The Coupon Information Co. (CIC) is a not-for-profit agency that assists federal, state and local law enforcement agencies with the identification, evidence gathering and expert advice needed for the prosecution of coupon counterfeiting and fraud.
In a response to the rising popularity of extreme couponing and repeated requests from consumers and corporations regarding correct usage and what constitutes misuse, the CIC has released a set of new coupon guidelines. With the permission of the agency, here is a look at those guidelines. The full document can be found at www.couponinformationcenter.com.
Basic
The guidelines are separated into four topics: basic, strictly prohibited, controversial and etiquette. In the basic section, four points are covered:
• Stores are not legally required to accept coupons, and if a store suspects that a person might have obtained coupons illegally, the store does have the right to refuse to accept those coupons. Individual stores that have had numerous losses because of coupon fraud might be reluctant to accept certain types of coupons, such as Internet coupons.
• Always understand the rules on the coupon and in the store. Check the wording on the coupons, including limits and expiration dates, and print copies of store policies.
• Do not use expired coupons. The store will not be reimbursed for accepting coupons past expiration dates.
• Overage is optional to each individual store, and no store is required to give you cash back for purchasing any items. A store has a right to limit doubling or to reduce the amount of the coupon in order to prevent overage.
Prohibited
The second section deals with the “no-no’s” of the coupon world and covers six topics:
• Scanning and photocopying coupons, including computer printable coupons, is considered counterfeiting and is against the law.
• Coupon decoding is wrong. The wording is the most important part of a coupon. If a person redeems a coupon for a specific item on another item, the store will not be reimbursed.
• Never buy coupons. One complaint against buying coupons is that the purchaser does not know how the seller obtained the coupons. Often, coupon-clipping services have statements claiming that you are purchasing their time, not the coupon, but that statement is not a protection against the law and suggests that the sellers are concerned about possible prosecution.
• Do not take coupons out of newspapers without buying the paper. This is theft, pure and simple. Many people do not realize that carriers have to account for every single paper. If unsold papers are not returned, then the carrier becomes responsible for the papers.
• Buying or receiving extra coupons from newspaper employees without permission of the newspaper violates the contract agreements with the employee’s company and can result in the employee’s termination.
• The final topic in this section deals with reselling stockpiles. Coupons are meant to be used for products that are for individual consumption, not resale. According to the new guidelines, this includes “unauthorized grocery stores or flea markets in their garages, basements, or backyards.” The guidelines point out that health codes could be violated with the improper storage (think hot summer afternoons or dark, damp basements) of food items. You do not know how long the products have been sitting in those “less than ideal” situations.
Controversial
The controversial section deals with just one topic: Dumpster diving for coupons. The CIC points out that if the Dumpster is on private property, the Dumpster diver could be arrested for theft. In the Augusta area, there are few, if any, paper-only Dumpsters, so divers expose themselves to hazards such as needles, broken bottles and numerous other health hazards.
Etiquette
The last section contains helpful suggestions for new coupon users:
• Be nice to cashiers.
• Do not clear the shelves of product, and buy only what you intend to use.
• When you discover coupons in the store, do not take large amounts of any booklet, peel-off coupon (peelie), blinkie or tearpad. They also confirm that peelies should only be removed by the consumer purchasing the product.
• Multiple transactions should be short, but using multiple purchases to get past product or coupon restrictions is unethical.
• Be organized. Have your coupons in hand and ready to go when checking out. Holding up the line to search for coupons is rude. If you are a heavy coupon user, please shop during “off peak” hours.
Following these guidelines ensure that your coupon shopping is pleasant for you, the stores and the manufacturers. Happy shopping!
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