PHOENIX — Authorities took three women into custody, raided three homes and seized valuable property on Tuesday as part of what police are calling a “first of its kind” case in the United States.
According to investigators, more than 40 of the Nation’s largest manufacturers have fallen victim to a new kind of coupon forgery and counterfeiting.
Approximately 4 years ago, extremely high quality copies of manufacturer’s coupons began to surface in the United States from an unknown source.
The companies that were targeted in this apparent scam, in conjunction with the Coupon Information Corporation(CIC) hired private investigators to find out where the coupons were being sold in the United States.
These investigators discovered most of the fake coupons were being used in Arizona. Investigators also found that the coupons were being sold through the website,Savvyshoppersite.com. The site was doing business as Savvy Shopper, but is in no way related to the local consumer magazine.
The Phoenix Police Department working in conjunction with the private sector, members of the FBI Internet crimes unit and internal resources, put a case together to prosecute the people behind this alleged fraudulent coupon site.
“This is an international investigation because we know that the coupons we’re talking about were not manufactured here in the United States but they were shipped here and then distributed via the Internet and other media outlets,” said Officer James Holmes with the Phoenix Police Dept.
One of the houses that police raided today is at 36406 North 29th Avenue. Another house is located about one mile away at 35509 North 31st Drive. That is northeast of Interstate 17 and Carefree Highway. The third home raided by police is in South Phoenix.
Police seized boxes of coupons, vehicles, guns and other property. Investigators say those coupons are worth about $25 million dollars.
Police say the scope of the investigation and the economic impact are massive with hundreds of millions of dollars in losses.
“We’re talking about anywhere from $400 to $600 million in loss,” said Holmes. “This is to American companies who produced American products and hire American citizens.”
According to police the ringleader of the illegal enterprise was Robin Ramirez, 40. They also arrested Marilyn Johnson, 54 and Amiko (Amy) Fountain, 42. Johnson and Fountain are described as assistants.
“She [Ramirez] would bring in these coupons from overseas in large quantities, quantities we never could imagine and she would sell them on her website for about 50 percent of face value,” said Sgt. Davide Lake with the Phoenix Police Dept.
The Coupon Information Corporation is calling this the largest counterfeit coupon case the industry has ever seen.
“They are variations, reproductions of what were at one point legitimate coupons,” said Bud Miller with the Coupon Information Corporation.
So the coupons often worked and as a result manufacturers lost millions.
Miller said consumers should never pay money for coupons.
“If you’re a consumer out there and you purchased coupons from this website you certainly should not use them. You are subject to arrest,” said Miller.
Holmes said that people who knowingly use the fake coupons are committing a Class 6 felony.
The three suspects in custody are facing multiple charges including operating an illegal enterprise, forgery, money laundering, and counterfeiting.
Police confiscated $2 million worth of assets that included $240,000 in vehicles, 22 guns, a 40-foot speed boat and other assets.
In service of Creating Great Customer Experiences for you, Food Lion stores will follow these steps when accepting coupons.
We will only accept coupons that are in date and the product or purchase requirements have been met.
Competitor coupons will not be accepted in our stores.
We will accept Manufacturer, Store, Internet and Catalina Checkout Coupons.
Coupons with limits specified on them must be followed.
No “cash back” will be given for coupons of any kind.
Customers may not use more than (1) one coupon per item with a maximum of (10) ten coupons for the same item per customer.
We will only accept Internet coupons that appear to be originals.
We will not accept internet coupons from other retailers.
We will not accept FREE internet coupons.
We will accept Manufacturer and Store coupons for FREE items.
The value of the FREE item cannot exceed the purchase price of that item.
We reserve the right to limit the quantity of coupons that may be redeemed in one shopping visit. We also reserve the right to refuse any coupon that may appear to be fraudulent.
We recognize that our customers are looking for more ways to save their hard-earned dollars and using coupons is one of the best ways to save additional money. To allow all of our customers to enjoy these additional savings, our prevailing guideline is that Lowes Foods reserves the right to limit quantities in coupon usage and product purchases.
Manufacturer Coupon Policy
Lowes Foods welcomes legitimate manufacturer coupons when the following requirements are met:
Coupons must be in date.
Coupons must match the item(s) purchased.
Coupons must be presented at the time of purchase.
To ensure product availability for all customers, we limit redemption to 4 like coupons. For example, if you have five of the same coupons and have purchased five items, we will accept four of the coupons.
All sales taxes are paid by the customer at the full retail value of the item.
Coupon value cannot exceed our retail price of the item; no cash back will be awarded.
Double Coupons
Same as above plus:
We will double up to 20 manufacturer coupons with a face value of $0.99 or less per day.
No minimum purchase is required.
Manufacturer coupons for FREE items or Buy One, Get One FREE items will not be doubled.
Any manufacturer coupon that states -Do not double- will not be doubled.
A doubled coupon will not be honored if the doubled amount exceeds the retail or sale price of the coupon item. No cash back will be awarded.
Other Coupon Promotions
From time to time, our manufacturer coupon promotions will be enhanced. For example, we may offer our customers the opportunity to triple their coupons. Special promotional opportunities will be featured in our circular or on-line.
Super Double Coupons
Lowes Foods welcomes legitimate manufacturer coupons when the following requirements are met.
Same as above plus:
Coupons must be in date.
Coupons must match the item(s) purchased.
Coupons must be presented at the time of purchase.
We will double up to 20 manufacturer coupons with a face value of $1.98 or less per day, with total amount not to exceed $3.96 or entire retail of item; whichever is less.
To ensure product availability for all customers, we will double up to three identical items with manufacturer coupon; additional coupons for like item will be honored at face value. Like items include all flavors.
All sales taxes are paid by the customer at the full retail value of the item.
Coupon value cannot exceed our retail price of the item; no cash back will be awarded.
No orders may be separated that would allow the 20 coupon limit or any other coupon limits to be exceeded.
No competitor coupons will be doubled or tripled.
Coupons that state “do not double” will not be doubled.
Store coupons can be accepted along with paper coupons, however will not be doubled.
No rainchecks will be given on out-of-stock items for super double coupons.
Rainchecks for sale items will still be provided as usual.
Internet Coupons
We gladly accept legitimate internet coupons. However, there has been a growing number of fraudulent internet coupons in the marketplace. We are committed to protecting our customers, manufacturers and our company against this illegal activity. Therefore, Lowes Foods will practice the following guidelines for internet coupons:
We will only accept printable internet coupons if they scan at checkout.
We will not honor FREE Product coupons printed from the Internet.
We will accept Buy One Get One FREE and other values that have a purchase requirement.
We will accept internet coupons that have an expiration date. If no expiration date is visible, we cannot accept the coupon.
Coupons will be rejected if they are distorted, altered or obvious duplicates. Coupons are non-transferable, meaning they should not be photocopied or scanned and distributed to others.
Coupons have unique serial numbers printed on them and follow industry-standard format. Any presented coupon that does not follow standard format will not be accepted.
With the purchase of two like manufacturer’s products, we accept two internet coupons per day.
Print at Home Coupons
We accept all Print at Home coupons from coupons.com as long as they are in date, unaltered, and are not copies. There is a limit of one coupon per purchase unless otherwise stated.
Store Coupons
In order to redeem store coupons, a Lowes Foods rewards card must be used.
Store coupons must be in date.
All limits and purchase requirements must be followed.
Competitor’s Coupons
We gladly accept local supermarket or supercenter competitor’s circular coupons or direct mail coupons for dollars off the entire order. (examples include Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Bi-Lo, Kroger, Super Target, Super K-Mart, Wal-mart)
We will not accept any competitor coupons for specific items. For example, we will not accept a competitor’s coupon for $1.00 off of an individual item.
Purchase requirements must be met.
Coupon must be in-date.
We will not accept any type of internet coupons from any other retailers.
We will not accept any type of competitor coupons from drug stores or club stores.
We will accept Catalina Check-out Manufacturer coupons from competitors as long as they are in date, all purchase requirements are met, and they scan.
Some of you may noticed that some of the coupons are only printing with 1 long barcode instead of the traditional shorter UPC bar codes. This is nothing to worry about, this is the start of the new DataBar Coupon Barcodes.
The long Databar Coupon Barcodes have been on coupons for a while long along with the old, shorter UPC Codes. They have done this to transition over to the new longer Databar Coupon Barcode. Here are some things you should know about the new DataBar Coupon Barcodes:
Why the new DataBar Coupon Codes?
Below are some of the reasons for the new code:
The DataBar Coupon is capable of encoding an extremely large amount of information. Some of the additional information included will be expiration dates, product specifics such as size, weight and quantity required. Buy including this information it will reduce the misuse of coupons.
Also, companies have the flexibility to make the coupon value any dollar amount.
How it will effect your Checkout
Once all point of sale systems are updated to accept the new DataBar Code, checkout should be faster and more accurate for the retailer since the coupon can only be used for the product it is intended to be used for. There should be less cashier intervention necessary.
Companies have the option of leaving both of the barcodes on the coupons so you may continue to see some coupons with both barcodes as well as some with only the long new DataBar Code.
Retailers have had about 6 months to update their registers to accept the new barcode. Most of the major retailers have already updated their systems however some of the regional stores may not have done so yet. So, if the barcode does not scan, in most cases, the stores registers are not updated yet. To use the coupon, they simply have to enter in the numbers above the barcode. Hopefully, most retailers will have made the changes or are, at the very least, aware of the changes, and will know to input the code.
Like our previous Anatomy of a Coupon Barcode article, I will update the site with more information on the new DataBar code format as I learn more.
Have you ever wondered which coupon inserts will be in each week’s Sunday paper? Wonder no more – here is your list for the whole year of coupon inserts. Now remember that coupon inserts & the coupons the inserts can vary by regions (occasionally we may get an extra insert for General Mills coupons, Hasbro toys, etc).
We will gladly redeem your coupons. The following guidelines apply when presenting manufacturers’ coupons clipped from newspapers or magazines, received by mail, or obtained legitimately from the internet through our website or that of our partners:
The coupon must be legible and have a scannable bar code (UPC) and a remittable manufacturer’s address.
Coupons with an expiration date must be used within the stated time frame. Expired coupons will not be accepted.
Only one manufacturer coupon per item will be accepted.
Coupon values that exceed the price of the item will not be accepted.
Digitally duplicated copies of coupons (copy machines, scans, etc.) will not be accepted.
The following guidelines apply to internet coupons:
Manufacturer coupons that involve any kind of free product will not be accepted, including “buy one, get one free” offers.
No coupon that exceeds $3.00 will be accepted.
Internet coupons are not eligible for double coupon promotions or any other program that exceeds the actual face value of the coupon.
We accept coupons that have not passed their expiration date for use; we cannot accept any expired coupons.
We accept only one manufacturer coupon per purchased item.
We do not accept coupons on items not purchased.
Coupons must be presented at time of purchase; we cannot return money for coupons not used.
Coupons presented and items purchased must match exactly; size, variety, flavor, etc.
We uphold any purchase stipulations set forth by product manufacturer.
We accept one coupon per item purchased.
We accept coupons for items only of equal or more value; we do not give cash back.
Sales tax is paid by customer at full retail.
Doubling
We accept 20 double coupons per day per customer/household with VIC card; all others redeemed at face value. No orders may be separated that would allow the 20 coupon limit or any other coupon limits to be exceeded.
We double manufacturer’s coupons up to face value of $0.99; with total amount not to exceed $1.98 or entire retail of item; whichever is less.
We double up to three identical items with manufacturer coupon; additional coupons for like item will be honored at face value. Like items include all flavors.
No competitor coupons will be doubled or tripled.
Coupons that state “do not double” should not be doubled or tripled.
eVIC coupons can be accepted along with paper coupons, however will not be doubled.
Internet Coupons
We gladly accept internet manufacturer’s coupons for product; however no “free” product internet coupons are accepted.
With the purchase of two like manufacturer’s products, we accept two internet coupons, per store, per day.
We do not accept internet coupons that do not appear to be originals or that won’t scan.
Competitor’s Coupons
We gladly accept local competitors’ manufacturer coupons. We also redeem circular or direct-mail coupons for money off of the total order.
We do not accept any internet coupons from other retailers.
Rainchecks
Rainchecks never expire and are accepted at any Harris Teeter store.
We do not issue rainchecks for coupon items that may be out of stock or for “while supplies last” items.
We reserve the right to limit raincheck quantities based on product availability and advertised limits.
Rainchecks can be written for a limit of three unless otherwise stated in the ad.
Scan Guarantee
Our scan guarantee states “If an item scans higher than the shelf tag or sign, you will receive one like item free, excluding alcohol and tobacco.”
We will honor five “scan guarantees” per customer; all other pricing inadequacies will result in the difference between the shelf tag and the actual price of the item being refunded.
Harris Teeter reserves the right to limit quantities in coupon usage, as well as products and to amend our policies as we deem appropriate.
Look closely at the barcode on the coupon. That is what tells the computer (cash register) how much credit to give you. The barcode does not always agree with the printed words.
The Double Digit determines if the coupon can be doubled or not. If this digit is a 5 then it can be doubled. If it’s a 9 or 99 then the register will not automatically double the coupon. Make sure to check with your store’s coupon policy on coupon doubling.
The Mfg Number is a unique ID that represents the manufacturer of the product this coupon is good for. This number will match the Mfg Number on the products barcode.
The next three digits after the mfg. # are the Family Code. The manufacturer assigns family codes to each of their products. This three digit number is completely different from the product number used on an item, since many coupons are redeemable on more than one size, color, or form of particular branded product. The family code is the key to validating that a consumer has purchased the correct product.
A zero digit in the family code is used like a wildcard. So, if you know that Product Z is in the 146 family, then you could use any of these family-coded coupons on Product Z: 146, 140, 100, 000. If the family code is 000 then the coupon is good on ANY product from that mfr.
Family code 992 is for “no product verification”. Technically, the 992 is a message to the cash register to not verify whether you bought the item. Its intended use is for things that don’t fall into a ‘regular’ family – like ‘$1 off any Heinz X or Campbell’s Y or BallPark Z’. Wine tags are often 992′s because if you get to save off *any* seafood, there’s no way to know which seafood you will choose, and no other way to encode it.
*WARNING: It is considered coupon fraud to use coupons any in manner other than described in print on the coupon, even if the cash register accepts such coupons.
The 2 digit Value Code tells the cash register how much credit you get for the coupon. The one value code that always raises a flag is 00, which is specifically for checker intervention. No matter what, this coupon will beep – even if it’s a 992. Many stores will also flag frees (01) so that the actual price may be written in. Please look for a Value Code Table at the bottom of this post.
The Check Digit is used by the cash register to help it verify that it scanned the barcode correctly.
Giant Eagle® is happy to redeem coupons. The following guidelines apply to all forms of coupons:
The coupon has a valid expiration date and has not expired.
1 coupon per item(s) purchased as stated on the coupon with a maximum of 12 coupons per same 12 items purchased.
Coupon value cannot exceed the price of the item(s) purchased.
The original coupon must be presented. Photo copies will not be accepted.
Product must be purchased in sizes specified on the coupon.
Items must be purchased at the time of redemption.
If you forget to use your coupons at the time of purchase, we will accept them with your receipt and Giant Eagle Advantage Card® up to 7 days beyond the date on the receipt.
Additional guidelines apply for the following forms of coupons:
eOffer™ Coupons
Must be obtained from our designated Web site or approved third-party websites (approved third-party sites are listed on gianteagle.com/faq/eoffers).
eOffers™ must be clipped and loaded onto your Giant Eagle Advantage Card® prior to redemption.
Are not subject to doubling.
Printed Internet coupons
The coupon must be obtained from a legitimate site.
We reserve the right to refuse any coupons that we believe to be photo copied, counterfeit or invalid for any other reason.
Any coupon with a value over $3 will not be accepted except where advertised by Giant Eagle® for a specific promotion.
No “FREE” or “Buy One Get One Free” coupons will be accepted.
Check Out Coupons
Only coupons that say ‘redeemable at Giant Eagle®’ will be accepted.
Are not subject to doubling.
Giant Eagle® coupons
Must have a Giant Eagle®, GetGo® or Market District® logo on the coupon.
Are not subject to doubling.
Double Coupons
We may choose to offer double value up to a stated amount where applicable when the following guidelines are met:
Manufacturers’ coupons are doubled only with your Giant Eagle Advantage Card®
Redeem any manufacturer’s coupon with a valid expiration date, worth up to and including the stated maximum amount clipped from newspapers, magazines or received by mail and we’ll double the savings. Coupons worth more than the stated maximum amount will be redeemed at face value only.
Cigarettes, tobacco and milk or any other items prohibited by law or the manufacturer are excluded.
Not valid on free coupons, eOffer™ coupons, Checkout coupons or Giant Eagle® coupons.
This offer applies only to manufacturer product “cents-off” coupons for items and sizes we carry.
Coupons are a great way to save extra money when shopping with us, and we have made it easy to use them at our stores.
When accepting coupons, Meijer uses the following guidelines:
We accept two kinds of coupons; Meijer issued coupons and manufacturer coupons.
Only one manufacturer coupon and one Meijer coupon for the same item will be accepted (unless prohibited).
Mealbox coupons are considered Meijer coupons.
We accept all valid internet coupons. See store for details.
We reserve the right to limit quantities.
If the value of the coupon is more than the price of the item after discounts or coupons are applied, the value of the coupon will be applied up to the price of the item.
We do not apply the excess value of a coupon to the order total if the value of the coupon is over the price of the item after discounts or coupons are applied.
Only coupons for products carried in our stores will be accepted.
All coupons should be given to the cashier while you’re checking out and cannot be applied to a previous purchase.
Publix will accept manufacturers’ coupons (limit one per item), Publix coupons (originals only—no copies), valid Internet coupons and coupons from nearby competitors identified by each Publix store (competitor names are posted at each Publix store). We will accept coupons from competing pharmacies for prescriptions only. We will not accept percent-off items or percent-off total order coupons. We will only accept coupons for identical merchandise we sell. Acceptance is subject to any restrictions on the coupon and we reserve the right to limit quantities. Manager approval is needed for individual coupons above $5. For a buy-one-get-one free (BOGO) offer, each item is considered a separate sale. We will accept a manufacturer’s coupon and either a Publix or a competitor coupon on the same item. Dollars-off total order coupons will be limited to one Publix and one competitor coupon per order. The order total must be equal to or greater than the total purchase requirements indicated on the coupon(s) presented.
The only big changes are that they will no longer be accepting competitor coupons from drugstores (except for in the pharmacy for transferred prescriptions) and Dollars-off total order coupons will be limited to one Publix and one competitor coupon per order. I think depending on where you live, some of these may have already been the policy.
Publix accepts manufacturer’s coupons (limit one per item)
Publix accepts their store coupons (originals only and no copies)
Publix accepts valid Internet Printable Coupons
Publix accepts coupons from nearby competitors (competitor names can be found posted at each store)
Publix accepts competing pharmacy coupons for prescriptions only
Coupons only accepted for identical merchandise they sell
Publix will not accept percent off items or percent off total order coupons
Publix reserves the right to limit quantities
For BOGO FREE offers, each item is considered a separate sale. They will accept a manufacturer’s coupon and either a Publix or a competitor coupon on the same item.
Dollars-off total order coupons will be limited to one Publix and one competitor coupon per order.
The order total must be equal to or greater than the total purchase requirements indicated on the coupon(s) presented.
Price Chopper continues to add value to the family shopping trip by accepting manufacturer coupons.
Price Chopper’s register system is programmed to read and follow the rules embedded within the bar code of manufacturer coupons.
The AdvantEdge card must be scanned or entered prior to coupon deductions.
We will accept only one (1) manufacturer coupon for an advertised Buy one, Get one Free Offer.
We will not accept a manufacturer’s coupon for the product that is received free as part of a Buy one, Get one Free Offer.
Coupons will not be accepted beyond their expiration dates.
In states which permit coupons for cigarettes, tobacco, milk and alcoholic beverages, these coupons can not be doubled.
We do not double and/or triple coupons specifically excluded by the manufacturer.
We reserve the right to limit quantities.
We reserve the right to accept or reject any coupon.
Special Coupon Offers (Double and/or Triple Coupons)
All Price Chopper stores now double coupons!
We’ll double up to 4 manufacturer coupons of like items, up to a face value of 99¢.
Total double or triple value of a coupon may not exceed the items’ retail price after AdvantEdge discounts.
The total of all double coupons cannot exceed 50% of the order after AdvantEdge discounts. Single value will be deducted there after.
Triple coupons cannot exceed the retail price of the item or the total of the order after AdvantEdge discounts.
Internet Coupon Acceptance
We accept valid Manufacturer internet coupons (Print at Home) up to face value of $5. This includes free offers and Buy one, Get one free offers.
In addition Price Chopper may offer Internet coupons through Pricechopper.com, email, and Facebook that may exceed this $5 limit.
Digital Coupon Acceptance
Digital coupon will be applied prior to deducting any paper coupons.
Digital coupons will be redeemed at face value only and are not subject to doubling or tripling.
We do not accept competitor digital coupons.
Competitor Coupon Acceptance
We accept our competitors’ coupons based on marketing area.
We will accept paper Pharmacy coupons from competitor’s Pharmacy departments unless prohibited by law.
We will not accept loyalty coupons earned on our competitor’s loyalty card.
Store Management has the right to accept or deny any competitor coupons.
We accept competitors’ paper coupons (Other Grocery stores, Drug stores, Mass merchants: i.e. Grocery Target, Grocery Walmart and Club stores) for exact size and quantity merchandise, limited to cents off, dollars off an order and percentage off an order.
We accept one competitor dollars off an order; the value may not to exceed 50% of the order, nor is this coupon to be combined with any other dollars off an order coupon including Price Choppers.
They may not be combined with Price Chopper Store coupons or Manufacturer coupons on the same product purchase.
We cannot accept competitor’s digital coupons.
To ensure adequate product levels and fast, efficient checkouts for all Price Chopper customers, we reserve the right to limit quantities in coupon usage, as well as products, and to amend our policies as we deem appropriate.
***We Reserve the Right to Change our Coupon Policy Without Notice. A portion of our coupon policy does differ by State due to varying state regulations. Our coupon policy in it’s entirety can be found posted at every register and at the service desk. Below are the standard coupon procedures for all stores.***
COUPON ACCEPTANCE POLICY
Doubling of Manufacturer Coupons:
Shaw’s doubles valid manufacturers’ coupons that have a face a value up to 99¢. Coupons with a face value over 99¢ are redeemed at face value only. Coupons that state “do not double” or “free” will not be doubled.
No more than FOUR “like” (same UPC) coupons will be doubled per customer, per day. Any additional coupon(s) may be accepted at face value (not doubled) based upon product availability. Competitor coupons are not accepted with the exception of valid Catalina manufacturer coupons and manufacturer? must be stated on the coupon. Competitor Catalina store coupons are not accepted.
Coupon amount may be reduced so that any combined discounts and coupons (including doubling) do not exceed the value of the item.
Coupon must have a valid scanable barcode and a valid date to be accepted.
One store coupon and one valid manufacturer coupon may be applied to an item.
ONE mfg BOGO coupon, ONE mfg “buy 2 get $$ off” coupon, or ONE “buy 1 and get $$ off” may be accepted per BOGO offer. No other coupons accepted for free or BOGO items.
Transactions may not be separated for the purpose of circumventing coupon policies.
Shaw’s reserves the right to limit quantities of product sold.
Photo copied, altered and/or fraudulent coupons will not be accepted.
Manufacturers’ Internet Coupons follow the same policies stated above (and to the left) along with the following restrictions: Coupons must be printed from a computer printer (no copies) and must scan. Manufacturer internet coupons for free product (including buy one/get one free) or that have a value greater than $4.99 are NOT accepted.
Shaw’s Internet Coupons are accepted with some restrictions. All coupon requirements must be met. The coupons must state “Shaw’s” and be printed from a computer printer (no copies). Unless otherwise stated, limit ONE coupon of each type per customer per day. Shaw’s Internet Coupons will not exceed $10, will not be doubled and cannot exceed the value of the item(s) purchased.
Generally, we do accept manufacturer’s coupons as long as they have a valid printed expiration date. With these coupons we follow all printed instructions (e.g. “one per customer”), and items can only count once towards coupons. (e.g. If you bought 3 boxes of a General Mills cereal, you can’t use a save $1.00 off 3, and a $0.50 off 1.) Only original coupons are valid; Photocopies are not accepted.
In addition to the above mentioned, we have additional policy in regards to Internet Coupons. We do not accept internet coupons that:
have expired or are missing an expiration date.
are over $5.00 (including free.)
have no scannable UPC bar code.
have been identified as fraudulent from the Manufacturer.
Store Management has final discretion in accepting, denying or limiting any coupons presented.
Effective November 2007, all Kroger divisions accept industry-standard, secure print-at-home coupons. We recently partnered with Coupons Inc., the industry leader in print-at-home coupons, to offer print-at-home coupons on Kroger.com and all of our store banner websites. Help us make your shopping experience a pleasant one by keeping in mind these simple rules for using Print-At-Home coupons.
We can only accept print-at-home coupons if they scan properly at checkout. Legitimate printable coupons are delivered using special software designed to print a properly rendered barcode on the coupon and limit the number of coupons printed.
We will generally not accept “FREE product” (no purchase required) print-at-home coupons. It is currently an industry practice not to produce print-at-home manufacturer’s coupons for free product. Buy-one-get-one-free coupons and other values that have a purchase requirement are acceptable.
We will usually not accept coupons for more than about 75% of a product’s value. For example, a $2 off coupon will be acceptable for a product that normally sells for $5 or more, but a $2 off printable coupon for a product that sells for $2.25 is unlikely to be legitimate. If there are exceptions, we are usually provided advance notice by the manufacturer.
Coupons will be rejected if they appear distorted or blurry, altered in any way, or are obvious duplicates. You should always print the coupon yourself directly from the website or email that is offering it. Only then can you ensure you are printing a legitimate coupon. The coupon will never appear on your computer screen. A legitimate coupon is never sent as a graphic or PDF or sent in a Word document.
Print-at-home coupons should never be copied, sold, or traded. They should not be photocopied or scanned and distributed to others. They have unique serial numbers printed on them and follow an industry-standard format. Coupons are never sold and you should not pay for someone’s “time to clip” or other service fee.
Customers choosing to participate in the digital coupons are required to have an active online account with a valid, associated shopper card. Kroger employees or partners are prohibited to set up or otherwise maintain an online account not specifically associated to that employee or employee household.
A valid shopper card or an alternate ID is required for the use of digital coupons at the time of purchase.
Digital coupons and offers are deducted from a customer purchase prior to paper coupons or any other discounts and cannot be added back or removed once card has been scanned.
Limit one use per digital coupon per transaction
Digital offers cannot be combined with manufacturer paper coupons on the purchase of a single item
Digital offers do not double
A limit of 150 coupons can be loaded per household at one time
The store manager has the right to accept, decline, or limit the use of ANY digital coupon or offer.
Houston Announcement
An Important Message Regarding Greater Houston Texas Stores:
Kroger operates 2,458 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states across the country as 18 separate divisions. Each Kroger division offers various customer rewards and savings programs depending on each specific market.
Greater Houston, Texas area Kroger stores will discontinue the double/triple coupon program on Wednesday, April 13, 2011. We are in the process of finalizing the new coupon policy and will share this with local customers when it becomes effective. In the meantime, the information listed below should prove helpful in responding to your questions about the matter.
With the growing popularity of digital coupons, mobile apps and manufacturers producing coupons valued at more than 50 cents, we feel it’s an ideal time to test out a new money-saving program and discontinue double/triple. There’s a possibility we may re-introduce double/triple by hosting special shopping events intermittently.
We will still continue to accept coupons at face value. Part of the new policy states there is a limit of one electronic or paper manufacturer coupon per item. The opportunity to stack is no longer available. A digital coupon and manufacturer paper coupon may not be combined on the purchase of a single item. More than 100 digital coupons are available daily at www.kroger.com.
If you have loaded an electronic coupon to your Kroger Plus card, then the digital coupon will apply before the manufacturer paper coupon.
In addition to accepting coupons at face value, Kroger still offers a number of ways to save. We saved Texas shoppers more than $25 million in 2010 through different programs, including the generic drug pricing ($4/30-day supply and $10/90-day supply), fuel rewards, everyday 10% senior discount for shoppers who are 59 and older and our pick 6 wine discount. Also, Kroger customers will continue to receive Loyal Customer Mailings that include coupons tailored directly to the products they buy most.
Through the fuel rewards program, shoppers save 3 cents per gallon everyday at Kroger Fuel Centers. There are 67 Kroger Fuel Centers in Greater Houston. Customers can save 10 cents per gallon at Kroger Fuel Centers and at more than 500 participating Shell locations in the area when they earn 100 fuel rewards points. Kroger 123 Rewards MasterCard holders continue to save 15 cents per gallon on fuel at Kroger.
Rewards points can be earned in the following ways:
Spend $50 on gift cards and we double the points. (1 $50 gift card = 100 points)
Fill or refill 2 prescriptions at a Kroger Pharmacy. (1 prescription = 50 pts)
A more thorough outline of our coupon policy is to come; however, we want to equip you with key messages that can address your current concerns. Please feel free to use coupons before the double/triple program expires on Wednesday, April 13.
We appreciate your feedback and are anxious to share a new savings program to our Houston-area customers that will help you and your families save even more. Details will be released closer to the April 13th date.
As always, thank you for shopping at our Kroger stores.
Will price match in-ad prices, or within 14 days of your Staples purchase and Staples will give you the difference.
Won’t price match competitor’s website prices
Price match is after all Staples coupons and rebates are deducted. So if you want to price match a $30 item, and the price is $40 at Staples with a $7 Easy Rebate, Staples will give you another $3 off for the price match.
If another company offers a product that comes with a mail–in rebate, gift check, gift card or an equivalent, we will only match the price you pay at the point of purchase and will not take the mail–in rebate, gift check, gift card or equivalent into account.
Easy Rebates:
You don’t have to mail in Staples rebates. Just go to Staples Easy Rebates and enter in your purchase information. You’ll get a confirmation e-mail and your rebate in 4-6 weeks. It will be a Rebate Visa Prepaid Card or a check that you can cash at your bank.
Staples Rewards:
These rebates are store credit that can be used on anything at the store. You’ll need to use your Stapes rewards cards to make sure you get your rewards. Sign up for staples rewards online or in-store. You will get an unlimited 10% back in Rewards on qualifying purchases, including ink and toner, case and ream paper, and Copy & Print services. A monthly Reward will be mailed to you when you’ve earned $10 or more. Balances less than $10 roll over month to month and expire at the end of the calendar quarter if $10 is not earned.
At H-E-B, we know how important it is for you to maximize every dollar you spend with us. Coupons are a big part of that, so below we have outlined our guidelines for your convenience.
Manufacturer-sponsored coupons (Type M coupon; has an ‘M’ in bottom left corner)
Store-sponsored coupons (Type S Coupon; has an ‘S’ in the bottom left corner)
Big Savings coupons (Type B coupons; has a ‘B’ in the bottom left corner)
Available at store level and typically yellow in color
Generated by a coupon printer at the register and provided with customer receipt
Distributed via direct mail to customer households or other printed publications
Printable coupons with a bar code (i.e. Online or Internet coupons)
Please consider the following guidelines and limitations:
Coupons can only be redeemed for items, brands, and sizes as specified by the requirements of the coupon.
Only one manufacturer coupon per item is permitted.
Combining a manufacturer issued coupon with an H-E-B issued manufacturer coupon (Type M) on the same item is not permitted
H-E-B will combine store sponsored yellow coupons with manufacturer coupons for the same product
One (1) manufacturer issued coupon and one (1) H-E-B issued Store-sponsored (Type S)
One (1) manufacturer issued coupon and one (1) H-E-B issued Big Savings coupon (Type B)
H-E-B does not double or triple coupons.
H-E-B cannot give cash back if the face value of a coupon is greater than the purchase value of the item.
Coupons must be presented to the cashier at time of purchase.
Coupons cannot be redeemed for cash.
The following coupons cannot be accepted:
Expired coupons
Competitor coupons
Coupons without a barcode
H-E-B accepts valid online and other printable coupons as follows:
Online and other Printable coupons should be legible and have a bar code.
Buy-one-get-one-free coupons (BOGOs) are accepted. (i.e. Buy X, Get X Free)
“Free product” printable coupons are not accepted (i.e. Get X Free)
Printable Coupons will not be accepted if they appear copied or are altered in any way. They should be printed directly from the website or email in which they were offered.
Printable Coupons have unique serial numbers and follow an industry standard format; they are non-transferable, and should not be copied, scanned, sold, traded, or otherwise distributed.
H-E-B reserves the right to refuse any coupon or limit quantities.
Dollar General is pleased to accept Manufacturer’s Coupons and Dollar General Store Coupons at any of our more than 9,500 stores. These coupons come from a variety of sources, including, but not limited to, newspapers, magazines, print-at-home (internet), direct mail, product packaging, and in-store coupon boxes.
Our coupon requirements are as follows:
Dollar General accepts Manufacturer’s and Dollar General issued coupons (Including internet coupons) that meet these requirements:
Coupons must be original (no photocopies)
Coupons must have a scan-able barcode or valid promotion code
Coupons must have a printed expiration date
Coupons can be redeemed only for items sold at Dollar General, and can be redeemed only for the exact same item (package weight, size, etc.)
Coupons for free items are only accepted if a purchase is required to get one free
Maximum of two coupons per item. One coupon must be a Manufacturer’s Coupon and the second coupon must be a Dollar General Coupon as long as neither coupon states that it is not valid with other coupons
Dollar General will NOT accept coupons that:
Are from other retailers
Are expired
Are internet coupons without a scan-able barcode and/or promotion code
Contain the combination of an invalid barcode that won’t scan and promotion code that the register will not accept
Are for “free” items, unless a purchase is required (i.e. Buy one get one free is acceptable)
Do not have a “remit to:” address on the coupon
In addition:“Cash Back” will not be issued if the value of the coupon is greater than the purchase price of the item.
Have you ever wondered which coupon inserts will be in each week’s Sunday paper? Wonder no more – here is your list for the whole year of coupon inserts. Now remember that coupon inserts & the coupons the inserts can vary by regions (occasionally we may get an extra insert for General Mills coupons, Hasbro toys, etc).
Publix will accept manufacturers’ coupons (limit one per item), Publix coupons (originals only—no copies), valid Internet coupons and coupons from nearby competitors identified by each Publix store (competitor names are posted at each Publix store). We will accept coupons from competing pharmacies for prescriptions only. We will not accept percent-off items or percent-off total order coupons. We will only accept coupons for identical merchandise we sell. Acceptance is subject to any restrictions on the coupon and we reserve the right to limit quantities. Manager approval is needed for individual coupons above $5. For a buy-one-get-one free (BOGO) offer, each item is considered a separate sale. We will accept a manufacturer’s coupon and either a Publix or a competitor coupon on the same item. Dollars-off total order coupons will be limited to one Publix and one competitor coupon per order. The order total must be equal to or greater than the total purchase requirements indicated on the coupon(s) presented.
