof of this “permission” you were given or you would have posted it by now. Second, where is ANYONE else telling this amazing tale? If this happened, I would imagine tweets, blogs, posts on WD boards at deal sites. This story would be viral from many reports, not just your voice. Heck when Target had free GiftCard Coupons at Christmas, it made 3 local media outlets. Is ANYONE independently verifying your account? Because as far as I can tell, the silence is deafening. Third, judging by your receipts you did this over several days (how they managed to maintain stock for all the crowds that long is amazing). Nowhere in that time did it feel too good to be true and worth a tiny amount of investigation? Nowhere in that time did you want to e-mail P&G or WD corporate to thank them for their incredible generosity and point to your blog to showcase how helpful it is to your family? Fourth, Buy X Get Y free deals are store promotions, they’re not instructing you to take someone else’s things (coupons, in this case) and ignore the rules printed on them and misuse them however you see fit. That’s like going to the airport and TSA telling you your ticket can get you on any plane, whatever is written really doesn’t matter. It’s not TSA’s place to tell you to ignore your ticket anymore than it’s the manager’s place to tell you to ignore the terms of the coupon.

    Best case for you, you were misled by “Guss” and got caught up in the rush and didn’t realize what you did. Worst case you defrauded a company intentionally, and made up a cover story so you boast your savings on the Internet. I think it’s somewhere in between (like most things in life) and while you may not have intended to do things incorrectly, you certainly should have known better or had some flags pop up at some point that “hey this warrants further investigation on my part” before going back and getting more.

    I don’t condemn you, I do condemn your actions. If you value your reputation as a writer like you say you do, I hope you give serious consideration to amending your original story to reflect the controversy you’ve stirred and clarify in no uncertain terms that this is not an acceptable practice. I haven’t contacted WD, or P&G, or the CIC, or the FBI or anything like that. I don’t want to see a story about you being arrested, or made a scapegoat, or burn in hell or whatever other nonsense people spew anonymously online. It’s done, it’s in the past and all that can really happen now is move forward. But to think coupon fraud doesn’t effect things and there’s no hard is misguided. Fraud is why we have the new barcode (that can’t be decoded like in your story). Fraud is part of why policies from stores are tightening. Fraud is why values are decreasing and some coupons are becoming very scarce. Fraud is why many coupons have limits per person/transaction. Fraud is partly why prices continue to spiral upwards. I’m fearful for my family’s well being what the next shoe to drop from fraud will be and how it will impact my way of shopping, so that’s why I’m so passionately pleading with you.

    Do limits on P&G coupons make my life harder? yep. Do print limits and redemption limits on Target coupons make my shopping more expensive? yep. But do I need to play by the rules of the (couponing) game in order to play, no matter how inconvenient they continue to become? absolutely.

    I do respect that you’ve not only left comments open and up, but are actively responding to your critics. In turn I’ve used my real first name and a legit email in my posts, and hope you respect me for not hiding anonymously like some others.

    PS- the way around the no sharing rules is to simply buy the item yourself and resell it to your mom/friends/neighbors/etc… Buy that formula for your friend, or buy the shampoo for your mom, and have them pay you back (or pay you upfront if you prefer). Follows the letter of the coupon rules and still gets the items to those who need it.

    PPS- I’ve never said I’m St. Steve of Coupons. I’ve misused coupons and policies in the past, usually on accident or misreading things. But I never committed your number one mistake – posting the questionable details online.

    PPPS- I’ll say an extra prayer tonight for the health and safety of your daughter. I hope the doctors can figure things out for you all soon.

  10. Jo Oliver

    On January 18, 2012 at 2:05 am


    I very much appreciate an adult, positive conversation. Thank you very much for the prayer. It’s been a hard road, but her strength and beauty inspires me daily. And, that’s a great idea about my mom and sharing coupons.

    I have considered taking the article down, and I do see where it and others breaking down family codes and decoding could be used to actually defraud a store. The main reason that I haven’t is in hope that other couponers, like you and I, can have a real conversation about what my store allowed, what can and can’t be done, and to appease my continued original hope of talking with others elsewhere that had a similar experience. I’ve yet to come across the latter.

    I too looked for others sharing their story from neighboring towns, but I honestly didn’t have high expectations for finding such around here since my community is rural. Most of the people I came across during this had never even used a coupon before. Some of my friends have posted pics of their Winn Dixie haul online and a couple have talked about it on their Facebook wall, but in order to share that information, I would not only have to allow access to my Facebook page, but subject my friends to an influx of unwanted friend requests.

    I honestly didn’t think of getting any type of written proof from Winn Dixie at the time I was doing it. It wasn’t advertised or anything, but the store, mainly due to the large numbers of people clearing out every single truck that came in, posted signs on the isles that the washing powder, toothpaste, and Pringles are on – the first sign was to inform couponers that they could only do three transactions; the second added that only four coupons could be used per transaction; the third to say that only the 3700 coupons could be swapped; a fourth sign was posted about a week later to inform coupon customers that they had to be checked out, not just in line, by 9:30 pm since the register would close at 10 pm. Other additions came, such as a limit of two cases of Pringles and two of any single 3700 product per transaction. The final sign was to inform customers that “due to circumstances beyond our control, all coupons must match the product purchased.” I don’t like to repeat rumor, but a clerk said that a group of women were fighting over the last three Dawn dishwashing liquids and elbowed an employee in the face during the fight. Again, didn’t see that and don’t know for sure what the “circumstances” were. I felt the couponing swapping was such an extraordinary event that I should write about it. I made one final trip to Hattiesburg before they too posted a sign that coupons had to match products. I just never dreamed that anyone would consider what I did fraud, or I don’t think I would’ve ever written the article.

    I don’t want you to think I don’t see your point. I’ve written several articles about my trials and tribulations when using coupons the good ole fashion way. I’m positive that fraud and the increasing interest in coupons in this down economy have both contributed to stores and manufactuerers thinking twice about everything involving coupons, including values and how they’re distributed. Since I’ve had to quit work to care for my daughter, I depend on coupons to afford everything I need, and I wouldn’t have knowingly done anything to jeopardize that.

    I do appreciate your willingness to share your name and email. I think you understand, considering the comment thread on the other article, why I can’t do the same:(

  11. dia98

    On January 18, 2012 at 3:13 am


    Jo Oliver: Below is a copy of the comment I left on your article about paying $36 for $800 worth of products.

    I would also like to add this ( to you ): You wrote an article – this was your decision to do so. I’m not saying whether or not what you explained in the article is wrong, right, fraud, etc. etc. because I didn’t read it that thoroughly as I saw the number of comments and became interested in reading them as I could not believe the amount of free time people have to devote to something like this.

    Its really none of my business either – as I mentioned in my first comment as long as I have not stumbled upon something serious such as murder plots, child pornography, etc. etc. then I just move on and I don’t read it or look at it. Kind of like with T.V. if I don’t like what the program, movie, news, etc. is about – I simply turn the channel.

    If this is considered fraud and something that many people have been and are doing, the comments these people are leaving are a waste of time because the companies who are affected by it or involved with it knew about it long before these comments were left and very likely a lot has been being done behind the scenes about this issue.

    My advise to you is not to feed into these comments by responding. My first comment pretty much sums it up on why I feel you shouldn’t.

    (The comment I left on your other article):

    How about this – I am not one to normally take the time to comment on things like this or even read nearly as much as I have of the comments on this article but they became entertaining and gave me food for thought.

    When you find something like this and you don’t like it or agree with it and its not about something horrible such as murder, child pornography, etc. etc. why not just NOT continue reading it – move on and go to what it is you were looking for in the first place.

    Your comments mean nothing – if its something that needs changing or someone needs to be called on it and fined, punished, sued, etc. believe me it will occur whether or not you all waste your precious time leaving these long and drawn out and repeated comments. Trust me this issue was already being looked into and many things were and are in the works long before you stumbled upon this article.

    It makes you look like pesty, bored, noisy, trouble makers who have little in life other than to make this your due diligence for the day.

    You look far more like a classy person who has other important and interesting things to do in their daily life when you simply don’t give it your attention.

  12. Steve

    On January 18, 2012 at 11:07 am


    @Dia

    Allowing such stories to be posted without comment does nothing to discourage others from attempting similar tricks in their stores. When the community comes out in force to disavow these actions it serves as a warning to new couponers that this behavior is not correct usage of coupons nor an acceptable practice. To simply ignore it as you suggest would eliminate a voice of reason attempting to dissuade others from committing similar acts. Yes it’s not murder but neither is financial fraud, and looking the other way because we’re “important and interesting” really worked out well for everyone, didn’t it?

    If Jo doesn’t do this again, it’s been worth the trouble. If other couponers read this and realize they’re not doing the right thing and stop, it’s been worth the trouble. If someone was thinking of copying the methods outlined in the story and doesn’t after some of the comments, it’s been worth the trouble.

    More Fraud = Higher costs (higher prices, fewer sales, lower coupon values, less frequent coupons, more restrictions, etc…)

  13. Michelle

    On January 18, 2012 at 11:50 am


    You are seriously comparing illegally decoding barcodes and fraudulently using coupons to buying/trading coupons? PLEASE. Whatever you tell yourself, these are not even close to being similar.

  14. Steve

    On January 18, 2012 at 11:52 am


    @Jo,

    You can maintain the “conversation” with an edited/amended post to at minimum put a big disclaimer to point out how this is typically an very unacceptable practice. I would think your desire to find others who had a similar experience will not happen in that thread. Who would willingly jump into that lion’s pit and admit the same wrongdoing?

    I wouldn’t want to expose you or your friends’ privacy to show more hauls or receipts. I don’t doubt that you and others were able to obtain the goods (you’re receipts show it did, in fact, occur), I just find some details questionable. First among them that it was sanctioned by P&G. Some of those towns you named as participating are not so small as to not have a newspaper, radio station, or tv station coverage I assume? If legit, this is BIG NEWS and I would expect someone to have covered it somewhere at some point, even after the fact. Now you say there were signs posted and stories of fights, all which would make for ample news fodder. So where’s the press? where’s another blogger? The silence of others is pretty deafening.

    Look at it from the outside. Something just doesn’t seem right. Maybe you’re leaving out details you didn’t think mattered to the original post. Maybe you forgot things until questions were raised? But reading it from the outside, it seems like something just doesn’t smell right, something is off. Why clear out old product by going against years and years of practices to “Swap” coupons rather than the traditional clearance sale? Why just 1/2 dozen stores, when there is product in every state with whatever “old” packaging they were removing (checked stockpile UPCs against store shelf this morning, a match)? Why is no one else saying this happened, perhaps this is a concocted story to cover her devious methods (we readers don’t know you from Adam either, nor do we know how honest you may or may not be..)?

    The biggest difference I see between us is when you were told an outrageous tale (use a coupon on any product, not just what it says) you accepted it at face value, and myself and other commenters did not accept it and, lacking any further evidence, questioned the tale-teller and dismissed the claim as outrageously false.

    Another point I left unsaid is that it’s not just you who read the comments. So while they may be directed at you, they’re also known to be read by others (otherwise I’d use a more private communication, like email) and some things may be for their benefit as well. I don’t mind you keeping your info private, and with all the backlash can’t say I blame you. But I used my name in an effort to point out I’m not hiding behind a screen name or false name like others have.

  15. MM

    On January 18, 2012 at 12:22 pm


    I believe this happened and am in shock! People already fight over bargains at RiteAid so of course this ended in fistacuffs at WinnDixie over Dawn. What was this manager thinking? I too would have taken advantage of this deal if there were signs posted stating the terms. Wow.

  16. Karen

    On January 18, 2012 at 12:45 pm


    Steve
    How many Steve’s are there? That is an extremely common name. I think most people have absolutely no problem using their REAL FIRST NAME and email address (which isn’t shown). Using Steve means nothing.
    Just saying.

  17. Amy

    On January 18, 2012 at 3:35 pm


    Jo-

    1) Many people coupon due to financial circumstances. Others do not and choose to do it as a hobby. I sometimes think your excuses are extending to far. Don’t bring your financial status or family into this, please.

    2) It’s fine (more like your choice), to choose to do something like this. But plastering it on the internet is saying that you need to get others attention. Or that you are encouraging others to do the same.

    3)Think about this scenario… You sign a contract, recognizing the details before you on paper. Then the salesperson says, “of course you don’t have to keep your cell phone plan for 2 years- you can cancel at any time.” Personally, I read over writing- it’s a visible proof and not “hearsay”. I will believe you when you said the store “was aware” and let you do it, but do you have anything to prove that in writing?

    4) I hope you do learn a lesson in ethics and legal matters as well in this situation. If this ever gets to a court room- it will be difficult for you to maneuver around what the coupons explicitly state.

    5) What was your reasoning for posting? Attention? For others to praise and thank you? If your intention was to share and help others- you are giving illegal advice no matter what the store condones.

  18. Jo Oliver

    On January 18, 2012 at 4:52 pm


    Amy, my comment about my daughter had nothing to do with coupons or the sub-subjects of this article. It was addressed to a specific reader and concerning page views, not coupons or excuses. Boy you folks are just looking for something, anything to gripe and argue about, and I refuse to engage it any longer.

  19. justme

    On January 18, 2012 at 7:35 pm


    Just wondering why you did NOT take pictures of all the signs your store had posted in regards to this “deal”. Would that not be the proof everyone was asking for?!? And I am sure you will tell us all the signs are gone by now….

  20. tattler

    On January 18, 2012 at 9:45 pm


    Yeah but P&G isn’t okay with this, and I have an email to prove it.

  21. Jo Oliver

    On January 18, 2012 at 11:13 pm


    https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Columbian-Progress/101198463267156?sk=taggednotes# Steve look @ the Dec 30th entry. While it doesn’t talk directly about it, you’ll see that the week p&g coupons were in the paper, it sold out in 15 minutes. This newspaper has NEVER in all my life sold out of papers. The comments also refer to Winn Dixie & coupons as the cause. I also found another Wdam story about papers being stolen out of yards…extreme couponers to blame, but no mentionof WD. I am still looking-

  22. Kay

    On January 18, 2012 at 11:52 pm


    Jo,

    I too use my couponing to help a disabled family member, along with my mom, gram, bachelor brother and various friends, so I understand the urgency that you can feel to get the best possible deal because you want to help someone else. I am fairly new to the couponing thing; however, I have to think that you know it’s not right to use a coupon for Downy to purchase something else totally like air freshener. I know that you might be doing it because of your desire to help your daughter, but I don’t think you can really feel all that great about defrauding the manufacturer even if you felt like you had the store’s approval or even the manufacturer’s tacit approval just because they haven’t fixed the problem.

    As to your assertion that many other shoppers were doing the same, maybe it’s time to pull out that old chesnut our parents liked to throw out at us….”if you saw someone jumping off a cliff, would you do it too?”. I’m certain that if you saw people looting you wouldn’t join in; if you saw an assault in progress, you wouldn’t pick up a rock to help finish the person off. So why participate in defrauding the company just because you saw others do it?

    The manufacturer gave you cash to pay for a certain product in the form of their coupon; you using it on another product is fraud, any way you look at it.

    Finally, to answer the people that stated perhaps all of the couponers are just jealous of your amazing deal, I can only say that I have to live with myself and the decisions that I make and I could not live with myself if I committed fraud like this. I appreciate the stores having sales and the manufacturers giving us coupons. I am not interested in doing anything to pay back their generosity with deceit. In fact, this is the only reason why I commented on your post. I was hoping to make other people think twice before following this path.

  23. Tigluena

    On January 19, 2012 at 1:37 am


    http://www.facebook.com/PGEverydaySolutions/posts/366285336719620
    This is what P&G have to say, decoding is fraud anyway you cut it.
    Hope this is not your real name b/c with SO many posting this on their page, you will be prosecuted.

  24. Lee Ann

    On January 19, 2012 at 9:21 am


    You can post all your reasons for doing it, you can post all your excuses for doing it, but when it comes down to FACT, you committed coupon fraud. What you did is illegal, and you did it knowingly. Just because Guss at Winn Dixie tells you it’s okay to jump off the Golden Gate Bridge, are you going to do it? Seems so. Dumb*$$. You are greedy, greedy, greedy. You are a thief. Shame on you!

  25. Ginger

    On January 20, 2012 at 9:53 am


    It only took me 3 days to get a response from P&G and they said that coupons must be used for the product stated and the don’t condone this. Not sure why its taking you so long to hear from them. I understand your urgency to save money. But its not worth all the trouble and the hassle. Plus ruining it for everyone else who needs to save money as well

  26. nannie pink

    On January 23, 2012 at 6:20 pm


    Well, Jo, you might as well be talking to tree bark out there. Some of those commenting are not going to listen to anything you have to say about this issue because they are convinced they are right and you aare wrong. However, conviction of belief does not make a thing so or correct. So they refuse to listen and believe themselves better than and correct.Probably makes them feel better about themselves to convict someone else(even if wrongfully so). It’s that “I’m so very good and you are so very bad syndrome. Fun to be fooled, but more fun to know.Hope these folks are so superbly honest in all their daily transactions and income tax forms. Sadly, some of those making such rude comments would probably never think of couponing in this way because they don’t really know how. Yet,some who would never resort to this coupon practice probably cheat their fellow man daily, connive against fellow employees in order to get a promotion, etc. I’m always wary when someone tells me how very bad someone else is while stating how honest(all you honest couponers) others are.Beware.

  27. nannie pink

    On January 23, 2012 at 6:21 pm


    Well, Jo, you might as well be talking to tree bark out there. Some of those commenting are not going to listen to anything you have to say about this issue because they are convinced they are right and you aare wrong. However, conviction of belief does not make a thing so or correct. So they refuse to listen and believe themselves better than and correct.Probably makes them feel better about themselves to convict someone else(even if wrongfully so). It\’s that \”I\’m so very good and you are so very bad syndrome. Fun to be fooled, but more fun to know.Hope these folks are so superbly honest in all their daily transactions and income tax forms. Sadly, some of those making such rude comments would probably never think of couponing in this way because they don\’t really know how. Yet,some who would never resort to this coupon practice probably cheat their fellow man daily, connive against fellow employees in order to get a promotion, etc. I\’m always wary when someone tells me how very bad someone else is while stating how honest(all you honest couponers) others are.Beware.

  28. Chris Stonecipher

    On January 25, 2012 at 6:35 am


    Wow Jo, there are some nasty vulgar people commenting on the article. Some of the comments your getting are borderline abuse and should be reported. I really don’t know much about the coupon rules and seldom use them because I forget them at home before going to the store.

  29. Michele

    On January 25, 2012 at 7:25 pm


    I think Jo is being very honest about her own experience at these particular winndixie stores. Kudos to you for leaving these posts up and remaining truthful in what actually happened to you. Right or wrong it happened. Many of us would do the same if it happened as Jo stated. I would have and I would never have done this otherwise.

  30. Michele

    On January 25, 2012 at 7:29 pm


    The store managers are the ones at fault here not Jo.

  31. Kathy

    On February 13, 2012 at 2:31 pm


    I do feel for you, Jo – I’m sure it’s been a difficult month dealing with this because nobody likes to feel like they’re being attacked.

    I just wish that after everything that’s happened, you could still take some responsibility for your part in all this. I’m sure the manager said it was ok, but you still made your own choices in this situation. No matter how many people did it, you were still the only one who posted it on the Internet. It doesn’t seem like you’re willing to acknowledge this, and that’s why people are barking at you the way they are.

    So ok – it was wrong. The store made a mistake. You made a mistake. We all make mistakes!! So stop the madness and make it right. Maybe post another blog entry with your “lessons learned” and remind people the legal way to coupon – not “it’s not my fault because…” or “yea, this was wrong, but other people are doing way worse things…” That’s not the point, and as you can see, very few people care about that anyway. Go talk to the store manager and write something together about it. Apologize. Do what you have to do. Even if it was 100% not your fault, you can see that people are watching you now and reading your posts because you put it out there. So do some good with it before more damage is done to the couponing community by anyone else’s mistakes.

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