Tesco Self-Scan tills

Holeypockets

Hello,

My local tesco Express store has just invested in some self scanning tills. It has a little slot for coupons. I am hoping I will be able to claw back some of the thousands of pounds I have given Mr Tesco over the years by feeding this slot with any coupons I can find every time I need groceries. Will these self scan till accept any coupons or is my cunning plan doomed from the start. Can I print my own coupons?

thanks in advance.

full-time-mum

I've found that some vouchers scan and some don't - just like on the main tills.

I have got a few "just out of date" coupons through although I don't try if they are way out of date or very near to the retailer redeem by date. I figure that they may check some day and I'll get caught out! They do watch over your shoulder sometimes so take care with multiple vouchers for the same product.

Occaisionally, there have been £x off £xx spend at morrisions/sainsburys which Tesco advertise that they accept which won't go through. You have to speak to the supervisor - they have always been able to put them through.

As for printing your own - those that are downloadable eg: Tate and Smile site are OK but I don't think you could make your own up! Just don't try and put through 10 at a time - just a tad obvious!!!

stebiz

Holeypockets wrote: »

Hello,

My local tesco Express store has just invested in some self scanning tills. It has a little slot for coupons. I am hoping I will be able to claw back some of the thousands of pounds I have given Mr Tesco over the years by feeding this slot with any coupons I can find every time I need groceries. Will these self scan till accept any coupons or is my cunning plan doomed from the start. Can I print my own coupons?

thanks in advance.

As a seasoned couponer I have used these Self Scans for about 2 years (as well as using the Customer Service Tills).

If you use the self scan don't be greedy. They are programmed differently in each store and will attract the attention of a supervisor if you try too many. That is fine if you are buying the product but you don't want too much attention if you are using coupons for many items you have not bought. A few is fine.

Nothing is more embarassing than when the till says 'assistance reqd' and you are caught with your 'pants down' - if you know what I mean;)

A safe amount would be 10-20% I would say.

Once you've got over the first few visits your confidence will grow. Good Luck.

Stebiz

techno_saver

Can somebody just explain to me here why you all seem to think that this is OK to do this?

This is theft as far as I am concerned. I think that this is morally wrong.

Just because a company is successful does not mean that you can steal from them, you may as well just take money from the till when nobody is looking.

Holeypockets

Thanks for both your comments. I have no shame and don't mind trying my luck, but will start slowly. Do the coupons have to be a particular size? Will the 'feeder' accept card? My job involves creating and programming barcodes with various symbologies so I am very interested in how the Tesco system works.

stebiz

techno_saver wrote: »

Can somebody just explain to me here why you all seem to think that this is OK to do this?

This is theft as far as I am concerned. I think that this is morally wrong.

Just because a company is successful does not mean that you can steal from them, you may as well just take money from the till when nobody is looking.

This old chestnut again. Who are we stealing from please??

Stebiz

techno_saver

Erm, Tesco??

What a ridiculous comeback.

stebiz

Holeypockets wrote: »

Thanks for both your comments. I have no shame and don't mind trying my luck, but will start slowly. Do the coupons have to be a particular size? Will the 'feeder' accept card? My job involves creating and programming barcodes with various symbologies so I am very interested in how the Tesco system works.

No they don't have to be a certain size although before you put them in the slot they sometimes need folding. It will also take card - although most coupons do not come on this unless you have cereals etc

My advice is (and I do this myself)

1) Use in date coupons
2) Try not to use too may internet printed coupons
3) Keep the number to about 10-20%
4) Have fun

Regards and Good Luck
Stebiz

stebiz

techno_saver wrote: »

Erm, Tesco??

What a ridiculous comeback.

No it isn't. The reason I asked this is because some people unfortunately haven't thought it through. If I was to use a chewing gum coupon and bought a packet of crisps what would Tesco do with my coupon?? Bin it??

Stebiz

rilsy

I agree techno saver. I have been reading all these Tesco threads on how to max your clucard points using multiple accounts etc and feel now the bubble has burst this has put paid to customers like me not receiving incentives for extra points. Im not against taking advantage to a degree as I would not be looking at these threads but do think that this has been abused to a point were honesty is compromised.

Ephemera

techno_saver wrote: »

Can somebody just explain to me here why you all seem to think that this is OK to do this?

This is theft as far as I am concerned. I think that this is morally wrong.

Just because a company is successful does not mean that you can steal from them, you may as well just take money from the till when nobody is looking.

Oops thanked you by mistake

I used to work for Tesco, and was amazed at the number of coupons that certain 'regulars' would bring to my till.
The retailers know that not all of the coupons are *actually* used for the items they are intended for, but tolerate this because you are spending money with them and not a rival supermarket.
No supermarket would change this because it would be commercial suicide.

I agree that this is a moral grey area and that in an ideal world of course we would use coupons for the intended target item. But then again in an ideal world we could all afford what we liked and wouldn't need coupons either!?! :rolleyes:

As long as you aren't taking the pee the supermarkets tolerate and (quietly) encourage the using of coupons in this way. These scanning checkouts are able to tell that you have or have not bought the item so they could stop you from using them. I know that the store's own coupons only allow you to use the coupon with that item, so you couldn't use a Tesco cat food coupon without buying their cat food. You might get away with using a Sainsbury's catfood voucher though if you bought Tesco's own....

Eph.