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Real-life MMD: Is it wrong to be a supermarket voucher vulture?

edited 14 May 2013 at 12:27PM in MoneySaving polls
53 replies 10.4K views
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Replies

  • philmanphilman Forumite
    17 Posts
    Maybe it depends what supermarket you go to, but I use Sainsburys and I believe the vouchers that are printed out are connected to your nectar card account, so can only be used when you are using the same nectar card.
  • AngelsMadvAngelsMadv Forumite
    2.7K Posts
    If it was an old lady, I would run after her. If it was anybody else, I'd pocket it.

    What if it was your MIL?! :D

    PS - I'd pocket it straight away. I do, however, give conditional spends to loads of people if I'm not suing them and I also leave money off coupons on the shelf next to products I won't buy.

    I've also got a lost of 30 people on my email who I Email all the top deals to tyo let them in on it. Share one, share all!
    I am firmly across the line. I won't impose my values on you if you keep away from mine.
    Updated 14/10/14 :A
  • SandraDJSandraDJ Forumite
    41 Posts
    Quite a lot of the discounts/extra points vouchers are linked to your loyalty card. Tesco will have your clubcard number on the voucher, and Sainsbury's will have the nectar card number.

    That means that most vouchers are no use to anyone else.
  • If it was an old lady, I would run after her. If it was anybody else, I'd pocket it.

    What's wrong with us OLD MEN????
  • edited 16 May 2013 at 12:19PM
    emiaiemiai Forumite
    1.3K Posts
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    Forumite
    edited 16 May 2013 at 12:19PM
    SandraDJ wrote: »
    Quite a lot of the discounts/extra points vouchers are linked to your loyalty card. Tesco will have your clubcard number on the voucher, and Sainsbury's will have the nectar card number.

    That means that most vouchers are no use to anyone else.

    I thought this but its wrong, the nectar card simply generates the coupon based on previous shoppers history (12 months.) I was told by Sainsburys customer service after many enquiries - that if I should find a coupon (For a conditional spend, points/money off products etc.) to use it, and even approach family to use coupons they will not redeem. Even to start a new nectar card if I was unhappy with the coupons I was being offered after 5+ years of shopping at the same store.

    We have looked in great depth because I was so annoyed about not being offered good deals. The barcodes for redemption are the same, the only trackable information is done via the left hand side of the till split, store number, date, and till number.

    I most certainly use any I find.
    Wishing you all good luck!
    Oldstyle moneysaving addict
  • aintreemaidaintreemaid Forumite
    43 Posts
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts
    Forumite
    If the previous shopper were still within earshot, I'd certainly call after them to see if they wanted their voucher. If they were not around or didn't want the voucher, I'd use it and drop the money I'd saved into the nearest charity box.
  • nashlynashly Forumite
    384 Posts
    I'd call out to the person who left it if they were within a short distance, if they were not i would use voucher no problem.
    I love these dilemmas even the silly ones its the first place i look on the emails.:D
  • LumLum Forumite
    6.5K Posts
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    I'd take one if it was just lying around unattended, but then I also give any vouches I can't use to the nearest person who looks like they can use it (e.g. those £5 off £40 with short expiry dates)

    I'll also give pay&display tickets with a lot of time left to anyone I see parking up (given a choice I tend to give it to the person in the older or crappier car rather than the person in the 63 plate Range Rover mind), or if nobody around stick them to the coin slot on the machine. That one probably is naughty though.
  • IainHLIainHL Forumite
    210 Posts
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    philman wrote: »
    Maybe it depends what supermarket you go to, but I use Sainsburys and I believe the vouchers that are printed out are connected to your nectar card account, so can only be used when you are using the same nectar card.
    SandraDJ wrote: »
    Quite a lot of the discounts/extra points vouchers are linked to your loyalty card. Tesco will have your clubcard number on the voucher, and Sainsbury's will have the nectar card number.

    That means that most vouchers are no use to anyone else.
    emiai wrote: »
    I thought this but its wrong, the nectar card simply generates the coupon based on previous shoppers history (12 months.) I was told by Sainsburys customer service after many enquiries - that if I should find a coupon (For a conditional spend, points/money off products etc.) to use it, and even approach family to use coupons they will not redeem. Even to start a new nectar card if I was unhappy with the coupons I was being offered after 5+ years of shopping at the same store.

    We have looked in great depth because I was so annoyed about not being offered good deals. The barcodes for redemption are the same, the only trackable information is done via the left hand side of the till split, store number, date, and till number.

    I most certainly use any I find.
    "Till spit" vouchers (certainly from Sainsbury and Tesco) are not linked to the loyalty card. My partner and I frequently swap them between us, depending on who is going to do the shopping.

    However, it is my belief that the ones received through the post (or email?) are linked to the loyalty card in question, so cannot be swapped.
  • gayleygoogayleygoo Forumite
    816 Posts
    If the customer who'd left it was still within earshot/running distance, I'd offer it to them. If it had just been abandoned then I might use it.

    When I get these vouchers they are usually for a very small amount, always under a pound and often just pennies, since I don't usually buy expensive brands. I must admit I usually throw them in the bin anyway :o (not very MSE, but the vouchers often expire by the next time I'm in the supermarket, I only go once a month, so to me those vouchers are only an enticement to get you back in the store within the next few weeks.) However if I remember about them and my SIL or someone I know is going shopping I'll happily give them any vouchers I don't want.

    Do the vouchers say on them "not transferrable" or something like that? If not, how can it be fraud? It's not like you have to pretend to be anyone else to use them!

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