Coupon Ethics

Here is a list of things that will help make everyone's shopping a bit easier. These are not rules they are ethics. Basically it is the DO NOT list for extreme couponers. There are just some things that other couponers and people will look at as a NO NO!

First and foremost. JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN DO IT DOES NOT MAKE IT RIGHT! This needs no explanation as we are all adults and know right from wrong.

Just because the cashier lets you get over (using a coupon that does not match with the item, quantity, limitations, or store policy) does not make you a good couponer! You may be lucky for a second and trust me I have been there but it does not help others in the end. We all make errors and sometimes it gets to be in our benefit but it does not make it correct. If we all did this then the store itself would lose out. They lose out enough times they will change their coupon policy and well guess what we lose!

Do not take every coupon book, blinkie, tearpad, and/or coupon put on the products themselves. These are privileges to the shoppers the book was not put out there for JUST you. There are other people who use those coupons who NEED those coupons. Not to stock pile but to feed their families. If you go to the cashier with 20 blinkies you may be turned away. The stores have every right to deny accepting your coupons. There are limits to how many each stores has and taking them all is not good!

Do not clear the shelves and empty every single bar of soap in your cart! This is totally crazy! If there are two left by all means take them but if the shelf is packed with 20 bars of soap you do not need to take all 20 no matter what you're doing with them or how much they are costing you or not costing you. If you need them for whatever reason go to customer service and place a separate order it will be delivered to their store and be ready for you to pick up when you get there. I do this all the time at Publix!

Donating your items that you got by getting over on a cashier, printing coupons to the extreme, or clearing the shelves helps no one! Recently there was a lady who went to work printed off 100 coupons and went to her local publix to purchase 200 packs of pens to her church! There is many things wrong with that. A your printing way to many coupons B you did this using your works computer, C so if you added both A and B you basically stole the coupons so I do not think your church would appreciate it.

Although the customer is always right with coupons that does not hold true. Each store has their own policies on how things can be done.  Sometimes it is easier to ask if you can do this deal using this coupon then to hold up a line. If you are not sure ask before hand and more often than most they will accommodate your needs.

Always be nice to the cashiers, managers, and other shoppers. Trust me some people will be happy and excited about your transactions and well others will get aggravated. No matter how others may feel try to keep your cool because at the checkout counter especially if you have stacks of coupons you are always (no matter how experienced you are) going to be freaking out to make sure your numbers are where they are suppose to.

Do not go to the check-out counter unorganized. You have to be courteous to the other shoppers. Trust me even if you go to the line ready and well organized you may get someone behind you who is mad that the cashier has to go through all your coupons and maybe even call over a manager for some assistance. They may even have to go double check on a price that did not ring up right. Also if you have to break your shopping into several transactions then try to go to the store when you know it is not that busy. Sometimes managers will shut down the line behind you if you are known to be an extreme couponer so that others can be helped at other lines.

NO one needs 1,000 tubes of tooth paste. I have heard several stories about things like this. I think the best one I have heard is from a lady in Ocala who walked into a publix and bought 200 packs of bologna. Even if you are donating these items it is still not right on many levels. A your breaking the rules of clearing the shelves B you are abusing the coupons C ask yourself where is the next person going to get bologna? If you take all of the items especially if it is in that high of a number straight off the shelves you are wrong no matter what the policy or cashier lets you do!

Always follow the rules. There are limitation on each coupon. There are polices at stores to follow. Do the right thing.

HAPPY COUPONING!