TLC Looking into Allegations of Couponing Fraud

[tlbwriter]

I can see how a sneaky person could bury a bunch of coupons for items they didn't buy into their pile.

Many years ago, before cash registers automatically checked for purchases, I witnessed what I think was attempted coupon fraud. There was a couple buying groceries, and the man kept up a conversation with the cashier, apparently trying to distract her, as his wife handed over a big stack of coupons. The cashier kept saying "Oh, I think you forgot to buy this item" and the man tried harder and harder to engage her in conversation.

 

[seashoreCM]

the man kept up a conversation with the cashier, apparently trying to distract her, as his wife handed over a big stack of coupons.

This can also result in grocery items not being scanned, or, with improved training, the cashier, if unsure whether she did not scan an item, will scan it (perhaps for the second time) or if unsure whether she already scanned a coupon, will not scan it (again).

I just noticed this in your post- can you imagine if J'aime had to pay the out of pocket $1900 then settle for the coupons to be deducted at the secondary screening? That would be a show. I know most of the time it would be a small reimbursement- a few bucks for one or multiples of the same coupons- but visualizing her face falling while she had to say that she couldn't afford the 4 wagonloads made my day!

I am guessing that only about $300. worth of coupons would have failed to scan so she would have to pay $400. instead of her expected $100. and only a small portion of the stack of coupons would have needed to be analyzed.

At my publix- I hand them the coupons at the beginning and I have it segregated by store coupons, competitor and lastly manufacturer-free items are always last on my line of items so they can write them in easily. That way the cashier can check them as they ring it up.

But still the cashier has to:
Take item #1, eyeball all of the coupons for a match, scan the item.
Take item #2, eyeball all of the coupons for a match, scan the item. Let's say a coupon was matched so scan the coupon.
Take item #3, eyeball all of the remaining coupons for a match, scan the item.
Etc.
Lots of time is consumed performing the steps in red.

Hmmm. How about requiring that each coupon be placed on or under the item it goes with? The customer still has the option of having all the coupons scanned at the end but then if a coupon is rejected, no further analysis is done on the spot and the customer has to pay the full price.

OT: The preceding is similar to a situation that a club I belong to ran into. The club passed a resolution regarding membership that (long story short) required that we find out which members were on List A only, which members were on List B only, and which members were on both lists, and there were numerous spelling errors and maiden/hyphenated name issues. So someone had to either take names one at a time from List A and check against List B, or take names one at a time from List B and check against List A. No one wanted to do that task and the passed resolution was not carried out!

If you do have the correct items and it is just unreadable, a cashier has to verify that you have the correct items and have a manger come over and override the system once he/she has already verified it as well ...

A computer system is needed that also prints the coupon savings amount next to each item listed so no one can fool even the manager by submitting a third coupon for the same two item.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Depending on what state she is in the DA may investigate it. Think of all the taxes she owes on those purchases. Look at other TLC shows that have ended up with the law investigating (think Sister Wives). Hate to be her at the next PTA meeting.

It's my understanding she's here in MD (Bethesda, I believe) and in MD, we pay sales tax on the pre-coupon amount. So that truly wouldn't matter since she DID pay taxes on the taxable items. Also in MD 'MOST' true grocery items are not taxable. There are exceptions such as junk food like chips, etc.. and sodas... so taxes on grocery store food are minimal.

I always have issues at Target and I always use the right coupon for the right items! They have handed me back my legitimate coupons several times saying that the computer won't take them....several times I have had to say...uh, no you can scan them... then they hesitantly put them through with no issue after giving me a dirty look and a sigh.
It's become a hassle to shop at Target with my Q's so I only go there when I can absolutely get a great deal or something free.

Oh, I can top that!!! I once had a Target cashier who attempted to just throw away my coupons that would not scan!! They got a firm talking to be me for that stunt!!!

For the most part I think it is very unfair to hold the cashier accountable for anything.

YOu might have a $50. or so order and at the end you hand the cashier a few coupons. Meanwhile the bag boy has already taken care of most of the items. Do you and the people behind you expect the cashier to go looking for the items to match up the coupons with?

Better would be random secondary screening on the way out after checking out, and a provision for surcharges that would deter coupon fraud.

And manufacturers need to reimburse stores more for handling coupons, if only a few coupons of a particular brand are redeemed each month.

"Let's take that off line"

I would like to see all coupon fights handled at a secondary screening station. If the register accepts the coupon then the cashier is not accountable. If not then the customer has to pay full price and submit the coupon and his shopping cart and the receipt at the secondary screening station.

bolding is mine...
well, I'd have a problem with that!! I'd end up in the secondary screening line like 75% of the time. I'd rather see them open up lanes specifically for coupon users so you know check out might be a little slower, but that's price you pay. I don't want to stand in line twice because the store hasn't adequately set up their computer programming systems.

Our Commissary is already set up that way except in reverse. The coupon does not scan if the items are not what it has listed on the bar code. If you do have the correct items and it is just unreadable, a cashier has to verify that you have the correct items and have a manger come over and override the system once he/she has already verified it as well . It may take longer, but the system really does work!

That works!!!

 

[figment3258]

It only take one person to ruin it for the rest of us. I always feel like a crimal using coupons at wal mart. The last time she printed up a recite to make sire I had bought the items and then when she could not find them on her recite she made me take the items out of the bags and then still gave me a hard time and really I only saved ten dollars!

 

[FergieTCat]

Here's an update:

http://montgomeryvillage.patch.com/articles/questions-surface-over-couponing-techniques

The comments are interesting. The Target in Gaithersberg allows people to mix and match coupons and items? I wonder if J'aime is friends or relatives with the manager, because that's can't be legal.

This is interesting too: http://www.chicagoshopping.com/deal...ured-shopper,0,5730635.story?page=2&track=rss

I guess J'aime is going to get to keep her profits without any consequences.

I was watching a rerun of Extreme Couponing on TLC yesterday. I still don't understand why someone needs 150 candy bars (it wasn't Halloween) or a cartload of regular Pepsi. Their dentist must love them!!

 

[momof2intx]

I went to Walgreens today and tried to use one of my Airwick Freshmatic coupons. Well, the one I gave her said "Ultra" but I didn't realize it and I had the regular compact kind. Because I didn't realize the coupon was specific, I couldn't figure out why the cashier was studying it so closely. Then she handed it back to me and told me it wasn't for the right kind.

I said, ok then I don't want it. I went to my car and looked in one of my other coupon envelopes and there was the correct coupon with no size restriction. I just failed to give her the right one because I thought they were all the same.

Long story short, I don't know how the "coupon frauders" are getting away with it time after time. I had a tiny mistake and it was caught right away.

 

[momof2intx]

Here's an update:

http://montgomeryvillage.patch.com/articles/questions-surface-over-couponing-techniques

The comments are interesting. The Target in Gaithersberg allows people to mix and match coupons and items? I wonder if J'aime is friends or relatives with the manager, because that's can't be legal.

This is interesting too: http://www.chicagoshopping.com/deal...ured-shopper,0,5730635.story?page=2&track=rss

I guess J'aime is going to get to keep her profits without any consequences.

I was watching a rerun of Extreme Couponing on TLC yesterday. I still don't understand why someone needs 150 candy bars (it wasn't Halloween) or a cartload of regular Pepsi. Their dentist must love them!!

I can't figure out how they even get coupons for Pepsi. Soda coupons are something I rarely see, and I NEVER see them to get it for free!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I went to Walgreens today and tried to use one of my Airwick Freshmatic coupons. Well, the one I gave her said "Ultra" but I didn't realize it and I had the regular compact kind. Because I didn't realize the coupon was specific, I couldn't figure out why the cashier was studying it so closely. Then she handed it back to me and told me it wasn't for the right kind.

I said, ok then I don't want it. I went to my car and looked in one of my other coupon envelopes and there was the correct coupon with no size restriction. I just failed to give her the right one because I thought they were all the same.

Long story short, I don't know how the "coupon frauders" are getting away with it time after time. I had a tiny mistake and it was caught right away.

My guess would be that she didn't have just a few items, she had many and the little cashier didn't want to be bothered to check each item against each coupon. That is all I can figure.

I can't figure out how they even get coupons for Pepsi. Soda coupons are something I rarely see, and I NEVER see them to get it for free!

I collect Coke rewards points and cashed some of them in for free 12 pack coupons and I ended up with 24 coupons, which I have used over the course of the last 2 months.

I occassionally see Pepsi coupons at the Commissary, but I haven't seen one in our regular paper and they certainly weren't free.

Suzanne