I’ve received several emails and questions regarding the use of e-coupons and paper coupons, and I have come to a decision.
Before reading my post, read Mommy Snacks’ post HERE and Southern Savers’ post HERE so that you can understand my position.
Both bloggers make excellent points and I truly respect both of their positions.
I am going to have to side more with Southern Savers, and here is why.
- If companies do not want us to combine e-coupons with paper coupons, then they need to give us the option to choose at check-out. E-coupons are not un-loadable, and most of us just want to be able to load everything at the beginning of the month and not have to think about it anymore.
- I don’t believe we should have to jump through hoops to use these promotions. The companies want us to use their promotions. Given the choice, smart couponers will choose the paper coupon every time, because paper coupons are usually higher value and will double at the registers. E-coupons do not double. For this reason alone, I don’t think that these companies will be changing the system.
- Most of the time e-coupons do not work anyway (so I’ve noticed and have many others), so we shouldn’t have to worry about using our paper coupons.
- We have enough to think about. Our shopping trips take enough planning and work as it is without having to remember every single coupon that is loaded to our card, and then have to worry about seeing if an e-coupon comes off, and then prepare to not use a paper coupon. This is especially true since we would prefer to use our paper coupons anyway.
- These companies would prefer our business. Since they know that given the choice most of us would choose paper over electronic, they will probably not be changing the system.
Until these companies that don’t intend for us to combine e-coupons with paper coupons, give us the option to choose, I think it is ludicrous to think that we have to accommodate them in order to use their promotions. If it becomes too much of an issue, then I will completely stop using their systems.
And I would just like to say that Cellfire is the only one of the three companies that doesn’t have an issue with combining paper coupons with their e-coupons. I have been very happy with Cellfire coupons recently. They come off every time, and the company has been pleasant to work with.
This sums up my stance so far on the use of e-coupons with paper coupons. I have the utmost respect for differing opinions on this topic. I believe this could be one of those gray areas that people will have differing opinions on. What it all comes down to is for you to decide yourself what you believe to be the right thing to do.
I’ll let you all know if my opinion changes on this issue.
And for those of you that may think of throwing stones at me because of my recent CVS post, this is a separate issue in my view. The CVS coupons were illegal photo copies, that everyone was making several illegal copies of. It’s the same as taking a coupon from the paper and making copies of it with a copy machine. Making copies of coupons IS illegal and therefore, NOT a gray area.
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi, P amp; G if you buy something and the coupon doesn#39;t work, you can email them and they will satisfy your account by giving you something additional. It was rather nice that I had that happen when the Pantene was on Pamp;G website and it didn#39;t work.
Amen to that! I am complete agreement. I have too many other things to worry about.
The gillette deal I posted about yesterday is evenn better bc I forgot I had a $2/1 loaded on my card from Shortcuts! (see I can’t remember anything!)
You brag about cellfire, but have you had good luck with cellfire customer service? I’ve never had there coupons come off, and I’ve never gotten a response from the email I sent weeks ago. Anyone have not so good luck with them?
Thank you, Crystal. I agree and I told Jenny over at SS that I agreed with her as well. I am now buying Huggies at Kroger *only* because I can use a Cellfire coupon and a paper coupon. I am sure both Cellfire and Kroger are happy to have my business.
Here’s what I think. If the “companies” didn’t want us to combine e-coupons with paper coupons then they wouldn’t allow both to be out at the same time. For example, if a cake mix paper coupon was just released then they would not post a cake mix e-coupon at the same time.
In addition to these great points, the registers are quite smart. For example, most registers won’t accept 2 paper coupons for one item because it will recognize only one item was purchased (like 2 paper Qs for soap, but you only purchased one soap). So if it wasn’t “allowed” I would think the register wouldn’t let it go through. So, one would void the other…
Most of the time I forget that I even have one on short cuts because I load them at the beginning and usually forget exactly which ones I loaded. It surprises me when one goes through so it would be more work to have to remember which one to use paper or electronic. I think if they have a problem then don’t do the electronic. It is not like I can do an unlimited amount of elect. I can buy more papers or get more man q’s but I only get one electronic coupon. So if it is a good deal, free or a moneymaker I only can do it once not multiple times.
AGREED ON ALL POINTS!
I agree with you. I can’t even remember what I have on my card through shortcuts, what has expired/dropped off, what is remaining. How can I when, um, THEY’RE INVISIBLE!! (caps for emphasis only, not yelling at anyone
I couldn’t tell you what’s on my Kroger card right now unless I went to the shortcuts website and looked at my loaded coupons. Even then I’d forget 10 minutes later, let alone days later when I’m at the store.
I always try to be be an honest couponer, but I agree with you on this point. You have no choice at the register. If the e-coupon still comes off my total even if I use a paper coupon, there is nothing I can do. I am not trying to be dishonest or go against the coupon policy.
Thrifty Mama Crystal ~ I appreciate your thoughtfulness and thoroughness in your blog – especially on difficult posts like the ethics issues couponing brings up. We all need to be thinking about it and you provide a network where many opinions and facts can be shared. Here’s a shout-out for your courage, your creativity, your resourcefulness and your spunk. Go Girl!
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