How to use coupons as cash discussion

matty17r

Be careful with this one - it says on back do not use with other coupons!

wildmantel

I have not used coupons for a long while, because I tend to hunt for special offers. (some do work out cheaper, but you have to do your homework).
I stopped using coupons after I got caught by the electronic system. I handed coupons to a checkout girl and was told that provided they sell the item they will take the coupon. There was one coupon for 75 pence of a product (cannot remember which one now it was some years ago) she scanned the coupons my bill went down by something like £4.50+ so I was pleased. But to my horror when I got home and looked closely at the receipt I found that at the time of scanning the coupons one of the items that I did not buy was now listed on as a purchase and then the coupon was deducted?? So I was charged for something I did not buy. I did not make a fuss but I never used coupons again.

Coupon-mad

matty17r wrote: »

Be careful with this one - it says on back do not use with other coupons!

Don't worry, it doesn't mean 'no other different coupons' though, in fact I think it says 'one voucher per transaction' or something? It simply means you can only use one NOTW fiver per transaction strictly speaking (although most cashiers would probably allow 2 if you spent £60+ as they would scan on each full £30 spent). Most stores will still allow some other coupons as well as the fiver IMHO.

Best advice I can give on coupon-use is:

1. Never use coupons the store cannot get money back on, even if they scan. E.g. no Sainsburys magazine MOCs in Tesco (nothing store-specific) and no out-of-date coupons. Abuse may not be noticed at the till but will be noticed later in the cash office...and the repercussions of a load of duff coupons bouncing back unpaid over a period of weeks could mean the end of couponing in your local.

2. Only use one of each type of coupon in Tesco (Waitrose will take some duplicates though).

3. Never argue if a Supervisor or till operator refuses a coupon. Keep it for next time if you are sure it should be OK to use.

4. Be aware that not all stores follow the same policy - many have a % maximum they will allow and others don't accept any internet-printed coupons. Get to know your local limit and stick to it, you'll still make some savings.

5. Remember that you can only use coupons without buying the right product in Tesco, Asda or Waitrose (store willing). Nowhere else that I know of allows this (but other stores, e.g. Sainsburys, will accept most coupons if you buy the correct product of course).


I've used coupons for years and save a few pennies here and there! :whistle:

Coupon-mad

wildmantel wrote: »

I have not used coupons for a long while, because I tend to hunt for special offers. (some do work out cheaper, but you have to do your homework).
I stopped using coupons after I got caught by the electronic system. I handed coupons to a checkout girl and was told that provided they sell the item they will take the coupon. There was one coupon for 75 pence of a product (cannot remember which one now it was some years ago) she scanned the coupons my bill went down by something like £4.50+ so I was pleased. But to my horror when I got home and looked closely at the receipt I found that at the time of scanning the coupons one of the items that I did not buy was now listed on as a purchase and then the coupon was deducted?? So I was charged for something I did not buy. I did not make a fuss but I never used coupons again.

This may happen with a coupon you have cut out from product packaging, where the product barcode is still on the back (Radox was a risk for this to happen last year, was it that one?).

Right now, there is a risk of the SA scanning the product barcode on 2 coupons I know of:

1. The Dylon £1 coupon (inside boxes of whitener) and

2. The Oasis £1 coupon (the one from the small Oasis bottles).

You just need to cross out the product barcode thoroughly at home after cutting the coupon out. Or with the cardboard Dylon MOC, just split the cardboard & gently tear the back layer partly off at the area of the product barcode (NOT the 99 barcode!).

What happened to you is not a reason to stop couponing...if you had gone to customer services (even days later) they would have refunded you as this does happen sometimes in error.

demon_princezz

My Tesco Extra has now stopped accepting internet printed coupons which is a bit of a pain - especially when it's for a product I actually want to buy! Apparently it's because people had been abusing it, which is a shame. I still went to Customer Services and kicked up a fuss though as I had bought the product, so they gave me the value of the coupon back.

flyingscotno1

Safeway used to be good- 6 coupons per transaction, any product, any value, shame Morrisons haven't followed on.

But as others say, be honest in using coupons, conning supermarkets might seem a victimless crime but it hurts me and you in the long run.

keletubbie

I am disappointed to see people being encouraged to do this.

I used to work on a checkout in Tesco when I was a nipper, and somebody came through my till on a very busy Saturday. She had a handful of couppons for products she wasn't buying. When I questioned it, she thrust a letter into my hand saying that it was legit and she would be calling a supervisor if I didn't hurry up and scan her shopping.

I rang for a supervisor myself, but in the end I just let it go - she was wholly unpleasant.

Got called up in front of the store manager the next day - they wanted the money back off me! I of course refused, and the matter was dropped, but before you do this, bear in mind that the poor person behind the checkout will probably get it in the neck for it.

hnscott

keletubbie wrote: »

I am disappointed to see people being encouraged to do this.

I used to work on a checkout in Tesco when I was a nipper, and somebody came through my till on a very busy Saturday. She had a handful of couppons for products she wasn't buying. When I questioned it, she thrust a letter into my hand saying that it was legit and she would be calling a supervisor if I didn't hurry up and scan her shopping.

I rang for a supervisor myself, but in the end I just let it go - she was wholly unpleasant.

Got called up in front of the store manager the next day - they wanted the money back off me! I of course refused, and the matter was dropped, but before you do this, bear in mind that the poor person behind the checkout will probably get it in the neck for it.

Just to set the record straight and to dispell your disappointment...

Please be aware that it is OFFICIAL Tesco policy to accept coupons without having to buy the product. This Policy (adopted by some stores, ignored by others) was sent to ALL stores on 3 June 2007. It clearly states what can and can't be used. There should be no question of a SA getting into trouble if management/cash office staff took notice of messages sent through from Head Office.

flyingscotno1

keletubbie wrote: »

I am disappointed to see people being encouraged to do this.

I used to work on a checkout in Tesco when I was a nipper, and somebody came through my till on a very busy Saturday. She had a handful of couppons for products she wasn't buying. When I questioned it, she thrust a letter into my hand saying that it was legit and she would be calling a supervisor if I didn't hurry up and scan her shopping.

I rang for a supervisor myself, but in the end I just let it go - she was wholly unpleasant.

Got called up in front of the store manager the next day - they wanted the money back off me! I of course refused, and the matter was dropped, but before you do this, bear in mind that the poor person behind the checkout will probably get it in the neck for it.

I'm an ex-checkout op myself. These policies are clearly made to cashiers on coupons, and as such it is O.K to ask for discounts it is up to individual operators to say yes or no, as they are a companies representatives.

I know supervisors were always busy, but I used to call them on the phone and check for anything suspect esp where the person was suspect- I didn't like the customer trying to get one over on me leaving me with the rap. Most of the people who were trying things were serial scammers, not honest folk trying to save a few quid with coupons.

stebiz

keletubbie wrote: »

I am disappointed to see people being encouraged to do this.

I used to work on a checkout in Tesco when I was a nipper, and somebody came through my till on a very busy Saturday. She had a handful of couppons for products she wasn't buying. When I questioned it, she thrust a letter into my hand saying that it was legit and she would be calling a supervisor if I didn't hurry up and scan her shopping.

I rang for a supervisor myself, but in the end I just let it go - she was wholly unpleasant.

Got called up in front of the store manager the next day - they wanted the money back off me! I of course refused, and the matter was dropped, but before you do this, bear in mind that the poor person behind the checkout will probably get it in the neck for it.

As this is Tesco policy and many of us have letters to confirm this, I disagree. However what I would say is that you had a Supervisor who didn't know her job properly (coupon policy and retaining money from wages - training issue) but somebody who obviously found it funny in frightening young trainees. Thnakfully all supervisors that work for Tesco's are not the same.

Stebiz