Tesco Coupon policy Complaint thread

jennytablina

monkeyspanner wrote: »

I don't and never have condoned the misuse of vouchers. However Tesco must bear some of the responsibility as it was condoning and facilitating the misuse. This was not altruistic on Tesco's part but a cynical policy to retain market share. Obviously when a policy like this gets too expensive the company will drop it because it is not a matter of principle but a commercial decision.

I do hope that as a Tesco employee you have not had to tolerate irate customers comments.

Ehh it may be cynical yes. I dont know what deal Tesco may of had in the past for these coupons but I think it was a case of saving time that we didn't have to look before. Tesco have started using other means to keep that market share which is why coupons have been tightened up I imagine

But really while I can only defend the company so much - I will defend the employees at the local stores. Because I know people will come and complain but in all honesty theres nothing we can do. I understand its easy to get annoyed but the cashier only does their job, they have no control over what Tesco does. But you guys the consumers can complain and if enough of you do then they might listen and make some kind of compromise. You wont get the coupon policy back but might be able to ask to see more deals of a certain sort.

I havent had any lashback from this policy personally but imagine some will. Most consumers are generally understanding folk for the most part in my experience though! But when I heard this news and saw the reactions here I felt I should say something. I have been using moneysaving for a while and its helped me in many areas so I appreciate it a lot.

Domthemon

Just to clarify that many of the couponers I know do not use self print coupons. I personally don't feel comfortable using them against the 'wrong' product, because you are then effectively printing money if they redeem them with the manufacturer. There is an unlimited supply, and it doesn't sit well with me.

Yes I did use normal printed MOC's against other products. I do accept the argument that if the manufacturer sells the same amount of products despite issuing these MOC's they are losing out. However these companies are not stupid, and as has already been stated on this thread, manufacturers accept this activity as part of their contract with Tesco.

As for those stating what it says on the coupon, this isn't legally enforceable as the consumer is not the one committing fraud when the retailer openly accepts them against other products! The retailer technically commits the fraud in redeeming them with the manufacturer but if the manufacturer has agreed to the revised terms then I really don't see that the 'anti-couponers' on this thread have any argument whatsoever?!

LizzieS_2

Dom, I have no issue with people using coupons for a different product. What I personally object to is people using a high % against spending - that is simply because Tesco would soon end up with more coupons than sales of a product and obviously at that point the scheme would have gone anyway.

I remember reading on here some months back that Tesco did not accept internet coupons - I was going to print some for items that I was buying.

I feel it is wrong for so many people to blame Martin - there is no concrete proof, only assumptions. There are many other alternatives. For all any of us know, some people could have been doing similiar things with the specific type of coupons for years - it is the value of £6.99 that has made it easier for them.

Domthemon

The policy was that you could pay in full for your shopping but personally I tended to do between 20-30% and never more than 50%, just what I was comfortable with.

Whether Martin was to blame or not is a technicality, my opinion remains that it was a fragile status quo, indeed in time it might have been withdrawn anyway and possibly it was about to be anyway (huge coincidence tho don't you think?!) and I just feel the way he goes on National TV and spouts about offers that are extremely limited by nature or trade secrets that are not sustainable for millions to use, or glitches that we try to notify others of here but don't want shouted from the rooftops (because every time Tesco or whoever become aware of them they are withdrawn) is ultimately destructive.

Yes sure the info is here and has been for years, but ultimately there comes a point when too many people take advantage then nobody gains, so it is a fragile status quo. Its a bit like some of the worlds wonders, if you transport everyone to them they'd be crumbling and destroyed, are those who are lucky enough to go to see them but don't want coachloads of people turning up there really selfish?!

LizzieS_2

Dom, I can understand where you are coming from (I can add up), but I still see it as selfish.

To explain why I think it selfish I will turn your case around. You already know what a difference that 20-30% makes to you. Had you not been aware of the scheme, would you be happy to find out later that you could have changed your expenses and lived a little more comfortably? If you did see it on GMTV for the first time, would you not see it as a huge difference? Of course there will always be people who can easily afford their shopping bill who take advantage of anything going - thats human nature, and some using coupons would fit in that category just as much as some new ones that joined in last week.

I seem to recall 4 million being mentioned for the newsletter and other websites doing coupon hunting too. Out of GMTV's audience, some will be aware already, that then leaves a balance who can take up the scheme. Now logically if the millions who already know did not use the scheme, then a similiar portion of the remaining GMTV audience wouldn't either.

moggylover

DomtheMon wrote: »

The policy was that you could pay in full for your shopping but personally I tended to do between 20-30% and never more than 50%, just what I was comfortable with.


:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

Whether Martin was to blame or not is a technicality, my opinion remains that it was a fragile status quo, indeed in time it might have been withdrawn anyway and possibly it was about to be anyway (huge coincidence tho don't you think?!) and I just feel the way he goes on National TV and spouts about offers that are extremely limited by nature or trade secrets that are not sustainable for millions to use, or glitches that we try to notify others of here but don't want shouted from the rooftops (because every time Tesco or whoever become aware of them they are withdrawn) is ultimately destructive.

Yes sure the info is here and has been for years, but ultimately there comes a point when too many people take advantage then nobody gains, so it is a fragile status quo. Its a bit like some of the worlds wonders, if you transport everyone to them they'd be crumbling and destroyed, are those who are lucky enough to go to see them but don't want coachloads of people turning up there really selfish?!

Yes - but in a very few cases this is excusable because of the damage that might be done. That these places are at least filmed and shared goes some way to making it even more excusable.

Good try - but I don't think this has made the tantrums any more acceptable or understandable, and the very weak arguments being made are still very sickening when coupled with condemnation of Martin.

I was never "against" couponers, although I have never used a coupon against something I was not buying, nor am I particularly on the side of the manufacturer who banks on the (tax allowable) promotional budget that he sets aside for these promotions only having a very limited take-up. I DO think that anyone who thought it was acceptable to pay for 50% of their weeks shopping with coupons was seriously deluded if they thought that either the secret was safe or that the joy-ride was going to last forever:rolleyes:.

I remain "not against couponers" - I suspect the vast majority will just be grateful that they had the perk whilst it lasted and whilst dissapointed will not see that as a reason to stamp their feet and lynch Martin.

I am SERIOUSLY disgusted by those ranting and blaming Martin on here though:D Is that clear enough?

neas

And we are seriously disgusted martin took information which had been rigourously tested for hundreds of hours by the Internet coupon thread and other sites such as PTS and Hotdeals.... for his own. His single participation i remember was him editing the Internet Coupon thread maticulously updated by VOLUNTEERS to link better from his email to everyone.

He took this information, this research which would take one person ages to do themselves and used it to further his aims as well as trying to save people money. Is MSE a charity? Does he not get paid a salary? does he not get paid for appearing on GMTV or other shows? Come on... he was president of his Students Union... its a business as well as a moneysavinge website.. more hits = more money.

The thing is this affects people not on MSE, people who might've been struggling to get by who used it to lift themselves out of their sorrow. I have heard a few DFW people annoyed because now they have lost an avenue to reduce their debt.

EssexGirl

neas wrote: »

He took this information, this research which would take one person ages to do themselves The thing is this affects people not on MSE, people who might've been struggling to get by who used it to lift themselves out of their sorrow. I have heard a few DFW people annoyed because now they have lost an avenue to reduce their debt.

There's lots of talk on here about how long it takes to find these coupons.
Well maybe instead of wallowing in the misery of having their cushy coupon lifestyle removed from them, they should put those research talents into getting a proper salary instad of seeing it as a right to have coupons. But I'm sure it's far easier to sit on ones arris all day long looking for new vouchers than it it to be out in the real world doing real things.
Avenues to reduce debt are cutting up the credit cards, selling excess stuff and when that's done work, work and more work until the debt is cleared and they can hold their heads up high and proudly say "I did it all myself" NOT by relying on handouts, or coupons, but by being frugal. No-one seems to know how to be frugal these days, nor how to save for the things that they must have.

Edinburghlass_2

madmuppet5 wrote: »

200 coupons? Would you tell me where?!!! On whole most of the "couponers" were saving around five pounds per shop. Not all Tesco staff were privvy to the coupon policy as you might suggest, hence people getting their legitimate coupons refused due to the failings of T's staff to recocgnize their own policy. The "pay with coupons" has apparently been on offer for the past fourteen years and as Martin Lewis has stated before is a "chinese whisper". Fact; before he glorified himself on GMTV about the "coupon policy" that he seemingly claimed was his own, we were all emailing, phoning and contcting store managers to clarify the situation. After Martins' appearance we all knew the writing was on the wall. So come Black Friday it was no surprise. The only surprise was the swiftness of the policy to be implemented. It takes literally weeks for team leaders to receive their new instructions from "head office" via shhet #5. In my store they had fifteen minutes to put up the the new coupon policy with the gharrish yellow signs (p.s. we know you are not a thief but look out!) same as every other supermarket, close off the coupon slots at the self service and say thankyou for your custom but goodnight. A lot of hard work by regular couponers has come to an end because of the crass stupidity of a man that thinks just because we post on his web-site it's mine! Chucking the information out to the masses has done him no favours and certainly those who spent literally hours looking for offers an coupons no favours either.

I suggest you read the Terms and Conditions of using MSE, you'll find them here...

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/site/terms-conditions

It beggars believe that you accuse the host of this website of "crass stupidity" for "chucking the information out to the masses". If this is your opinion then again I'd suggest that MSE and the ethos of MSE is not for you.

You should also read the Stats on the front page of the Main Site to see just how many people viewed MSE, 7.7m in September, these are the "masses" you are so dismissive of.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/

LizzieS_2

neas wrote: »

And we are seriously disgusted martin took information which had been rigourously tested for hundreds of hours by the Internet coupon thread and other sites such as PTS and Hotdeals.... for his own. His single participation i remember was him editing the Internet Coupon thread maticulously updated by VOLUNTEERS to link better from his email to everyone.

Perhaps if you took a step back, you might be able to see what is obvious to non-couponers? Let's go back - you chose to join this site, you chose to post information, you took note and advantage of information others posted. Now, if you did not unite with others to find so many coupons, you would not have saved as many coupons as you did - in other words, Martin facilitated your ability to share that research and without his genorisity you are not guaranteed to have been in the same position that you have been for years.

He took this information, this research which would take one person ages to do themselves and used it to further his aims as well as trying to save people money. Is MSE a charity? Does he not get paid a salary? does he not get paid for appearing on GMTV or other shows? Come on... he was president of his Students Union... its a business as well as a moneysavinge website.. more hits = more money.

Of course its a business - how do you expect him to do so much for free? Likewise the coupons were an advantage to you - you used other peoples finds for financial gains.

The thing is this affects people not on MSE, people who might've been struggling to get by who used it to lift themselves out of their sorrow. I have heard a few DFW people annoyed because now they have lost an avenue to reduce their debt.

There are also many thousands out there who do not and cannot afford internet access - please don't assume those are less deserving of knowledge.

The fact remains that there are numerous websites offering coupon information, that means no-one has a patent for exclusive rights - in other words if you put information in the public domain, anyone involved in TV can do what Martin did.